Innocence be gone

chapter 4; nightmares or reality?

I'm running. I'm running from something, in my world that doesn't really narrow it down. there's darkness everywhere, I can't see anything! But I'm running. I run further and further, knowing that whatever is behind me is still chasing me. Suddenly the world illuminates! I'm in a house! An actual house! Like before the wars! I walk up to the walls, touching them, remembering the smell of wet paint when dad decided to remodel the house. It almost feels like everything that happened was just a dream, a nightmare, and now I'm awake. Maybe it was all a dream! I turn around, nope, definently wasn't a dream! A Terachi looks me dead in the eye, close enough I can see its burnt skin slowly turn to dust. One by one, pieces of the terrible demon falls to the floor! I've never seen that happen! As each piece of burnt skin falls away, a new piece of flesh falls into its place till it makes a person, one I know all too well. "no!" I shout at her, I look down at my hands, a machete clutched between them. I look back up to her, plushes of curly hair, the same shade as mine, frames her face. Slowly she nods. I know what she wants me to do, but I won't do it. "NO!" I shout, I let go of the sword and she picks it up. "You must." She says, hissing the words as, slowly, the burnt pieces of skin replace the flesh that shows her as the demon returns. "NOO!" I scream.

I wake up in a sweat. My breathing is heavy and I'm on the floor! Slowly I stand, dragging my blanket which had also fallen with me. I see her there, lying still in the bed, my mind races as I think of what that dream could be telling. Syrelin would never make me do something like that, especially to her. "I'll never hurt you, I swear." a tear drips down my face as I make a promise to an unknowing sister. I sit in bed, my mind jumping and twitching as I try take in that, as real as it felt, it was just a dream.

A sound makes me jump! A quick pitter-patter across the hallway outside! My heart races and I clutch the blanket up to my face. The sound quickens and becomes louder, coming nearer! I sink as low as I can into the mattress but still able to keep a watchful eye on the door, which is wide open! But didn't Syrelin close it? The sound comes like footsteps from a dog, nails scratching the ground as it runs. Suddenly it comes to a halt! I see its eyes through the open door, glooming yellow eyes! It scans the room and I stay deathly still, my breathe caught in my throat. Its not close enough to the light for me to see what it is and although it has a black slit for a pupil it gives off the faintest hint of humanity! I watch as it's sight nears me and shut my eyes. Squeezing them shut, hoping the more I pretend it's not there the more it wont be!

After a long silence I slowly open my eyes. I see nothing of the terrible creature! I breathe out a sigh of relief, probably just my mind playing tricks on me! I sit up and rub my face, shaking out the imaginery so I can see what is real. I look towards Syrelin, and the creature stands on her side of the bed! I gasp and back pedal as quickly as I can! It straightens from its crouched position and delves itself into Syrelins chest! Quickly, with no sign of the creature left, I shake Syrelin. She doesn't wake up! "Syrelin please! No, I just got you back!" I weep by my lifeless sibling. "Syrelin." I cry as I shake her one last time. No sign of a response...

But of nowhere she slaps me and sits upright! "Yes what!" she says, extremely alert. "What was that for?' I ask, rubbing my injured cheek. "Oh, Alice I'm sorry! I'm not used to having someone wake me up in the middle of the freakin night but perhaps that's normal for you!" she says sarcastically. "But, but there was a-a creature thing and it went inside you!" I say, trying to put my sight into words. "Uh-huh of course it did. Go to sleep Alice!" she moans at me and rolls over. "Yes, because that's going to be so easy now." I mumble under my breath "ha ha, the sarcasm is strong with this one." She says twisting a star wars quote. I giggle. "Well if you're struggling to sleep," she says, scuffling next to the bed and lifts up a packet of white pills. "Take one of these." She says throwing me the packet. "Sleeping pills?' I ask, haven't seen these in a while. "Yeah, you could call them that." She says climbing back under the blanket. "I'm not taking drugs!" I say, disgraced that she would even think I would do that! "You're still an innocent right?" she asks, "Yes." I reply shyly. "Well, these will help you not to be." She replies, still half asleep. "You mean one of these and I'm not an innocent anymore?" I say, delighted my fate could be changed with one small pill! "Not exactly, it's not the end of the journey but it's a step in the right direction." She says gleefully. I stare at the small white pill, what harm could it possibly do? Besides if the Terachi are the only demons left then if I'm not an innocent I could walk around outside, not that the acid rain or ash-filled air would let me but still, just knowing that I could be able to is a good enough reason for me!

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Hi all, sorry I know this chapter is short and late and probably not what you wanted to find out but I'll be updating weekly from now on so stay tuned!