Page 57 of I Dare You
Unlocking my car, I dive inside and lock it hurriedly.Testing the handle to ensure it’s locked, I peer through the back window to make sure no one is loitering.
I’m alone, in more ways than one.
Fighting with Jupiter has left me unsettled.I gaze through the windshield, deep in thought, mesmerized by the strobing lights that dance on the hood of my car.The lights push back against the lingering darkness.
Blacking out is happening more often, and it frightens me.I hate this feeling of not being in control.So I try to concentrate on something that brings me happiness.
My mind drifts to my encounter with Kit today.I’ve purposely avoided looking at the time.There’s no way I’m going to give in to his arrogance and go meet him.Even though it’s only a short drive from here.
That’s beside the point.
I’m not going to be like every other woman and give in to his charm, no matter how good he smells.
“No,” I berate myself.“You’re not going.”
I swiftly put the car into gear and drive out of the parking lot.However, the farther I travel, the deeper the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach grows.
“Your eyes…they haunt me.”
“Fuck him,” I mumble under my breath before abruptly pulling an illegal U-turn in the middle of the road.
The car behind me beeps the horn.I place my hand out the window to apologize.
So much for keeping my nose clean.
Deep down, I know Kit will destroy me in one way or another, which is why I need to stay away.But the closer I drive to where I know he is, the more alive I feel.Those butterflies in my belly take flight, and that’s all that seems to matter.
I forget everything but him.
When I pull up to the address, I double-check to confirm I’m at the correct place.
I am.
When I punched it into the GPS and saw it wasn’t too far away from the bowling alley, I didn’t think twice about what the location would be because I had no intention of going, but here I am, parked in front of what appears to be an abandoned cinema.
This screams HBO documentary.
Funnily enough, however, I’m not scared, and that’s because I know what goes bump in the night.
Getting out of the car, I look around for any parked cars, but don’t see any.This part of town has seen better days.The majority of the shopfronts are covered in graffiti, even the ones that are still operational.
If we were in New York, I imagine this grungy vibe would be cool, but here, it’s just creepy.
I didn’t come this far to turn around, so I look for a way in.This old cinema would have been the crème de la crème back in the day.I can imagine an attendant in the small glass ticket booth at the front, handing out tickets to eager moviegoers.
A fadedDie Hardmovie poster is stuck to the wall, the tattered left-hand corner flapping in the wind.
I smell popcorn.
I hear the excited chatter of patrons waiting in line.
“What movie do you want to see?”says a husky voice behind me.
He doesn’t startle me.
Perhaps I knew he was always there.
With my back still turned, I reply, “I think we missed the last session.”
