Chapter Text
If people were watching from the outside, as if this turned out to be a videogame or something, they’d probably think it was her fault. Maybe because she failed as a partner, as a friend, and as a comrade… as everything she used to call herself to be in life. And maybe it was her fault, because she never got reasons to believe, or proofs to make her change her mind. Still, this wasn’t about her; she wasn’t relevant.
She never was.
Maybe, she could have been important if she had believed them. Two of her precious friends were dead, while the other ended up in a hospital, confined and trapped in his own disturbed mind. She wasn’t there for her friend that committed suicide, and she wasn’t able to help the other that fell to the abyss of darkness… and the last friend, she saw him die before her green eyes.
This was punishment.
She deserved the pain.
But, did they?
They didn’t.
And it was so, so, unfair.
“No… No!”
It sickened her. Just a few meters from her, with a door separating them, was the corpse of her last friend, executed unfairly. She wanted it to be a dream, but the disturbing smell and noise that ceased a few seconds ago, but it still ringed in her ears, while she heard someone telling his time of death…-
She cried, she wailed and screamed, as if doing that would bring her friends back. The guards held her down, but she didn’t care, they could kill her for all she cared. She could see them again, but that thought vanished as soon as she remembered everything was her fault. They wouldn’t be able to stand seeing her; she betrayed them.
She squirmed and kicked as a wild animal, feeling her heart beating strong against her ribcage. She didn’t want this to be real. She wanted this to be a dream; a nightmare.
Her throat felt raw, her voice was tearing apart her flesh, would she puke all her insides? She didn’t know and didn’t care.
It was her fault.
Her ears were ringing.
All her fault.
Her head hurt, as if something was piercing through the back of her skull. It burnt.
Ả̼͚̰̃͗l̮͍̀́l̠̂ ̻̭̩̔̕̚ḩ̱̣͓͖̀͆͆̄̊ę̱͚͊̂̂r ͍̰̣̀͐͆͜͞f̟̺͚̂̅̒a͚͑u̼͈̯͋͑̈̕͜l̟̤̄̎t̻̚.̮͖̜̟͋͌̚.̞̑.̬̇̔͟!̹̣̜̈́͑͛
Her voice broke into a gasp, feeling as if her heart was exploding inside her.
Suddenly, her body fell limp in the guards’ arms.
The two men that were holding looked at each other.
Did they just get two corpses in one floor?
.
.
.
“Ash!”
“Ash, wake up!”
“Fuck… Fuck, she’s bleeding!”
“Ash!”
She couldn’t move, the back of her head hurt. She could hear the voices, yet she couldn’t understand what exactly meant or who they were… talking. It almost felt familiar.
“She’s breathing.”
“We need to take her to the hospital!”
Something tugged at her arm, making her sit and lean her body against something warm. It felt cold when they moved her hair, the blood was warm, but the place was dead freezing, and the wound ached at it.
“How bad is it?” No response came. “Sal? Sal, talk to me!”
“We need something to stop the bleeding. Fast.”
After some movement, she felt some cloth wrapping around her head, it almost felt like an enormous hair tie. Then, she was pulled until she was in someone’s back. Whoever was carrying her, was running as fast as they could. That startled her a little, and was able to open her eyes a little.
It was a cold place, she could already sense that, and she held her breath as she made out of what she was seeing. Countless corpses, skeletons, bones; old ones. There were tons of skeletons, or parts of them around.
Was she in the temple?
The temple?
Her mind screamed in alarm, but the only sound that came out of her was a broken gasp as tears gathered in her eyes. How did she end up down here? Were they going to kill her? But, this place…
“She’s awake.”
“Ash? You okay?”
Her eyes were burning, so she closed them. Nothing came out from her lips.
“Ash!”
Then, she finally recognized those voices. She opened them again and noticed in the corner of her view some blueish hair, and she was pressing her head against someone’s shoulder. It was dark brown.
“… Larry?... Sal?”
“Dude, finally!! Are you okay?! What were you thinking going down here, you big idiot!”
What was he talking about? If she was with them, then she was…
“… Am I dead?”
“… Hell no! The fuck is wrong with you?! First, you give us a heart attack, now you say you’re dead?!”
“Todd! We found her!”
“Ash! Are you alright?” She still couldn’t move, not really, but she froze as she could figure out her friend’s face.
It was Todd.
He looked… younger. Why? How?
“… go the hospital!” She was able to hear the last of Larry’s sentence.
“What are we going to tell them? I don’t think they’re going to believe us.”
“Todd’s right. But we can’t leave Ash like that, what if…”
“Mom has some first aid thingies. Think they may help?”
“For now, yes. C’mon. I can’t stand this place.”
This time, she didn’t have the energy to figure out what was going on, so she just closed her eyes, exhausted. She didn’t care anymore. If she was with her friends, she preferred to stay like this forever.
“Are you sure she’ll be alright?”
“Yes, son. I assure you… can you explain to me again how did you guys let her get hurt like this?”
“Sh-She fell from the tree house! We were going down and… Ash missed a step and fell! I think… her head hit with a rock…”
“Mm… I don’t remember you guys going out to the…”
“She’s awake.”
She slowly opened her eyes, and she widened them as she saw a face she never thought she’d see. Was that Lisa?
“Hello, my dear. How are you feeling?”
She didn’t say anything. She opened her mouth, but then shut it. She looked around, and found her friends’ faces.
That couldn’t be.
“It’s okay if you’re too tired. You had a long fall, right?”
“Quite a long fall… ow!” Larry had muttered the first sentence, but was abruptly nudged in the stomach by Todd. “I mean, yeah…”
“Ashley?” Lisa called her softly. “Do you think you need to go the hospital?”
Her head hurt like hell, a strong migraine was burning her whole skull and she was having a silent panic attack at seeing people that were supposed to be dead (except for Todd). However, she shook her head in response.
“Are you sure? You look pale…”
She nodded this time, closing her eyes, letting a few tears fall through her temples. She wasn’t able to notice the concerned looks the guys shared to each other. Lisa offered her some soup, though she refused, then decide to give her some time while she called her parents to let them know of her “accident in the treehouse”. When Lisa closed the door, a grim silence surrounded the room, excluding Ashley’s subtle and soft sobs. She neglected the idea of opening her eyes again. It was painful; too much painful seeing her friends. Maybe this was a dream, or a nightmare. She wasn’t sure if this was good or not.
But the physical pain was real.
If she felt this, then, this was real?
Why was it real?
A few hours ago, she saw Larry’s ghost, then she saw herself riding her motorcycle as fast as she could, then she saw Sal being executed...-
How?
The wound in her head felt real, but so did the emotional pain; the heartbreak and trauma of seeing her friend getting punished for something he had to do; because he didn’t have a choice. She shook her head and flinched at the burning sensation in the back of her head.
“Ash?”
And, it had been so long since someone alive had called her that.
“Ash, if you’re not okay, you can tell us.”
She had nightmares in the past. Who didn’t? But what she experienced felt raw and livid. Was it the dread of what they experienced when they found out what had the bologna? Was it the fear when she fell through that weird trash chute? She opened her eyes finally and saw her friends’ faces. Well, two of them. She knew Sal had struggled with showing his face even to them, though right now, more than ever, she wanted to look at him.
But that felt wrong, somehow. Ashely felt like she didn’t have the right to earn that trust. Maybe it was a nightmare what she had, but the mourn she was feeling was fresh as the wound in her head.
She raised her hand a little. Larry, knowing her better than anyone, understood her silent petition, so he took her hand. Then, Sal and Todd seemed to understand and grabbed it too. Well, kind of. Todd grabbed her wrist while Sally grabbed three of her fingers. That made her smile anyway.
“… Dude, you’re really scaring me. Are you okay?” Insisted Larry.
She breathed in.
It was just a nightmare.
And she breathed out.
“… I’m… sorry.” She whispered, her throat felt tight. But she refused to cry, it was stupid enough she was affected deeply by this dream. “I just had a nightmare.”
“… a nightmare?”
“In it, you guys were dead.” She finally let the words out. “And I was so scared… I was alone, so…” She huffed and laughed bitterly. “It’s stupid. But I guess I love you guys too much for my own good.”
They didn’t say anything, and she was okay with that. They didn’t want to pressure her, or so she thought. Now, all she wanted was to get rid of this anguish that nightmare left her.
“You idiot.”
She blinked and looked at Larry. He was smiling at her.
“We love you too.”
A more genuine smile formed in her lips and nodded.
“But you better not do that again! Geez, woman! If you want attention, just say so!”
“Then, if I ask for sweets, will you give them to me?”
“Forget it… you’ll be okay. With that attitude, I know you’ll be fine as rain.” He rolled his eyes.
“I think so too.” Intervened Todd, and smiled briefly at her. “Though I wouldn’t mind giving you some treats to get better.”
“Heh, thanks.”
She noticed Sally wasn’t saying anything, but that wasn’t weird for her. He kept looking at her in silence, as if asking her something she only could understand. She widened her smile and nodded, so he nodded back.
“Ashley, sweetie?” Lisa came back in the room. “How are you doing?”
“… Much better, Lisa… thank you.” She muttered.
“I’m so glad! Your father is picking you up soon, okay? He’ll be here in ten minutes, he said.”
Ashley couldn't help but to cringe at that.
“Oh… then I guess I’ll be waiting for him outside.” She tried to get up, but Lisa interrupted her.
“Are you sure? I can carry you if you like.”
“No, I’m fine… I think I need fresh air.” She smiled gratefully. “Thank you for helping me, Lisa.”
“Don’t worry about it. And you better take care of that wound! It was a really deep one! If Sal hadn’t used his shirt, then you would’ve bled to death!”
Ah, yeah. That made sense. Sally always wore one or two shirts under the dark gray shirt he always wore around, and it confused her a little seeing him now with only a white one. So the thing that was pressed against her head was his shirt.
She grimaced a little.
“Sorry, Sal. I’ll buy you a new one, okay?”
He shook his head.
“I can get another one. You’re more important.”
“Yeah! You’re irreplaceable, Ash!”
“Agreed.”
They’re really wonderful friends, she thought.
She was so glad she met them.
Ashley tried to get up by the help of Larry and Sal. Her legs felt like jelly, but after a few steps, she was able to walk on her own.
“Damn, that fall messed me all up.” She grumbled.
“I think you’ll need more rest.” Said Todd.
“Yeah… so, if I don’t come to school tomorrow, would you guys bring me some notes?”
“More like, Todd or Sally’s notes.” Joked Larry. Ashley laughed.
“I still can’t understand how Sal can understand the hieroglyphs you write.”
“Me neither.” Todd shook his head, and let out a yawn. “Though I can’t promise they’ll be decent notes. It’s awfully late and I doubt we’ll have a good sleep after what we found about Mrs. Packerton.”
They didn’t say anything at his remark, he was right anyway.
“… You guys can go to sleep. I’ll wait for my dad.”
“Hell no! You’re too dangerous by being on your own!”
Ashley almost glared at him, but honestly didn’t have the energy to argue.
Todd sighed.
“I don’t want to be insensitive, but since Larry will keep you company and I’m sure Sal will as well, I’m going to sleep. This was too much.”
“Don’t worry, Todd. You can pay me later.” Ashley teased as the four headed to the elevator.
“Sure, sure… I’ll see you guys… in a few hours, I guess. Take care, Ashley.” Said as he was the only one staying in the elevator when the three got out.
“Will do.”
“See ya, Todd.”
When they stepped out, both Ashley and Sal grimaced at the cold weather. Larry just shrugged and surrounded both with his arms.
“Come here, fellas. Ol’Larry is here.”
Ashley softly smiled.
“Hey, Ash?”
“Mm?”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
Gosh, she knew when it came to Larry, he’d always know something was off with her. She moved a little and noticed Sal’s stare on her, almost asking her the same. She stopped smiling and sighed.
“… I’ll be fine.”
“But… what is it? Was it the fall or that nightmare of yours?”
“The nightmare, definitely. I’ve had worse than this.” She rolled her eyes, then narrowed them. “… I just… It was pretty gruesome and explicit… like, from a very explicit horror movie or something. I was so sad and scared I thought I could just die from it. It wasn’t the wound, really… It felt real and it scared me something could happen to you guys.”
“Mm… yeah, I get that. I don’t know what I’d do without you guys, either. You’re like family to me.” Larry hugged them both tighter, but it didn’t hurt Ashley.
She raised her arms too and moved so she could hug both Larry and Sal, and they returned the gesture.
“… OK, we need to stop or I’m gonna cry.”
“I’m glad I met you, guys.”
“Sal, stop…”
“Me too!”
“Ash! Seriously! Stop you two or I’ll become a mess!”
She giggled and retreated a little, but she didn’t let go of their hands.
“Sorry, but I guess that, after that, I needed this.”
“Eh, no problem.”
“Anytime, Ash.”
She was exhausted and her parents let her miss school for the day, she was glad they let her. She slept until noon, then got up to eat something. She stayed in pajamas since she didn’t have to go out. She approached the living room to turn on the TV and watch some news. She grabbed a cup of coffee (something her parents didn’t like, but she made herself some when they weren’t looking) and switched channels until something caught her attention.
TEACHER KILLED BY DRUNK DRIVER
… What?
She dropped the cup and it felt to the ground, breaking to pieces. She slowly got up and examined the situation.
Yes, that did happen in her nightmare too. But, it had to be coincidence, right? That just couldn’t be. She walked to the kitchen and walked towards the table, where the newspaper was placed. She shakily grabbed it and searched.
She remembered what it was written about it.
How? Why?
Why did she remember the exact title of it?!
BELOVED NOCKFELL HIGH TEACHER KILLED BY DRUNK DRIVER
“No!” She threw away the paper and walked around her house. “That can’t be…”
It was a coincidence! It had to be! How did she know all that?!
She tried to recall what happened after that in her nightmare. They had been relieved for the most part, so Mrs. Packerton wouldn’t commit those atrocities anymore, then… then her parents would notify her about her grandma’s disease… then… what else…? She grabbed a piece of paper and a pen as she made a list of things that she could remember.
Mrs. Packerton dying.
The disappearing of Mr. Packerton’s corpse.
Lisa and Henry dating.
The search through the temple.
The ‘thing’ with her parents.
Sal’s birthday.
The weird thing in Halloween.
Christmas and New Year.
. . .
Them graduating.
Her falling apart.
Being away.
Her grandma dying
Her and Ben fighting.
More alone time.
The day everything fell apart.
The trial.
Her failures.
Sal’s execution.
Why did she know so much?
Was it supposed to be normal? Having such an explicit dream that could last… years? She quickly looked at the clock. It was 2:03 pm. Sal, Larry and Todd were still in school, and Ben was coming home at 3. She quickly grabbed some decent clothes and got out of the house. She was glad her father brought her bike along.
She had to know.
She jumped into it and rode as fast as she could.
In her nightmare, when they found out, they were to the Addison Apartments and searched through the place, and Mr. Packerton’s body and the rest of things that kept him alive were gone. If that was the case, then…
She parked her bike in the entrance of the apartments and headed inside. She tried to be subtle, avoiding the cameras and walking as nothing happened. When she arrived to the old Mrs. Packerton’s apartment, she frowned as a camera was nearby. Looking around, she looked at a vase with flowers in it, maybe Lisa had time to adorn the place.
“I hope she can forgive me…”
She grabbed it and dropped the flowers along the water. This was a small building, something Larry didn’t like, but he was fine with his own home since it was bigger than the apartments themselves. So, reaching the camera wasn’t that hard. She stood on her toes and smashed with all her strength the thing. The crystal broke along the ceramic, and she hissed in pain as she cut her hands. The camera fell too and she smashed it in case it kept working. If there was someone around, it seemed that they didn’t hear her maneuver. She sighed then sneaked inside the old teacher’s apartment. It didn’t stink as much as it used to, but this place still was nauseous.
She walked to the room where she found Sal and Larry.
As expected, there was no body, and no notification of it in the news.
Why was this happening again?
Again?
What if she was actually dreaming and passed out when Sal was…?
Her breathing hitched at that possibility. Maybe this was a dream, it hadn’t been lasting as long as the last one. But, why was this so real too?!
She pulled her hair roughly, praying for to wake up soon, but her pulling was so hard that some strands fell through her fingers.
“Wake up… wake up! Wake up!”
She accidentally pulled the zone where her wound was healing, and couldn’t help but to cry out in pain. She kneeled down and breathed hard.
Calm down, her mind screamed at her.
OK, maybe some things were true, but there had to be some things that weren’t going to happen the same, right? Or, if she, somehow, knew what was going to happen in the future, then…
She glanced up, staring at her hands.
Could she prevent the mass murder from happening?
Could she save Larry from killing himself?
Could she save Todd from succumbing into despair and darkness?
Could she save Sal from being executed for her fault?
Y ͂̾̎ ̀ ͕̱̼̘͚͡ o ̪͙̥͗͂͆ u ̢͔̄̆ r ͍̼̪̈́̆͛͢͡ f ͕̞͍̠̟̌̋͐̍͘ a ͘ ̃ ͚̱ u ̫̓ l ̧̧̝̎̈̿ t ̧̯̎̍ . ͚̗̹͎̾̑̕͞ . ͆ ̀ ̘̮̩̤̓͊ . ̡̞͊̐
She calmed her breathing and stood up.
First, she needed be absolutely sure about knowing the events of the future. If one or two things in her list were to happen in the exact order, then she’d have to do something about it. Then, she’d need to get more involved in this ghost thing her friends had so she could help too.
She quietly walked out of the room and the apartments, then she rode back to her house, as if nothing happened. She was taking off her helmet when she heard a voice.
“What the hell, Ash?! You miss school but go into a ride?! Are you crazy?!”
She flinched a little and turned to look at her friends. She should’ve expected them to visit her, but she was so scared about her being here knowing things she wasn’t supposed to know that she acted by impulse.
“Hey, guys…” She laughed a little nervous. “You won’t tell my parents, right?”
Larry glared at her, crossing his arms. Ash sighed.
“Sorry… I just… really needed to go somewhere. It was important.”
The boys looked at each other, and Larry just sighed.
“Fine, but you owe us!”
“Yeah, yeah… wanna come in?”
She tried to distract herself by making her friends drinks and chatting as nothing happened. Ashley really wanted to tell them about this freaky thing that happened to her. But she needed to be sure, if she wasn’t, then they’d consider as crazy.
Her expression turned darker.
She didn’t exactly call them crazy, but… she couldn’t believe in their words, even when they needed her the most.
She had to fix this.
Maybe she was too distracted reflexing about this, that she didn't notice a gaze staring at her shaking movements.