Random Encounters: Dimension 13

A Blank Canvas

Gwen sits with her knees to her chest. She's terrified to go anywhere, to do anything. Even though she knows she has to do something, she has to get back to Nate and AJ. Despite her gut feeling, she stands up slowly, her legs shaking with every step she takes. The ground cracks beneath her with every step she takes. She's on thin ice, quite literally. She walks, every step she takes, she takes cautiously. The sound of the ground splitting sends fear through her body.

"Please don't collapse," she begs the ground out loud, her lip quivering as she continues walking.

One wrong step, and she'll be submerged. She steps, left, right. So slowly it seems as though she's making no progress. She stops momentarily, she can't turn around, but some nagging feeling tells her if she takes this next step, it won't end well. She shakes her head and takes the step anyway. As soon as she does, the ground gives way beneath her, shattering like glass. She falls into icy cold water. She's completely immersed by the water, and it begins filling her lungs. She tries to swim up, but some weight keeps pulling her lower and lower. Her body tenses up from the cold and it becomes harder and harder to swim. She tries to scream for help, but nothing works, it just makes matters worse.

Gwen closes her eyes and lets tears fall, when she reopens them she's on the couch in their house. She takes a sudden sharp breath, her lungs feeling as though someone is stabbing her. She looks around, she's home.

"Hey, sleeping on the job again?" AJ asks as he walks through the room.

"Yeah, I guess," she chuckles painfully.

"Well, I'll meet you in the stream room, yeah?" He says as he sets a box down.

"Stream?" She asks, a bit disorientated.

"Yeah... It's Friday, we're playing Kirby,"AJ says.

"Right, yeah, I'll be up."

AJ jogs up the stairs while Gwen stands up slowly, looking around the house, everything appears to be in order. Mr. Meowse is curled up on the cat tree while The P'nelope is prancing around the house. Gwen walks around steadily, still surveying the scene. There's no way this is real... but then again, maybe it was all a dream...

She walks up the stairs and goes into the stream room. The room is dark and she flips the light switch as she walks in. A small lightbulb flickers on, but doesn't emit a lot of light. Gwen's stomach instantly flips from this situation.

"AJ?" Her voice is weak.

There's laughter, then a voice, "I'm flattered, but I'm not AJ."

A man steps out of the shadow, his face mangled. He's tall in stature, and he's lanky. He holds up a knife in his hand, running his thumb across the blade. The light turns off and when it flickers back on the man is inches away from Gwen, his breath could make wallpaper curl, and his eyes are completely black. Gwen's heart begins beating faster and her breathing speeds up to match. Her body is lead, making her unable to move.

"I've got a new canvas to paint on," he tilts his head sadistically, raising the knife to her cheek.

He slashes the blade against her skin. Gwen flinches from the pain as the warm liquid rolls down her face. She stares at him, eyes wide in fear.

"Let's make you beautiful," the man whispers as he begins slicing Gwen like a Christmas ham.

Gwen is forced to just stand there as this happens.All the pain she just takes in, not even able to cry out for help. The man continues his work as the light flickers off again.