Absolution

Prologue: Masquerade

12:30mn

I keep on glancing on the wall clock that’s hanging beside my door. I grunt in frustration when I noticed the time. So, I have been working this homework for 5 hours straight? This homework’s killing my poor brain cells.

I hate cramming, but you’re not a student if you didn’t experience this. While working on my third essay, the door creaked open. My head shot up and frowned, then a foreign chill crept up my spine. I don't know where it came from, but I choose to ignore it.

As I stand up and walked towards the door; I called out, "Mom? Is that you?". I waited for a response but nothing came. There is this strange feeling that is gnawing from the back of my mind but again, I did not pay attention to any of it. I hate being paranoid, but I cannot help it especially right now.

I was about to close the door when I caught the silhouette of my mom walking down the dark hallway, does that supposed to make me feel relieved?

No. Not a single chance.

I stride back to where my phone is and grabbed it, then I stepped out from my bedroom with my hardened resolve and only a cellphone in hand. I pressed the home button of my phone before closing the door behind me. The cellphone light is my only company as I started to trudge down the dark corridor.

The rain outside is pounding against the window pane and bringing a hair raising cold. I cursed mentally as I forgot not to wear at least a sleeping robe and now I am only wearing a white sando paired with a beige pajama.

"What are you doing at this hour?" I jumped at the voice of my dad from my back.

I turned around while clutching my chest and glaring at my dad "What the hell?" and there he is, standing while wearing his sleepwear too. I almost freaked out when I saw him 'headless'. Well, that is how I put it because the shadow from the tree outside covered the half of his body up to his mid chest. So the only part I see is from his chest down to his legs.

I shrugged "I am famished. I want to grab something to eat. You know how those essays are killing me." I let out a carefree smile and turned my back on him not waiting for him to respond. I don’t think that he is following me or not but there is something uncomfortable feeling that is building up in my spine.

I came back to my senses when I arrived on the kitchen. And there I saw my mother's back in front of me. She’s standing in front of the kitchen sink.

I placed my phone above the kitchen stool first before speaking, "Hey mom, I’m going to eat and you cannot stop me like you always do." I let out a smug face and opened the refrigerator.

I feel like a cold bucket of water has been splashed on my back seeing an upsetting image that will forever mark my mind. Nausea filled my stomach and I throw everything I ate earlier in the dinner. I hastily closed the refrigerator and collapsed on the floor panting.

What the fuck did I just saw? Jar filled of eyeballs and decapitated heads? I didn't know that my parents are into those some kind of thing. Were they serial killers?

"Did you enjoy my gift to you, Alice?" my train of thoughts are interrupted by the voice of my father. I stood up weakly, supporting my weight while grasping on the kitchen counter.

Horror filled my stomach again as I see my "dad" standing in front of me, his eyes are empty and pitch black. I swear I don't see where the white of his eyeballs anymore. Even without the lights, his black eyes are glistening through the dark.

"W-who are you? What did you do to my parents?" I croaked. I took a step back slowly, assessing and looking for an escape route. I need to get out of here fast.

The monster stepped forward "Why do you ask, Alice? Aren't you happy that they are not here with you anymore? This is what you want isn't it?" he licks his bottom lip disgustingly “That no one will stop you while you were addicted of harming yourself, little misfit." there is something in his voice. It sounds hypnotic and velvety. He sounded like he is talking to a dangerous animal and tried to pet it.

But his statement caught me off guard, how come does he know about that? Indeed, I have been a suicidal but my parents sent me to a therapist to help me fix myself.

I remain unfazed, "Don't talk as if you know me, monster" I took another step. I am almost there, I need to distract this mofo and run away like a madman from this goddamn house.

He scoffed “Oh darling, I know you very well. I have been following you all the time since you were a kid and I even haunt your dreams. Do you remember the time when you woke up from the nightmare where you see the doctors try to sedate you?", he let out an evil smirked.

No. Don't believe him, he is only playing you. Find a way to escape damn it.

I hissed, "You disgust me. Stalker." I said like spitting the last word, because that’s what he truly is. I saw a kitchen knife above the kitchen stool from my right and I grabbed it, "And let me tell you a thing, whoever the fuck are you possessing my father's body; you will die!” everything happened so fast. The last thing I remembered is sticking the knife to his chest and he fell to the floor grunting in pain with blood gushing from the chest wound.

I was about to sprint out of the kitchen but a cold pair of hands latched onto my arms like vices, dragging me back kicking and screaming.

"Hush sweetheart, you will be fine" a female voice crooned. I forgot about 'mom' because I was busy distracting my so called stalker earlier. If my dad is possessed, then of course mom too. Where is the angel of death at this time, it makes me want to die now.

The next moment I knew is that my body crashed down on the floor face first. My forehead slams on the cold tile and I grunt in pain.

A hand yanked my hair up. I gritted my teeth from the agonizing pain I felt.

I am being face to face again with the monster that is masquerading as my father, his hollow eyes are like bottomless abyss.

"You cannot escape us, my dear Alice" he said then he let out a toothy grin "We have come this far of dragging another soul to Hell, you know I am merely disappointed when you stopped doing those suicidal stunts. That's not very good." he turned to the woman that is masquerading also as my mom. And they laugh together like psychos.

I chuckled bitterly "Hell? You are a bunch of batshit crazy people. And hey, those contacts looks cool I hope you tell me where you bought them." the woman snarled and was about to pounce at me but her companion stopped her then she settled of glaring at me, instead.

"Forgive her, she's got a bad temper" he smiled as if we are old friends.

I snarled "I don't care. Kill me now if you want to." despair is creeping up, I know I can feel it I am hopeless. Guess, I won’t be able to live another day.

He grinned "Oh, we won't kill you. That's so old fashioned." he held my head between his hands and he make me stare back at his eyes "We’ll make you do it for us. Now, close your eyes and be a good girl." I feel my eyelids became heavy and until I could not fight it anymore.

The sleepiness took over and all I can see before I close my eyes were bat wings and endless darkness.

A/N: I don't know what to say xD enjoy reading :) and the theme song for this chapter is Nightmare by Avenge Sevenfold