Love Lies Dying (35 page)

It’s not like that,
John finally replied.

“Yes, it is. Just like Laura.”

Stop talking about Laura, it’s nothing like Laura!

Richard sighed, “Of course it is! She played you, she screwed you and now Zoe is doing the same thing. You weren’t in control then and you’re certainly not in control now.”

What was I supposed to do? Laura moved out of state!

“You just hung around and waited, didn’t you?”

Yes!

“Waited for her to return.”

Of course!

“But she didn’t come back, did she, John?”

No, but I didn’t know that was going to happen.

“But you didn’t do anything to change the situation, did you?”

John thought for a second.
No, I didn’t.

“You never found out why she didn’t come back, did you?”

No, I didn’t.

“You didn’t do anything. You just waited.”

Yeah, I waited.

“You didn’t go after her. You didn’t try to look her up. Or give her a call. Or write her a letter. Or anything!”

No, I didn’t. I just thought she’d come back.

“You waited and watched life pass you by.”

I guess so, yeah.

“Just like you’re doing now.”

But I can’t do anything now, I’m tied to this chair! I’m stuck here. This is totally different!

“Really, John? Is it so totally different? Maybe the scenery has changed; we didn’t have stained-glass windows in our dorm. And maybe the furniture has changed; our study desks and saggy old mattresses are gone and have been replaced by wooden pews and metal chairs. And maybe Laura never whipped out the handcuffs and rope and tied you up physically, but what about mentally? Isn’t this exactly the same situation?”

No!

“Aren’t your emotions, your
feelings,
exactly the same?”

NO!

“I think they are. I think this is the same situation, just years later. And if you don’t do something to change it soon, you won’t
get
another chance to save yourself, or Zoe or Helen.”

There’s nothing I can do, I’m stuck here.

“Really?”

Yes.

“Well then, I’m sorry pal. If you don’t take control then there’s nothing more I can do,” Richard sounded disappointed in him. “Are you sure there’s nothing more you can do?”

There’s nothing, I already told you that!

“Then you’re gonna die here, John.” Richard whispered in his head. “You’ll lay there until you die.”

And with those final words, Richard was gone and silence returned to John’s mind again.

He was alone once more.

You just don’t understand,
his mind replied to the silence where Richard had been.
No one does. It’s more complicated than that.

But there was no reply.

The cold night air settled back on John and he opened his eyes and looked around, hoping that somehow he could see more or that perhaps day had broken while he had been talking with Richard.

What time is it? How much longer will it be dark? If it were light again, maybe I could see a way out of this. Maybe I could try again.

Maybe I could take control.

John thought about what Richard had said.

Maybe he was right. I can’t just lie here waiting for death. I have to fight, I have to try and get out of here no matter what.

And suddenly John felt a rush of renewed vigour.

I’ve got to try. I have to!

For me.

For all of us.

I have to!

And if the worst has happened, if Fox
has
killed Zoe and Helen, then it’s my duty to spend every moment for the rest of my life hunting that bastard down, to bring him to his knees and make him pay for all the hurt and destruction he’s caused.

I owe Helen and Zoe that much at least!

He licked his parched scabby lips with his dry swollen tongue. He tried to swallow, but found it too difficult.

I have to do something,
he thought to himself.

And, taking a deep breath, he began.

“Help.”

The sound cracked from his mouth and came out as a dry whisper.

He tried again.

“Help.”

Louder this time, but still weak.

He swallowed and swallowed again. The juices were beginning to flow in his throat once more.

“Help!”

Better. Keep going.

“Help!”

Louder.

“Help!”

His voice was echoing around the church now.

For the first time, he could feel some strength return to his lifeless body.

There was hope.

Control. Take control.

“HELP!”

Yes!

“HELP!”

Louder, louder!

“HEEEEELLLLLLLP!”

So loud now, the cry was echoing throughout the church for seconds after he had finished.

“HEEEEELLLLLLLP!”

This is going to work. It has to!

“PLEASE! SOMEBODY HEEEEELLLLLP ME!”

He called again and again into the dark and silent night.

“HEEEEELLLLLLLP!”

Over and over, he waited just long enough for the previous cry to die out before he started again.

Control.

“PLEASE! SOMEBODY HEEEEELLLLLP ME!”

His chest ached from the strain and his shoulder and neck muscles were rigid with every effort. But it had to be worth the pain.

“PLEASE! SOMEBODY HEEEEELLLLLP ME!”

Again and again and again.

Countless times.

The shuffling around him ceased, as if his voice had scared away whatever it was that was foraging nearby.

He cried out for what seemed like hours, until his throat became raw and his voice began to waver.

He tried to continue for as long as he could.

“HEEEEELLLLLLLP!”

But, eventually, his voice began to give out.

And no one came to save him.

One last try.

“HEEEEELLLLLLLP…” only a hoarse whisper this time.

His voice was gone.

All that came out of his mouth now were the strained whispers of a desperate man.

And there were no sounds of help from outside the church.

Nothing.

Eventually, he stopped.

And as the silence fell around him once more, he plunged back into panic.

This is it then,
he told himself.
There’s no way out. No one’s coming to get me. No one can hear me. I’m going to die like this.

Slowly, the scratching sounds returned. They were louder now; close by and all around him.

Richard was right.

Die.

Like.

This.

And with that thought in his mind, he began to cry.

Thirty-one

I can’t move.

I try.

But I can’t.

They’re holding me.

Holding me tight.

Too tight.

Let me go.

Please!

Let me GO!

I can see you.

You are so close.

I try to get to you.

Can’t.

They won’t let me.

Try to get to me.

Please.

Try to reach me.

Help.

Can you hear me?

I’m calling to you.

Can you hear me!

It’s the laughter.

Can you hear it too?

Loud.

Too loud!

Can you hear me?

Please!

Open your eyes and look at me.

Can you try?

Please!

Open your eyes.

LOOK AT ME!

I struggle more.

But I can’t break free.

It’s up to you.

You have to try.

Please.

For us.

Try.

You have to.

You’re our only hope.

Try to break free of them for us.

You have to try.

What?

What is that?

I can see it.

It’s growing.

Dark.

It’s dark.

Look out!

It’s growing around you!

It’s spreading.

Try to listen to me.

The laughter.

No.

They’re screaming now.

Why?

Try to move.

Quickly.

It’s growing all around you.

It’s swallowing you.

What is it?

WHAT IS IT!!!!

And that noise?

Can you hear it?

So loud.

Over and over and over again.

It’s deafening.

Move, quickly.

Try to.

Please.

MOVE!

Oh no!

Is it?

It can’t be!

Quickly, try to get away.

Get away.

It’s getting bigger.

Bigger.

My God!

No!

It’s wet.

Sticky.

No, it can’t be.

Please, run.

Listen to me if you can.

Move.

RUN!

Run while you can!

Try to!

You have to.

Get away from here!

Save yourself.

You can’t help me now.

But try to save yourself.

No!

It’s surrounding you now.

This is your last chance!

Please.

Why won’t you listen?

Why won’t you listen to me!

No!

It’s too late.

Oh my God, it’s blood.

BLOOD!

Quickly, leave now.

Try to!

Before the blood drowns us all!

Run.

RUN!

They’re taking your blood.

It’s leaking.

It’s pouring from you.

I can see your wounds.

Quickly, while you still can.

Try to save yourself.

My God, so much blood!

So much blood.

Flee.

Try to escape!

Run while you still can!

Before your blood kills us all.