Saving Bagel ↠ Editing

Chapter 7: F for Finished

I was running, running through an endless forest of tree's. But I really wasn't running- more like trying. I forced my arms and pumped my legs into awkward running positions, trying so hard to run away from the dark, a misty black cloud seeping and crawling its way through the forest and in between tall, lean tree's then swallowing you whole. But I couldn't, I couldn't run. I still stood in the same spot, my arms swinging back and forth, my legs bending at the knee's-yet I still couldn't run.

The Black Cloud was coming closer, screams and sobs echoes throughout its massive body while thunder and lightning shot out at every possible angle. It's soft, pillowy circumference wrapped it's long, ghostly fingers around my ankle. I tried so hard to run. It's silky fingers grabbed my ankle, then yanked me down to the soft, mossy floor of the forrest-then pulled.

It's fingers grabbed at my hair, my arm's-the clouds breath cool on my bare neck, mocking my fear with harsh laughter- it pulled. It tugged softly at first, like a Mom saying "Come on, darling, let's go now," to her little daughter. But when I fought, kicked, and eventually screamed, it's grasp tightened and then it tugged harder. Fingers clawing my flesh, leaving long slashes and pools of blue blood.

The clouds fingers yanked me back-then swallowed me whole in its never-ending mouth, letting me find my own way out of it's never-ending body. But while inside, I only saw two things with me- Dad and Mom, deep in the bowels of its warm, and sticky red walls.

* * *

I wake.

Pools of sweat drench my pajama's, like I just pulled myself, drenched and smiling, from the public pool. I lost my breath, I can't breath. 'A seizure!' something deep inside me twists and turns, but I know it's not. Just the same nightmare that has grinning cruelly and sabotaging my soul for years. The same Black Cloud that seeps and slowly mists into my mind then takes over completely.

I part my lips and shove my hand at my heart, taking it's pace. I mentally count it's beat. Normal. I close my eye's and let a breath full of air escape between my parted, dry lips. I'm unnaturally thirsty.

Deciding that the Black Cloud really isn't real and it won't seep around the crack from under the door, I get up from my cornered bed and walk over to my closet to change. My hands cling to the metal doorknobs and pull. Taking a quick look at my options I decide that today, I shall become a hermit and live in my pj's.

Nice.

A deep yawn comes from somewhere deep inside me, so I stretch my arms above my head and curve my back till I'm satisfied. I sit down on the edge of the bed and slip on my fuzzy monkey socks that stretched to my knee's, the only socks in my sock drawer that weren't worn when I was four. Man, I really need to catch up on my shopping.

Pleased with my fuzzy pants, furry socks, and Beatles shirt, I pad my way down the dark hallway and into our living room-meeting Dad whose lazy ass is snoring away on the pullout bed. Dad, you need to get a job. And get one fast, for us. I don't think my crumbling heart can hold itself together much longer.

A grin stretches from ear to ear as I kneel down next his head that's laying face up, mouth wide up with dried-up drool crusted on the corner of his lip, then flick his nose. He twitches and mumbles something, then turns over onto his side with his white t-shirt pulling up, revealing nearly translucent flesh with a booming snore.

Good, old Mumble Man.

Laughing under my breath, a grab a silver package of Fat Tarts and sling them into the toaster, the bars inside glowing orange with a welcoming heat. Now, I wait, and wait, and wait.