Home.
The thought of going home was enough to send me into another crying fit now that I was vulnerable and open again, but Ingrid kept talking, and I wanted to listen, so I let out a heavy sigh to try and push the sob out of me and refocus.
“What is a White Witch?” I had questioned if Audrey really was a witch herself this whole time. She wasn’t aging and messed with my head at will.
“White Witches are witches who work for good. There is also dark magic, and that is what is happening here, at least that’s what I believe. Normally, we don’t intervene much in the lives of others, as there aren’t many of us, and our lineage has suffered greatly those times we have. I try to help out the good guys, so to speak.
“This was an interesting circumstance since vampires are not considered to be good. However, your friends won me over at once. I’ve never seen a group work for a better cause than that of an innocent’s life.” She was smiling warmly at me and made me feel at ease.
“I can’t wait to meet you in person and tell you more, but we need to get you home first. In a few days time, I’m going to send one of your friends in a dream with instructions. In the meantime, I need you to realize when you are dreaming and when you are awake.”
“I know when I’m dreaming, Ingrid,” I said matter of factly.
“No, Ariya. I believe Audrey has confused your mind when it comes to dreams and reality.”
“That’s impossible.” I frowned, not understanding. I hadn’t had a single dream since Riley left. I knew I hadn’t because we had figured out the secret. If something painful happened in a dream, when I awoke, it’d be gone. When something painful happened, and I awoke to it still being there, it was real.
“I’m speaking to you through a dream now, child, and until I told you it was a dream, you didn’t know. Nothing is impossible. You need to figure this out, Ariya, or we can’t get you free.”
“How will I know? How can I tell? I thought I was fine!” I said panicking a bit thinking about how I had to figure out something I knew nothing about in order to be saved.
“Trust your instincts. Don’t let Audrey continue to confuse you. You’ll see me soon.” She smiled sweetly again and was gone.
I blinked a few times reminding myself I was dreaming, and then focused on waking myself up. I pinched my broken arm. Nothing happened. I tried to look around the cell. Everything looked like I was awake. I closed my eyes hard and internally yelled at myself.
Get a grip Ariya! WAKE UP! Wake up, you’re dreaming.
Nothing. I tried again, yelling at myself more intensely this time and focusing on believing it really was a dream.
I opened my eyes and was back on the floor where I had passed out. Dr. Stad really was gone, but now the light was off where as a minute ago it had been on.
I did it! I woke up.
I was going to have to try hard to figure things out if Audrey was messing with me. I didn’t remember any of the dreams she’d sent me, but maybe I wouldn’t if I didn’t know I was dreaming.
I went through the bigger things since I’d come to the house of horrors so that I wouldn’t start giving myself unrealistic expectations for when I escaped. Riley had really been here, but now he was gone. My arm was broken, proving James was dead. Those were two things I knew to be real, even though I’d give anything for the second to be a false memory. You can feel again, Ariya, but don’t hold onto things that aren’t going to happen. I needed to remind myself of what I knew for sure, and right now, those two things were it.
When I got out of here, I would get my strength back, and then I would figure out how to destroy Audrey for all of this. I noticed the haze that had been in my vision for as long as I could remember being here was somewhat lighter. Like my vision had sharpened once I realized I could wake myself up. It may be all I had to focus on to escape like Ingrid wanted me to. I had to stay strong so I could go home.
For the first time since James’s death, I had purpose again. If I could escape, I could get revenge on Audrey for everything she had done to me, and everything she was planning on doing to the people I loved. Hell, everything she was planning on doing to the world in general. I had allowed myself to be her toy long enough.
With my new-found purpose and clear resolve, I focused on getting my strength back somehow. I stood and started walking around the cell more. I ate the food they brought. Trying to eat after refusing for so long was difficult. At each meal, I worked harder to finish everything that was given to me. I was shocked that a nasty comment hadn’t been made by Audrey or Tristan about my increased appetite.
I thought that a few days had passed since my encounter with Ingrid, but being down here I wasn’t sure. My emotions ramped up again, which reassured me that I was getting back to being my old self, at least as much of my old self as possible given everything that had happened. Surprisingly it made me feel good to have crazy emotions because it meant I was going less crazy myself. This was better.
I hoped Audrey couldn’t block my friends out from me somehow. Maybe she figured out I was getting help, felt Ingrid’s presence or something. No. I had to trust it was all still going to plan on Ingrid’s end since I couldn’t really do anything on mine.
My thoughts were interrupted by the creaking of the stairs. The light flicked on. The good doctor had come for more blood today. I frowned at him, giving my best scowling face. He unlocked the door and set up as usual.
“You may not believe me, Ariya, but I truly am sorry.” He said that every time he came down here to stick me with another one of his needles.
I kept quiet just as I had each time before then. Then I thought about how I might be able to get something out of him. Actually, speaking to him would catch him off guard.
“There must be a lot of dead werewolves based on how much blood you’ve taken, Doctor,” I said.
He raised an eyebrow at me and slid the needle into my vein, causing me to flinch. “There have been no dead werewolves or attacks. Audrey is stockpiling this stuff.”
“Excuse me? You’ve been using me as a living blood bank and putting my blood on shelves? It’s not even helping anyone? People could steal it!” I shouted angrily.
I didn’t think anyone was stupid enough to steal from Audrey, but the thought of my blood on reserve disturbed me.
“I doubt anyone would sneak into her office and take it.” My face must have shown surprise at the detail he had just given me because he quickly added, “Don’t repeat that.”
I sat thinking about it. There had to be a way I could destroy it. If I did escape, I didn’t want them to have any way of healing anyone. Sneaking into Audrey’s office would be nearly impossible. I considered pleading with the doctor to destroy it himself, but quickly abandoned that plan. Defying Audrey would jeopardize his sister’s life, and I’d put him in enough danger for trying to get information out of him as it was.
We didn’t say anything else to each other. He packed up his bags and walked out as soon as he had what he deemed to be enough blood.
I stood up from the bench, feeling lightheaded. Usually the doctor gave me a cola or something once we were done, however, he had been in a rush and hadn’t given me anything. Feeling woozy, I forced my eyes open wider, trying to refocus my vision. I was still wobbling. I quickly sat on the floor to keep from hurting myself if I passed out, but the motion sent me over the edge and my body just collapsed.
“Ariya?”
I heard the voice and my heart leapt! My eyes shot open. I must be dreaming. Ingrid told me they’d come in a dream. Remember you’re dreaming, I told myself a couple times.
“Care? Caroline?” I managed to choke out before I pulled myself up and threw my arms around her.
I had more energy in my dreams, I noticed. Maybe it was because I realized it was not real. When I pulled back, her face didn’t look happy.
“Ariya, you look awful.” Tears came to her eyes. “I’m so sorry we didn’t come sooner. We were trying, really hard. I’m sorry.”
She was so upset. I hated seeing her like this. I couldn’t imagine everything that she must be going through right now.
“It’s okay, Caroline. You are here now.”
Of course she’s upset about everything!
“How is Nick holding up?” I asked worried about his reaction to James’s death.
She frowned at me and seemed to realize what I was talking about, but shook her head at me. “We can talk when you’re out of here. I need you to listen to me, Ariya. It’s time. Can you…” She paused, looking me over as if it would be impossible for me to do anything other than be in the cell.
It’s time. Time to escape. Part of me was reluctant to trust this woman Ingrid. Was this another game Audrey was trying to play with me? But, the enticing thought of an escape was more than enough for me to risk it.
“Can you run?” Caroline’s voice was gentle, but I could tell she was holding back some anger. I wasn’t sure if she was angry at me after Ingrid had told them about James, or if she was angry at the situation.
“I can run, Care.” I tried to sound sincere even though I was worried I wouldn’t be able to move quickly enough to escape. I didn’t want to worry her though.
“Are you sure?” Her voice cracked doubtfully.
“I can do it.” I looked steadily into her eyes. In reality, I didn’t know how far I would make it. I hadn’t been eating well and had been drained of blood so many times I’d lost count…I had to figure out a way to get what they’d taken from me. Otherwise, it didn’t matter if I was here or not because they would still have a way to bring their wretched selves back.
“Okay. When I tell you to wake up, I need you to run out of here and up the stairs. The cell door is unlocked. You need to run out the door in the kitchen, the one right next to this one, and then keep running straight. Don’t hesitate and don’t look behind you, no matter what. One of us will be there to get you, just keep running as fast as you can.” She nodded at me waiting for a response.
“Okay,” I said smiling in spite of everything.
I was going home. I was so joyful I thought I was going to burst. A voice in the back of my mind tried to intervene and remind me it could be a trap. NO! I forcefully told that little voice to go away. This was real and I had to have faith that my friends had come. I went over what Caroline had just said in my head as she sat there patiently waiting for me to process.
“Are you ready?”
I nodded at her again. “Yes.”
“I can’t wait to see you, Ariya. Be careful. Run fast.” She paused and started to back away from me. “Wake up, Ariya. Wake up now.” I focused all my energy.
Wake up I told myself squeezing my eyes shut like I had before. Wake up! I opened my eyes to find Caroline gone.
I did it! It had been easier because I told myself I was dreaming right off the bat.
The cell door was in fact propped open. I hesitated only a moment before bolting towards it. I wasn’t in good shape since I hadn’t had enough nutrition and had basically been sitting in a cell all day, every day, but I could walk fast. I’d try to run when I got outside. I hopped up the stairs not paying attention to the noise I was making. When I got to the top, I turned to go out the back door. I set my hand on the handle, but I stopped dead.
She said I had to hurry, but I needed the blood gone. Silently cursing under my breath and hesitating only a minute, I turned and ran towards Audrey’s office. I didn’t see anyone so I had no idea what was going on to keep them all away. Maybe an attack was being staged? My legs warmed up as I rushed towards her office.
The door was shut, but when I turned the knob, it opened. I searched frantically around the room. I knew I didn’t have much time. Caroline would be angry I deviated from the plan, but if my blood remained here, they could rebuild after an attack. I didn’t want to risk that.
I spotted a refrigerator standing in the corner of the room. I moved closer to it.
“Bad girl.” Tristan’s deep voice sounded behind me. “How did you get out?”
He smiled from the doorway and didn’t look the least bit concerned. That refrigerator had to be where the blood was. There was nowhere else in her office it could be.
“I was trying to get more of my blood, because I’m worried. I think I’m losing my mind, and I thought if I drank my own blood, I’d heal.” That may have been the dumbest thing I ever said, but Tristan was an idiot in my mind, so maybe it would work.
He stood sneering at me. “By all means.” He pointed over towards the fridge.
Stay calm. Keep playing along, I told myself. I walked over to the box and saw it was locked. I felt something hit my back.
“Keys,” he said gruffly.
I didn’t understand why he was humoring me, but I wasn’t about to argue. I opened the refrigerator and saw eight bags of blood. Sick, I thought to myself. I didn’t realize I had given that much already. I pulled one of the bags out without shutting the refrigerator door behind me. Then I walked to Audrey's desk and set it down right on top.
“Drink it in front of me,” his voice rasped.
That wasn’t good. I was pretty sure I’d vomit if I actually drank it.
“I need something to puncture it with,” I managed to get out calmly.
How was I going to get out of this mess? What an idiot I was. I was ruining my chance to escape!
He strode over to the desk and grabbed a pair of scissors from the drawer. He handed them over. It was then, when he got close to me, that I noticed the vulgar bulge in his pants. Eww! I thought. He was excited by this. I shivered taking the scissors, but realized I couldn’t grab the bag too.
“I, I need help. I only have one hand.” My arm was still in the sling so I couldn’t cut the bag and hold the scissors. This was going to be complicated.
“Can you hold the bag for a minute?” I asked, in the sexiest voice I could muster.
I mean I was talking about drinking my own blood, how sexy could that be? I did know I needed to hang on to the scissors though, as they were my only weapon.
He took the bag from the desk and held it out for me. “Drink it,” he said again, in a raspy voice.
I brought the scissors up to the bag and smiled sweetly at him. If I was right, he’d be distracted, and I could figure out how to destroy the blood and escape. I didn’t have time for this! Caroline was already going to be worried since I should have made it out by now.
“Watch me, Tristan,” I said. Before bringing the bag to my lips, I flipped the scissors in my hand to point the blade facing out by my legs.
The scissors wouldn’t hurt if I stabbed him, except in one place–right at hand level. I could do it. If I aimed for that horrid bulge, I’d have a minute to grab the bags and run. He walked up closer and I acted before I got too scared to.
He screamed as the blades sunk into his pants. I grabbed the bags and ran, just like I was told to begin with. I tried to move quickly back through the hall and to the kitchen out the door Caroline had instructed me to use.
I heard him yelling at people behind me. He was alerting them that I was escaping. I couldn’t run very fast, and I was already feeling dizzy from the excitement and being up and about out of the cell. The bags were an added weight as I tried to manage carrying all of them. I clutched onto them for dear life, as I continued to run towards the back door of the house. My mind pushed me towards home.
If Tristan healed as quickly as the vampires did, he’d be completely fine in about thirty seconds. My broken arm was throbbing where I had shoved some of the blood bags under it. I wondered if it would ever heal right after all of this.
I jerked the back door open, stumbling out into the sunlight, squinting my eyes. It felt like a white light was all around me, and I was seeing daylight for the first time. It blinded me badly, but just for a moment. I moved my legs making them obey me. Run straight Ariya, run straight.
Pumping my legs harder, I continued to dash away from the house. I could hear the growls behind me, accompanied by gnashing and snarling. I didn’t look back. I had to make it to wherever the point was that Caroline, or Nick, or Ingrid was meeting me.
I sprinted onward, as fast as my body could possibly take me at the moment. I was out of breath and the noises behind me were getting closer. I struggled a bit further and felt like I was going to fall I was getting so tired. My legs protested every movement.
I heard a rustling in the trees around me, and suddenly the terrible noises were no longer coming towards me. There was nothing. Run straight, run straight. I chanted in my head.
I kept going but my lungs were screaming at me for working them too hard. My body was breaking. I wondered if anything followed me. I made the mistake of turning around and caught my foot on a tree root. I hurdled forward and screamed, falling to the ground and dropping all the bags around me. It would have been easy if they spurted open, but instead they bounced all around the area I had fallen in to.
I felt arms wrap around my waist and I yelped again. I jerked around trying to get free, but my captor was too strong.
“Let go!” I yelled.
“Ariya! Ariya, it’s me!” I stopped moving, my body going rigid. Everything stopped.
Impossible, I thought to myself and turned to see who my attacker was.
“No…no.” My voice quivered. What I was looking at couldn’t be true. My fear of all of this being another one of Audrey’s games hit me.
James. I was looking into James’s perfect blue eyes.
“No!” I cried again, this time louder. I slammed my fists into the ground after falling to my knees. Every ounce of faith I had in this truly being an escape disappeared. “Damn it! I thought I woke up. WAKE ME UP, AUDREY!” I bellowed up towards the sky.
James was kneeling in front of me, and the pain in his eyes when he was looking at me caused my own to water. Who knows what Audrey had instructed this Dream James to do?
He brought his hands up tentatively to my cheek and my name escaped softly from his lips. The voice caressed over me and suddenly that safety that I had always felt with him came rushing back, slamming into me, and wrapping me up into a blanket.
“You’re not real. You’re not real,” I repeated the words over and over and they became softer each time.
He stayed motionless, another subtle sign that this was a dream. The real James would have thrown me over his shoulder and gotten me out of there as fast as he could if we were still in danger. We must still be in danger; I couldn’t have run that far. Dream James grabbed at me again, bringing me to my feet.
“Please, let me wake up. I can’t do this,” I said to Dream James, thinking Audrey had a direct connection to him and his actions. I knew she would be able to hear everything I was saying.
“We have to go.” His voice was the perfect sound. I’d tried to push it out of my head for so long.
“We’re not going home! I get it,” I wailed, breaking all over again. I didn’t think I’d recover this time. “You’re dead! I saw you die. I want to wake up. I just want to wake up, please. I can’t do this.” My body was releasing loud, obnoxious sobs.
Dream James glanced down at the scattered bags, and then his gaze dropped to my arms, which were bruised from the blood that had been taken from the same place so many times. As if realizing what the bags were, he picked them up.
“Ariya,” the figment of my imagination said urgently. ”We have to go, do you understand?” He reached down to touch me, but I flinched away looking up at him.
“Please, please don’t touch me. I can’t…” I started, but I couldn’t form a thought to finish.
“I’m sorry about this.” He flung me over his shoulder effortlessly. My face was wet as I was unable to contain the constant stream of tears flowing down it. Audrey would know she caused them. It was giving her just what she wanted. I couldn’t help it though. This dream crossed the line. It was too painful, too real.
Perhaps that’s what this whole ruse was about. Audrey needed to open me up to feelings again. I didn’t feel trapped. I didn’t feel like helping them. What good was a mindless being in a cell donating blood? She wanted me out there walking amongst the troops, giving them my blood willingly, not sitting like a zombie in the basement.
The longer Dream James ran, the more I let myself think about how this was the only way I could have him again. I was probably going crazy and my friends would need to medicate me if I ever got home, but for now, would it be so bad to play along with the dream Audrey was giving me? I inhaled his scent around me. Pine needles, Christmas, safety, and warmth overwhelmed the last of my defenses. I was still draped over his shoulder as he hastily moved through the forest, but I dug my fingers into his shirt, clutching onto what very well may be the last memory I had of James, even if it wasn’t real.
We traveled for some time before he set me down outside the doors of an abandoned house. I didn’t recognize where we were, but it felt like we had traveled a great distance quickly because James moves so fast. I was propped up against the front door.
“James,” I whispered and closed my eyes as I propped myself up against the front door.
When I looked up, James was gone. Had he ever been here? Or was it someone else? Alone on the porch, I turned around to take in the house behind me. It seemed like such a random place. The house was surrounded on all sides by thick forest. I had no idea if we were deeper in, away from Mineral Point and Audrey’s mansion, or if we were actually closer to the town. The trees were so dense it was nearly impossible to see past the first two rows of them. I pushed away from the siding.
I heard Riley’s voice calling my name. Turning around, I saw him standing by the front door with a look of disbelief on his face.
My voice shook. “Riley? You’re alive?” He barreled towards me.
“Yes. Yes, Ariya. And now you’re safe.” He crushed into me, pulling me so close I couldn’t breathe. I wrapped my good arm around him frantically trying to take in as much of him as I could. Riley was alive!
“I was so worried about you. Did they hurt you?”
He shook his head but didn’t release me. “You look terrible. Are you all right?” He stroked my head once and then pulled me back to take a look at me. He grimaced when he touched my broken arm.
The sling was dirty from where I fell in the woods. I had some minor scrapes, and I wasn’t sure how the rest of me looked. “I will be.”
Riley pulled back to walk inside, but I gripped onto him harder.
“Please give me a minute,” I implored. “I just can’t believe you’re okay.”
He nodded at me and pulled me back to his chest, resting his chin on my head. “Ariya, you have no idea how happy I am you’re here.” Something in his voice sounded strange.
I pulled away to look up at him. My head tilted to the side as I took in his expression. “Riley?”
“I’m sorry I left. I know you needed me. I tried to figure out a way to help, but they were so strong…”
“Riley, no! I’m so glad you got out. Please don’t be sad. Please…” I stopped. Remembering my journey here was with Dream James I had to ask. “I’m not dreaming am I? I thought James...”
I trusted Riley. He was the one who kept me sane in the beginning of my captivity. Without him, I wouldn’t have made it.
“You aren’t dreaming now, Ariya, I promise. You’re safe. No one is going to let anything happen to you. Come on, Ingrid and I are going to help you feel better.”
He probably thought I was crazy mentioning James, and maybe I was. I didn’t know anymore. Things would get better now that I was free. He took my hand, and I followed him into the house, hoping it wasn’t too late to salvage my memories and feel normal again.