Something’s coming. Something’s coming.

Panic tickles my throat as I hear that otherworldly voice again. I struggle to breathe as I think of those girls and the things he did to them. Monster. I can feel them pulling me, trying to reach out, to scream.

“Jackson…” Tears stream down my face. There’s no end to the darkness. I can see what Mrs. Green did to them. I can see how they cried. They’re coming for me. Their hands brush my skin and try to pull me to the other side.

But I can’t help them anymore. I have to find my brother. I’m no good for him here, blind and bleeding. “I’m going to get help. Okay? I’m going to help you,” I sputter, backing up, hating myself for it. The hands brush into me as I feel my way to the arched doorway.

Out into the main room of the dungeon, I run. Sprinting past the old mattresses, the slick stains on the floor, up the rickety ladder. My hands tremble. The voices whisper behind me. Come back. Come back.

I will, I think. I won’t leave you.

I barrel across the foyer towards the front door. If I had only known then what I know now…

But it’s too late.

Outside, the rain’s stopped. I sprint full tilt through the mud, sliding over the rocks and grass. Down the hillside now to the driveway. I’m almost there. My fingers are numb. Everything aches. I fumble with the set of keys. There are so many in the bunch. I try different ones in the lock, shifting through the knotted and curled metal.

Finally, the gate unlatches. I heave it open, my muscles burning. The metal makes this awful scraping sound on the concrete, but I’m not stopping now. I’m not slowing down.

I rush out on the empty road, chest heaving. Looking to the left. To the right. Scanning the horizon in both directions in hopes that I see a car, some passerby, anything. But I’m in the middle of nowhere. We didn’t see anyone else on the road yesterday. Why should now be different?

I run in one direction, not giving up. My breath comes out in ragged gasps. I stare at the road, willing there to be someone to take us away from this place.

But there’s nothing. No one. We’re alone.

I keep running. Please, I think. Give me something. Please. But still, I’m the only one here. I let out a frustrated cry and look over my shoulder, and that’s when I see them.

Headlights. Cresting a tiny hill.

I wave my hands. “Hey! Hey!” I scream, running towards the lights. I’m so focused on where I’m going I almost miss the body hunched on the side of the road.

Jackson.