Page 15 of Don't Look Back

Leaving the cattle prod right where it is, I go to pick up a baseball bat with barbed wire wrapped around the entirety of it. Bringing it over to the corpse that once was Christopher, I raise the bat in the air and bring it smashing down onto his body. It’s satisfying in a way that should have me concerned. Instead, a manic laugh bubbles out of my throat as I smash the bat into Chris’s body until all that remains is a sloppy man-slushie. Ugh. Once again, making a mess on my boat! Rude! See, this is why you died, dude.

Shaking my head, I turn to Allie. It’s the first time in what feels like hours that I take to really look at her. Had I spent that long on torture?Ooops! Her hand rests lifelessly on the steering wheel of the boat, which thankfully is still on autopilot, though going at a much slower rate now. Goosebumps coat her skin, and a shiver takes over her body. The moment her eyes meet mine, I know. She’s dying. It won’t be long now. There's no way my AllieCat, my princess, can make the swim to shore… and I’m not strong enough to get us both there unassisted. She nods once solemnly. We both know what comes next.

Without a word, I get the explosive charges and line the boat with them. Avery’s mom asked us to sink this bitch to the bottomof the lake, and that was exactly what we would do! Besides, I kind of love blowing things up. Especially a boat!

Placing a chaste kiss on the top of Allie's forehead, I jump overboard with my doll form. Once I’m a safe distance away, I press the detonate button and watch as my world, and Avery’s, literally goes up in flames. We were thorough. There would be nothing left to salvage. Turning away, I swim back to shore, trusting the persistent tug in my chest to lead me back to Savannah's house. We need to have a long talk about some things.

Once we arrive at the mansion, I release my hold on Avery. Together we walk through the doors only to realize we’re not alone. Some of my old classmates are here as well…. And they all have dolls.

Just. Like. Me.

11

ALLIE

I’m dying. I can feel it in my bones. My consciousness drifts in and out as the lake surrounds me. My blood, or what is left of it, flows freely into the water. Even though I rolled over the boat's edge before the explosion, I’m too weak to keep my head above water, and before long, it begins to fill my lungs.

At least soon I will see my parents again.

Closing my eyes one last time, I give in to the dark abyss pulling me under. No more pain, no more anger or fear. Just peace. I’m ready.

But peace never comes.

Instead of the cold, empty embrace of death, I feel a searing pain light me up from the inside out. Opening my eyes, I see an old woman all dressed in black standing before me. We’re not inthe water anymore, but on land. Surrounded by circus tents that emit a darker, almost unnatural type of energy rather than the typical fun energy most circuses do.

The old woman looks withered with age and is dressed like a fortune teller.

“Not yet, child. Death is not so easily earned. Your soul is mine now to do with as I please. You will become my protege, young one, and our training starts now.”

The End

Maybe…