If Walls Could Talk

Content Warning:

This story contains themes of trauma, suicide, hallucinations, violence, and death. Reader discretion is advised.

If Walls Could Talk

I -

“As much as I love you, Kait, I don’t feel good about this,” Jessie expressed sincerely. Kaitlyn and Jessie had been best friends since birth, so trust was something they never needed to question.

“Come on, Jess, we only live once!” Kaitlyn exclaimed, dragging Jessie further into the stranded part of town. Jessie went willingly but held onto that feeling of uncertainty, just as a precaution.

Stopping outside the house everyone in their town avoided. Jessie tilted her head back, taking in the building for what it was. An old, busted mess that, just by looking at it, warranted a tetanus shot. The outside walls looked so broken, Jessie thought if she stared hard enough, that cheap, old wood that had years of decay from the elements would surely break off. So their night would get cancelled, and she could crawl back into her cosy bed. Despite Jessie's thoughts, Kaitlyn raised her hand above her eyes, observing a car approaching fast. Not that this gesture would help her, considering it’s way past the time they both said goodnight to their parents before sneaking out.

As the car came dangerously close, stopping in front of the girls. Jessie flinched hard at the sound of the tires skidding on the pavement. Two guys exited from either side of the car, walking up to the girls attempting to make an impressive entrance.

“Hi, Lachlan. Hey, Pat, I think there’s a bug on your top,” Kaitlyn was overly cheerful to compensate for her nerves.

Patrick cocked his head down fast, brushing his shirt off with a sigh of relief; “Ha. Ha. You won’t be telling jokes when you’re scared shitless.” Pulling an ominously blank box from his bag, Patrick grinned, his face distorting into something unfriendly.

“Wait, where’s John? We’re meant to do this together.” Crossing her arms as she filled with disdain, Kaitlyn was too eager to wait.

“He's hanging with some chick. Don’t sweat it, Johnny said he’d show later,” smirking with an open hand out to Lachlan. Trying to get that so-called gratifying low-five.

Lachlan swatted his hand away like a disease, rolling his eyes he spat, “Whatever, can we just start? The faster we get this over with, the better.” Taking a sip of water from his bottle to calm himself, as he led the group inside.

II -

Approaching the large front door, Lachlan noticed there was no door handle. So he pushed the surprisingly heavy door fully open for everyone.

Observing the first floor, it didn’t take long for them to notice the grime and wildlife, comfortably living inside. Making it the easiest, unspoken decision to head upstairs.

Climbing their way up, as they approach the first room on the second floor, the most decent considering. Forming a tight circle, they sat down, facing each other. Placing the box in the centre, Patrick lifted the lid slowly, revealing an oddly familiar sight. A picture of the same front door, Lachlan had just put all his weight into opening; Printed on a small game board. However, there was a door handle, as a separate physical piece. The game board looked almost as old as the house. All of them gawking at the random simplistic look of the game.

Lowering his voice, Patrick revealed, “The rules, when it’s your turn. Grab the handle and place it on the door saying, ‘Bleed through the cracks.’. The house will then show you your deepest, darkest fear.”

“Bullshit!” Kaitlyn professed loudly.

Jessie sharply stood upright in fear, about to leave. Not having a single care about what any of them thought. Jessie was already well aware of her late-night terrors, adamant on not facing them. Kaitlyn stood up, attempting to calm her. Leaning in close, she whispered, “You already lived through it once, Jess. You’ll be fine.” Giving Jessie that reassuring smile, she just simply couldn’t say no to.

“If you’re this scared, go last,” Lachlan said to try to hurry this along. She nods, wiping the sweat forming in her palms.

“So, who’s up first?” Patrick grins without a care. Being the one who asked, they make it clear he should. Agreeing without question, sourly, “Fine, then.”

III -

Picking up the door handle without hesitation and placing it on the door. Patrick takes one last glance at everyone and smiles, chanting those special words, “Bleed through the cracks.”

Everything in Patrick’s field of vision turned black, jolting him into a minor panic. A sensation grew from the ends of his fingertips. Hesitant to look down, he leaned his head forward slightly. A tiny insect making its way up his hand. Flicking it off with a sharp breath, he caused several more to fly back, as if magnets were pulling them to his skin. Using powerful breaths to blow them away, his mouth opening wider each time. The insects soared faster than his eyes could keep track, all into his mouth. Using their needle-like limbs to burrow their way through his skin, the rest searched for another opening. Completely infesting every part of his body, crawling around in his skin. Patrick clawed at his neck, trying to subside the pain. His body swelling from the magnitude of bugs. Until it couldn’t be contained anymore, shredding him into meat chunks flinging about aimlessly.

Abruptly waking from a trance-like state, he gasped for air with quick breaths, stinging inside his chest. Taking quick peeks around the room, Patrick aimed his face at his belly, his stomach dropping. Feeling tiny taps through his shirt, one small insect climbing upwards. Patrick jumped to his feet, scrambling to shake it off. His friends leaped towards him, grabbing and yelling for him to calm down.

Making eye contact with his friends, Patrick declared, “That was totally fucked.” All of them freaked asking what had happened and how bad it was. Hesitant to respond, he simply said, “Who’s next?” With mischievousness written clear on his face.

Jessie turned to Kaitlyn, with genuine concern rising on her face. Lachlan took quick notice, breaking the ice quickling saying, “Fine, I’ll go.”

Reluctant, but reaching for the door handle, he murmured those heavy words, “Bleed through the cracks.” Seamlessly, he was transported to a different world. As Lachlan lifted his eyes, he saw an empty beach, with a wide-open ocean drifting far. Wet sand swallowed his feet, slipping further into the shallow edges of the ocean. He tried to pull his legs, the resistance only sunk him faster. Lachlans breathes long and hard, thinking to just let this nightmare pass. As he faced the ground, the ocean pulled back in itself. His breath turned choppy in an instant as he squeezed his eyelids shut. A deathly silence settled in, he opened his eyes at the wrong time. A tsunami-sized wave washed over his trapped body. Screaming out bubbles, he bent to the ground digging into the sand. Struggling to make even a dent, he raised his hands to his mouth, coughing and choking as more salty water entered his body. Oxygen now fully starved from his brain, exhaustion reached its breaking point. Lachlan felt his limbs become limp, his mind drifted from consciousness. He took his final salt burning blink, when his eyes shot back open to reality.

Gasping for air, hyperventilating worse than Patrick. Panic crept deep into Lachlan's bones as his field of vision tunneled. He threw the door handle, giving Jessie a shock of notice. She reached for his water bottle, pouring it in his mouth. Causing him to choke uncontrollably. Dread gargling in the back of Jessie’s throat, thinking she’s just killed him. Kaitlyn jumped to action, smacking Lachlan’s back hard with an open palm, as he coughed up the water.

Taking a seat away from the group, Lachlan strung the words, “I need a minute.” Turning to face one another as pure shock rattled their bones. They decided it was best to take a brief break.

IV -

Shortly after what felt like an eternity to Kaitlyn. She ripped through the silence, “I guess it’s my turn.”

With little hesitation, she picked up the door handle and placed it on the board. Kaitlyn felt a hand reach her shoulder. Jessie choked out quietly, “Please, you don’t have to do this.”

That once-reassuring smile set firmly on Kaitlyn’s face, making Jessie only now realise that the reassurance was never for her. Kaitlyn looked at her with a face clearly expressing how badly she needed this. Little bumps spread across Jessie’s skin, struggling to understand. Kaitlyn simply inhaled deeply and exhaled, “Bleed through the cracks.”

As her eyes dilated to the change, she focused on her surroundings realising quickly where she was. Kaitlyn felt fearful to move, as she stood on the edge of the tallest building in their town. a secret she held, even from Jessie. Standing exactly here years ago, she was once ready to take that leap, but not anymore. Now as her dream imitates life, she repeated that same step backwards off the ledge. As the pavement under her feet cracked, breaking away her stability. Kaitlyn lost balance as she stumbled forward off the ledge. Screaming so hard, her throat burnt up as she plummeted fast. Tremendous gusts of wind made it harder and harder for Kaitlyn to catch her breath. Approaching the ground head first, she shut her eyes as she held her arms out, trying to brace the impact. Feeling all her bones as they shattered instantly, it splintered her organs into a sloppy mess. Blood seeped through her open wounds onto the pavement, staining the floor a dark ruby. Kaitlyn felt as each atom of life drained away, she closed her eyes in defeat.

Kaitlyn hurdled backwards as she was brought back to reality, her friends stunned from the erratic movement. Shock took over her as she ran towards the first exit, as she reached for the staircase railing. Her shoe caught on an uplifted nail making her tumble and fall down the stairs, landing headfirst. Kaitlyn adjusted herself to sit upright, putting a hand to her neck to support her head. The group rushed down to help her, asking a million different questions at once.

Kaitlyn’s patience left with that fall, she shouted, “Everyone shut the fuck up! I’m fine, and I’m alive.” Letting the words sink in, Patrick and Lachlan understood exactly how she felt.

Jessie’s slow-rising panic set into full motion now as she yelled, “Kaitlyn! We’re leaving!’

Patrick interjected stating, “but John just texted me saying he’s on his way!”

Kaitlyn stood up, causing her limbs to wobble from the sudden intense pain. She completely disregarded Patrick at that moment. Kaitlyn faced Jessie and responded with a deadpan expression, “Not until you’ve had your go.”

Standing there in utter shock, she turned to see both guys nodding with Kaitlyn, all practically in an arbitrary state. Knowing she can’t leave Kaitlyn like this, she gulped her fear down, heading back upstairs. Jessie felt the weight of the house crushing her, as the group watched her every move.

V -

Jessie sat and faced the board, as she grabbed the door handle like her life depended on it. She took one last look at what were once her friends, the group dumbfoundedly staring back at her. Jessie really struggled to find the right words at this moment, so she mumbled, “Bleed through the cracks.”

Delicately fluttering her eyes, she knew exactly where she was. Hints of burnt rubber traveled off the gravel, in through the window burning her nose. The rockiness of the car brought acid up from her stomach, into her throat. Soft music played in the background, stinging inside her ears. Jessie tightened her grip around the leather rim of the steering wheel, sizzling from the sweat that built in her palms.

Jessie knew she couldn’t change the past. But still stumbled on the same recurring thought process she had gone over in her head countless times. If she’s back in this memory, maybe she could try and save the one person she couldn’t. Going over every step of what was about to happen, Jessie focused her vision on the road ahead. Attempting to slow down her speed, but her foot suctioned firmly to the pedal, making her chest close inwards. Fog cleared as the speedometer rose higher, bringing that prophetic deer into view. Jessie held courage as she thought up a new plan.

The car made contact with the deer, so she made a sudden sharp turn of the wheel, the car spun out of control. It flipped the vehicle entirely. Hope faded into nothing as the car collided with a tree, off side the road. Whiplash shot into Jessie’s neck as she hung off the car seat, dangling from the belt. Shock took control of her body, realising she turned fate for the worse. Jessie adjusted her head to see her family, careless of the deathly pain she felt. Seeing that she’s not only killed her brother this time, but both her parents. Tears streamed down her forehead, mixing with the blood intertwined in her hair. Her fated death rooted into her soul, as the blood of her family pooled, overflowing from her hands. She closed her eyes and sobbed.

Jessie so bawled aggressively, her body shook back to reality. The group attempted to comfort her, but Jessie furiously shoved them off. She trembled to her feet screaming, “This is all your fault, for putting me through this!” Jessie turned to face Kaitlyn, shouting louder, “And a real friend would never make me relive that!”

In a frenzied, dissociative rage, Jessie stormed out that room, down the stairs, and out that wretched front door they entered together. Kaitlyn called out to Jessie, but all she saw was bright red. All of them now chasing after her, Kaitlyn yelled out again, this time her voice shaken with horror. Jessie stopped dead centre on the road, hoping for at least an apology from Kaitlyn.

Headlights beamed, a horn pierced, and tires screeched so hard that sparks flew. Jessie’s final thoughts set in, she felt sorry for her mum and dad. But thankful to Kaitlyn, for setting her free in a way. Allowing herself in that moment to clear her mind and forgive herself from her past.

Her limbs thrashed about as her body soared, then crumpled back onto the pavement. Silence consumed the air as everyone stood still, taking in what they just witnessed.

VI -

Johnny ran out of the car, picking up Jessie’s lifeless body as she spilt out of his arms. He yelled out to the group, “Guys, what the actual fuck just happened?”

The group ran out to them, all in paralysed daze from utter disbelief. Blankly staring at one another, not saying anything. Patrick’s hands trembled as he paced back and forth. “This wasn’t meant to happen,” he muttered. “She… Jessie did this to herself!” Something unspoken clicked behind his stare. As if struck with sudden madness Patrick yelled, “this isn’t our fault, she chose to play the game!” Running back inside the house and up the stairs. The group was again forced into silence, all scared to break its fragility. The loud stomps of Patrick's footsteps cut through like a knife slicing a sheet of paper. As Patrick headed towards the group, he held the box containing the game.

In a state of pure manic behaviour, Patrick confided his darkest thought aloud: “If we dump Jess into the lake with the game, people will think she killed herself.” All of them turned to face him, absolutely flabbergasted by the stupidity of this idea. Kaitlyn bursted into hysterical tears as her paranoia grew. However, none of them disagreed. Overpowered by stress and confusion, the group silently devised a disturbing plan.

Each of them picked up a separate limb, Kaitlyn held onto Jessie's head as she wiped the tears from her eyes. Rushing further into the outskirts of town, where the forest met the sea. They threw her cold body into the water, along with the game. Watching as their limp, unconscious friend sunk further into darkness.

The group agreed to a mandatory pact, to take this secret to their graves. Each of them promised to leave to a different town, never to speak on this again. But guilt riddled Kaitlyn's consciousness, numbingly she stated, “I think I should tell her parents, I’ll take all the blame.”

The guys berate Kaitlyn harshly, Patrick scared her as he said how even the smallest slip up could get all of them into deeper shit. Patrick threatened her, shoving her to the ground, screaming and spitting in her face. He said if she even thought of saying anything, they wouldn't hesitate to find her, and kill her himself. Drowning with fear, Kaitlyn nodded, jittering from the thought. As they each agreed to this pact, Patrick forced all of them to slice the tip of their pinky finger off, binding them for life. Each of them departing in a different direction, finding their own way home. As all of them crawled under the covers, and into their cosy beds. They are all haunted in their dreams every single night, for the rest of their lives.

The end