Through The Mirror

Shrinking Violet

       Voices. Shouting. Screaming. Agony. Claws. Slashing. Red. Black. Fear.

        It's here!

        White.

        Unfamiliar ceiling meets my open eyes. Cold, refreshing air fills my chest. Turning over, something rough scrapes against my cheek. Soreness ripples through my muscles and a strange fabric prickles the pads of my fingers. A bandage?

        Starchy blanket slides over the goosebumps raising on my now bare arms. Sitting up forces my spine into a fit worth weeping over, and moving a shoulder results in a wince. Shadows flicker while gathering at the wooden furnishings. Delicate flowers peek out from the musty wallpaper. Some are vibrant with fresh paint while others are so faint their petals seem to have fallen loose and fluttered from the wall. Cold shudders up from my toes as I rise to touch one of the closest flowers: a violet drained of its color.

        Intense pain attacks my shoulder. Bile stings at my throat as the flowers swimming before my eyes swing from vibrant to faded with every breath. Chilling wood numbs my blistered knees. Glass grinds its way through my every wound.

        Red bleeds into the brown of the bed-frame. The shadows grow darker, more condensed. Did shadows always have fur?

        Agony deepens to my core and screams shred my throat. The creature only draws nearer as my pain worsens. Every exhale releases a curl of smoke from my scorching lungs. Its teeth gleam in the dark of the room. Frightening images flash through my groggy mind.

        Why is It here?

        It drags one black paw across the ground, finally leaving the shadows. It's here! Only a second later I can't hear anything but It's deep growling. Run: It's here! It resonates in my bones. It's here!

        Move! Run! Do anything! My shoulder screams. My legs stay a huddled mess. It keeps coming. I can feel the burning my wails are already producing in my throat. I can't move.

        Light pierces the room. It dissolves into nothing. The pain fades. Air stings at my eyes. A salty tear finds my tongue. Where did It go?

       "Who are you?"

        Rounded, ice-blue eyes bore into me. They consume my every breath. Every shallow intake feels too large as if I cause offense by wasting the room's abundance of stale air.

        "W-what?" Forcing the word past my constricted throat stings.

        A sneer twists the delicate lips pursed under her sharp nose. Slim hands rise to find wide-set hips. Her shadow blocks out the warm candlelight. I shudder.

        "I will not repeat myself."

        She towers over me.

        "Alex... Alex Jones... -But," The ice in her gaze melts to flames before I can finish my statement.

        She turns to the door, raking another long, wrathful glare over my crouching form. A small shake of her head completely dismisses any attempt I could make to stop her. I am nothing to her.

       "Wait! -Please!" I still can't help but try.

        Anything is better than the Beast.

        She stops at the door, metal knob in her hand. Her arched eyebrows tell me everything I need to know: I have only one chance to prove worthy of her attention.

        Think! Quick! What do I need to know? Images of my dreams, the Beast, and the forest swim around in my head. She turns back to the door. Faster! What will keep her interested? Screams from the dream start filling my head. Focus! There must be something... Darkness creeps closer and closer; shrieks come from everywhere. Crows screech from somewhere above. My hair stands up on my neck. Stop! A name emerges from the screams. That's it!