Nightmares

Strange Old Women

"Victoria!"

I looked up from my book and smiled. "Mum, where have you been? I've been waiting for you."

"Come", she held my hand, "I have something to show you". I placed my book gently on the bench in the park and followed her, holding her hand.

"Mum, where are we going to?" She didn't answer, she held my hand tightly.

I didn't say anything,  I kept on following. Everywhere was deserted. We kept on walking for about ten minutes before we finally got to a very beautiful house.

Mum knocked the door and a strange looking woman with her hair covering her face opened the door. I started at her as mum pulled me into the house.

The house was full of old ladies with their hair covering their faces. They looked very scary. I held my mum tightly and stayed behind her. "Mum," I whispered.

Mum pushed me into the midst of the old ladies and left the house without looking back.

"Mum! Mum!! Mum don't leave me here," I tried to follow my mum but I was pulled back by two old ladies who held my hands firmly. I tried to free myself from their grip but it was just too firm.

"Please let me go!" I screamed.

A lady showed up behind me. She looked older than the rest. I looked back at her and she ordered me to sit. I sat on the floor and stared at her. She then ordered two old women to tie my hands and put a tape on my mouth. I started screaming through the tape when she brought out a knife. She started to cut my hair, mumbling words like a chant.

I was screaming, crying and shaking my head but she just continued to cut my hair.

The other old ladies around picked my hair from the ground and began to eat it. Shocked by this process, I screamed...

                          * * *

I woke up to reality, sweating profusely. I touched my hair and sighed when I saw that it was still full and long. I looked around but didn't recognize where I was. The door to the strange place opened and Mother Martha came in smiling.

"Oh! My girl, are you okay?" She said, sitting on a stool placed beside the bed I was sleeping on.

I nodded and sat up.

Courtney came into the room with a boy following her.

She smiled when she saw me. "Thank God you're alive."

The boy stayed by the door with his arms folded and his legs crossed.

"Where is this place?" I asked, looking around again.

"Well, my dear, this is the orphanage's clinic" Mother Martha said.

"Oh! I see" I looked at Courtney.

"What happened? I remember being at the dining area with you and...  and you asked me a question... I couldn't breathe so I decided to go out... but someone touched me and asked if I was alright and then... and then ..." I looked at Courtney and Mother Martha and the boy standing by the door. "...and then...".

"You fainted right into my arms", the boy standing by the door said.
I looked at Courtney and she nodded.