|
devil helper: become a stranger |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The sound of my platform penny loafers echoed around the ally, the cobble stones beneath my feet rough and uneven. I stumble, twisting my ankle and fall to the ground. The ground is cold as death and I looking around I shiver with fear. I don’t know where I am. I don’t know how I got here. My memory foggy and useless. I put my hands to the stones to push myself up but stop, the hair on the back of my neck prickling with unease…I’m being watched. Glancing around with wide scared eyes darting from shadow to shadow looking for my secret stalker but there’s no one in sight.
Whimpering pathetically I push myself up and smoothes down my plaid skirt, readjusting the black belt that holds it in place. There are no openings in this ally. No turns, no way out except forward. A soft white light illuminating the end of the run. The gray of my surroundings pressing in on me, stealing my hope and leaving me feeling desperate to exit this melancholy place with its sinister mood. The wind howled and swept through the alleyway, tangling my hair and blowing the blond tresses into my face.
Brushing my hair away I stumble forward and move steadily toward the light. My penny loafers making their distinct clicking on the cobbles as I step. Was that an echo I heard? I glance around quickly, my hands tingling and my muscles tensing to run if I have to…but no one’s there. I turn back to keep going but pause, catching sight movement by a dumpster a few feet behind me.
My mind screaming at me to run but I ignore it. Slowly I turn to face the dumpster and take a step forward then hesitate. Pushing my fears away I force myself forward and jump out around the corner, shrieking my surprise. Clutching my cotton shirt above my heart I try to slow my breath, the startled cat glaring at me from behind the dumpster. Hissing softly he turns tail and disappears, the only evidence of him a few bracken hairs and my racing heart.
After a moment or so I regain my composure and look around again before heading back towards the light. Click, clack, click, clack, goes my shoes and I focus on the sound, click, clack, click...click, clack...clack. I stop. What was that? The sound came from above this time and I glance at the roofs above, quickly spotting movement I go pale with fright and start to run. The light getting closer now. Few more feet and I’ll be out. Something falls from above and smashes nearby, I jump. Tears streaming from my cheeks as I run faster.
Bursting out into the light I skid to a halt and smile through my tears. The street is full of bustling people rushing from shop to shop and filling their baskets with all the things they need. Sniffing the air I let my feet carry me to the bakery where Mr. Johnson works with his wife and daughter Sophia and I wave to them. They don’t wave back; they don’t even smile at me or ask how I am.
Thinking it’s weird I just move along and find myself at Oscar’s barber shop and I wave to him, cheerily wishing him a good evening but he doesn’t respond. I start to worry as I head to the book store and ask Mr. Jamison what’s wrong with everybody and he just looks at me strange. Starting to freak out I run to the church and find father Avery at the confessional and tell him everything that’s gone on. He listens intently, nodding every now again and asking a few questions here and there.
Calmed by his holy presence I answer his questions and smile at him, almost forgetting the strange behavior of the others…that is until he asked his last question. My eyes tear up as I realize what’s going on and though father Avery tries to comfort me I can’t be consoled and I run out, his words echoing in my head “who are you?” I run back the way I came, tears spilling down my face as I pass the book store then the barbershop and the bakery, ducking a corner and plunging myself back into the darkness of the alley.
Sitting with the stone wall to my back and my knees folded to my chest I cry and cry till my tears stop coming and still I cry more. My hands covering my face and my ears filled with my whimpers and sobs blocks out the sound of someone’s approach. A shadow engulfs me and shivering I move my hands from my eyes.
Two black boots stand there before me and I follow them up with my eyes. Strongly built and swathed in all black not an inch of flesh to be seen except for his eyes, pale icy blue eyes that chilled me to the soul. Tipping his large brimmed hat he seemed to smile through his mask and pushed his trench coat behind him as he kneels down to me. Lifting my chin with his gloved finger he looks into my eyes. “They didn’t recognize you” his voice was smooth and deep and sympathetic but it didn’t lie. He didn’t expect them to recognize me.
I nod softly, my voice shaking “why? Why don’t they know me?” he smiles softly and places his hands on my shoulders “you never existed to them”. I look at him not believing for a moment but then it sinks in and I remember the night before.
Lying in my bed frightened and sad as my parents fight but this time was different. They were yelling about my school, my teacher had called to get money for the school and my father couldn’t afford to give any more. Mother was crying as father raged and I cringed with every curse then when it seemed it couldn’t get worse I heard mother cry out in fear then a loud bang and my eyes when wide and I started to cry. I knew mother was dead and I wished id never been born. A man came to me then and rested his hand on my shoulder and the next thing I knew I was here, running and afraid.
Shaking I push myself to my feet and he steadies me as I teeter, keeping me up. “Would you like to see your mother?”His question startles me “my-my mother?” he hugs me to his chest, a soft laugh on his lips as the wind picks up. Everything seems to blur and spin for a moment and then it stops. We’re outside my home. The large brick house rising tall against the garden and the iron gate standing stark against the growing morning glories, marigolds, asters and rose bushes it kept inside the yard.
Grabbing my hand he led me inside, his body emanating heat in the cold house. Everything is quiet then suddenly cheerful giggling can be heard from the next room followed by a tenors guffaw. Its mother…and father…their laughing? The man leads me into the room, its bright and mother and father were sitting there by the fire. They sat on the carpet, cuddling close together and laughing at an unknown joke…they were happy. I’d never seen them so happy together. Was this because I was gone?
My eyes tear up and I run from the room and out of the house, collapsing in the road. The man fallows at a leisurely pace. Kneeling in front of me once more he hugs me to his chest “come with me” I look at him, pulling away from him. Fear and confusion flicking through my mind.
“Who? Who are you?” I stumble over my words as he helps me stand and smiles at me “I’m the devil my dear and I’ve come to take you away from your fear” he holds out his hand to me and I stare at him. He laughs the sound soft and humorous “don’t fear me. I won’t hurt you” hesitant I reach out and grasp his hand. The world fading to black as he introduces me into being the total stranger.
 phurrys revenge · Fri Jun 24, 2011 @ 08:30pm · 0 Comments |
|
|
|
|
|
