Velvet Walls

Chap.6, Perfection.

I'm wandering around the house. No, not wandering, running. Frantically. Somehow, I've gotten myself lost. All of the walls look the same, I keep running around in a panic, trying to find my way out. Where is everyone? I run down the halls only to find myself back in the place I came from. Eventually, I find myself at a staircase. I don't know where it leads, but I frantically climb up as if running for my life. Only to find that I'm on the same floor I came from. I continue running, only to trip and fall. I land flat on my face. Everything is blurry for a moment, then I feel something familiar. A new sense of calm and peace washes over me as I realize my surroundings. I'm in my old house in Cali. Everything looks exactly how I remember it. The walls are a pale-yellow color, with wood trim and faint floral detailing. I walk through the hallway into the living room. The windows flood the room with light, and no lights are needed. Just the way my mom liked it. I see somebody sitting on the couch. A little girl with mousy blonde hair and bangs, no older than 6. I realize quickly that the little girl is me. And I'm not alone. I'm sitting on the lap of a man I can't recognize. I know that I know him, but for some reason, I can't focus on his face. Is it my dad? No... I can tell it isn't him. But for some reason, as little me is smiling and laughing on his lap, I'm calling him "Dad." But it's not my father. I smile to myself, the moment is kinda cute. But the longer I look at the what would be innocent scene, the more uneasy I feel. The man's hand is resting a little too low on my waist, and he's gripping me a little too tightly. Then my mom enters the scene. The mood suddenly changes. He puts me down and starts arguing with my mom. The fight escalates before I can do anything, and suddenly, he's beating her. Hard. And again, before I have time to react, little me lunges at him, he lets go of my mom, and little me begins strangling him with the force of a full adult. He's choking. Dying. Little me's face is contorted with fury. Tears streaming down my cheeks. The man drops and I rush over to him. To see if he's even alive. But as I get closer, and get a good look at him, I slap my hand over my mouth in shock..The man has no face. It's completely blank, devoid of features. Was it always like this? How come I didn't notice it before? I scream, and...

I'm still screaming, but I realize no sounds are coming out. I feel tears streaming down my cheeks, I've been crying. I look around, and I realize I'm in my bed. Still in my room at the Dervishi mansion, right where I was when I fell asleep. The more I focus on my surroundings, the more my dream fades away. And soon I don't remember much about my dream, except that it was horrifying enough for me to want to start my day with a text to Eve.

After a text from my sister evolves into a long phone call, I find myself feeling the need to get some fresh air. When I was little, I would always awake to find my house empty. Only to then find my mom sitting on our front porch, which had a beautiful view of the mountains. I would sit on her lap, and we would watch the sunrise together while she told me stories. Only in the warmer months, of course. Then eventually, we'd both get hungry, and go inside to make waffles or pancakes... I'm sucked back into reality when I feel a tear fall on my cheek. I brush it away quickly, pushing the memories out of my mind. I throw on a T-shirt and shorts. The quicker I can get outside and clear my mind, the better.

I sneak through the house quietly. It's only 6am, so I don't many people to be up yet. As I walk upstairs, I see a security guard I don't recognize leave out the front door. Shift change, I assume. I stop tiptoeing, assuming that I'm alone on the main floor now. Aside from Miroslav, who's probably a deep sleeper. The usual bustle of the house is now quiet. And it would feel eerie, if it were dark or there was nobody home. I guess it's a good thing there's no need for me to come upstairs during the night then. I head out the back door, down the steps and to the backyard.

I reach the bench, only to jump a little when I find Lorah is already sitting there. I startle her too, I assume she's not used to anyone being up this early.