Under Lock & Key

~2~

"Shhhhhhh"
A snake whispered into my ear as the leaves of a grand oak danced. It was tangled in my hair. The company was nice but it did not erase the eerie feeling in the pit of my gut. The Moon had replaced the sun in the bright blue sky. There were a few misplaced clouds who tried to find their way back to space. Lately it's been harder to tell the difference between the taste of flesh and peanuts. What is a "peanut" anyways. Probably the heart of some poor small animal. A faint stench of sulfur tainted the air as the horizon in the distance was engulfed in flames.
"Shhhhh..."
The snake continued.
"But i haven't said anything." I retort back.
We had been sleeping on the hill for awhile I lost track of time. The snake slowly slithered around my neck and then chin. It's scaled body lightly caressed my cheek. It was an odd feeling but it had not bothered me much. The sky turned off as the light was drained from the sky. The snake lightly hissed in a mocking tone.
"You said 'peanut'."

It was much harder to wake up this time. I tried to rip my eyes open but my eyelashes were glued together from dried tears. Although my hands are sore and throbbing, I look up to see my newest piece of work finished. Truly, a delight. The feeling of joy coursed through me like a shot of morphine. There was one thing that was off. One man, painted to perfection but his face was a black hole with no detail. I went to reach for my palette of paint and only grabbed the air. It was gone. My paint was gone. My stomach plummeted with despair. It was not a thing for me to just "do". It was doing this, which was what made me. I frantically search in the small cubicle which was mostly bare to begin with. This is it. I said to myself. I might as well end it, that way i can recycle my energy back into space. at least. I circle around once more, I lift my skirts and check behind the glass jar of nuts. If i cannot paint i cannot record important details of my fictional memories. I try to hiccup my tears back. And i refuse to live such a meaningless existen-

Oh. Nuts, the nuts. I can crush the nuts and water and attempt to make some sort of substance that'll allow me to finish. Trying not to giggle, I grab a handful of the darkest nuts and rubbed them individually on the coarse wooden floor. The giddiness made my hands shake as i tipped the water jug, releasing only a few droplets. I rub the pile on mashed nuts and water sensually, aiming for that perfect consistency.

Bang. A loud thump made me freeze in terror. Sounds of scuffling outside of the door became more violent. I wasn't really sure

what to do. It could be anything. A dinosaur snake, waves of countrymen fighting for an outdated cause, god. Really i'm terrified, my captors have never been so messy to have me actually curious to what is outside of that door. Nor have i really wondered. My mind has given me adventures that no physical world could provide. His empty face beckoned to be finished. I slowly reached to my newly made paints once the noise died down. I couldn't rip my eyes away from the door, curious and scared. I dipped my pinkie in the puddle of nutmash. The door knob jiggled and then it jiggled more until it wasn't jiggling anymore. I scurried four feet back until i was pressed against the stone wall as if i could run away. Bang. Bang. Bang. It was so loud. The door crashed in and the blinding light burned my eyes. I threw my hands up to block the glow but only to be grabbed and dragged into it.