The Shadows Within Us

Storage Rooms

ENTRY:

Fear is all relative to loss.

But if I have nothing to lose,

what could I possibly have to fear?

Something is knocking inside,

rapping its insistent fists against the confines of my skull.

It never stops.

Like holding my breath beneath the fury of a million angry oceans

It pulls deep below the core.

That sick feeling in your stomach.

A whirling uncertainty.

Manual breathing.

No choice but to...

Lock it away.

Forget the existence of a key.

A room with two walls.

Crushed between the weight of direction.

Fear is everywhere,
Because I've already lost.

Eden peered out the large window of a room that appeared to have once been a furniture shop of sorts. The surroundings were heavily dilapidated, torn apart and vacant of life. The wallpaper was torn, and the only couches that existed were the ones which weren't worth stealing. The fledgling found herself atop a bulky pink cushion, overstuffed and impossibly easy to sink into. As she leaned her head back against the wall, she could only wonder what variety of stores existed on Earth. It was a reality that felt so impossibly close, gazing at the empty mattress frames and wall hangings. The girl closed her eyes, imagining herself surrounded by friends her age, exploring a Mall that was similar to this one; only far more inviting.

In the City of Hell's Kingdom, a trading system had long ago been established. The concept of handing away slips of green paper in turn for things of actual value was mind-boggling. It was almost humorous to imagine the citizens of Hell, caught up in the typical 9-5 that the humans seemed so adept to. She'd personally never met a demon capable of pulling an 8-hour shift anywhere. Humans were so incredible and adaptable, willing to do almost anything to achieve a sense of security. She knew she would be the same, especially if it meant little green slips for life.

There was a prickling sensation across the fledgling's cool skin, a warning, like the feeling of being watched. Goosebumps rose to the surface, panning out all along the girl's arms as she turned to face the store entrance. Simone rounded the corner of the lightless furniture store, glancing in uneasily before stepping into its mostly vacant interior. He quickly spotted Eden, and much to her dismay, began approaching with an eagerness for conversation.
"Man, its fuckin' liminal in here...why're you hanging around all alone anyway?" He asked, hands dug deep into his pockets as he leaned against an unsteady pillar. Eden turned her head slowly, not bothering to meet the aggravating demon's gaze as she continued to peer straight ahead, out the large, dusty window.
"I like being in the dark." Her soft voice filled the stagnant room. "Besides...I'm recovering." She contended, admiring the fuchsia hued glow of the sky.

"Yyy-eah." Simone bounced on his feet a bit, growing awkwardly silent in the pause that followed. "You're doin' better now though, right?" The glint of the demon's golden orbs shone down overtop Eden as he leaned down.

"I'm fine." The redhead folded her arms over her chest, shuffling a bit uncomfortably. Why couldn't she ever just be left alone in the unrequited peace of silence?