Fractured – Chapter 3: Wellcy

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Victoria's eyes remained fixed on the notebook.

"My name is Wellcy... and I remember everything."

"I didn't write this..."

She quickly checked her hands.

No pen.

No ink.

No memory of writing it.

Her breathing grew heavier.

"Who's... Wellcy?"

Silence.

Then a soft whisper filled her mind.

"The one carrying your nightmares."

Victoria stumbled backward, dropping the notebook.

That night, sleep refused to come.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the same hallway.

Five doors.

Four were open.

The fifth stood at the end, covered in black vines.

A girl dressed in white stood before it.

Long black hair hid her face.

She slowly lifted her head.

Her eyes were filled with endless sorrow.

"Victoria..."

"You finally heard me."

Victoria's legs trembled.

"Who are you?"

"I..."

"...am Wellcy."

"You forgot me."

"But I never forgot you."

The dream changed.

Victoria was no longer in the hallway.

She was six years old again.

Rain hit the windows of her childhood home.

She ran toward her mother, tears streaming down her face.

"Mom..."

"I'm scared..."

Her mother didn't even look up.

"Stop crying."

"You're embarrassing."

Victoria turned to her father.

"Dad..."

He sighed in annoyance.

"Go to your room."

"No one wants to hear your lies."

Little Victoria stood there, frozen.

She wasn't lying.

She had begged them to believe her.

They never did.

The dream shattered.

Victoria woke up screaming.

Sweat soaked her clothes.

Tears rolled down her face.

"I hate them..."

"I hate them..."

Jennifer's gentle voice echoed.

"It's okay."

"You survived."

Before Victoria could answer, another voice laughed.

Cherry.

"Why cry over people who never loved us?"

"Let's smile."

"Let's pretend."

"That's what we're good at."

Victoria covered her ears.

"Please..."

"Stop talking..."

The apartment fell silent.

The next day, Victoria arrived at college exhausted.

During lunch, she sat alone under a large tree.

A boy from her class approached.

"Mind if I sit here?"

Victoria looked up.

His name was Ethan.

He had noticed her many times but had never spoken to her.

She nodded quietly.

For several minutes, neither of them spoke.

Finally, Ethan smiled.

"You always sit alone."

"I like quiet."

"I don't think it's because you like it."

Victoria looked away.

"It's because you're hurting."

Those words struck something deep inside her.

For a second...

She wanted to tell someone.

Everything.

But fear swallowed the words before they reached her lips.

"I'm fine."

She stood and walked away.

Ethan watched her leave, certain she had lied.

That evening, Victoria returned home.

She found muddy footprints leading from the front door to her bedroom.

Her heart pounded.

She lived alone.

Slowly, she entered.

Everything looked normal.

Until she saw the mirror.

Written across it in red lipstick were the words—

HE FOUND US.

Victoria's face turned pale.

"I didn't..."

"I didn't write this..."

Then the apartment lights went out.

Darkness swallowed the room.

A slow knock echoed from inside her bedroom closet.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Victoria couldn't move.

Wellcy whispered, her voice shaking for the first time.

"Don't open it..."

"He's not supposed to be here."

The knocking stopped.

A deep male voice came from inside the closet.

"Victoria..."

"I've finally found you."

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