Chocolate Emergency

Eight Webs

Eyes Closed by The Narrative on the side->

 Eight Webs

There was fire, everywhere I went. Reddish, yellow flames rose and fell blazing through the office. Everything was my fault. I had left the cylinders open, the gas was leaking catching fire the instant it came in contact with the air.

There were screams; petrifying screams that made my heartbeats halt. I ran, deeper and deeper into the fire. My breaths were raspy, the soot was chocking me. I couldn't breathe. My feet were bleeding but no I had to be strong. I have to save her.

The smoke was burning tears down my cheeks, I couldn't see anything. She must be here, somewhere here. A door collapsed, burning the skin on my back, I could feel the fire scorching my skin but it didn't hurt. It was as if someone had poured a bucket of icy water on top of me.

Then there was a scream but unlike the other screams I recognized the voice. Dread choked my throat. I felt my body go numb. A woman emerged through the door. Her entire body was lighted by the fire. She was screaming. All I could hear was her screams, nothing else-not even the voice calling out my name, not even the sound of the building collapsing.

The flames weren't letting go, they were stubborn. The women stopped fighting. She stood still, the fire eating her away, the red flames swallowing her whole. She reached out for me, I backed away. My head dizzy, everything was fading into white.

 The women didn't move, her body collapsed- the fire had burned her down. But before she collapsed, she raised her hand in farewell. All that was left of the woman was a charred body of black. She was dead. My mother was dead.

I could have saved her but I didn't.

I woke up, drenched in sweat and fear. The same dream, the dream that had become my reality- never left my eyelids.   During the day, I pushed back the memories of her demise but at night they came back, haunting me, stealing all the peace and calm I had gathered.

If she was here, she would smile- that reassuring smile- her lips drawn together into a small smile; she would place her hand on my head. 'It'll be alright, Alice, it'll be alright,' she would whisper.

When the tears wouldn't stop, she would get angry. 'Oh, be strong now. You're a brave girl,'

I felt my eyes water, this isn't the best time to cry.  I pulled my strings together, like always, piece by piece I put myself back together. Like every other time I broke- this time too I lost another piece of my once whole self.

~*~*~

            Where was I?  My body was sprawled across a small bed. A colorful quilt with teddy bears was draped over me. I blinked a couple of time- the darkness of the room making everything seem fainter. The moon lit its way through the window-the curtains were parted letting in the ghastly night sky.

            I noticed there was a SpongeBob bandage on my left hand. Strange, I don't remember getting hurt. Tossing the quilt aside, I walked towards the door- the slight amounts of light falling through it. I tripped few times-over things unknown to me before reaching the door.

            The light blinded me when I walked past the door. Shelves filled with numerous books greeted me- the walls were covered with a light cream color. Everything was so organized- not a page was out of line.

            In the corner sat Delvin, his back hunched over the book, his legs crossed on the chair placed near a wooden table. A blue study lamp was placed on the desk, its light lighted the whole room in a serene oceanic blue color.