Chasing Her (Dark Love 3)

“I’m staying with Eric. You need to sort yourself out, Julian. There’s only one road you’re heading down, and I’m telling you, it’s a dead end.” He stops by the kitchen counter and throws me an envelope. “And here, an eviction notice.” He slams the door behind him.

I am officially alone.

After tonight’s events, there’s nothing I want to do more than climb into a hole and rot away, but instead, I head to my medicine cabinet and find my sleeping pills.

Sleeping pills or call my dealer.

For tonight, the pills win, but for how much longer?

Frankly, I have no idea.

***

The room is dark, the light fighting its way in.

The urge, the craving, it devours me.

Alone, I hear the gentle tap on my door, gentle, yet it startles me.

I jump anxiously. It’s the monster who lurks under my bed, but he’s on the other side of the door.

Like a frightened child, I open it and succumb to the power he holds over me.

He opens his hand, and I see the light illuminating the dark walls. My senses, there’s a frenzy within me, taunting and teasing me, and the more it consumes me, I feel myself weaken.

I hand over the last of my money—my rent money.

And like a thief in the night, he disappears.

And I’m alone again with the devil laced in white.

It’s all I have now.

No Chelsea.

No Charlie.

And I need to survive, don’t I?

I’m like venom. I hurt those around me, including myself.

I walk to the table and lay the white lace carefully in a line. I know the drill. I think about it every second of every day.

I lean down, inches away from euphoria sweeping over me. But I feel a touch, a brush of a hand over my shoulder. I’m hallucinating, I know I’m alone. I bend down again, and the feeling repeats.

I don’t look behind me. Instead, I close my eyes allowing my senses to focus.

There’s a cool breeze in the room, but the windows are shut.

“In the darkness, our savior will find us. It will drive us into the light.”

The voices, I hear them.

“In our weakness of times, find the strength, it lurks behind the shadows, but it’s watching, it is waiting to be asked for help.”

I have officially gone crazy.

“Those who live in the light only know the truth to living in the darkness. I am here, I’m watching over you, I am guiding you. Be still, hear my words. The fallen will continue to fall without a savior amongst them.”