Between Footsteps| p.jm

TWENTY-FOUR| -.. . ... .. .-. .

GENERAL WARNING: Hello! I've briefly mentioned it before, but this book will be more mature than my others. It deals with topics that could be upsetting to some readers and also slight sexual content that is a bit more intense than my usual fluff. I'm not claiming that this book is strictly for a certain age group only or that it's "that bad", in fact, some of you might not see the need for a warning at all, but I know there could be younger readers or people who are sensitive/would rather skip such things so I wanted to give a warning out. From this point in the book and on, there will be some scenes that need to be addressed with *** to clarify that it is for slightly more mature audiences. 

Thanks!

-Rae/Becca

~~~

SAVE PARK JIMIN. SAVE PARK JIMIN. SAVE PARK JIMIN.

Your mind was screaming those three words over and over again as you clutched tightly onto the steering wheel. The leather under your clammy skin wasn't comforting and it didn't feel as if you truly had much control over the vehicle. 

You were confused and terrified.

Outside, you could see that it was pouring down rain which made the driving situation even worse. The rain was pelting your window like bullets and obstructed your vision as the road in front of you became harder to see.

You jumped and yelped a bit when a flash of lightning touched the sky, but you kept going. Maybe you were foolish, but what had just happened to you in your bathroom mirror felt like some sort of haunting confirmation that your unease and fears had been well placed all along.

Now you might be chasing nothing when you should be calling a paranormal investigator, but somehow you knew where to go even if the reasoning wasn't clear.

You leaned closer to the steering wheel in order to see better as your car moved uphill and you tried to not look out the side of your passenger window. It was a long fall down, and one you didn't want to take.

You carefully rubbed the goosebumps that had formed against your forearms and cursed the lack of warmth that your pajamas provided as you attempted to seek an alternative source of heat while driving. Turning to the car's control panel, you fiddled with the heating while the storm reined on outside.

Looking down once was all it took.

Your head snapped upwards as light flooded your vision, and before you could even properly scream, you yanked the steering wheel as hard as you could to the right.

Then there was cold darkness, and then, you were drowning.

~~~ 

You felt itchy and anxious, maybe even more so than the first time you had been standing in the same position you were right then.

The sequins of your slightly more revealing dress pressed irritably against your skin as you laced your fingers together and breathed out in a way to calm your nerves. The cold air against your exposed back wasn't helping your discomfort then as you shook your head in disbelief. 

Just as time had rushed 19's departure, it had rushed something else as well. And now you were gearing up to face it.

"We don't have to do this you know. I can talk to the ringmaster, we can-"

"No it's ok. That wouldn't be fair to you, and I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course."