Evading Darkness

Evading Darkness - Chapter 1

My eyes shot open and I sat up fast, air filling my lungs, the sudden oxygen forcing a harsh cough from deep within my chest. As light filled my eyes, blurry, unrecognizable images began dancing, as the world around me came into focus. I looked around to find myself in a dark alley. Though my chest and head were in nearly unbearable pain, I still managed to lift myself from the floor.

I slowly stood from the ground, confusion coursing through my veins, as if it were fused to my blood cells. As I exited the alley, the cool air of the quiet city street hit my face, bringing me a sensation of satisfaction. Examining everything around me, I found only a handful of people outside, during this late hour. It was at that moment that I realized it. I didn't know where I was. Nothing around me looked familiar. It felt as though my head had been struck directly with a sledgehammer, shattering my brain, and with it, my memories. I didn't even know my own name.

As I strolled down the street, a strange feeling crept up my spine. I knew I was being followed. I turned around to reinforce the feeling, only to find the only person in sight was a man, several yards behind me, walking the opposite way. I shook off the feeling and proceeded forward. I didn't know where I was going, but at the same time, I did. I had to find somebody. I didn't know who or why, but it was important. As I listened to my feet slap the wet cement of the city street, and the rain pour gently onto my head, the feeling returned. I clenched my fists at my side, slid them into my pockets, and waited, listening carefully. Then I heard it. Somebody was definitely following me. I turned around and lifted my fist, ready to strike.

But there was nobody. Cautiously, I returned my hands to my sides and turned, nearly running face-first into the creature that stood behind me. It seemed to be constructed of death, itself. I brought my fist forward, and through its chest. Literally THROUGH its chest. My strike held no effect. The creature, as if nothing but shadow, jut glared at me, with eyes that glow orange, with the fiery hatred of Hell. What was this skeletal beast, which stood before me. Of course, it wasn't really standing, as much as it was floating, without the slightest form of a lower body.

It slowly reached out for me, and I did the only thing I could think of. I ran. I ran as fast as my legs could take me. It was clear what this was. It was something nobody can fight. Something immortal, in its own way. It was death. Death was chasing me.

Victoria sat up quickly, clenching her chest as she breathed desperately for air. Sweat poured from her body, causing her flannel nightgown to cling to her body. She turned to look at her alarm clock. 5:30 am. She dropped backward, onto her bed, with a sigh, resting the palm of her hand gently on her forehead. She turned her head to her side, hoping with her life to see Casmiere resting there. When she saw that he wasn't, she sighed again, and rolled over. She's had nightmares for years, ever since the loss of her beloved, and they've only otter worse.

After laying in bed for a few minutes, she realized returning to sleep was a hopeless endeavor, and so she lifted herself from the soft mattress and pulled open the wardrobe on the other side of her mediocre room. She selected her nurse scrubs and moved to the bathroom across the hall, to shower. She stood underneath the nozzle, allowing the heated water to pour over her naked body.

After her quick rinse, she pulled on her work clothing and headed downstairs, to start on breakfast. After everything that had happened with Cas, Xero, and her father, she decided her children should have a normal life, away from that. So she bought a nice suburban home, a black Jeep Cherokee, and decided to keep their true identities from them. When they were born, she was even more shocked when they possessed no vampiric or Tesheeran traits. They seemed, for lack of a better word, very human.

As if the sweet aroma of waffles and scrambled eggs awoke them from their slumber, a set of three feet came stomping vigorously down the stairs, as the triplets came rushing into the room. Emil, born first of the three, wore pajamas featuring the Ted Power Ranger. Layla, the only girl, and second born, wore a long nightgown featuring Disney princesses. Derrik, the last born of her children, sported pajamas with a picture of the monster truck, Gravedigger.

"Good morning," she greeted her children, who were already digging into their breakfast, which had been set at their favorite sitting spots, each made slightly different than others'.

Derrik loved his waffles dripping with lots of syrup. His eggs, which he would only eat scrambled, were covered in syrup, as well. Emil preferred sunny side up eggs more, with only a single waffle, and hated syrup. Layla liked to dip her waffle in the syrup, claiming it was less messy that way, and didn't care how her eggs were prepared.

"Good morning, mommy," the young children said in unison. Victoria smiles at them. Her children were the greatest gift she's ever recieved, in her eyes. They were the only reminder of their father, aside from his amulet, which she kept strung across her neck, at all times.

After breakfast, she helped her children change into better attire, of jeans and tshirts, and sat them in front of the television for morning cartoons. At around 8:30, a knock sounded on the front door. Victoria jumped up and pulled it open for the young teen that stood outside. "Good morning, Trisha," Victoria greeted her kids' babysitter.

"Good morning, Ms. U," Trisha returned with a smile.

"I'm really sorry about this, I don't normally have to go in this early," she stated.

"Don't worry about it," Trisha replied. "I know how hard it is to be a working mom. I have no problem helping out."

Victoria gave her a hug. "Thanks, so much," she exclaimed, before hurrying past her. "I owe you." Trisha smiled at her as she climbed into her car, and pulled out of the driveway.