Page 12 of Their Darkest Needs

I keep running for a while until I hit something full force, making me fall and taking whatever I hit down with me.

There are strong hands holding my hips, and I look up to see the most beautiful blue eyes staring back at me. I have never been as glad to see him as I am right now.

“Are you okay?” His voice is filled with worry, and he moves one of his hands to brush the side of my face.

Relieved to see him, I bury my head into his neck and let him hold me. I don’t think he’s very comfortable in this position, but he doesn’t show it if he isn’t.

After a while, he decides it’s best to get off the mud. He moves me off so he can stand up, then helps me up too. He grabs my face in his hands, our lips barely touching. If I wasn’t scared shitless right now, I would definitely be turned on.

“Babe? What happened? Why are you running and screaming in the forest? Didn’t I tell you to stay within the terrain?”

What the hell am I supposed to say to that? That I saw a zombie? If that even is what he was supposed to be. I’m pretty sure he’ll just bring me back to the hospital if I do. And do I even mention the old man, since I might have also made that up because no way that actually happened.

“Babe?” His brows are furrowed and he clearly seems worried.Do I tell him the truth or do I lie?

“There was this old man in your garden, and he ran confused in the forest, so I went after him. But then I lost him, and there was someone else, but he creeped me out, so I ran.” There, it's not a complete lie, but just information with some missing extra facts.

“You should’ve called me instead of going after him. You don’t remember this place and this forest is big.” He is scolding me, but at least not calling me crazy, so that's a win,right?

I look behind me, making sure whatever that was didn’t follow me. The forest seems warmer again too, filled with more colour and the air is less heavy to breathe. Maybe it’s because of my concussion?

“Babe? Are you listening?” I look back at him, not knowing what it was he said, but I nod anyway. He’s already mad at me, no need for it to get worse.

He sighs and gives me a fast peck on the lips. “Why don’t you go wait inside while I call 911 for the old man?” He holds me steady with his hand over my hip while he guides me out of the forest until the house is visible.

There's a cool breeze roaming over my body, I can feel the fabric of my nightgown move with the wind. My bare feet are in some kind of wet, squishy, cold substance, making me want to move away from it, but something is holding me in place.

Slowly opening my eyes, confusion fills my thoughts. Is this a dream? I can remember going to bed but not getting here.

It’s dark, but I can see the tombstones surrounding me. I’m in that fucking cemetery again.

“You returned.” I yelp and jump away, seeing the guy from before standing next to me. Either this is a nightmare or I am losing my mind.

“Did you take me here?” The ghost, zombie man thing—whatever he’s supposed to be—is smiling at me like he knowssomething that I don’t know yet. Something I don’t want to know.

“No, not me. The cemetery did. It can feel your pain.” Right, the cemetery did. Okay I am officially losing my shit.

The cold air is getting worse, making me clench my teeth. I hug myself in hopes of getting some warmth out of it, but it seems almost impossible, like the cold is not just the air itself, but it’s also coursing through my bones.

“Once she’s buried here, she’ll come back. Isn’t that what you want?”

I shouldn’t even consider it, but he does seem very real, and what if it actually would work? Would it bring my friend back? But that would mean I would have to dig her up from the grave where her parents will be placing her. From her final resting place. I can’t do that, can I?

“I can’t just steal her body and bury her here.” The words leave my mouth without me realising it. I can’t actually be considering this.

“What harm would it do if no one knows?” I look back at the dead-but-also-not-dead man next to me, thinking his words over.

It’s getting darker and even colder. I feel as if I might actually faint from the cold now. I’m shaking uncontrollably until suddenly my body feels heavy and everything turns dark again.

I can feel the sweat dripping off my brows while I try to catch my breath.

Inhale 1-2-3-4

Exhale 1-2-3-4-5-6

Inha–

“Babe? What’s wrong?” Ryan's rough, sleepy voice catches me off guard, and I yelp while almost jumping off the bed.

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