Page 26 of Dark Therapy

“Maybe you are!” she shot back, her grin infectious. “And honestly, I think you’ve found one. I mean, just look at you two! The chemistry is off the charts!”

Just as I was about to respond, someone burst into the kitchen, a look of urgency on their face. “Amelia! There’s a delivery guy outside with a package for you!”

“What?” I exchanged a puzzled glance with Emily. “I’m not expecting anything.”

“Come on, let’s check it out,” Emily said, grabbing my arm and leading me toward the door. We pushed our way through the lively partygoers and stepped outside into the cool evening air.

The delivery guy stood by the entrance, holding a medium-sized box, a curious expression on his face. “Amelia Harper?”

“That’s me,” I said, my curiosity piqued as I took the package from him.

He nodded, handing it over with a smile. “Sign here, please.”

I scribbled my name, and as he handed back the clipboard, I couldn’t shake the feeling of anticipation. What could it be? I turned back to Emily, who was peering at the box with intrigue.

We walked back inside, maneuvering through the crowd until we found an empty room—one that had been left undisturbed amidst the party chaos.

Once we were inside, I set the box down on a small table. “Okay, let’s open it!”

With a surge of excitement mixed with anxiety, I carefully sliced through the packing tape and peeled away the flaps of the box. Inside, nestled amongst layers of bubble wrap, was a small black box tied with a delicate ribbon. My heart raced as I lifted it out, feeling the coolness of the box against my palms.

“What’s in there?” Emily leaned closer, her curiosity evident.

“I’m not sure. Let’s find out.” I hesitated, glancing at the ribbon. I untied the bow, the soft sound of the ribbon loosening felt deafening in the quiet moment. As I opened the lid, a sense of foreboding settled over me.

Inside the box lay a large, dried moth, its wings outstretched like a macabre piece of art. The delicate patterns on its wings were hauntingly beautiful, but it felt wrong—toowrong. I gasped and stumbled back, the box slipping from my fingers and falling to the floor with a soft thud.

“Amelia?” Emily’s voice broke through my shock, my heart pounding in my chest.

Terror gripped me as a flood of memories surged to the forefront of my mind—dark, suffocating memories. I was backin that wretched cage, surrounded by the fluttering of wings, their eerie dance haunting my every waking moment. The smell of dampness and decay filled my nostrils, and I could hear the faint whispering of the moths as they circled around me, taunting me.

“No, no, no!” I whispered, shaking my head as if I could will the memories away. But they crashed over me like waves, pulling me under, drowning me in the darkness of my past.

I remembered the cold metal bars, the way they felt against my skin, a painful reminder of my captivity. I was a child then, caged and vulnerable, with moths trapped in the same enclosure. I could hear their wings brushing against the bars, their soft, fluttering cries echoing in my ears. It was a never-ending nightmare, and I was their prisoner.

Suddenly, the laughter and chatter of the party faded into a distant hum, replaced by the cacophony of my memories. The weight of the past crushed me, and I stumbled to the floor, taking my head between my hands. I felt the world spinning, dark shadows closing in on me as I fought against the tidal wave of panic threatening to pull me under.

“Amelia!” Emily’s voice broke through the fog, but it felt far away, like she was calling from the other side of a vast chasm. “Amelia, look at me! You’re okay. You’re safe.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the images flashing through my mind—the flickering lights of moth wings, the suffocating darkness, the feeling of being trapped. I took a deep breath, but it felt too heavy, too thick, suffocating me further.

“Amelia, please!” Emily urged, her tone firm yet gentle. I felt a presence beside me as she knelt down, her hand resting on my shoulder. “Focus on my voice. You’re in a party, surrounded by friends. You’re not there anymore. You’re here with me.”

From my position on the floor, I heard a rustling sound.

“Oh my God,” she whispered. “Amelia, I didn’t know it was…this.”

I took a shuddering breath, but the panic still swirled inside me. “I can’t… I can’t breathe,” I gasped, my heart racing, my chest tightening.

“Then let’s breathe together,” Emily said, guiding me to take deep, measured breaths. “In through your nose, out through your mouth. Focus on me. Let the past go, just for now.”

I struggled to focus on her words, but the fear clawed at me. “It washim, Emily. I’m sure of it. He found me again.” The memory of his face flickered in my mind, unsettling and vivid.

Emily’s expression shifted, a mix of concern and resolve settling in. “Amelia, I know this is terrifying, but you have to remember that since Ben left jail, he traveled to another state. He hasn’t returned; we’ll look into it.”

“But what if he did come back?” I pressed, my voice shaking. “What if he’s just waiting for the right moment?”

“Listen,” Emily said firmly, holding my gaze. “We’re going to report this to the police. They’ll investigate and see if he’s the one who sent it. But you have to stay calm for now.”

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