Page 56 of Ring Around the Rosie

Fuck, The Order.

“Doug! Can you hear me?” My hands smacked the door loudly. “Doug!”

Please open the door!

“Doug!” I screamed and banged against the door. “Open the door!”

“Aster?” Doug’s voice pierced through the door. “Aster? Is that you?”

“Yes! Yes it is!” I hit the door again. “Open the door!” He fumbled with something, and I waited impatiently.

Snap.

I whipped around and stared out into the darkness. The feeling of being watched returned once again, and I knew it was only a matter of time before someone found me. “Doug! Open the door! Doug!”

“I’m trying!” A loud click vibrated through the door and Doug swung it open. His eyes widened, and he stared at me as if he’d seen a ghost. I knew my appearance must’ve surprised him, but there was no time to explain anything. “Aster.” He motioned at my body. “What happened? Where is everyone?”

He held the door open as I slithered past and looked around the dark kitchen. “There’s no time to explain. Where’s Beatrice?” Doug didn’t answer. I turned to face him. “Doug?”

“Where are they, Aster?” he asked. “Where is everyone?” I noticed a large kitchen knife in his hand.

My hands raised, and I slowly walked towards him. “Hey, easy, Doug. It’s just me.”

He held the knife up with a weak and trembling arm. “They’re dead, aren’t they?” I didn’t answer. “Even Rodney?” My head gently nodded as tears flowed down his face. I wanted to comfort him, but right now, he was a danger to both of us.

“Doug, listen to me.” I stepped closer. “We need to find Beatrice. She’s a danger to the campers. To both of us! She’s a part of this. They all are!”

Doug held the back door to the kitchen open and stepped outside. “No,” he breathed. “It’s you. You’re the danger.”

No.

“We were all fine until you showed up, Aster. If that even is your name.” Doug stood a few feet away from the back door and out in the rain. It was so dark, and I could barely see him.

“Doug, please! Come inside, it isn’t safe out there!” I tried to hold the back door open. “Doug!”

Something clanked in the kitchen behind me. I turned to look but didn’t see anything. An uneasy feeling fell over me as I lit the lighter and I turned to see Doug standing. He had an odd look plastered across his face and simply stared at me. “Doug?” I leaned closer and held the kitchen door open with my fingertips. “What is it?”

He opened his mouth and coughed. Blood seeped down his chin, and I reached out to him, releasing the kitchen door. Just then, lightning flashed, and I noticed the same plague doctor with the all black mask standing directly behind him. The masked person ripped something from his back, and Doug fell tothe ground with a loud thud. The plague doctor stood there with a bloodied axe and began to walk towards me.

“No!” I spun and I tried to open the kitchen door, but it wouldn’t budge. “No! Fuck!” I smacked the door before turning to face the killer, still holding the lighter.

The plague doctor stepped closer, and the wind blew as the flame of the lighter went out. The world fell into absolute darkness. My breath trembled, and my fingers fumbled to flick the lighter. The flame burst to life, and the plague doctor was standing directly in front of me. They gripped the edge of their mask and lifted it with a sinister smile.

“Hello, Rosie.” My eyes widened as I stared back at Sabbath, his face ignited by the flame of my lighter. “Did you miss me?” He grinned as if everything was completely normal.

“Sabbath?”

He leaned in close and exhaled along my ear. “I told you not to get involved,” he breathed. “But you never listen, do you?” He pulled back. Sabbath raised his gloves to his mouth and bit the tip of them. He pulled them off with his teeth and touched my face. I flinched and tried to look away. “You still don’t trust me, do you? Even after I saved you.” His hand moved to my throat. “All I wanted was to save you, Rosie.” He pushed my body against the kitchen door and squeezed my neck tight. “But you won’t let me!”

My hand dropped the lighter, and I tried to peel his fingers away. “Sabbath—” I rasped. “Please. You don’t have to do this.”

“You think Iwantto do this?” He leaned in close and pressed his forehead against mine. “If I don’t kill you, they will. And you have no idea what they are capable of.” He struggled with himself and continued to choke me. “I can’t let them hurt you, Rosie. I can’t. And if killing you is the only way to keep you safe from them, then so be it.”

No, please.

His hand constricted around my throat, and I knew he wouldn’t stop. “Sabbath,” I wheezed. “Please. Don’t.” My hand touched his face as tears rolled down my cheeks. “After everything—” I strained. “Don’t let it end like this.”

Sabbath groaned loudly. “Fuck!” He released my neck and stepped away before falling to his knees. “I can’t fucking do it!” His head fell into his hands.

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