the ten sisters

the future

The snowflakes fell silently from the sky, a stark contrast to the heaviness in the air. They landed softly on the desolate earth, their purity tainted by the weight of sorrow. Footsteps echoed through the cold, as if each one carried the burden of a tormented soul. The unfamiliar man, haunted by his past, trudged through the unforgiving landscape, desperately seeking solace and escape from his pursuer. But fate intervened with a merciless "thud," silencing his cries forever. The mystery of his demise was swallowed by the icy embrace of the snow, burying his lifeless body beneath its pristine surface.

In the darkness of her room, the woman's eyes flickered open, revealing a heart heavy with grief. The silence amplified her gentle sobs, echoing the emptiness within her. A single tear traced a path down her anguished face, reflecting the agony that consumed her. Clad in an elegant white gown, she moved across the cold floor, each step a reminder of the frigid reality that enveloped her.

A faint cry reached her ears, pulling her towards its source. The hallway stretched out before her, a barren passage devoid of hope. Colors once vibrant adorned the walls, now faded and muted, mirroring the fading spark within her. The sound of her distressed children's cries pierced the air, tugging at her fragile heart. She approached them, her touch a tender attempt to soothe their pain. As her hands met their small bodies, a feeble glimmer of warmth emerged, momentarily quieting their despair, lulling them into an uneasy slumber.

Returning to her own room, she gazed down the desolate hallway, a haunting reminder of what once was. The darkness that cloaked it held no fear for her, as she had already witnessed the depths of her own despair. With a heavy heart, she settled back into her bed, her duty as a loving mother fulfilled, yet her own wounds unhealed.

A broken photo frame caught her attention, its shattered pieces reflecting the shattered fragments of her life. Gripping it tightly, she shattered it further, an outward manifestation of her inner torment. Placing the broken remnants back on the counter, she lay down, hoping to find solace in sleep's treacherous embrace.

But her dreams offered no respite, only a twisted realm of despair. Standing on water, she felt a fleeting sense of liberation, yet the tranquility was short-lived. A single step shattered the illusion, and fear gripped her as she saw blood seeping from her chest. The water turned crimson, mirroring the anguish that consumed her. The moon above, painted red, cast an eerie glow on her torment. She fell to the ground, her reflection mocking her with empty eyes and a mouth devoid of teeth. Desperate to escape, she turned to face a stranger, a figure of dread she had never encountered before. The nightmare refused to relent, trapping her in an endless cycle of fear and longing.

She woke abruptly, her tear-stained face illuminated by the morning light that filtered through the window. In the safety of her room, she glanced at her husband, her heart heavy with unspoken pain. She couldn't bear to burden him with her silent cries. With a heavy sigh, she turned away and retreated into the comforting embrace of her blankets, hoping that the darkness that plagued her would dissipate.

But as she opened her eyes, the truth revealed itself. The room, once familiar, had transformed into a chamber of horror. Blood stained the walls, an indelible reminder of a nightmare turned real. Looking down at her hands, she recoiled in terror, realizing she was covered in the evidence of her own violence. Weak and overwhelmed, she crumpled to the ground, her desolation consuming her.

A sound pierced the silence, a chilling reminder of the unfathomable. She looked up, her scream caught in her throat, as she saw ten baskets before her. Within them lay her children, their innocence tainted by the darkness that surrounded them. But one basket was missing, a void that filled her with dread. Her eyes darted between the blood-soaked hands and the empty basket, a realization dawning upon her. The horror of what she had done threatened to consume her entirely, as her anguished screams mingled with her tears.

And then, abruptly, she woke once more. The morning sun peeked through the window, as if mocking the nightmare that had tormented her. Trembling and disoriented, she took a moment to absorb her surroundings, grateful for the respite from her haunting visions. Yet, the weight of the dreams lingered, a reminder that the line between reality and nightmare can sometimes blur into a twisted dance of despair.