A Night To Remember

Seven and a half: Before The After

TRIGGER WARNING FOR MILD GORE, DEAD ANIMALS (CATS), AND MURDER

Anne finally understood the term 'fight or flight' that drowsy October Monday morning.

Anne's mother was already at work, it seemed. So, she had to wake herself up. She hummed to herself. It was hard to tell exactly what song she was thinking of, most likely something by Green Day; but it didn't matter.

She scrolled through her large assortment of clothing that sat in her messy closet. She considered herself quite the fashionista and prided herself on her appearance. She loved looking pretty and getting compliments for it. Though the compliments she held most dear were those from Indiana. Oh, how she loved Indiana.

She held up a black schoolgirl skirt and a tattered band tee up to herself in the mirror. She gave a content smile, deciding the outfit was a fit.

Slipping off her baggy tee, she smiled at her reflection. She changed into a bra and the tee; but paused a moment as she heard some noise from downstairs.

"Hm?" she snapped her head towards her bedroom door curiously. She was frightened at first before giving a subtle amused laugh. She was sure it was just her little cat, Spleen.

"Spleen, I know that's you," she said sweetly. She finished putting on the skirt as she walked over to the door. She opened it and peeked out in the corridor. Being met with no feline, she paused.

"Spleen~" she called softly, stepping into the dark hallway. She flicked the light on, but there was no change. Confused, she flipped the switch up and down a bit.

"Huh, that's...weird," she muttered. She had half a mind to use her phone flashlight, before remembering her phone was still nowhere to be seen. She huffed irritably.

There was a sharp bang from downstairs, causing Anne to flinch. Her hair seemed to stand on end as she walked back into her bedroom. Her breathing picked up, but she took a deep breath to calm herself. Her bedroom light flickered a bit; before giving out completely.

With how early it was, the room became shrouded in darkness.

She squeaked in fear, being arguably caught off guard at such a sound out of seemingly nowhere.

"Hello...?" she said nervously, the sound coming from downstairs once again. She peeked out her bedroom door. She swallowed, forcing herself to take a brave step forward. With no source of light to lead her, she was forced to use the remembrance of her home's layout to find her way.

She carefully walked down the staircase, holding her breath ever so slightly. Her steps were careful.

"Spleen?" she whispered again. She glanced around the narrowly illuminated living room. A sense of dread came over her as there wasn't even a single meow in response.

She took another step forward, letting out a sharp cry of pain as she stepped on the source of the earlier noise. A glass was shattered to bits on the floor; the jagged clear chunks got caught in her foot as she stepped on them.

She gripped the coffee table to prevent falling. She winced, her breathing picking up in speed as she looked down. She felt the warm, wet liquid pool under her feet. She sat on the couch to catch her breath, looking to the side at the lamp that sat on an end table. She shakily reached over and flicked it on, allowing a dim bit of yellow light to illuminate the area. She then saw the extent of her injuries.

She gasped in pain; seeing the blood somehow made it hurt even more.

Her foot oozed blood from each glass shard that nuzzled into her flesh. She carefully reached down and removed the few that she could. She dabbed at the blood with the blanket that lay on the sofa near her; enticing a flinch from her each time the fabric came in contact with her skin.