The wind howls violently against the window as the branches of a nearby tree scrapes viciously against the window pane. I’m under a pile of blankets trying to get warm. My clothes are still wet, my mind is spinning and my chest feels restricted. I want to push the blankets away from me but I don’t want to see anything. Especially the gun.

The door creaks open and someone creeps in.

“...Cole?”

I don’t answer so she calls my name again.

“Just give me a second.” My throat is dry and I think she hears my lack of breath.

She doesn’t respond. Instead, she comes in. We don’t speak but I feel her apprehension rolling off her in waves. Has this happened before? Why did it feel familiar?

She fidgets and then starts playing with her hair, curling the ends with her fingertips. The motion bothers me but I don’t know why. She does it again and my heart almost misses a beat.

“Stop it.”

She stops abruptly. The air feels thinner and it’s suddenly harder to breathe. I don’t realize she’s pulling the blankets off me until I see the gun and flinch harshly away from it.

“Can’t we talk about this?” Her eyes flicker from the gun to my bloodstained shirt that was beginning to stick uncomfortably onto my skin. The collar is choking me. Her eyes start to become desperate as I suddenly yank my shirt down, trying to get some air into my lungs. Her fingers touches mine, trying to help but I move violently away from her. The blood stains seem to grow bigger and now the walls are closing in -

“Are -“ My breath catches in my throat. “Are they home yet?”

She shakes her head.

Only my breathing is heard for the next few seconds. My hair is dripping wet so I push it out of my eyes roughly.

She opens her mouth again but I cover my ears, my eyes falling shut.

She must’ve closed her mouth because she doesn’t say anything. I don’t move my hands from my ears but I feel them shaking again. The clock is ticking and I hold down the urge to break it.

The house is so quiet. But time is still moving.

Time is moving.

“Okay.” My eyes harden. My heart starts slowing to its normal pace and my mind clears up. The events stops spinning and begins falling into place. I can see it.

“I’m okay.” My sister stills, sensing the storm is receding. She starts to smile. Mentally, the first card falls into place.

“Fine.” Fine. “Let’s play.