I was shaking with fear, wanting nothing more than to pull my hand away.

"You've still got time to back out of this." Mason argued, "Promise you won't hate me?" Evelyn yelled.

There was so much noise, "Just do it!"

But just as I said that, there was a knock at the door, I jumped, opening my eyes.

Mason got up to check who was the door, "No one." He growled.

"Wait a second-" He said, bending down to pick something up.

"Uhh, guys? What the hell is this?" He said.

It was a black notecard with silver writing, like the notes we had in the clock tower.

If you tell anyone what happened, I don't think Lily will make it to her dance recital.

I was confused, "Wait, who's Lily?" I asked.

"My s-sister." James swallowed, his eyes widening.

We all went silent, "How the hell-"

"I told you guys. I told you something else bad would happen if we kept doing this." I pressed, rubbing my eyes, "Sofia, you don't have to do this. I can just call my Mom and tell her not to go."

I sucked on my teeth, "How old is Lily?" I asked.

James looked down, "She's six."

My lip trembled. I looked to Evelyn who was still holding the hammer, "We have to do it, Evelyn. We can't let anything happen to Lily."

"B-but what about you? We can't tell anyone what happened so we can't get you the right help I- what do we do?" Evelyn stammered, "It'll be fine. You have a first aid kit in your bag, right?"

She nodded.

"Can you go get ice?" Evelyn said to Mason. He nodded, "Yeah, I'll be right back."

"What if you only break one finger?" I freaked, pulling my hand back. James held onto my waist again, squeezing every time I flinched, "It said fingers, plural. And I don't really want to risk anything."

I nodded, "Okay, um- j-just, go for it, I guess." Turning away, I held my breath.

Mason had left to go get ice so it was just us three, "Do you want me to count or something?" She said, I shook my head, "Just do it when I'm least expecting it."

Mason suddenly barges back in, a bucket of ice in his hands, "I just heard someone in the stairwell talking mad shit with someone." He said.

"What?"

And just like that, an unbearable pain shot through my hand and I scream, biting down on my lips until they bled.

I looked down, afraid to open my eyes at the loud crack I heard.

Evelyn dropped the hammer to the ground, hands over her mouth as she gasped, "I'm so sorry Sofia." She yelled, tears spilling from her eyes.

I cradled my swollen hand to my chest, praying for the pain to go away as Mason shuffled around with ice. 

"Give me your hand, quickly!" He said. I nodded, wincing as he placed ice wrapped in a t-shirt on my hands.

My skin was bruising, yellow, purple and blue swelling making my fingers look like raw sausages.

"I'm so sorry Sofia. I didn't want too." Evelyn cooed, her lip trembling as she looked up at me through wet lashes. I nodded, "It's okay. I sniffled, I get it."

"You told me to do it when you least expected it."

"Guys I- I just need some air. I- I can't breathe right now."

I scrambled away, tears spilling from my eyes as I ran down the hallways. Everything was spinning, I couldn't see straight.

It's not even the pain.

It's the fact that this shit is going on. What did we do to deserve this? Why is this happening to us?

I ran down the emergency exit stairs, sliding down the wall outside of a random room and put my head between my legs, sobbing quietly into them.

My skin was soaked with my tears as I licked my lips, tasting the salty tears.

I just wanna go home.

I want my Mom.

I looked up at the white roof, "I miss you Mom."

* * *

As I made my way back to my room not even twenty minutes later, it was silent.

My hand was swollen to the point I couldn't feel my fingers. I don't know if they were broken or badly bruised but fuck. It hurt.

I took the long way, dragging my feet along the carpet.

My eyes felt puffy and my face was numb.

"Sofia.." Someone said. I looked up, locking eyes with James who had a worried look on his face.

"James I-" I stuttered.

Before I could finish my sentence, he pulled me in for a hug.

I squeezed my eyes shut, hugging him back as I let another round of tears through. They soaked his shirt.

"Are you okay? I was so worried about you." He hushed, brushing my hair over my back. I never wanted to let go. I felt so safe.

I nodded, sniffling, "I'm okay. I promise I just needed some space for a little bit."

He hugged me tighter for a few seconds before we pulled away.

"Shit, your hand doesn't look great." He said. I held it up, flexing whatever muscle I could. I shrugged, "Hurts less than whatever I'm feeling right now."

James sighed, "I can't thank you enough. If you didn't do this- Lily may have been hurt." He whispered.

I nodded, "Is- is she okay? She made it to dance class?"

He smiled weakly, "She made it."

"Thank God."

555-345-987
You might need some ice for that...

I growled at my phone, switching it off.

"Wanna come inside?" I asked, grabbing my keycard from my my back pocket.

I swiped us in, seeing the room empty.

Everything was exactly as we left it.

The curtains were open, not that there was much light left anyway.

The hammer was still on the floor, ice still on the table. "Where's Evelyn?" I asked. "She went with Mason. I think they went on a walk." He shrugged.

I nodded, sitting on my bed. "Are you okay? I know you said you were but- you don't look it." He says, sitting next to me.

"I promise I'm okay. Just- coming to terms with what the fuck just happened." And it's true. What the fuck did just happen. My mind is racing right now.

How did we go from sneaking into a church to breaking a hand? 

"Yeah it's crazy. Whoever's doing this is... insane."

I lay my head on his shoulder, "Do you think that person really would have hurt Lily?"

James sighed, "I don't know. But whoever it is, they're definitely not working alone."

"Why do you say that?" I yawned, closing my eyes.

"Because whoever's on this trip with us, wouldn't be able to watch us and my sister at the same time."

It was then I realised he was right.

"Can we deal with it in the morning? I'm tired."

* * *
Hi guys. Thanks so much for reading this chapter!!

What did you think? Any suspicious on who it could be?

Xx