Lana's POV
Lana, I am so sorry I haven't called since you left school. I have been so busy trying to finish up with my project before the new semester begins. How are you, my baby? I miss you so much. I miss your body. I miss kissing you and making you moan out my name in so much pleasure. I miss you begging me to eat you out. I miss that mouth of yours taking me all in. Do you ever think of me? Or even the things I do to you? When are you likely to come see me? Please let me know as soon as possible. I can't wait to make your legs shake uncontrollably. Lest I forget, how are you coping with your sister's loss? Accept my condolences. Write me back soon. I can't wait to fuck that sadness away from you.
Love,
Nathan.
My face formed in disgust as I read my boyfriend's text. How on earth did he think this would ease me up if I was in a bad mood? I really would date anything, huh? Don't get me wrong, I love it when we make out and have sex. No one does it better than him. In fact, I love him so much that I wouldn't let another man look at me twice. But now wasn't the right time. Didn't he read the room? I hate that this text made me rethink what we have. Was he really in love with me or my body? And a text? Why on earth did he text instead of calling? It has been four weeks since we last heard from each other, and the only way he could break the no-contact rule was by texting me his nasty desires? How insensitive. I just couldn't believe that this was the guy I had been dating since my first year in college. How did I get here?
I tossed my phone on the bed and made my way to the kitchen. It was a large room with one refrigerator and two freezers, built in a quite modernized way with taps above each gas cooker. I opened the cabinets above, trying to get a quick look at the available quick meals my sister had stocked before her death flashed before my eyes. I settled for just noodles. I just wanted a quick meal so I could go into the room. It was strangely quiet, and I had started to feel a bit scared and lonely. Not that it had never been quiet, but today's quietness hit harder, especially when my mind drifted off occasionally to the call with the stranger some days ago.
I inhaled and exhaled deeply, shaking my head to shake off the memory of the call. Then quickly grabbed two packs of noodles and prepared them, making sure I added enough chili pepper into it that would make it spicy enough to strike the tears that had welled up and refused to drop. After a few minutes of cooking, I quickly made my way to my room, sat on the bed with my legs curled up as I stuffed the spicy noodles in my mouth, tears rolling down my cheeks as it burned my lips.
After a few minutes of eating, I fell asleep.
I didn't even realize when I fell asleep. One minute, I was stuffing my mouth with spicy noodles, the next, it felt like I blinked and I was back in the kitchen again. Only something was different.
The lights were dim, buzzing like they were about to go out. The air was thick, heavy, almost choking. The noodles I made were still on the counter, but they smelled rotten now. Like death. I turned around to leave, but my feet wouldn't move. It felt like the floor had melted and was now trying to suck me in.
Then I heard it.
Her laugh.
Soft. Familiar. Heartbreaking.
"Lana..." her voice echoed from somewhere behind me. "Come find me."
I froze.
I wanted to scream, wanted to run, but my body didn't listen. I could only stumble forward, one slow, painful step after another, my hands brushing against walls that were damp and warm, like they were bleeding. I turned the corner and saw her.
My sister.
She stood at the end of the hallway, dressed in the black dress she used to love, smiling. But something about the smile was wrong. It didn't reach her eyes. It was sad. Empty.
"Don't tell me you moved on, too," she said, her voice cracking like glass.
"No," I choked out, shaking my head violently. "I didn't. I swear I didn't."
I reached out to touch her, to pull her close.
But the moment my fingers grazed her skin, she shattered into ash, her remains slipping through my hands like sand. I fell to my knees, sobbing, trying to gather the ashes, but the more I grabbed, the more they slipped away. When I looked up again, I wasn't in the hallway anymore. I was back in the kitchen. Nathan stood there, leaning casually against the counter, his phone glowing in his hand. The message he sent me flashed across the screen over and over in giant red letters.
Let me fuck the sadness away.
I stumbled back, my heart slamming against my chest.
He started walking towards me, his face darkening with every step. His eyes were hollow, dead, like he wasn't even human anymore.
"Come on, baby," he whispered, voice dripping with something that made my skin crawl. "Let me make you forget,"
"No," I cried, trying to move away, but the kitchen shrank around me, the walls closing in, the lights flickering faster.
Nathan reached out, grabbing my wrist with fingers that felt like ice. I pulled back, but his grip tightened, nails digging into my skin. I could feel myself slipping under, drowning in the nightmare. I opened my mouth to scream—
And I jolted awake.
My chest heaved painfully, and I wiped at my face, only to realize it was soaked with tears. The room has gotten dark now, but real. Solid. The spicy noodles sat cold and forgotten beside me. For a few seconds, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, my body trembling. The ache in my chest was unbearable. The loneliness was even worse. Why was Eva so mad at me? And why was Nathan in my nightmare?
I didn't even think. I just reached for my phone, my fingers moving on their own. I swallowed hard and pressed the call.
"Lana,"
"Xavier, can I come stay with you?"