After the Cabin Read Online Free Page B

needs proper attention. “A lot of things are the same, but it's also kind of different.”
    “Totally,” he replies. “There are some good places if you know where to look, though.”
    “I just need to find them,” I tell him, before realizing that he's glancing at my chest. Looking down, I realize that my padded bra is totally out of whack, making my left breast seem to sag to my waist. “And now I need to go to the little girls' room,” I add, getting to my feet as I feel a shudder of embarrassment. “Back in a moment.”
    “You want me to come?” Karen asks.
    “No, I'll be fine.”
    “Just so you know...” She pulls me closer and lowers her voice so Matt can't hear. “I think he likes you.”
    “All I want right now are friends,” I tell her.
    Slipping through the crowd, I reach up and check my chest, and sure enough I'm extremely asymmetrical right now. God knows what Matt thought, but I'm sure he'd already clocked some of the scars on my face and neck anyway. When I get to the bathroom I'm relieved to see that there's no-one else here. Heading to the mirror, I pull my top up and make a quick adjustment so that the padding is back in place, and when I pull my top down again I actually look pretty normal. After a moment, however, I realize that I'm being way too vain, so I fumble under my shirt and finally pull the bra out. I should just be proud of my body, but at the same time, I don't really want to explain, so... Sighing, I start putting the bra back on. I just need to make a goddamn decision, there's no reason to be nervous or -
    And then I see her.
    Jennifer is standing right behind me, staring at my reflection with those same dark eyes that I remember from the cabin.
    I take a deep breath, telling myself that this is just a brief illusion, a hiccup in my perceptions, but she hasn't faded away yet. I blink a couple of times, hoping to wipe her from sight, but she's still there. Loud music is still pounding through the walls from the main part of the bar, but everything else seems so far away right now. Even though I know I shouldn't, I finally turn to face her.
    She's still staring at me, but after a moment she tilts her head slightly.
    “You're not real,” I say firmly. “You're just not!”
    A faint smile spreads across her lips.
    “I'm not crazy,” I continue, “and there is no way you...”
    I pause, feeling a shiver running through my chest as she continues to stare at me.
    “You're not really here,” I tell her, keeping my eyes fixed on her and trying to use sheer willpower to make her disappear. “I know that. I know you died at the cabin, and I also know that I can expect to sometimes have little moments like this, but I will not be scared! I refuse!” I pause for a moment before taking a step closer, hoping to force her to disappear. Still, she persists. “You're not real,” I continue. “I refuse to let you into my head.”
    “Tell yourself that, bitch,” she replies suddenly, her voice filled with hatred. “Anything that gets you through the night.”
    “I shouldn't have come here tonight,” I whisper, as the music gets louder and faster. “I wasn't ready for this.”
    “What are you ready for?” she asks. “Maybe to admit the truth?”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “The truth about what you did at the cabin.”
    “Me?” I feel a rash of panic rising through my chest. “I didn't do anything at the cabin! It was you!”
    She smiles. “You know, I almost think you believe that.”
    I want to tell her to go to hell, but the panic is too much now and I can't even bear to look at her. Turning, I hurry to the door just as another girl comes stumbling through and clatters into me.
    “Do you see her?” I ask, grabbing the girl's arm and turning. Jennifer is still watching me, so I point toward her. “Just tell me if you see someone standing there. You don't, do you? There's no-one, just tell me there's no-one standing by the first cubicle. I know this sounds