Someone was tapping me on the back of the head.
“Wake up sleepy” a familiar voice said. I groaned, sitting up and adjusted my glasses. Gwen stood in front of me, staring at me with a sly smile.
“Huh?” I said, yawning.
“Come on Pete, Otto will kill us if we’re late” she said.
“We’ll be fine” I said.
“You take his kindness for granted sometimes. Now seriously come on” she said. I pulled myself up, stretching lightly. I looked over my desk, searching for my reports. Crap had I lost them? This would be the second time.
“I’ve got yours here silly” she said handing them to me.
“Thanks, I almost had a heart attack” I said. Gwen rolled her eyes, the corners of her mouth tugging upwards into a smile and we made our way out into the corridor and up a small flight of stairs.
I yawned again. when a weird sensation
Blood seeped through her clothes as dust, and debris seemed to grow out of her skin. The lights in the lift flickered and her eyes grew dark.
“You let me die, just like Uncle Ben right?”
“No! No Gwen it wasn’t like that.”
“Then how comes you didn’t die. You were right there, next to the explosion, weren’t you? How comes
I felt my shoes grow wet and looked down to see black ooze seeping into the vents of the elevator. I stumbled backwards and fell, splashing onto the floor. I looked up to see Gwen’s blood stained face stare at me unflinchingly, her judging eyes fixed upon my face.
“How is that fair Peter? How is that fair?”
“I’m sor-”
My voice hitched in my throat. I tried to speak again, but I couldn’t say anything. My voice didn’t work. I tried to move, but the ooze held me down. No, it pulled me deeper into its endless abyss as Gwen stared at me uncaring. I could see my face reflected in her empty eyes, the fear and guilt etched into it so clearly. I tried to struggle, tried to scream, but it was no use. And as I was dragged down further, I recognised the twisted maniacal laughter of Dr Gonzales echo in my ears. As my head started to submerge the elevator started to glow with a blinding heat. I tried to scream, out crying as I struggled and then with a deafening roar everything went white.
-
I opened my eyes with a start, sweat covering my body and my heart beating out of my chest. I took a few seconds to calm down before I slumped back onto the ceiling, my hands still trembling. I’d had the same dream three times now. It always started with me doing something with Gwen and then getting trapped in the black ooze. I wiped my cheeks and then my brow, letting out a shaky sigh. I needed to stop thinking about it and get ready. I was finally meeting Bella, Grady and Sajani today. I hadn’t had a proper chance to talk to any of them since the… event, even at the funeral. I looked down at the time, tilting my head to get a better view. 11:19. I had an hour and a bit.
I sniffed myself and made a face. I still smelt like garbage. I dropped down and landed on the floor, soundlessly. I opened the windows letting the stink out of my room. I’d gotten home late last night and decided to not take a shower so I wouldn’t wake Aunt May. Maybe I shouldn’t have. I glanced at the bag next to my bed and sprayed the contents with deodorant again, before zipping it shut.
I grabbed some clothes to change into and stepped out into the hallway. I could hear MJ and Aunt May laughing together downstairs. I crept quietly to the bathroom and started a shower. As I stood there, all my thoughts were fixed on what happened last night. It hadn’t exactly been what I’d expected. I understood why the woman had been so angry, but had she really needed to throw garbage at me? I sighed. It didn’t matter, I just had to deal with it.
My thoughts went back to the dream. Unlike before it was sticking in my mind, the memories of it becoming sharper rather than fading away. Her words rung in my head, drawing out a guilt from my stomach. She wasn’t real. That hadn’t been Gwen. It was the twisted part of my psyche that was just blaming me for her death. It hadn’t been my fault. It hadn’t.
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My replacement phone buzzed, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realised I’d been holding. I turned off the shower and dried myself quickly, putting on my clothes. I didn’t smell anymore thank God. I checked my phone. It was Sajani. She had to reschedule to half an hour later. That was fine, it gave me more than enough time to make my second web-shooter and run a few tests on myself. I paused. It gave me more than enough time. I felt my heart drop slightly. I’d have enough time to go to Helga’s before we met up.
Enough time to tell them Gwen was dead.
Well, it could wait till after, couldn’t it? I mean I didn’t have to do it beforehand. I’d stick to the plan and wait till after lunch. I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. No, I was just putting it off again. I clasped my hands together. If I was going to do it, I was going to do it now. Even the web-shooter could wait.
“Morning” I called out, as I rushed down the stairs.
“Morning” MJ and Aunt May called back.
“Your breakfast is in the oven” Aunt May added. The smell of pancakes wafted past my nose. I paused, my laces hanging loosely in my hands. I should probably eat first.
-
I stood outside my apartment building, clutching my memorial card from the funeral. I held it tightly, looking at Gwen’s face on the cover. She was smiling brightly as she looked at the camera, her eyes sparkling despite the lack of light. It was a photo I’d taken on her 21st birthday. The photo wasn’t that great, it wasn’t centred, there wasn’t enough light, and I’d been too drunk to hold the camera properly. But there was something about it. I wasn’t sure, maybe it just captured Gwen’s essence, or maybe it was her smile. I thought back to when I’d taken the photo. It had been the group of us from college and I’m pretty sure we’d all been drunk out of our minds. Harry had made sure it was extravagant, so there hadn’t exactly been a limit to the number of drinks we could have. I’m pretty sure Grady had passed out whilst singing in the karaoke booth. I let out a small chuckle, wiping at my eyes before looking up at the building.
I stepped inside, trudging up the steps slowly. My heart thumped, growing quicker with every step. I flinched as the stairs creaked beneath my feet and the sound of voices grew closer. Before I realised it, I was on the landing. I made my way over to Helga’s door and stared at, letting out a heavy breath. My shoulders slumped and I knocked on the door. My heart sunk to the pit of my stomach as footsteps drew closer and then the door creaked open slightly. Sasha poked her head around the door and her curious expression turned into a smile.
“Hey Pete!” she said, smiling widely as she opened the door.
“Hey Sasha” I replied, dejected. Her smile disappeared.
“Woah, you okay? What’s wrong?” she asked, stepping forwards.
“I… I lied to you. I’m sorry” I said.
“What?” she said, the confusion apparent on her face.
“When I came back the other day I lied” I said, my voice shaky. “I didn’t mean to but I did. It was wrong and I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“Peter? What are you talking about? Did something happen?”
“I… Gwen’s not… Gwen’s not okay” I said sniffling. Sasha’s concern twisted into fear.
“Is she in the hospital?”
“No Sasha she’s…” I trailed off, fighting back tears. I took a deep breath and turned back to Sasha, her face filled with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity.
“Gwen’s not with us anymore” I said tearfully. “She died in the explosion. I’m sorry Sasha. I should’ve told you sooner.”
Sasha stepped back, a look of uncertainty on her face. She stared at me with wet eyes, uncharacteristically silent. She looked as though she was searching for something, anything in my expression that would help her make sense of what I’d just said. I handed her the memorial card and she stared at it, her hand trembling in disbelief.
“There was a funeral already?” she said the hurt in her voice palpable. Her eyes sparkled with tears.
“I’m sorry” I responded, placing a hand on her shoulder. She just stared at the card, still. I gave her a few seconds to process things before speaking.
“Is… your mum here?” I asked.
She shook her head.
“Will she be back soon? I’d like to tell her. I don’t want you to have to do that”
“She won’t be back for a while. I… I can tell mum” she said, looking up at me.
“I can come back” I said.
“It’s fine Pete. Really” she said, offering me back the card.
“Keep it. It’s for you”
“Thanks” she mumbled. I stood there, unsure of what to do. She glanced up at me and pulled me into a hug quickly. I hugged back and she buried her face into my shoulder and clutched me tightly. She didn’t cry, but the silence was enough to tell what she was feeling.
She pulled away almost as soon as she’d hugged me and let out a nervous laugh as she wiped her eyes.
“Sorry” she said.
“It’s fine. No need to apologise.” She nodded and we both stood in silence for a few seconds.
“I… thanks for letting me know” she said sniffling.
“I should’ve told you before.”
“It’s ok. I get why you didn’t. We were so happy to see you and… that must’ve been hard.”
“I still shouldn’t have lied.”
“You were hurting. It’s…ok” she said. I watched her closely. She was struggling to keep it together.
“Do you want me to stay for a bit or-“
“No, it’s fine” she said abruptly. She took a shaky breath, staring at the ground then looked up at me. “Sorry” she said, barely audible.
“It’s ok if you need space. If you need me, I’ll be next door” I said. She nodded and then closed the door.
I stood there for a few seconds as the sound of footsteps disappeared further into her apartment. Then faintly I heard the sound of crying. My shoulders slumped further, and I sighed. I pinched the bridge of my nose then looked up at the ceiling. I’d just have to leave her alone. If Sasha wanted to talk to me, then she’d knock. I opened my apartment door and instantly slumped face first onto my bed. After a few seconds I sat up and glanced at my watch. 12:19. Oh right, I was meeting with the others wasn’t I. I’d have to leave in twenty minutes. What if Sasha knocked expecting me? Should I cancel? No, that wouldn’t be fair to my friends. I’d just slip a note under her door with my number, then she’d be able to call me. I slumped back into my bed with a sniffle. Hopefully I wasn’t as much of an emotional mess when I showed up. I didn’t want to bring everyone down even more.