Ecstasy

Chapter 13
Anthony shuddered and slumped against Dawson’s body as Dawson wiped his face with a damp cloth. Dawson was scared he’d never seen Anthony like this before, something major must have gone on in his mind for him to be acting this way.

“I saw it Dawson.” Anthony’s voice was faint as he closed his eyes and nuzzled into Dawson’s chest.

“Saw what Anthony?” Dawson sighed heavily as he hugged Anthony tightly, as Anthony continued to shake uncontrollably.

“ I saw him do it, I saw him fall and I heard his screams but they stopped so suddenly and then I felt the contact.” Anthony whispered again as Dawson pushed him away from him forcefully, a little scared why Anthony was acting like this.

“Stop being stupid Anty, you’re drunk and you’re talking shit. You where with us all night so you couldn’t have seen it.” Dawson snapped sharply his own fear filtering through in his angry words.

“But I did, that’s who I saw in the bathroom. I saw him he was looking at me from the window, his face covered in blood, I wasn’t drunk then Dawson, god help me it was so real, and it was real.” Anthony felt his body shudder again, a deep cutting pain in his chest excruciating from all the heaving.

“Shut up Anthony, you’re scaring me, just shut up.” Tears began to flow down Dawson’s cheeks as Anthony glared up at him, his stare ghostly and constant, totally devoid of any emotion.

“You two alright?” Dawson turned around sniffling and wiping the tears quickly from his cheeks as Josh put his head around the corner of the kitchen.

“No.” Josh was a little confronted as Dawson burst out crying again, before running past him and up the stairs towards his room. Anthony looked up at Josh in silence before hanging his head in his hands, contemplating that no one in their right mind would believe the horror he’d seen in the bathroom. Josh sighed and began up the stairs after Dawson, he’d considered that he wasn’t going to get sense out of Anthony so it was better talking to Dawson about it. It was quite a while that Anthony sat alone in the kitchen, it’s cold drafts making him more uneasy as silence filled the air. He kept his head in his hands, he considered that if he couldn’t see anything they couldn’t see him. It was childish but it’s what kept him together as he tried to come to terms with what he’d seen.

“You alright?” Anthony looked up suddenly a little startled a hearing another voice in the room apart from his own mutterings. Alan smiled down at the sad figure in front of him, trying as best as possible to make him feel a little better. The cool air picked up again and Anthony shuddered, smiling half heartedly at the young man, his dreadlocks falling lightly across his face.

“Not really, but hey I guess that’s what comes with living with you lot.” Alan laughed as Anthony sighed heavily watching as Alan walked over to him and patted him on the shoulder.

“Come on, let’s get some sleep and see how things look in the morning.” Anthony nodded and stood up cringing as he felt a shooting pain go from his cut hand up his arm. They walked in silence into the dimly lit hallway at the bottom of the stairs, both looking inquisitively into the lounge room, only lit by the glowing fire. Alex sat in the large armchair her legs hanging over on side and her hand over the other, a large glass of brandy being rolled around in her fingertips. Anthony couldn’t see her face but he sensed something was not right, a mood had fallen over them all so quickly it was impossible to pin point to one person. The fire flickered and made like a hallow around her as she sat with her back to the door, in total silence not a single light on in the whole lounge room.

“Is she alright?” Anthony looked gingerly up at Alan who shrugged his shoulders before smiling down at Anthony sadly.

“I don’t know, know one does. She’s always like this after they’ve been here, she’ll not talk to anyone for a week at least and then she’ll bounce back all of a sudden as if nothings happened. We just let her be, if she want’s to talk she will in her own time.” Anthony nodded and turned to walk up the stairs into the softly lit stairwells and up towards his room. Alan smiled wickedly as he followed behind Anthony, watching his toned arse in the pin stripped trousers as he walked in front.

“Night.” Anthony whispered lightly as they came to the first landing and stopped outside Alan’s room. Alan turned to go inside his room but stopped suddenly and turned around to Anthony.

“If you want me, my doors unlocked.” Anthony smiled and nodded a little with relief before making his way up the next set of stairs to his own floor. There was a severe cold patch as he glanced up at the deadly dark stair case at the end of the hall as he made his way to his own room. He shuddered at the thought of what might have gone on in the past, and whether he’d be the next victim. It was scaring him as he all but ran to his room and stepped inside it, closing the door softly behind him. It was strangely warm in his room tonight unlike the night before it was normal room temperature or a little warmer and it made him feel a little better. He quickly got himself undressed hanging up his clothes before sliding into his warm bed, underneath all the blankets. It was so cosy and warm now in the room as he snuggled down and switched the the light, listening to the normal night sounds that he was used to.

Dawson awoke in a sweat his body shivering and tingles running up his spine, after the shocking image of the body outside plagued in his mind. Josh had come and talked to him after he’d left Anthony in hysterics in the kitchen, Josh was so comforting. He’d explained that sometimes people created stories in their minds to cover grief, however Anthony might have seen it in the bathroom because, as they were for warned, some scary shit happens in the place. Although now Dawson couldn’t think of anything else but of the body and it was making him uneasy and unable to sleep. Normally he’d have crawled into bed with Anthony but right now Anthony was the last person he’d wanted to be comforted by. Dawson played with the decision’s in his head, stay here, go to Anthony or take up Josh’s invitation and go down to see him. He glanced across to the clock it was 10:30pm everyone would be fast asleep by now, but Josh had promised to leave his door unlocked if Dawson had wanted some comfoIt wIt was a split second decision that Dawson made to go down and see Josh, after he heard Anthony talking to himself next door. He got quickly out of bed and pulled a blanket around his shivering body before gingerly opening the door and all but running down the hallway and quickly down the stairs, not even stopping to contemplate what might be watching him from the forbidden stair case. He just didn’t want to think about these things, it was scary enough, as it was being up when everyone was in bed let alone to contemplate leaving the safety of his room.

“Josh, you up?” Dawson gingerly opened the door to Josh’s room, poking head ead around before glancing around the dark room.

“What?” Dawson sighed with relief as he watched Josh sit up in bed and flick the side light on next to his bed. “Dawson, what’s up?” Josh blinked a couple of times in the harsh light before focusing on the shivering little figure in his doorway.

“Anthony’s talking in his sleep, he doesn’t do that unless he’s scared or worried.” Dawson looked to the ground as Josh smiled up at him softly before moving over in bed and throwing back the covers.

“Get in then, before we both freeze.” Josh raised an eyebrow at Dawson seductively as Dawson pattered over to the bed, placing the blanket on the back of the chair before sliding into bed next to Josh. It was weird being in bed with another male that he hardly knew, but he felt a lot better having someone close to him and warm.

“Thanks.” Dawson whispered as he lay down, scanning over Josh’s toned and tanned body as he leaned across him to turn out the light.

“No problem.” Josh breathed as the looked down softly into Dawson’s deep emerald eyes, pausing briefly just to scan over Dawson’s perfect features. Dawson shivered he’d never bothered to look at another man before apart from Anthony, but now all of a sudden the urge to be free again came over him. He closed his eyes as Josh brushed his lips over his, gently brushing his finger through his hair. They both smiled lightly as Josh pressed his lips softly against Dawson’s, before pushing his tongue past his lips to gently caress his mouth. All thoughts of Anthony drifted away as Josh turned off the light, relaxing into Dawson’s chest as they kissed sensuously.

Anthony turned over and yelped in agony as he twisted his already throbbing hand. It was strange at how this morning his hand hadn’t even hurt but now it was like it was in a vice slowly being twisted together. The pain was excruciating as he sat up in bed holding his hand close to his body as the pain pulsed through his hand. Anthony searched through the bedside table looking for any sign of some panadol or painkillers but there was none, he’d used them all on the trip up here. He scanned the dark room the shadows long as the moonlight shone brightly through the net curtaining on the window. It was still warm in the room, but Anthony was scared still. He had to go next door and find Dawson to see if he could help him with something to stop the pain in his hand. Once he’d taken a few calming breaths he slowly edged himself out of bed and across his room to the adjoining door to Dawson’s room.

“Dawson you there?” Anthony pushed open the door slightly, cringing as the creak of the hinge echoed in the silent house. “Fuck.” He swore as he saw Dawson’s empty bed, the covers thrown open. Anthony closed the door again and sighed, the pain was just so strong, there was now way he’d be able to sleep what with the images and thoughts of the night as well.

Finally the pain got the best of him and he decided his only option was to go down stairs and get some aspirin he’d seen the first aid box this morning. Anthony was well aware that meant going down both sets of stairs alone in the dark in a fucking freaky house. After some procrastinating and cursing because of the pain, his courage some how rose above what he might encounter outside and he pulled on his dressing gown before gingerly edging the door of his room open. It was dark on the landing only the soft stair lights creating long shadows and a light to guide him. He glanced up to the pitch black stair case and shuddered before making a dash for it along the landing and all but leaping down the first set of stairs. His feet where light and quick on the cold wooden floors as he passed the next set of rooms before making his way slowly down the final flight of stairs. The house fell deadly silent as he stopped still at the bottom of the stairs as he glanced across at the glistening knife blade sticking out of the banister. He shivered and glanced into the lounge room, the fire all but died out but still providing a little light for him to edge his way over to the kitchen and turn on the fluorescent light. The relief seemed to wash over him as he walked over to the cupboard where he’d seen Alex put the first aid box back. He reached up and brought it down searching through the various medication and medical supplies desperately searching for some aspirin.

“You after this?” Anthony all but shit himself as a soft voice came floating in from behind him at the kitchen doorway. He froze unable to move or reply as he heard light footsteps coming across to him on the lino. “Anthony you alright?” A hand ran across his shoulder before a familiar face smiled at him in the kitchen window reflection.

“Alex it’s you.” Anthony let out a massive sigh before trying to regulate his breathing and his heart beat back to normal as she past him the packet of aspirin.

“Who else was it going to be?” Alex raised an eyebrow at him suspiciously as she watched him quickly fill a glass of water before downing three aspirin. “You alright?” She questioned again taking the glass of water and the other aspirin out of his hand quickly so that he couldn’t take another. Anthony shook his head holding his hand softly against his chest, tears all but falling down his cheeks as the pain began to get unbearable. “Come on give me a look, you’ve probably got something in it.” She smiled softly at him as he gingerly let her take his hand in hers, watching as she pressed various sights over the bandaged area. Anthony squirmed as she began to hurt him a little before looking up at him sadly. “Come we’ll bathe it and re bandage it then I’ll get Craig to take you to see the doctor in the morning.” Anthony couldn’t believe how nice she was being to him all of a sudden, all the crap that Alan had said to him about her silence was bull. She seemed to be fine totally normal or as normal as Anthony had seen her so far.

“Thanks.” Anthony whispered he watched her collect a few things from around the kitchen, including a basin of warm water before gesturing towards the lounge room.

“It’s alright, I used to fix up all Alan’s cuts when he was first here. It takes a while for some people to get used to everything.” Her voias sas so soft and melodious as sat him down next to her on the couch, crossing her legs to face him with a towel draped across her knees. Anthony couldn’t help but notice as her black silk robe fell open a little showing off her cleavage a little. She wasn’t something perfectly woman but she was just enough to have a sex appeal that added to her mystique

“How long have you been back down here?” Anthony decided to make conversation after the extended silence between them as she prepared a few things around her while he gazed over her beautiful figure.

“I haven’t been upstairs yet, Craig brought me down my clothes. I get a little incapable of looking after myself when things have happened.” She smiled up at him weakly before taking hold of Anthony’s hand and placing it softly on her lap, before gently beginning to unbandage it. “It’s just how I cope with things I suppose, it’s better than breaking down completely like some do.” Anthony blushed as he remembered how he’d acted about seeing Steve’s body lying on the gravel and his face in the picture. However she didn’t understand just how much he’d seen in the bathroom of Steve’s death and how real it had seemed.

“Yeah, I guess I didn’t handle it the best.” Anthony whispered slightly before wincing as she finally unwrapped it and shook her head at the sight as it began to bleed again.

“It’s deep it’s probably going to have to be stitched. I didn’t look the best the morning I’m sorry, it might have been fixed if I’d taken my time.” Alex smiled guiltily up at Anthony who smiled sadly as he hand began to hurt again at being open to the air.

“Its not you’re fault I should have got it checked anyway. My fault.” Alex smiled and picked up the bowl of water and antiseptic.

“I’ll bathe and bandage it for you, I’ve got some painkillers to stop the pain and then I’ll make sure you get it seen to first thing in the morning.” Anthony sighed heavily as she took hold of his shaking hands, before gently holding it over the bowl and softly letting the warm water trickle over it from a small piece of cotton wool she’d dip occasionally into the water.

“Fuck.” Alex paused and watched as Anthony closed his eyes and cringing with pain as the antiseptic clawed it’s way into the deep cut.

“Sorry.” She whispered as he breathed out heavily still tensing a little as she continued to softly bathe it with the warm water. By the time she’d finished the water was a crimson tinge where she’d washed the cut clean of all dry blood and dirt before softly patting it dry on a clean hand towel.

“You saw him didn’t you?” Anthony was a little stunned as Alex continued to gently pat his hand dry after asking the confusing question.

“Saw who?” He inquired a little apprehensive about what her answer might be.

“Steve, you saw it all in the bathroom before it had even taken place. I’m right aren’t I? That’s why you were so upset.” Alex looked directly into Anthony’s eyes as Anthony nodded half-heartedly tears threatening to fall again. “You’re not alone.” He closed his eyes as he felt her hand softly brush across his cheek and down to his chin, lifting his face a little to face her.

“Why who else do you know who sees people kill themselves about two hours before it happens.” Anthony snapped sharply at her as she pulled her hand away sighing heavily.

“When I firot hot here, I was alone no one else wanted to sleep in a house with such a past. Craig and Alan were two freshman that had been also assigned to the house, and although they’d heard the stories they decided to try their luck.” Alex smiled as she picked up the sterilized padding placing it gently over Anthony’s cut aware that she had Anthony’s undivided attention. “Just like me they were unaware of what to expect, it was the second night and Craig came screaming down the stairs screaming blue murder after supposedly seeing the face of a dead man floating in the bath upstairs.” Anthony swallowed hard not even feeling the pain as Alex began to bandage his hand again. “Two hours later they found a young male student floating face dow his his bath after electrocuting himself. He saw people’s deaths for two years and then they suddenly stopped as soon as they’d came they’d gone. All through that period he refused to take a shower alone, he refused to p wip without someone in the room with him and he avoided all contact with other people. He was scared incase he was making people do this to themselves, but the truth is they were just using him as a median to communicate what they were planning on doing, nothing else.” Anthony smiled and sighed heavily as she pinned the bandage together before putting the rest of the things back on the floor next to her and uncrossing her legs. “So you’re not alone, people know what you’re going through you just have to trust and tell them occasionally.”
“He doesn’t talk of it much?” Anthony whispered as she stood up and took the things back in the kitchen. He couldn’t help but notice the way she just seemed to glide effortlessly over the floor, her black silk robe blowing as she walked.

“Would you when all the campus was already convinced that you’re a freak. That would really put the icing on the cake if that had got out.” Anthony detected a slight chann hen her tone as she came back out off the kitchen. The clock on the mantel struck 11:30pm it’s deathly chimes echoing in the silent house as they both stood there staring at one another.

“I guess I better get some sleep, you don’t happen to know where Dawson is?” Anthony stood up and watched as Alex lowered her head a little as if feeling a little guilty over something. There was silence as Anthony shrugged his shoulders and began to walk towards the stairs. “Oh well the bastard can just get fucked then can’t he.” Anthony breathed but then paused as Alex placed a cold hand on his arm.

“He’s upstairs in Josh’s room, he won’t be back up tonight.” Anthony felt his heart fall away as she read her subtle hint like it was a book. He felt everything begin to fall apart again, and tears form in his eyes as he closed his eyes tightly. In the course of 24hours everything he’d come to love and cherish about his life was being destroyed in an instant. Dawson was the only thing he had that made getting up in the morning seem worth while. “Oh Jesus, come here.” Anthony shuddered into tears as Alex wrapped her hands around him, hugging him deeply as he cried openly into her shoulder. “Hey it’s alright, he’ll get over it he just needs space for while.” Her voice was so unbelievably warm as she spoke to him, nothing like he’d ever heard her speak before. She was cold though, Anthony still couldn’t get over the fact of how cold she was to touch, evhen hen it was hot outside she gave him goosebumps just by brushing past her.

“I don’t want to be alone.” Anthony whispered so softly as he sighed and took hold of his hand holding it firmly as they made their way up to the first landing.

“Shhh.” Alex put her finger to her lips silencing him as she gingerly walked over to one of the doors and knocked lightly before edging it open. Anthony sniffled and closed his eyes, he felt like a bloody three-year-old standing theraredared of the dark almost. There was whispering inside the room before Alex came back outside and smiled at Anthony softly. “Go on, in you go.” Anthony smiled as she gestured towards the room she’d just come out of. He smiled at her as she pushed the door open for him and watched as Anthony gingerly walked inside.

“Come on life’s a bitch sometimes.” Anthony smiled as Craig winked at him and threw back the covers gesturing for Anthony to come over and get in.

“Thanks.” Anthony whispered as he crawled in beside Craig smiling as Craig wrapped his arms around his waist and smiled up at Alex who sighed before turning off the light and closing the door leaving both men to get some well earned sleep.

Tbc.............