Page 21

SHAKE IT OFF

SAVANNAH

I pace around the living room in a shitty attempt to gather my thoughts. I don't want to be in that damn bedroom anymore, not after what happened. I thought it was a dream, but a dream doesn't leave me sore like an actual cryptid had its way with me.

I feel like I’m losing my mind. Scrambling to put the events from last night together like a puzzle, but I’m missing too many pieces.

The last thing I fully remember is taking a shower, then going to sit with Fallon, Summer, and Amber by the fire.

The rest of the night is fuzzy, like I’m trying to watch it on an antenna tv, but only blips of the picture are visible before dissolving into static again.

The more I try, the more pissed off I get.

The throb in my head intensifies to near unbearable, and I reluctantly walk back to my bedroom.

Maybe seeing it again will trigger a memory, if not, I’ll be able to grab some pain meds.

As soon as I step into the bedroom, all I see is red.

I tear the paintings off of the walls, yank the sheets off the bed, throw an ugly fucking vase across the room, and shatter the full length mirror.

Breaking anything and everything I can get my hands on.

I don't stop until I feel hands on my shoulders, they pat and rub in an attempt to get me to calm down.

Fallon stands off to the side asking what the hell is going on.

Get it together, Sav.

Breathe in. One, two, three, four, five.

Breathe out. Five, four, three, two, one.

I repeat my five count internally at least three more times. Waiting until I feel clear-headed enough to explain my freak out to the girls.

“I'm not sure how I can even tell you all this without y'all thinking that I need to be committed,” I say, breaking the tense silence.

“Try me,” Amber mutters from in front of me. I just royally fucked her chance at getting that damage deposit back, and she looks like she wants to slit my throat because of it.

“I had a dream last night that I was…uh…fucked by Bigfoot. However, I don't think it was a dream.” It’s so fucking quiet after my confession I can hear the flapping and cawing of crows outside.

I swear, their noises sound too close to human laughter sometimes.

Was that a person? I hear it for a second then it’s gone.

I don’t know what’s real anymore after that nightmare. Shake it off, just like T Swizzle.

“Okay... What makes you think it wasn't a dream?” Amber asks.

I can't believe we’re even having this conversation.

Nor can I believe that I’m about to say any of this out loud.

Giving myself a pep talk, ‘just say it, Sav. They're your friends, they’ll believe you’ .

I square my shoulders and stand a little straighter, despite the flaming pain in my nether regions.

With as little emotion as I can muster, I say, “I woke up this morning and I was sore.”

Summer lets out a small giggle before slapping her hand over her mouth.

“UGH! SEE! This is why I didn't want to tell any of you anything! There’s someone or something messing with us, and you fucking bitches think it’s a joke. The longer we stay here, the more I come to terms with the fact that we all should have left with Bridget!”

“Savannah, calm down. I shouldn't have laughed,” Summer states as she takes a step closer to me.

“No! Don't tell me to calm down.” I shove past them and stomp my way to the back deck that was covered in the carcasses of dead animals not even twenty-four hours ago.

“Did this look like a joke to you Summer?” I snap, gesturing to the now clean porch that still reeks of decay.

Of course, she doesn't reply, giving me her signature death stare. I swear she has the ability to shut off her emotions in the blink of an eye, and when you blink again, they’re back. Like it never happened at all.

“No. It didn’t look like a joke yesterday. But I still don't think there’s anything truly sinister at play here. I’m sorry for laughing, but you have to understand how mentally disordered you sound.”

“Oo, not Summer using big words.”

“Go fuck yourself. Better yet, let’s call your new boyfriend, Bigfoot, to do it for you.”

“Woah, let's not do this shit again. I don’t want a repeat of last night,” Fallon finally steps in.

I'm kind of surprised it's not Amber jumping to her best friend’s rescue.

I let out a frustrated laugh. “Actually, let's talk about last night. Do any of you remember anything much after Bridget left?”

That shut them up.

“SEE! Again, someone is fucking with us. For all we know they’re watching us right now.

” I turn away from the girls, walk off the back porch, and yell into the forest. “Is this what you wanted?! To turn us against each other, and pull us apart?” I pause, waiting for a reply I know won’t come.

“Answer me you crazy fuck!” I scream. Circling in place, arms outstretched, I scream loud enough to wake the dead.

“What do you want?! Huh? WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT?!”

Still no response comes, and my behaviour is making the other girls uncomfortable. Maybe I am mentally unstable, and the nightmare is just a manifestation of that. Panting and out of breath, I ask, “Have any of you heard from Bridget?”