Chapter 4

Finley paces around the basement, muttering to himself about possible escape routes. He thinks about the message on the sign again. He takes a seat in the corner of the basement, trying to wrap his head around what happened. Trevor’s pained groans fill the quiet basement.

“You’ll be okay, don’t worry.” Kaylah dabs her shirt against his lips, trying to comfort him.

“How will he be okay?!” Oliver yells, his hands in his hair.

“She’s trying to help him. Maybe you could do the same.” Danny rocks softly near Trevor, looking away from him. “The best way to help is to get out of this place.”

“As if we’ll ever leave. You’ve seen it, Danny. There’s no way out.” Oliver takes a seat against the wall, his expression gaunt.

Finley fidgets with the knife in his back pocket.

“Trevor’s no help now… They all aren’t.” He thinks, his gaze lingering on them. He licks his lips slowly. Another sign pops out of the floor in front of him.

“No need for rhymes. You know what to do.” The sign whispers before standing up and running to a staircase at the back of the basement. It fazes through the locked gate and skips upstairs.

Finley looks over to the group, who were all staring at him and into his soul.

“We know what you’ll do. You’re a monster anyway,” they say in unison. They all stand together, their limbs moving as if pulled by strings. They walk over to him, smiles growing on their faces. Their skin tears as the smile spreads from ear to ear.

“Monster!” Kaylah shrieks.

“Liar!” Danny squeals.

“Weak!” Trevor laughs.

“Short-sighted!” Oliver sneers.

“Disgusting. Cheat. Powerless. Laughable.” They chant together.

Finley covers his ears and turns away. He huddles more into the corner, his body shaking. “No, I’m better than all of you combined.”

The chants stop as he turns to look at them again. They were all in the same place. Kaylah, still dabbing Trevor’s lips, sighs under her breath. Oliver hits his head in hopes of finding a solution. Trevor shakes pitifully, clinging to Danny. Danny hushes him, rubbing his cheek with a frown.

Finley stands slowly from the corner. He wipes the back of his neck, feeling the dampness of the basement. He shuffles closer to them. His steps are hushed and unhurried, barely leaving the floor. He stops a few steps away, still in the darkness. He watches as the single light flashes over his friends again, lighting their faces. For a few seconds he wonders if he should help, if he could do something good. Then, for a split second, they all glare at him with the same sickening grin.

With the knife firmly in his hand, he stabs Kaylah in the back. She falls to the floor with a scream. Danny shoots up from the floor and backs away. He stabs Kaylah repeatedly before turning to Danny. He shoves him to the floor. The floor opens up to swallow him whole. Danny slips in but manages to grab the edge and hold on.

“Finley, why? I thought we were friends!” Danny pleads.

Finley stomps on Danny’s fingers as he holds on for dear life. He falls to the bottom with a wet thump. Oliver backs away slowly, his wet eyes widening.

“Why are you trembling? I thought you’d have something to say, honestly. You always do.” Finley drops the knife. “You deserve something different, Oliver.”

“Dude, wait. I don’t mean half the things I say. I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry.” Oliver rambles.

Finley runs up to him and grabs his hair. He slams his face against the concrete wall. Every slam shakes the basement. Oliver’s pleas go silent as quickly as they started. Finley bashes his skull until it’s barely recognizable, pieces of bone peeking through his hair. Oliver’s body slides down the wall when Finley finally lets go.

The staircase door creaks open, the sound filling the silent room. The damp air weighs heavy on him as he makes his way over. His feet drag on the floor as he climbs the stairs. He grips the railing, pulling himself forward. His body weighs more and more the higher he climbs. Sunlight shines down the stairs, lifting the weight. With a second wind, he makes it to the top.

A lake stretches out leisurely, the sun coating its surface in golden hues. He approaches the edge and dips his hands in the water.

“I’m out… I’m out!” Finley stands and jumps around, unable to contain his excitement. A small boat floats to the edge, inviting him aboard. He gets on and rides to the other side. The warmth of the evening sun fills him as he gets off the boat. In the distance, he sees the cottage. Against his better judgment, he walks over. He gently pushes the door open. He sees himself sitting in the center of the dusty old cottage, rocking back and forth, mumbling about something incoherent.

“No…” Finley’s hands shake. His feet lock in place, stopping him from leaving. He feels a hand on his shoulder and turns around. Trevor shakes his head disappointingly. His empty sockets stare into Finley. Kaylah taps his other shoulder. When he turns, she shakes her head as well.

“The stairs were never locked.” She whispers. “And you knew that.”

Danny stands in front of him. His body was mangled and contorted in places he never knew was possible. His head hangs limply, his neck broken. “You knew only one of us could leave.”

Oliver walks into the cottage and closes the door. He walks over to Finley and stops in front of him. His face was completely severed off, exposing his brain. “You didn’t bother telling us, huh?”

Kaylah takes the knife out of her back and drops it to the floor. “Maybe you’ll use this again?”

“Or another hole big enough for all of us?” Danny chuckles.

“Or bash our heads against a wall?” Oliver crosses his arms. “You were always jealous of us anyway. My brain, Danny’s charming face, Kaylah’s attitude, Trevor’s strength.”

“I’m better than all of you! I got out!” Finley backs away, scoffing.

“Did you?” They all gesture to seated Finley.

“A circus needs its clowns, you know.” seated Finley says from the floor, his voice soft as he looks up at himself. A smile grows across his face, stretching from ear to ear.