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Stupid to have thought that the doctors at the hospital were actually trying to help me. Stupid to think my dad cared about me. Stupid to think my mom and I would ever get away from him.
I freeze from the pacing in my room, confused where that thought came from. When were my mom and I trying to get away from my dad?
You have to pack quickly.
We have to get out of here.
I won’t let you have her!
Quickly Katie, I think he’s following us.
Get in here, no matter what you hear, you don’t open this door.
Stephen, don’t do this, Katie is in the closet. You can’t do this. Katie!
It’s okay Katie, I’ve got you, it’s okay.
The last voice I hear isn’t my mom. It’s Ax. His dark eyes are hovering over me. The fire around us is making it hard to breathe.
He won’t get you. I won’t ever let him get you, Katie.
Why is Ax in my memory? Why can I feel his arms as he carries me out of the burning house. Why had I never even asked how I got out of that closet?
I’m gasping for air as I come back to reality and hear shouting at the door. It breaks open, sending wood splinters everywhere. Someone is screaming so loud it’s hard to think.
It’s me. I’m screaming.
My mind is breaking.
I’m remembering what I so badly tried to forget.
“Breathe, Katie,” I hear, and Ax is in my face just like in my flashback. His brown eyes are glued to mine as he just keeps repeating my name.
I shake my head, tears falling down my face.
“Why?” I scream at him, as I stand up trembling.
The room sways but I scream at Eli not to touch me when he steps towards me.
“You were there! Why were you there?!” I scream at Ax.
It takes a moment but his expression changes.
“Yes asshole, I remember! I remember you carrying me out of there!”
“Katie…” he hesitates and I shake my head as my chest tightens.
“She kept yelling! She kept yelling, Katie’s in the closet, don't do this, don’t do this! Stephen you can—”
The world stops moving. Time doesn’t slow down. It just stops. The floor is no longer under my feet and I feel like I am floating.Everything is empty. Everything is black. My mind and body simultaneously agree to give up.
I never should have tried to remember.
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
When I come to, my head protests. The dark room is unfamiliar and the blue bedding isn’t from my room. “Hey,” I hear and jump, realizing Eli is sitting to the side of the bed in a chair. “You’re just in Asher’s room,” he tells me as my eyes jump around. “He went to go shower and I said I’d sit with you.”
He looks nervous and I remember it must be from me passing out earlier. My head throbs and I reach up to rub it.
