Faking Sanity

The End (Ch. 5)

        Sleep was not a relief, nor was it relaxing. I felt a chill as I opened my eyes to the bright room with a small patch of roses. Wind was howling as the roses were thrown around by the large gusts. Petals fluttered as if caught in a tornado, never flying out of the patch of roses. The girl was on her hands and knees in the middle of the field, I heard a soft sniffling, barely audible in the noisy wind. 

        "How could you...?" The girl spoke, her voice was deep, ragged, menacing. I heard her gasp deeply, as if struggling to breathe. "SAAAAGE!!" Tilting her head back she screamed my name. Her arms falling behind her limply, coated in cuts that oozed blood. The wind had stopped and all the petals scattered around her, one landing on her arm, sticking to the red liquid. "How could you...forget me...?" She spat the words out and stood up, her head lowering so that she was staring at the blood-red roses. Another gasp, she wasn't struggling to breath, she was sobbing. The roses twitched and gurgled around her bloody legs. The blood from her arms and legs drizzled down onto the vines of the rosebuds. Then the remaining buds twisted and burst open. A chilling laughter filled the air, the girl turned to face me. 

        "Wh-What...?" It was all I could manage, the confusion and terror bubbling up as her wide eyes stared me down. Her expression was complete insanity. A grin that was as wide as it was long, stretching from one ear to the other. Her teeth her white and...pointy? No...just abnormally pointed canines gave her a demon-like smile. Her eyes were wide, the large black eyelashes outlining the amber eyes speckled with a color that resembled red, but could not be. Her hair was tangled and stuck to the splatter of blood that ran across her face.

        "I'm going to make it..." She huffed heavily, tears mixing with blood and sliding down her cheeks. "...so you can never forget me again...." Her laughter filled the air and the roses twitched, dancing and twirling. The small patch came alive, the large blood-red blossoms closed as they spun. Sinking close to the earth before springing up and spraying a red liquid into the air leaving them colorless, only the tips of the petals remaining red. The liquid reached me, drizzling down my cheek the hot spray was obviously blood. The smell of death filled my nose as her laugh echoed and the rooms light faded.

         And then I woke up.

        Jolting up in bed I gasped for air as unease shook my soul. Somethings coming, I thought as I stared at the red letters of my alarm clock that read 12:00. I didn't fall back asleep. Just tossed in bed for hours until I heard a strange sound in the hall. Something was being dragged across the floor slowly, rhythmically. Swish, swish, pause, swish, swish, pause. It grew louder, closer. Swish, swish, pause, swish, swish, pause. I'm not going top simply sit here and wait for it, I thought, standing and approaching the door. My hand shook as I reached for the handle. Taking in a sharp breath I opened the door to see nothing dangerous. Nothing frightening or unnatural. Just an empty hall. The light was on and there was chatter coming from downstairs. I gripped the railing of the stairs and descended slowly. Each step gave me chills as my bare feet touched the cold wooden steps. Releasing my grip on the railing I turned through the living room and peered into the arc that lead to the kitchen. I heard Mom's familiar voice scolding Dad for something he forgot to do. I sighed and entered the dark, silent, empty kitchen as my heart race increased. Reaching over for the light switch I stared as my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. I hesitated to flip on the light as I heard something fall. A mug slid from the counter and shattered on the other side of the kitchen island from where I stood. Adrenalin forced me to flip on the switch. I froze in my tracks as a low growl emitted from behind the island. I knew I should run, but something made me stay. A combination of fear and curiosity froze me in my tracks. I heard it move, a sound like claws clicking on the tile filled the silence, accompanied by the growl. Then it emerged. I was relieved to see a dog, large and fluffy. Then I realized something, it may not be supernatural, but its growling and moving towards me with claws like an eagle's talons and teeth bared, drooling heavily. Crap. I thought before I turned and ran. I know what they say about not running from dogs but what do want me to do? Pet it as it growls? Yeah, not happening. I bolted out the front door that was slightly ajar, which is probably how this thing got in here in the first place. Once outside I halted abruptly and shoved the door shut. The dog growled, barking and snarling as it scratched at the door. I sighed heavily, realizing all the people outside. They stared at me, about ten people scattered in various places. Checking the mail, parking their car or starting it, walking the dog, etc. I calmed down, and after a moment realized the pain in my leg. In the chaos of the moment I had somehow not realized a chunk of my leg that was now missing. I heard a loud shout and realized it was coming from me. Collapsing against my front door I stared at the hole. A woman ran over, tearing off a chunk of her sweater and wrapping around my leg, I bit my lip as the searing pain filled my body. The dog had stopped growling and I heard a different sound that made my heart stop. A woman screamed, from inside my house.

        "MOM!!!" I screamed, jumping up despite the pain and ripping open the door. Dad was on the stairs, lying down as he frantically beat at the wild dog with a shoe. His other arm hung limp, bleeding down the steps. Mom stood terrified, clutching Minnie. Running over I tackled the dog. It snapped at me but I had my arms around it's throat. Pressing with all my might it whined between snarls as its frantic legs kicked, claws digging into my stomach and side. My dad ran over, wrapping yarn over its muzzle and forcing its mouth shut. He pushed me away from harm and the dog jumped up. It ran towards Dad but he was ready and the dog had its muzzle strapped shut. With a strong kick my dad sent the angry dog sliding across the floor. It lay still, breathing, but unconscious. People rushed in, probably drawn to the commotion. I lay on the floor, bleeding from my leg and stomach. The room hazed as Mom ran over, kneeling by my side she spoke but I didn't hear. The room seemed distant, with a deep exhale I felt my eyes close.