A Beautiful Reflection From Firework Eyes

Save Yourself, Don't Ever Look Back

Ahhhhh last three chapters. We're so close to the end! It's been a wild ride, ngl. 

This is the tripping on concrete dust chapter. I really don't know why that's how I described it. 

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I'm thrown backward by the force, my head snapping against the back wall. I dimly wonder if the Kellin is okay as my vision goes in and out of focus around me. My ears ring as I struggle to sit up, gasping as the world tilts sideways, and I slump over onto the concrete blocks, waiting for it to subside. The only thing I can smell is burnt rubber and the metallic tang of blood as I lie there, going in and out of consciousness.

I don't know how much time has passed as I lie there, my strength fading away. For a moment, I think I hear a voice. A voice that's so familiar, one that I haven't heard in so long. But that can't be right, unless I'm dead.

"Vic," he says. "Vicky, wake up. Ugh, you always were stubborn, weren't you?"

I struggle to open my eyes, blinking in confusion as I see Jaime kneeling in front of me, shaking my shoulder. But that can't be right. I'm not dead, am I? I honestly could be, I wouldn't be too surprised if I was. I try to speak but I can't—it's like my brain is filled with cotton. I struggle to sit up, trying to move, but I can't. I can't feel my limbs. I can't even feel the pain from earlier. Usually, I'd be grateful for it, but right now it terrifies me.

"Vic, you have to wake up. You can't stay here," Jaime says.

"Jaime?" I finally manage to croak out, my voice scratchy. "Am I dead?"

"Not yet," Jaime says. "But you're dangerously close. You need to open your eyes."

I reach over, gingerly placing my hand on his shoulder. To my surprise, I can actually touch him. I pull him closer, wrapping my arms around him. I've missed him so much. He feels so familiar, so alive and solid, but something is different. His body is cold, almost chillingly so as I hug him. There's no warmth, no spark of life, but I don't care. "How are you here?" I ask, my voice muffled by his shoulder.

He pulls away, smiling at me, but doesn't answer my question. "You need to wake up. Promise me, Vic. You need to get out of here. It's not safe for you, or for Kellin."

"I'm sorry," I say. "Hime, I'm so sorry."

He shakes his head, cutting me off. "Don't be. The only way you can make it up to me is if you get out of here."

"Jaime—"

"Just wake up, Vic. I know you can do it. Just WAKE UP."

My eyes fly open in an instant as I sit up, coughing dust from my lungs. My head spins, the world tilting wildly around me. I have to close my eyes, waiting for the dizziness to subside before I can examine the room around me. Jaime's gone—there's no trace of him being here.

"Jaime?" I call out weakly. I can almost imagine his response.

"That's it. Stay awake. You've got this. Keep going."

Luckily, most of the chunks of ceiling and wall missed me. I brush off the concrete dust, wincing as I climb to my feet, using the section of the wall that's still standing to push myself upright. The Dark Room is in shambles—the back wall and ceiling collapsed. Surprisingly, the door to the hallway is still standing, along with part of the front wall. But all the blue padding is charred and scorched, dust covering every inch of the ground. I cran my neck, trying to see down the hallway, but there's no sign of Mr. Styles or any guards. They will probably be here soon, to finish us off.

I crawl as quickly as I can over to where Kellin is, the concrete scraping up my hands and knees. He's unconscious as I shake him gently. There's no sign of burns or marks from the flame—hopefully, I managed to shield him from it. I check him over quickly, but he seems unharmed except for a bruise that's rapidly swelling in his forehead.

"Kellin," I call, shaking him. I press my fingers against his neck, breathing out a sigh of relief as I feel a steady pulse. He's just unconscious then—not dead. He's going to be okay, I force myself to think. He's gonna be fine. He will heal. He's going to be okay. I repeat the words over and over in my head.

I slide my arm under him, supporting my weight as I struggle to stand up. My head spins as I do so, and I fall back to my knees, the sharp loose rubble digging into my skin. I let us both slide back into the stones. I'm too unsteady to carry him. Even if I try, we won't make it very far. Fear pounds through my head. Now what? We're both stuck here. I can probably get out by myself, but there's no way in hell I'm leaving him behind. So do I just wait here? Wait until they come and take us both away, locking us back up in the cells—or what's left of them? That's if we're lucky and they don't kill us right away.

I hear a scuffle and look up to the hole where the ceiling used to be. My eyes widen in surprise as I see Craig appearing on the landing above us, looking down in shock at the wreckage.