AINSEL, MY OWN SELF.

Part 1

Ainsel saw them everyday.

The same monsters that lurked in his room. They were everywhere, the closet, under the bed, in the basement and even lurked in the bathroom.

He had grown up with them since he was ten years old. He knew them as the invisible guests since everyone seemed to ignore them or look at him with confusion when he mentioned them. He thought it was kinda cool to have friends that only he could see.

There was the monster in the closet, that had the warm hazel eyes of his mother, Suzie but the rest of it was shadow. Ainsel had named it Harold. Harold seemed to like the name and would tell him stories every night, but the stories always involved the protagonist dying at the end.

Then there was Layla, the one who lived under the bed. She was so pale than he could see the veins branching through her skin. Her hair was an unearthly shade of red and she wore the same flower print dress. She mostly appeared at night and sulked away from sunlight during the day.

Danny of the basement was always cackling at some inside joke and wasting all the paper in the house making origami. He was a frail middle aged man with a thick beard and wore a coat that was too long at the sleeves.

Victoria dwelled in their old bathroom, her blonde hair styled in a crown braid shouting orders to wash his hands after he used the bathroom and place his clothes in the laundry basket.

Today was no different, he said goodbye to Harold as he got his uniform from the hangers. Harold waved his bony fingers.

Ainsel pushed a strand of hair from his eyes as he got ready for the private school that his parents had enrolled him in. He was in for another day of being pushed around by the school bully, Eric.

Ainsel felt his pulse quicken, he was scared. The things Eric did to him last time had haunted his dreams. Layla had been there whispering that everything would be fine but Ainsel remembered the way Eric's clammy hands had groped him and used him until he was numb and in pain.

Ainsel shuddered and buttoned his collar. He hated it. Hated it so much but he was powerless to say anything. He knew the teachers' whispered about him saying that he wasn't right in the head.

He splashed cold water on his face, ignoring Victoria's whines that he was making the tiles wet.

"Have a great day at school honey." said his mom beaming at him. He managed a smile.

He entered the school gates and headed to the library where the stingy librarian glared at him and his shoes clicked on the smooth floor.

Good, thought Ainsel in relief, Eric won't ruin his reputation coming here. There was still some time before class so he browsed the shelves and found a book filled with short stories.

Ainsel scurried to English class and Mr. Quincy gestured for him to sit down. He stumbled while walking to his seat earning a few snickers.

Ainsel swallowed nervously as the familiar dark haired boy grinned at him. He couldn't focus on the lesson, the words blurred in his vision.

The bell rang and Ainsel bolted to the guard quarters where he spent the recess break lazing around on the bench. He tried to avoid going to the washroom but he had drank too much water and decided to sneak into a stall.

He heard voices and halted, his hand resting on the knob. He froze when he heard Eric's voice amongst them and the tears started.

He pressed his hand to his mouth strangling the strained cries coming from him.

"I know you're in there, you little freak." taunted Eric. "I'm not done with you yet. My boys want some fun too."

Ainsel stood there for what he thought was hours but they still wouldn't leave. Eventually he gave up and opened the door and was immediately grabbed by the collar and thrown to the floor.