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The Hand pt. 2

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."