I can't walk out

 For a moment or two, maybe it was well over an hour, Carmen just felt numb. Why was it that no one believed her? Especially, about Justin. It was like they were a couple, doing things so unknown to her.

She winced wondering if she'd made a fool of  herself at the wedding. Yes, she should have stayed home, but Tristan asked if she needed a ride. They were going to Sammie and Gabe's wedding.

Sure, she was really hurt that she wasn't Sammie's bride's maid. But then knowing Vada would be there, made her all the more timid. And still, she went with it.

Oh, she could feel Justin wanting to hold her back. He probably held his breath. She almost laughed about it now.

They were home. She was in her room when the lights went out, but the streetlights were still on.

"Man, would you look at this!" Justin called from the livingroom. She was in her skimpy tank and sleep shorts. She stumbled out of the darkness and saw the night glow from the window. Justin was watching a dumpster being swept away in the current of the rising waters.

"Oh shit," she said under her breath.

"What?"

"I got to see if Rico's OK."

"Are shitting me?" He looked at her with a fat grin as if she was only a joker.

"I have to." Her dark eyes shot open at the thought of danger.  Suddenly, it felt if she was on autopilot. Tristan and Delia were in the kitchen finding candles. She had to do something as she pulled her dark locks of hair out of her face. "Do you still have a key to the old place?"

Suddenly Justin was even-lipped and stared at her as if she was a crazy person. He was still in his jeans. She dug into his front pockets as if she were a beggar looking for a treasure. She knew what to look for and she found it deep in his right pocket.

"What are you going to do?" Justin asked as he watched her hold up the key as if it were a prize.

"Don't worry, I'll be back." She nodded as if she could not let this go. Something bad was happening.

"You can't!" He ordered, but she didn't listen. She found her way to the door and saw the emergency lights were dimly leading the path. She was certain she could get there even in her sleep. She had to find Rico.

"Can't you wait!" Justin's voice echoed through the walls, but she didn't listen as her bare feet nimbly went on their way to what was waiting for her. Stairs after one stairwell and then another, she went down another level then another into the spiral of dread. 

Out of the darkness it was waiting for her. Such black waters. Any other time, she would have noticed how contaminated it might be, but it didn't matter. She dove in and swam her way to Sammie and Gabe's. Rico was right across the hall. She felt for the door knob. Truly, she was blind, but the madness kept her going. Thank God, the chain wasn't on the door.