Her words, not mine.
Dangerous Night by Thirty Seconds to Mars fills the space as Kim snatches a drink from a butler’s tray.
I face her. “Are you nervous? We can go home if you like.”
“Nope!” She laughs. “We agreed to not run away anymore, remember?”
“It’s fine to run away sometimes. You know, for self-preservation.”
She chugs half of the drink. “How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Act so strong, Ellie! I wish I had your cool head.”
I lift my shoulder. “I’m not really that cool, Kim. I don’t show it.”
“Show it?”
I catch a dark figure in my peripheral vision and the blood in my veins turns to ice.
Blood.
So much blood.
Steel blood runs in your veins. You will not disgrace it.
The haunting voice booms in my head like a demon’s. The tips of my fingers tingle and turn icy.
An urge to scrub them clean takes over me like a drug addict burning for a fix.
A weird sensation crawls down my spine as I feel eyes on me. Blank, lifeless eyes. They’re watching.
They’re coming to get me.
They’ll eat me.
Run, Elsa!
NOW!
“Elsa?”
My gaze snaps to Kim who’s waving a hand in front of my face.
“Huh?”
“You just zoned out.” Her brows furrow. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” I force a smile. “I just need the restroom. I’ll be right back.”
I bolt out of there before she can say another word. With one of the butlers’ help, I find a restroom. The burn under my skin becomes like hellfire, about to consume me whole.
It only cools once I pour water and scrub it clean over and over again.
I watch my surroundings the entire time as if expecting someone to jump me from the walls. Or worse, the mirrors.
I stare at my spooked reflection. My pupils are round as saucers and my white-ish hair looks like a witch’s.