The school day ended. (T/N) waited for Chloe at the entrance, acting submissive. She appeared with a calm, cold smile. He had passed the day's test.
— Chloe: Come on, (T/N). Let's not waste time.
They started walking toward his house. The afternoon sun cast long shadows. The tension was palpable. (T/N) knew this was the moment to speak. He had to do it now.
— (T/N): Chloe, about what I told you at break... about Alex and the subway.
Chloe stopped walking. She turned to look at him, her eyes fixed, almost without blinking.
— Chloe: I already told you that matter is closed. It's part of the past.
(T/N) kept his voice calm, forcing a tone of quiet pleading.
— (T/N): I know. But it keeps affecting me. I can't forget that I almost died there, and that Alex... he wanted to find peace in that place. To be able to move on, I have to see it one last time. I have to close that chapter.
Chloe's expression remained firm, but (T/N) noticed a slight doubt.
— Chloe: And why would I want to go with you? It's a dark and dirty place.
— (T/N): You're right, you don't have to accompany me, but I'm asking you as a favor. You were in the accident. You know that place isn't normal, right?
Chloe lowered her gaze for an instant.
— (T/N): If we go together, we can see what happened. I need your help.
(T/N) offered her a look of total dependency.
She raised her gaze. It was no longer mockery, but calculation. She thought for a moment.
— Chloe: It's dangerous. The police monitor that area.
— (T/N): We'll have to be careful then.
Chloe smiled slowly. It was a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
— Chloe: Alright. I'll do it. But we'll go under my conditions, and (T/N), listen: once we finish exploring that place, don't ever ask me for anything like this again. When we come back, you will do as I say, you will live as I say, you will love me as I say, so you should be grateful to me for being so kind.
(T/N) felt a shiver. He had won, but at what cost?
— (T/N): Thank you, Chloe. I will do exactly what you tell me.
They resumed the walk. Now they were not just classmates, they were conspirators. (T/N) had managed to get her to agree to go with him, although at a price too high.
(T/N) and Chloe finished the walk in a tense silence. Upon arriving in front of (T/N)'s house, they stopped. The light of the late afternoon barely illuminated the sidewalk, creating unsettling shadows.
Chloe turned to look at him one last time before leaving.
— Chloe: You have my conditions now. Don't forget them, (T/N). It's a small price to pay for the help I will give you.
— (T/N): I won't forget.
Chloe nodded, her smile cold and assured. She took out her phone and quickly typed something.
— Chloe: I sent you a message with the exact time and what you need to bring. Dark clothes; be discreet.
She then continued, without waiting for a reply:
— Chloe: We will meet here, outside your house, at eleven o'clock sharp. Don't dare to be late; if you are not here, I will go home and you will pay the consequences. Understood?
— (T/N): Understood.
— Chloe: Good. Go rest. You will need energy for the night. And don't think about anything other than following my instructions.
Chloe turned and walked away down the sidewalk without looking back. Her figure, impeccable and calm, disappeared into the gloom.
(T/N) entered his house and locked the door. He felt a mix of relief for having convinced her and terror over the deal he had closed. His freedom had been traded for an opportunity.
He went up to his room. The first thing he did was check Chloe's message.
Chloe: (6:15 p.m.) Bring what is necessary. Light sneakers and a flashlight.
(T/N) looked at the clock. He had almost five hours.
He went to his closet. He took out black pants and a dark gray sweatshirt. He found a pair of old athletic shoes.
He searched for his flashlight, briefly testing it. The white light was intense.
Next, he checked his backpack. He put in a bottle of water, some energy bars, and, hesitating for an instant, he tucked in a knife he kept for emergencies. His only form of defense.
The hours passed. He ate dinner alone and in silence. He tried to watch television, but couldn't concentrate. He only thought of Alex and the dark tunnel. Of the price Chloe had set: "You will love me as I say."
At half past ten at night, (T/N) got dressed. The dark clothes made him feel invisible.
He approached the window and looked outside. The street was deserted. He waited.
Ten minutes to eleven. His heart pounded with frantic haste, echoing in the silence of the house. It was the same feeling as the nightmare.
(T/N) slipped toward the main door. He grabbed his backpack and the flashlight. He unlocked the bolt with extreme slowness. He went out. He closed the door without making the slightest sound. The darkness was almost total. No one was there. Yet.
He stood waiting, motionless, in the cold of the night. He looked at his mobile phone clock: 22:58.
Two minutes. Two minutes before the predator appeared to guide its prey. Two minutes before his freedom was exchanged for a night on the subway.
Autor:
I really have no idea what I'm doing with this novel, nor do I know if I'll continue writing.