-Addison-

"He's a monster... He won't change for anyone or anything. He won't listen to you, even if he swore it... Your fears, your blood, your flesh, are all the things he'll ever crave from you. Maybe you should do it, Addison... Kill yourself... Just end it before he gets what he wants."

A terrifyingly familiar deep voice speaks in my head, causing my heartbeat to quicken.

"Look at yourself... now."

As he speaks, the walls seem like they're closing in on me and I'm going into a cold sweat. Becoming numb, I'm losing the sight of myself in the mirror and see a hallway from the hospital, the lights flickering, blood and chunks of flesh on the walls and floor -- it's all... everywhere. Please, not this. I can't be here again!

"Addison?" MOM?!

I try to reason out where I am, but I'm so lost, I don't know what's real right now. This can't be possible. The realm was destroyed!

"Addison, where are you?!" Her voice cracks with fright.

"Mom, no!" I start running up the hall toward her voice. This can't be REAL!!!

As she calls for me, I nearly trip over myself while rushing around the corner and suddenly, instead of seeing her, I see MYSELF on my knees with Reuben behind me! He's holding my head up and I see my deadened eyes staring back at me. My lips are cracked and bleeding, my hair is extremely thin and falling out, and my torso... is freshly split all the way up to my neck. The sight wracks me with so much fear I fall to the floor and my gaze lowers, stopping at the big pool of blood around us. The zombie-like version of myself is still clinging to life... until, there is a crunch noise and a final grunting breath leaves me as long, skinny, bloody appendages force their way outside of the large cut in my body and snake down my legs to meet the floor.

Reuben slowly looks up from the monstrosity to me with a growing smirk; "You're dead here... so why don't you finish it there? Go on... you'll finally be free of what haunts you."

"Addison... You're at it again. I told you, it'll do you no good." There's a rapping at the bathroom door, pulling me out of the twisted nightmarish trance. I feel a stinging pain and I realize I've sliced my wrists vertically with a pair of scissors, there are scratch marks all over my neck, my nails are torn up and bleeding from beating at the broken sink, I'm tasting blood... Shakingly, gravely afraid to even try it, I glance in the mirror again and see my lips are bleeding and I've ripped a lot of my hair out. "N- no," Dropping the scissors, I belt out a pained, tormented scream.

I kick the sink and repeatedly punch the wall, then I snatch every pill bottle I can find, turn the sink on, and try swallowing the medication as fast as I can with water chasing behind it.

Gabriel unlocks the door and stands still in the doorway with a grim stare. He gives me a long once over as I collapse by the tub, bawling my eyes out.

"For once... I'm disappointed in such a sight."

Throwing his hands up, he proceeds over to me and crouches down, dangling his arms over his knees and watches me curiously.

"Go away. Just let me die!" I sob.

"A promise is a promise, Addison. I'll show you a way out and it's not through death."

He reaches for me and I hit myself closer against the tub, shouting, "GO AWAY!"

He growls at me, snatching the nape of my neck and forcing me close to him. He looks into my eyes while forming his hand into mist and shoves it down my throat, making me choke and push my hands against him. I kick and squirm as he pushes me down with his lower half becoming mist and wrapping around my legs.

I can feel him suspending the pills while he heals all my wounds. The feeling is so overwhelming it nearly knocks me out. When I'm just barely conscious anymore, he forces me to throw the pills up.

"This is becoming more of a stereotype for you; trying to kill yourself. You know, I did some thinking while you were in here... about us living together in Florida. See, I knew what you were up to. I wasn't going to read your mind or stop you, because I was also lost in my own thoughts about those things. I'm sure that's why you tried to kill yourself. Your life is in my hands. You're not going anywhere as long as you're with me, you understand that?" He says, lifting my chin up so I can look at his calm silver eyes. "You're going to see what I mean after a while... You're going to love me, Addison."

As I blink slowly at him, watching him fade from view, he pets the side of my head and kisses my forehead. "My kitten."

***
-Gabriel-

What did you see, Addison? What made you do this to yourself? Should I look and see for myself? These sights usually excite and fulfill something in me, but now, it's different. Just different somehow. Maybe it's you making it that way. How could it be me after all this time of 'living'?

I pick you up and carry you over to the bed. It's a good thing I silenced this apartment. Nobody could hear anything you were doing. You're very loud, baby... which I enjoy a lot, but I hate nosy people.

Sitting on the edge of your bed, I pull my phone out of my pocket and browse through my contacts to find Josephine. She's old and rich... Should be kicking the bucket soon. I wonder if she'd leave anything to me in her will? Hmh, probably not.

I stand up and leave the room while hitting the call contact button.

A few seconds go by and a man answers.

"Timothy? Why are you answering your mother's phone?"

"Hey Gabriel, listen man, can't talk right now. Sorry."

"Why not?"

"I'm in the middle of deciding funeral plans with family."

I pause, eyes wandering the room in surprise.

He says, "Her phone is gonna get shut off soon, so don't bother calling it anymore. You already have my number, right?"

"Yes... I do. Well, Tim... I'm sorry for your loss. That's quite unfortunate."

"Thanks, man. Yeah, it's been pretty tough... Chat later?"

"Of course. Talk with you later." I hang up and hum to myself. Funny that I thought of her death and just learned it actually happened.

Well then...

I look through my contacts again and see a guy who often visits the 5 star restaurant I go to sometimes. His name is 'James Harris'. A bit of familiarity should do us well before we leave Maryland. Memories of great times he and I shared pass through my mind as I hover over the green button. This one isn't as easy as the others... but I've got him figured out.

I smile with an eager glint in my eye and call him.

___________________________________________
Author's Note:

HI!!! :D

First, so you might have noticed, I've changed the covers for all 3 of these books. I'm pretty happy with them... The cover of this one has this sort of "broken/mentally fading away" vibe about it, which is pretty much what's going on with Addison and Gabriel, wouldn't you say? We'll see if it will remain this way for good...

As for this chapter... Really freaking creepy stuff. I always have a blast with the twisted stuff. This Reuben appearance really raises questions. Remember, Gabriel assumes there's still a part of him in Addison. Is he still around, or is this Addison's PTSD doing this to her?

The next chapter is going be an unnerving one for sure. It'll be one of those absolute taboo type of things again! So, be prepared!

I will update very soon... VERY SOON!

Thanks for reading! Voting and commenting is always welcome and much appreciated! ;D

Here is a really creepy song!

https://youtu.be/k7EcPzVsU6k