Shadows

Taken

I woke up confused, lost and sweating. My back ached, my arm was also numb. I sit up, shaking my arm. The dream left me torn in two, and all I  could think about was her. 

She haunts me. 

I grimace as I stand up stiffly. Pat is nowhere to be seen, but I can tell that he did sleep in his bed. The covers were thrown, the window closed, and the door open. I bend down, grabbing a bottle of water. My throat is a little sore, probably from walking in the cold so much. I drink the water until it's half empty and lay it down. 

I've cooled down a bit, but not much. Sleeping has left me hazy and groggy. I'm not for sure what to do, or where to go. I don't want to have interactions with anyone right now, and if I head to go down stairs, I'll most likely see Mrs. Patterson or Mr. Patterson. The window isn't a choice, it's an extreme measure for avoiding small talk. 

So instead, I go into the bathroom to get a change in clothes. Once I open to door to get out of the bath, I see Patterson blocking my way. His face is deadpanned, blank. 

"Sorry if you were waiting- I just wanted to get a change before heading to school." I hold my dirty clothes in hand, and give a awkward smile after I notice that he didn't have a response.

"Pat? You alright?" He looks like he is staring through me, and it scares me. He has always been smiles and laughs. My eyebrows knit in confusion.

"Ekewaka-?"

I bring my hand to lay on his shoulder, but before it ever makes contact he grabs my wrist. Pulling it behind me, and turning me around so that his front is facing my back. I drop my clothes and try to pull away. 

"Patterson? What are you doing? Is this a joke?" He says nothing, hanking me closer. My arm stings.  

"Ekewaka, I'm not playing. Let me go." I say through clenched teeth. He doesn't let go, grip like iron. His nails are burning into my skin, and I squeeze my fist. I feel powerless. I have never had any real training how to fight, let alone a friend. 

"Look what you did...." He says from behind, and I notice right off that this is not his voice. Much more sinister, and from the voice I start to shake. I can feel my knees wobble, betraying me. My breaths become fast and harder. It's like I can't get any air in my lungs at all. 

Instantly, he thrust me on to the cream floor of the bathroom. My vision blurs, and I can feel the faint smell of sulfur. Not only can I hear my heartbeat now, I can feel it. 

Thump, thump.

I turn around hastily to see him marching to me. His face is still lost of emotion, yet there is blood dripping down from his nose. 

He jumps in front of me, his face merely inches from mine. I can smell the blood, it's so strong it makes me nauseous.

"You ruined everything." His hand grabs my throat.

"You will pay for the price of killing, my dear." He looks like he's having a hard time to speak, and his movements are inhuman. 

The blood from his nose drops onto my shirt. I frown in disgust. 

What have I gotten myself into?

I think about screaming for help, but I don't know if Mrs. Patterson and Mr. Patterson are like him.

It's this or nothing, I think. 

I can't just die here, I have to fight. 

I need to fight. 

I can barely breathe, my lungs are collapsing and trying to fill up again, searching for air. 

Do something! I scream at myself as white dots try to take over my vision.

So, I punch him the face. He shakes his head, and doesn't move. I feel bad for Pat, and I wonder if he can feel it. 

I can already see his skin swell with the contact with my fist, but he does nothing.

I start to pray to whatever is out there, asking for help and forgiveness but nothing happens.

He starts to stare into my eyes and chant something I can't hear. 

I'm unable to pay attention because I feel like if I do I might lose grip on being conscious. 

Instantly he stops and goes silent. I'm confused and I try to listen. 

   I hear footsteps! Yet, my savior has come but I feel like it's too late. My lungs burn.

Blackness is taking over when I hear a voice say,"Ekewaka, what the hell are you doing?" 

A hand stops gripping my neck, and my lungs seem too slow to take in air. 

"I- I don't know, dad." 

My head drops, and I hear nothing.