Page 256 of Phobia

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“I hate the heat,” I tell him, nodding up the hall. “Come on. Shower’s—”

But something stops me outside Lena’s bedroom door.

I blink at it, remembering that weird dream I had.

Lena was… It looked like she was…

“So… no housekeeper, huh?” Jules looks around the mess of my trailer, making a face.

I swallow hard, fingers shaking as I reach for the doorknob.

Please… don’t be true.

Please, please…

Opening the door, I push it open. And I’m immediately hit with an awful smell, so strong I cough.

“Jesus… what is that??” Jules chokes.

Flies are buzzing all over the inside of the room.

My stomach is bunched up, fear clogging my throat as I peer inside the room.

“Oh my God…” Jules whimpers, covering his mouth.

It’s my sister.

Lying in her bed…. With a needle in her arm.

Dead.

She’s dead.

A choked sob escapes me. I immediately turn and throw up on the floor, heaving bile.

“F-fuck… Asa, oh my God…” Jules’s voice echoes.

I can’t hear anything.

Anything but the blood rushing in my skull, my heart thumping…

Proving that I’mawake.

“Hello?? 911??” Jules is speaking to someone, but I can’t look away from my sister’s dead body, gaunt features, skin loose and festering. “I need help! There’s a body… m-my boyfriend’s s-sister… Come quick!”

I’m in shock. I can’t move.

I’m not even breathing.

My fault.

It’s my fault.

I wasn’t awake…

I was asleep.

No sleep. Ever.

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