Welcome Home
The floorboards creaked below her feet, making a sense of
uneasiness crawl up her spine. She had known from the start that this was a bad
idea, that this was a stupid dare, and her friends were just going to jump her
or play tricks. But at the same time, she seemed so at home in the darkness,
her pale skin the only thing I could pick out in the shadows of the abandoned
house. She had a grim fascination with places like this since she was small.
She'd been abnormal, always wearing black or dark shades, and humming something
akin to a funeral dirge. It wasn't strange to see her carrying about a
mutilated doll. She'd been mocked for that, being called a freak or a monster.
It drove her to change herself into a creature of the light and hide her
passion for the dark deep within. But that love for the shadows never left her.
I could see that knowing glint in her eyes when she thought she was alone. But,
as soon as she saw 'normal' people, she instantly reverted to the disgusting
creature she'd become to survive. She remained tense, but a small smile graced
her features. I chuckled a bit at her, though she couldn't see me. The sound
made her jump, the grin vanish to be replaced with uneasiness. She had learned
a lot, living among the light. It was almost time for her to remember what
she'd left behind...
But not yet. No... I had to wait, if only for a few more
moments.
She knew I was there now. She glanced around, trying to see me
but found empty air in my place. After a few moments, she dismissed her
curiosity and continued through the hallway. Picking her way through the dark,
as if she could see. She was brave, my girl. She always had been. A crash rang
through the empty air, causing us both to jump. She let out a small yelp in
surprise, then growled as if trying to regain her composure. I almost laughed
at her again. She wasn't the one who was supposed to growl and bite. That was
my job. She was getting nervous, I could tell. The way she held herself, with
her fists out as if fight off something she couldn't see. But her face
portrayed nothing of what she felt. She was remembering her old tricks- masking
her emotions had been one of the best things she'd picked up from me. I began
following her, always remaining a step behind. She straightened up, now knowing
that something was behind her. But she didn't turn, and kept going. Under her
breath she was whispering small reassurances and prayer for whatever it was to
not hurt her. Silly child... prayer didn't work where I was concerned.
She made it to the end of the hallway, only to find a locked
door. Beyond this door was escape, a return to an unnatural life. I couldn't
let that happen. Slowly, my girl turned to face me. That glint was in her eyes
again, her face masking the rage she felt within. I smirked as she held up her
fists, as if to protect herself. She still couldn't see anything, but she could
feel how cold the air was where I stood. My little girl, my precious little
girl... around her, though she couldn't see it, were the crumbling remains of
her sisters. All of my girls were together at last. The look on her face
resembled theirs when they had realized there was no escape. They all knew what
happened next, but refused to acknowledge it. Some tried to run, others tried
to fight. My girl shut her eyes and slid down the door. I knelt down in front
of her, and caught her in a hug. She shivered, but welcomed the embrace. They
all accepted my embrace eventually.
The heat faded from her limbs, replacing it with a numbing cold
that made her shudder. When I pulled away her skin was paler than before, and
blue tinged her lips. She curled up and began to nod off, while I sat watching.
Soon she'd remember... She managed to whisper something into the dead air, a
final flare of her anger trying to heat her up. "I hate you." It
wouldn't work. I'd heard the other girls do this too, but it would never work.
The flames of rage and fear always gave away to love for me. I chuckled and
brushed her cheek with my hand. "I know you do. You'll forgive me
eventually. Everyone does."
The hate faded as her eyes shut, and her breathing slowed to
almost nothing. The tension faded from her shoulders. A final sigh escaped her
lips. "Welcome home."
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