Page 50 of The Guru: Shadow

And then everything went pitch black.

The sound of the beating heart stopped.

Silence filled the room.

Someone breathed heavily into a microphone.

It was a deep male voice.

Rasping.

“I am your shadow,” growled the voice so deep into the microphone that goosebumps spread all over her skin. And not the good kind of them. Her insides clenched.

“And you are a worthless piece of shit.”

What the hell?

Prickling, stabbing pain seared through her chest. It was like her own inner voice replaying out loud.

“You are less than nothing.”

Fuck. I can’t deal with it.

“You deserve every last bit of shit life throws at you.”

No. Get out of my head.

The darkness zoomed in on her. It was too much. Not knowing, not seeing, not being able to get out – it overwhelmed her. Something in or around her was spinning; she couldn’t tell.

“You are weak.”

Please stop.

A scream cut through the silence, a horrific, earth-shattering scream.

A scream she felt with all of her senses.

Footsteps followed it, and then silence fell again onto the room.

More breathing.

A shudder like ice ran down her spine, she dug her nails into her arm, desperately trying to stay grounded by inflicting pain on herself. Everything in her wanted to crouch down and rock herself.

“Like I said, weak. Fragile. Worthless.”

Her heart now hammered so fast against her chest that it stumbled over its own beats.

Fuck. Breathe.

Sweat ran down her forehead as her breathing became erratic.

Boom.

The sound of an explosion erupted through the room, its waves running through her body.

No! Stop!

Another explosion shattered through the speakers. So heavy, she felt the floor beneath her feet rumble.