The stairs are endless. My phone still hasn’t turned on. I’m out of breath, but I keep going. The neon sign reads This Way to the Estigio Pool. I try pushing open the big black door, but it doesn’t budge. I press my ear to the door. Voices sound muffled. I can barely make out Eury.
“I’m here, Eury!” I pound the door with my fists.
I can’t tell if she hears me. I push against the frame using all my strength, but it only cracks open an inch. It’s not enough. I make a running start, and the impact hurts my shoulders. I do it again. One more push.
“Eury! I’m right here!” I yell into the opening. Eury stands there, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her whole body shakes. She talks to someone. Is it Ato? I’m going to tear him apart.
“Get the fuck away from her,” I shout.
One more push.
The door finally gives.
“Eury!”
I catch her tiny smile, a recognition of how I finally found her. A body lies slumped on the floor, and a few feet away is Ato. The boy I saw from the other day. He, too, has a smile, a sinister one. A strange glow emanates from him.
Ato looks over to me.
“It’s too late,” he says.
For a split second, his eyes become orbs of black. Eury was right. He is not from this world. I try not to lose it. How do I get to Eury? How can I protect her from this thing?
“I got you, Eury,” I say. “He’s not going to hurt you.”
Lightning strikes. A blinding flash. Seconds pass slowly as we wait to hear the thunder that never materializes. Instead I hear a familiar song playing on the speakers.
Eury makes a break for it. She runs toward me. I’m waiting for her, my arms ready to take her away from this demon.
Her shoes are slippery. The floor is slick with something wet and red. She runs diagonally, but her feet fail her. She keeps losing her balance. I run to meet her halfway. I’m not going to catch her in time.
Eury falls, and I watch her head hit the side of the pool. There is a loud thunk, and her whole body drops into the water.
“Goodbye, Pheus,” the monster says.
No. Damn. No. No.
I jump into the pool and drag Eury out. A trail of blood trickles down and spreads across the water. Eury’s eyes are closed.
“Eury, wake up. Wake the fuck up.”
There is a gash across her forehead. Blood.
“Eury, I’m right here. Wake up.”
She’s not moving. Naw. Fuck this shit. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.
I scream for help. This can’t be happening. The song continues to play in the background, and I keep yelling for someone, anyone, to hear me. I check her heart. Her wrists. How is it I forget everything I’ve seen on those countless medical shows on TV?
Penelope and Aaron rush toward me.
“What happened?” Penelope asks. She grabs hold of my suit. Her nails dig deep into my chest. Aaron dials 911. The fire alarm has been pulled. More people are finding the roof. There is a circle of onlookers. Penelope keeps screaming. Aaron tries to calm her down.
Stop screaming, Penelope. This isn’t over.
I use the sleeve of my shirt to dry Eury’s face. The wail of an ambulance can be heard. They are coming. I lean over her.
“Please, Eury,” I beg. “Wake up. Eury, I’m right here next to you. This is not how it ends for us. I won’t let it end.”
I kiss her cold cheek.
Eury, wake up.
Eury.