As he circled his sister, he couldn't help but feel a wave travel down his spine. What was that? And why did it feel…alive. Nathan suddenly began to look for a quick way out while still trying to keep his sister safe. And that feeling, he'd have to deal with later.
"Sabrina. You're not telling everything. Are you?" He asked one more time to make sure she really wanted to keep that key to herself. He wouldn't be able to keep this charade going.
He couldn't keep pretending like he wanted her to leave with him.
The air around him was getting thinner and thinner. He tried to take more breaths, but the sound of dryness caused urgency to make its way to the room. They were running out of time.
And he needed a way out.
Now.
Instinctively, Nathan grabs ahold of his sister. No matter how hard she pushed back, he still continued to hold her still. Truth was, he could feel her nail digging ever so slightly into his neck. He could feel his sister kicking and wailing, but all that didn't matter. It was either she had the keys.
Or she dies.
"I need to find Clay. And I need you to help me." The struggle continued for a few seconds before he heard his sister seethed. For a moment, there was a time when they fought over the remote, crayons, markers, basically everything. But this was important. More sinister.
They were fighting for the right to live.
"Fine." Sabrina's voice sounded even more unhinged. She sounds…like their mom in a way. "Then you can die on your own." The woman quickly pulled out the key before sinking its cold metal into her brother's shoulder. As the blood leaked from his shoulder, he couldn't help but let out numerous curses in vain.
"Dammit, Bri." He watched as his sister stammered to a corner before sinking into the ground. He backed himself to a wall as he thought about his life. His injury wasn't enough to die, just enough for the world around him to slowly warp. Still, he needed to be able to keep himself steady for the trouble venture he would now have to put himself through.
Taking a deep breath, he quickly began to drag the key out of his shoulder. He could see his sister watching a distorted awe as his voice carried throughout the room. His screams were piercing, but nothing compared to the pain that he truly felt. He could feel his skin moving along with the key. It wanted to complete itself, it wanted to wrap around the protruded dagger and seal itself in.
As blood started to stain his hand and clothes, he could feel a deeper bitterness arise for his sibling. She was just like their mother. Just as conniving, just as childish, just as miserable.
But it was her choice.
The sound of blood tapping on the floor made Nathan feel woozy. He was losing too much blood. Way too much for comfort.
To keep what he could he placed his already shaky hand over his bloody wound. His hand felt cold as he tried to regulate his breathing. Feeling the key in the other. He slowly began to limp his way to the opened door.
"Nathan." He didn't answer her plea. He didn't need to… he already knew what she was gonna say. "Nathan, I'm sorry." She sounded just like mom. Yelling and doing the most vile thing, only to then give a half assed apology. But it didn't fix anything.
Not then, not now.
Vision still blurry, Nathan fell to the ground looking for some kind of step to lower himself. He couldn't see much, with the darkness of the bottom and the cloudiness that arose from hurting. He was basically blind. Taking the first step, he could immediately feel his footing going limp. He tried to stabilize himself with his hand, but quickly realized that it was futile.
He didn't feel anything at first, but eventually a sudden rush of pain made his way through his body. His back arched as the pain from the sudden hit of the lock stunned his back. The coldness of the floor, the darkness that surrounded him, and the feeling of rats that scurried around his feet were the only things keeping him conscious. He needed to get out. He needed to find Clayton. Maybe he knew what to do. Maybe he could help.
Still feeling pain, he somehow managed to flip him over to reach the lock. He fiddled with the lock a few times before he managed to place the lock inside. He smiled a little as he heard the clicking sound echoed through the room of silence.
"Thank you, mom." He slowly began to pull himself through the opening. And although it was unusual, he smiled. He was glad he made it. He didn't care who he left behind. He just cared about his future. "Thanks for giving up on us."