I can't breathe [https://img.wattpad.com/4eac08994e35dd4814cd88de6790d7b8f71bdf79/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f58346e7951387933674368654b673d3d2d313439363036353834312e313830383130356263623830643936343437383139383436343133392e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

I can't breathe. I can't think. His arms are around me, holding me tight—this boy. My chest tightens, my vision blurs, and the world around me spins. His uncle, lifeless, lies beside me. I feel his hand, still warm, resting on my lap. Blood is everywhere, sticky and hot between my legs. I want to push this boy away, to get as far from him as I can, but my body betrays me, trembling uncontrollably.

"Just breathe," he says calmly. "In and out, slow and steady. My mother used to say the faster you breathe, the worse it gets. Hannah and I went through this once. Trust me."

What is he talking about? My mind scrambles to process his words, to understand this horrifying calm in his voice, but I can't. His hand pats my back as if to comfort me, only deepening the panic. My heart pounds so loudly I can hear it, drowning out everything around me. My vision spins, the world a dizzying blur.

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"Hey! Don't try to get up," he warns, "you'll get yourself hurt."

Hurt? Is he planning to kill me too? My stomach churns. I feel nauseated, and before I can stop myself, I'm heaving, retching onto the floor beside me.

"See? I told you," he says, sounding almost disappointed. "You should stay put."

My mind reels, desperate for escape. I can't stay here, not with him. My eyes fix on the door—a path out of this nightmare. I make a move toward it, barely able to get to my feet.

"Hey, older sis, come back! You're not safe out there!" he calls after me.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

When did it all begin?

Ah, yes.

It was just a week ago.

My mother had asked me to visit her sister, Aunt Marie, on a remote island. I'd only ever talked to my aunt online—through WhatsUp and Messenger. What if I'd just said no to my mom back then? If I'd gone out to karaoke with my friends after volleyball practice, or just ignored her request and crashed in bed like any other night? I wouldn't be trapped here on this bizarre, twisted island. I'd still be living my calm, predictable life, far from this place. I miss my mom and dad, my brother, my friends... all the normal things that feel so far away now.

I can still see it perfectly—the sunlight filtering through the curtains beside my bed, the fresh breeze that slipped through the window, and the sound of my alarm clock marking the start of a day that I thought would be ordinary.