The sound of my bedroom door creeping open drew my eyes away from the tattered pages in my hand. I half expected to see the curious eyes of my little sister, Jamie, peering at my from the crack but instead I saw the lost eyes of a women, wide with fear.
"Where am I?" She said while her voice shook with fear. This didn't take me by surprise and nonchalantly, I replied.
"Your home."
"What?!"
"Your home," I repeated once more, "let me take you back to your room."
"Um," her eyes darted around my small bedroom, "okay."
Being careful not to scare her, I gently laid down my book on my bed, and strode across the room.
"Thank you." She said as I pressed my warm hand into her cold palm.
As we made our way down the hallway, I made sure we walked silently past Jamie's door, and then I pushed open a light blue door next to Jamie's.
"You'll be okay, just lay down and go back to sleep." I assured her.
As she slipped under the silk covers of her bed, she studied me inquisitively.
"What is your name kind stranger?" She asked appreciatively.
"Katherine," I replied. "It's nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you Katherine."
"I will see you in the morning."
I stood at the end of her bed until her breathing became even and her eyes didn't waver. Then, I silently made my way back to my room.
Not long after I had continued my reading, I heard yet another creak from my door.
"Kath?" Asked a tired voice from the hallway, "Who was that woman?"
"Nobody." I said hurriedly. "Please go back to bed Jamie."
"I know you're lying to me." She said, raising her voice a little, which happens when she get upset.
"Jamie seriously. Go back to bed." I said, with a little more force.
"No! You need to tell me the truth!" She yelled, stomping her foot against the floor.
"Your mother, Jamie." I replied, refusing to meet her eyes, but I heard her catcher her breath.
"What do you mean?" She asked, surprisingly calm. I sighed.
"She comes here every night to visit me, and every night, I lead her back to her old room to send her to sleep. If I don't keep her asleep, bad things happen."
When I looked up, I saw tears forming in the corners of Jamie's eyes and I knew I'd made a mistake, but not in the way you think. I was going to pay for telling her again.
"What are you talking about? Mom doesn't have a room here and you told me she died after I was born."
Mustering all my courage, I looked her in the face.
"That's true. She's dead."
Suddenly, I heard a bloodcurdling scream from the hallway and watched as Jamie's body slumped to the floor. From the shadows behind the door, the twisted form of my mother appeared, a crazed look in her eyes.
"I told you I am not dead!" She screamed, "I ordered you not to tell anyone!" All at once, her teeth sharpened into points and she lunged at me, fangs bared, but I had learned. I turned and tumbled off my bed as she launched herself at the spot I had been not a split second before. I reached under my bed and emerged with a fierce battle axe in hand. I turned on my heel and dodged as she flung herself at me again. While she barreled past me, I brought the blade down on the hag's neck and watched as the blade pierced her wrinkled skin.
In the morning, I woke up to the sound of a voice whispering in my ear.
"Kath, it's time to get up."
I opened my eyes just enough to see the face of my sweet little sister, Jamie, peering at me with her sparkling hazel eyes. I smiled just a bit to see her face again.
"Okay let's go make breakfast!" I cheered and pumped my fist in the air.
"Yeah! Can we make waffles?" Jamie asked excitedly
"Sure, why not?" I replied with a goofy grin that always made her laugh.
We made our way down the hallway and passed Jamie's door and then the blue door that led to a coat closet. But in the back of my mind when I saw that door, I knew I would have to face her all over again, every night for the rest of my life.
