A Flicker of Light

A Flower of Gold

My eyes open to a pillar of light above me, filling me with the determination I need to stand up. The ground feels crisp and plush on my feet, and I realize they are flowers. Not the regular flowers that I usually see, these are different. The petals softer than a doe's ear, the colors brighter than the sun. They are flowers made of what seems like pure gold. Golden flowers.

I begin to walk to the hallway next to the patch of gold, and the light starts to fade into darkness. I feel something change within me. I feel... evil. My eyes see things in a new light. A passing monster has a target on its back, and the crushed, dead flowers make me smile. I slap myself to stop my thoughts, pinch myself too, but nothing works.
My pace quickens along with my heartbeat, and my mind turns to the thoughts of a murderer. My mind is turning black, I'm sure of it. That's when I hear the voice.

"Why hello CHARA... I thought you would never return."

The voice brings me fear, but the name brings me sheer terror. I know that name. I don't know how, but it feels familiar, like I've heard it before. I feel like... it could be mine.

"No..." I think aloud, causing a single golden flower to pop from the ground.

I recognize this flower. But just like the name, it feels familiar yet is lost in a garden of dead memories. It's face turns from friendly to grotesque in an instant. It makes my arms break into goosebumps and send shivers down my spine. It's a creature that seems made for scaring children who fall in this pit of dark and emptiness.

"No? My dear, dear girl, you have it all wrong... You don't say no TO ME. NO ONE SAYS NO TO FLOWEY."

Vines begin to spring toward me, along with little pebbles, and my mind makes my body do the unthinkable. My darkened mind makes me stand there and wait for it all to hit me, wait for me to die. I stand, defeating my brain by letting a single tear fall down my cheek.

I feel myself trembling as the evil flower is flung into oblivion. I fall to the ground, shaking and shivering, and feel a warm, fuzzy hand on my back.

My sweet child, that monster can't bother you anymore. You are okay my dear child."

The voice brings me comfort. Like honey to an angry throat, it makes me feel a lot better than I did. I raise my head to see a white goat-like creature, with soothing and comforting eyes. My tears seem to dry almost as soon as I see her, and my frown turns to a quiet smile. My mind says no to my actions, but I have to rebel from its tyranny. I want to stay me, and not become this emotionless killer it wants me to be.

"There we go child. Now dear, let's go and get you some pie. Butterscotch or cinnamon dear?"