Seventy-Four (Heather); Trace.
I scream at the voice; too many unpleasant memories.
"Annette?!" I try to pick myself up, fully prepared to fling myself at her and knock her over; she's a damn sight smaller and slimmer than me! But my legs don't appear to want to hold me up...
"Yeah, so what if it is?" she questions, her tone a little defensive. I swallow as the man pushes me backwards, and I lose what little balance I had, ending up almost sitting on Danny. He catches me, bless him, and --somewhat more gentler than he may have done previously-- puts me onto the floor, scowling blackly at the other two.
"Leave her alone!" he spits. I almost expect to hear him adding the words, 'You're bigger than her!', but he doesn't. He does, however, keep his arm around my shoulders. It's comforting to me, and I suspect it's probably some kind of comfort to him too; I think he's a little more nervous than he's letting on.
"You scared too, then, pervert?" Annette sneers; obviously she takes someone comforting someone as a sign of weakness. Bitch. I feel the muscles of Danny's arm tighten, and he snatches it off my shoulders. I sigh; I was definately enjoying the comfort I was getting, hell, even if it was from Danny! Now I just feel alone again.
I want to go home. I want Tim... I'm frightened, lonely, and I miss him. I miss his voice, I miss the way he waves his hands around like I do sometimes, I miss the way he looks when he's alseeo, the feel of his arms around me... I feel like I'm missing something. Like an arm. A leg. Some limb or other. I don't feel complete without him.
Danny and Annette are bitching at each other, but I'm barely listening to them. I want to go home! I wish I could just click my heels together three times and end up safe at home, as if none of this ever happened... I want to go back to Tim... Damn it; I've never cried in front of anyone (save Tim and Amy), and now here I am, sobbing my heart out in front of Danny of all people... He doesn't cry... He doesn't show he's scared, though I bet he is... Why can't I do that? Why do I just sit and cry in front of the freak who keeps taunting us, and Annette?! I feel so useless, weak, stupid. God, I'm such a mess! I'm trying so hard to cope, to survive, to - to live and not to panic... But I'm losing the fight; I don't want to die! And I'm so frightened that I will... We will... And I'll never see Amy, or Tim, or my Mum... Ever again... I want to go home... I try and cover my face as I feel more tears cascading down my cheeks.
"She's crying! What a freak!" Annette has come over to me and cracked my head against the wall before I quite realise what's happened. I yelp with pain, the world ringing slightly. Annette laughs and repeats the action. All I can do is cry out once more, then instinct takes over and I lash out, scoring my nails across her cheeks. One up to me. She hisses with pain and lashes out herself. I don't see her fist connect with my stomach, but I know that's exactly what's happened, and I keel over, the white-hot pain searing through me, taking my breath away. I'd cry out, scream in anger, but I can hardly inhale, let alone shout.
"Leave her alone Annette honey; this is my game." the voice makes my heart stop in my throat; which doesn't do anything to assist my breathlessness. I know that voice...
"Fuck..." I manage to choke after a moment. This can't be happening... This must be some kind of insane nightmare... No...
Chapter 73 ; Contents ; Chapter 75
