This Darkened Damaged Mind [On Hold]

Chapter Two

 I crept down the darkened corridor, the diamond-shaped checkerboard black and white tiles wavering beneath my feet. A bloodcurdling scream pierced the air and I raced toward it, my feet flying beneath me in my sprint. However, no matter how fast I ran I didn’t leave that spot- I was simply running in place. Then, out of nowhere, a figure appeared at the end of the hallway. The scream was still continuing and the figure grew closer as it grew louder. The figure came closer and I recognized her- it was a girl from town, Abby. The difference was that Abby now had giant circles of blood painted around her eyes and fangs in her mouth. I realized as she continued to float closer with increasing speed that she wasn’t screaming- the scream had morphed into a hungry growl.

 I tried to turn around, but I couldn’t stop running, I was just stuck there running in place. I tried to scream, but I couldn’t move anything except for that which was already flailing desperately to stop but just continued to stay in the same rhythmic motion until Abby was practically on top of me. Then, the running suddenly stopped and I fell face-first onto the swirling tiles, which I then fell through into a huge cavern. I fell into it to see giant, crimson tipped spikes looming ever closer. Another shriek attempted to escape my throat, but the second it did I hit the spikes.

 My eyes flitted open in the soothing darkness of my room. Bill was, of course, missing once again, and I was alone. The shadows seemed to flicker and dance in the pale moonlight that barely lit my room as it attempted to come through the window. Wearily dragging myself out of bed and standing, I stretched luxuriously and strode across the hardwood floor and out the open door into the hallway. Blinking, I looked around as if I expected something to be different- of course, nothing was. I wandered casually to my studio to greet the paintings on the walls.

 However, the first thing I saw upon opening the door was a canvas laid in front of my picture of Jimmy last night- the canvas in front of his was the portrait I’d done of Abby. She’d been smiling, but now blood dripped from her open lips and fangs replaced her previously humane pearly-whites and large red circles had been painted in place of her eyes. A gasp escaped my throat and I felt a scream rising inside. Everything else had remained the same- it was only her picture. I dashed out of my studio and ran downstairs; Bill was still nowhere to be found. I huddled on the couch, burying my face in the small space between my knees and my chest.

 Daringly I raised my head, glancing around in such a manner that anyone watching would think I expected the culprit to leap from behind the kitchen table. No one was in sight. I cautiously stood up and tip-toed back upstairs and into my studio. The painting was back on the wall, perfectly normal and back to ordinary; but that wasn’t what concerned me. The other canvas, the one I’d painted Jimmy on, was changed- everything was still there. Everything, except for Jimmy.

 Confusion lay thick on an already confused mind. Haunted by hallucinations and nightmares, I was unable to cope with this sudden change to my artwork. It was all I had- I can’t lose it to this witchcraft. What sorcery is causing this? My life is already upside down; we don't need it backwards as well. Wait, who’s we? My thoughts were continuously befuddling me and I walked over to the large window, cracking it and sitting on the sill.

 “Claire,” a voice murmured. Startled, I stood from the window sill and searched the room- it was empty. Not a soul was in sight. Who said my name? Perhaps it’s time to get out of this house, I decided. I went into my room and took a brief shower, yanking my wet hair into a tight bun and dressed quickly, simply pulling on a pale blue sweater over a comfortable pair of jeans and tennis shoes before heading outside.

 I found Bill asleep beside the river, but I decided to continue walking. As I made my way down the path I began to hear footsteps in the distance- my new-found neighbor, perhaps? Time proved me correct as Jimmy appeared far off, calling a greeting as he spotted me. I shouted hello and he jogged the rest of the way over to me.