Here With Me

She stops in front of me and pulls my arm. I know she’s expecting a kiss, but I’m having a hard time clearing my head. “You okay?”

“Yeah…” I nod, not entirely sure.

“Just bring everything you find to the activity room. I’ll come back and help in a minute.”

She leaves, and the door closes with a slam. The old room is narrow and dark, and all shapes and sizes of boxes are stacked in asymmetrical patterns. Some cover the windows, causing the sunlight to stream in strange columns of dust.

I walk slowly through the cramped area trying to focus on my task. I’m finding boxes marked luau…

But something’s wrong.

My heart beats too fast. I’m having trouble catching my breath, and flashes of memory streak across my brain. I’m caught in a narrow hut, and we’re not alone. The smells—dampness, mildew, danger.

Someone’s in here with us.

Reaching out to grab a metal shelf, my hands are shaking. Roaring is in my ears, and I can’t seem to make it stop. I can’t stop this feeling I’m in danger.

Where is Taron? I’m supposed to be covering him… We didn’t inspect the perimeter. We walked into an unknown space—a critical error.

She’s here. A dark figure rising from the back corner with a huge knife in her hand. She raises it over her head, ready to slash…

“NO!” I spin around, grabbing the shadowy body in the narrow corridor behind me.

“Help!” It’s a feeble cry.

In one fluid, well-trained move, I’m behind the intruder, my forearm is around his neck, and I take him down to the ground.

“Drop your weapon!” My voice is ragged, wild.

“I’m unarmed!” The body goes limp, grasping at me, losing strength. I’m still having trouble focusing when I hear him.

His voice breaks through my panic.

“Mindy thought you needed help. She sent me to help you.” The words are muffled, and the fog begins to clear.

The light filters back into my vision, and I see I’ve got Mr. Hebert in a choke hold on the linoleum.

“Oh, shit.” I release him at once, dropping back onto my feet. “I’m sorry…”

The old man rolls to the side, his face reddish-purple, and starts coughing loudly. Jesus, I could’ve killed him.

“Sir… Mr. Hebert…” I move forward to my knees, placing a hand on his thin shoulder.

“Oh, lord, what happened?” Ramona is with us, rushing to kneel beside him. “Did he fall? Mr. Hebert? Can you speak? Is he having a stroke?”

He’s still coughing, and shame floods my chest. “He startled me… I didn’t hear him come in.”

Ramona looks at me with horror. “You did this?”

“I’m sorry.” I lean back. “I’ll pay for whatever damage…”

The old man holds out a hand, and Ramona helps him take a knee. I grasp his other arm, rising slowly as we help him to his feet.

He pats my chest roughly with his hand, nodding and still holding his throat. “Room…” He manages to croak, and Ramona takes him under the arm.

“I’ll take you to your room.” She glares at me, and my stomach knots.

My insides are churning. I follow them into the hall, but I need to get out of here. “I’ve got to go. Tell Mindy… Tell her I had to leave.”