Mystic Beings

The Dark Alley

Anna slipped into her silk nightdress and tumbled onto her springy bed. Tresses of silky auburn hair fell over her shoulders and fanned out beautifully on her floral bed sheet. She had screwed up so bad with Andrew. He knew. He knew something was off. Praise the lord he did not continue the conversation for it would have been so awkward. It just wasn't the same anymore. She couldn't act "comfortable" around him like she used to. Even great milestones in her life like clinching the "doctor of the year" award paled in comparison to the great court cases Andrew won. She just felt so miniature, so worthless beside him. She had tried so hard to shake off those detrimental thoughts but it was impossible. Her insecurities grew each day. As her consciousness ebbed, her mind went into free fall, swirling with the beautiful chaos of a dream.

The emergency department was bustling with people as ever. Another day of unexplored possibilities. Even the crisp winter air couldn't extinguish the bubbly excitement brewing up in Anna. She had decided to just leave the scar and Andrew as it is. She had more important things to tend to. Her life. Other than the occasional trips to the ladies to satisfy the itch, Anna got through the day just fine. Nearing the end of her shift, Anna felt a pang of hunger and a craving for some Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Oh, the thought of munching into those caramel glazed doughnuts drizzled with chocolate syrup and topped with mocha drizzle Kreme. 

"Yes, could I have 12 of those? Thank you" Anna replied with exhilaration. Doughnuts were the best companions in troubling times. It just had the magical ability to allow you to leave reality and take a ride down memory lane when you were just a kid and calories and diabetes didn't matter. Munching on her freshly baked doughnuts, Anna made her way down the winding street to where she had parked her car. That was when she heard a piercing scream.

It came from the alley she had just passed by. Anna turned slowly, almost as aware that someone was eyeing her every movement. In a distance, she saw someone. Anna squinted her eyes, trying to make out what that crouching figure was. It was a little girl. And surrounding her was a bunch of beefy men, with elaborate drawings extending from their necks to their arms. Even from afar, they seemed too intimidating.

Anna took a step back. She couldn't do this alone. She would get both of them in trouble. Another scream, this time, even louder and painful. Gritting her teeth, Anna turned around and ran towards the men, mustering up whatever courage had crept on to her. 

"Leave her alone! I already called the police!" Anna screamed with the most menacing voice she could manage.  Oh no. Bad mistake. You know how things look less scary from afar and when you move closer, suddenly it becomes triple its size? Yeah. That was exactly what Anna was faced with. The men towered over her with their overpowering figures. One of those men took a step towards her and in the ray of sunlight that was peeking through the cracks, she saw his face. Evil didn't even come close to the look portrayed on his face. His ice-cold soot eyes looked as though they had no life in them.A wrinkled scar streaked across his eyes as if some vicious animal had attacked him and he barely escaped. He stared right at Anna.

Then slowly, a smile crept up on his face.  A smile that spoke words of death. He extended his tattooed arm across and grabbed Anna's shoulder suddenly. A chill ran down her spine. "This is the end. I know it." 

A rippling shot of pain traveled down her arms. He was crushing her shoulder. A harsh half-stifled yell escaped from her voice as she struggled to break free. Hot tears were running down her face. 

"Help me"