Nightmares

Episode 6.1

He was discharged after one week stay in the hospital.

The cuts on his arms are healed, not quite well but enough that he doesn't need bandages anymore. The one on his forehead is still there. The doctor did his last checkup, no internal bleeding so no fevers or high blood pressure. 

"You can go home," the doctor said smiling. Joshua seemed happy to hear that. "But, you have to be careful. Don't lift anything heavy," he said, Joshua nodded. "Don't do much physical work, eat healthily, don't forget to take your medicines," he was saying, and Joshua was nodding after his every sentence. "And lastly, drink plenty of water, okay?"

"Yes," 

"Thank you, doctor," I said to him. 

He gave me an assuring smile. "It's my work," he turned to Joshua, "Okay, so... I think I have something for you," he pretended to find something in his white coat. "Ah, found it, here," he said giving a rose flower to Joshua and he accepted it gladly with a big smile. "You like it?" he asked

"I like flowers," he answered. I didn't know he liked flowers.

By the next fifteen minutes, we were in my car. He was looking at the rose when he noticed we passed the turn toward his house. "Are we not going home?" he said

"No, we're going to my apartment. We'll stay there for some time," I said. I can't bring him back to that house again, not until I solve the matter. It doesn't matter to me if he says no. 

"Okay, I'm happy as long as you're with me," he said. I had a sudden urge to hug him but I'm driving the car. I looked at him, happily looking outside the window holding a flower. It's my Joshua. My baby.

"Ice cream?" I asked

"Yes," he said smiling.

My apartment is quite big that two people can live comfortably. I think I came here two months ago, it needs a good cleaning. Joshua runs giggling and jumps on my bed. I've brought him here only once to show if he had an emergency he can come here anytime. I go and lie beside him. "Are you feeling better?" I asked

He rested his head on my chest, "I'm always better with you,"

Who taught him to say these heart-fluttering comments? I turn and nuzzles my nose with his. He laughs, I kiss his scar on the cheek and forehead. "Do you believe me?" I asked he nodded in positive. "Can you tell me what happened at the house?"

His smile faded away. He sat up and looked down. "You can tell me without any fear," I placed my hand on his face. 

"Ok," he said.

 "Hm, so what happened?" I made him sit in my lap, to make him feel closer to me if he gets scared.

"I was sleeping," he started, "Then I heard a noise as if something broke. Table glass was shattered on the floor. The house was dark, I got scared so I called you.... Y-You weren't there. I got up to look around, then-" he paused

"Then what?" I say

"A clown appeared in front of me suddenly. It- It pushed me and I stumbled on floor lamp wire and..... fell on the glass pieces," My eyes got close on their own. I can feel how painful it must have been. "My arms and hands started bleeding. I... I couldn't run, I don't know why I was feeling so dizzy." he said. I took a breath, I can see myself pouring two sleeping pills in his juice that day, I knew it could cause side effects. 

"And then," I said, "What did you do?"

"I somehow made to the front door...supporting my hands on the wall. I tried to open it but it was... it was locked-" I stopped him, putting my hand on his mouth.

"Please, stop for a second," I said resting my forehead against his. I can't feel any more guilty. I hate it. To know that he was hurt that seriously because of me when he could have escaped and get help. I never intended it. Why would I? But the damage is done, there's nothing we can do now. "Yeah, and?" I said looking at him.

"I...I started screaming for help, no one came." he said wrapping my necklace chain around his finger, "I tried to reach the backyard door. But the flower...flower vase, it came floating and hit my head so hard, I fell on the ground, the glass cut my face. I still struggled to make it to the door, the clown...it was standing there, spreading its arms, laughing. So I took the stairs, it chased me to the bedroom and pushed me again, it started t-touching me. Its face was so closer to me, so scary. I took out a glass piece from my hand and stabbed its neck,"

"You did what?" 

"Sta...s-stabbed its neck," he said softly. Was he still looking so innocent when he stabbed a ghost clown with a glass after taking it out from his hand? 

"Ok, and then? It died?"

"No, ghosts don't die," he said it like a child. "It backed away from me. I saw my phone on the bed, so I quickly ran to the balcony and locked the door behind me. I called you, and then...I don't remember after that. I fainted," 

Seems like a typical horror movie story, doesn't it?

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