PAIN KILLER [DISCONTINUED]

013. SURFACE TENSION

013.

――― CHAPTER THIRTEEN ―――

SURFACE TENSION

FEBRUARY 19TH, 1986

📍THE MADISON HOUSE

4:49 AM

"DAHLIA!" Eddie's voice is down the corridor. His shadow appears first― then his actual body. He's running towards me like he hasn't seen me in months. Like I'm an angel― sent from heaven, or something like that.

His arms are outstretched and he crushes into me in a deafening hug. At first, I'm taken in by shock, but then I'm hugging him back― stroking the back of his head lovingly, adorned by knotty curls.

He pulls away from me, still holding me warmly and gently by the shoulders.

"Did you miss me?" He asks me.

"Of course I missed you," I say as I stare up at him. His face― as well as mine, is filled with appreciation. "I've missed you so much."

Suddenly, the air around us goes a faded black. Like the whole world is up in smoke. I whip around me— staring at this sudden change of atmosphere. When I look back at Eddie, his face is changing. His voice is changing. Just like Lucas's, I watch his face turn into a bloody carcass as black, thick, slimy, and veiny tendrils snake around the sides of his face.

His teeth turn brown— yellow— and rotten. His face turns a charred black— just like skin shriveled to its core. His eyes turn an almost translucent blue— like there are no eyes in the sockets at all.

His beautiful face is no longer beautiful. The eyes that always shine like those of a dogs— show life, yes, but not the life they usually portray.

"Did you miss me, Dahlia?" His voice is distorted, moving up and down in wavelengths.

"Eddie—"

"Answer the question, you fat pig!"

"I— Eddie..." I pause, staring at the boys face in horror. "This isn't real," I mumble to myself. "This isn't real," I repeat again. "You're not real."

Eddie's fingers— which I now see have grown dirty, black, and long talon like claws, are also charred like the rest of his skin. They reach out to push a strand of my hair back and then he strokes my face.

"Have you ever had a dream like this, Dahlia? So vivid? So real? So real it makes you think that you're not dreaming?"

"No..." I mumble out, swiping away at tears that randomly appeared on my cheeks.

"Exactly," Eddie— or The Monster, says. "Because this isn't a normal dream, is it?"

"Leave me alone!" I scream, sobbing uncontrollably. "Leave me alone!"

"Oh." Eddie sounds sympathetic. "But I can't leave my precious little Dahlia for too long, right? Just like you can't leave me. Did you miss me, Dahlia? Did you miss me, just like you miss your sweet little Mother?"

"Don't you dare say her name." I say, balling my hands into fists next to me.

"Or what?" Eddie says. "You've missed her for too long. It is time for you to join her."