Horrible Things

The boy without skin (Part 2)

I was sitting on the bench nervously, using my right hand to hold my left knuckle. I had rose extra late today so that my mother would not be able to stop me from leaving or come along. She was a little nervous when I got out but I was sure I was seeing things. I patted the note in my pocket and heard the crisp of the paper.

Laisha did not tell me what time we had to meet so I was here at 12, and it was close to 2 now. Waiting seemed like an eternity and I wasn't sure she was going to show up. Finally however, a figure walked up to me slowly.

Frail and thin, with her cheeks hollowed in was the women who knew me since I was a baby. She seemed so different. Her clothes seemed unwashed and a penetrating odour of urine and filth radiated off her.

Herr eyes were filled with emotions as she looked at me. I felt unease, but at the same time it gave me some solace to see her again.

"I'm so glad you're fine Jimmy." She said, hugging me closely. I hugged the women back, she was Laisha after all.

"Why did you want to meet me? Why not come directly to the house?"

She sighed, "It wasn't safe."

I did not understand. She used to be very close with my mother and would always make together.

"Jimmy listen, there are things that happened after you left that will try to hurt you." She started, fear and trepidation consuming her. Her eyes darted around us as if she was afraid that someone would find us.

The Laisha I remembered was brave as a lion. Nothing would get pass her.

"You need to leave now." She insisted out of the blue and I could not help but feel hurt.

"I'm actually only staying for a week, and my suitcase is still in the house." I explained, it was so sad to see her give into her paranoia.

She grabbed my hand, holding it tightly in her grasp, "There is no time. Forget about the suitcase you need to go now. He's been waiting for a very long time Jimmy... He won't let you go again." She pleaded with me.

I stood up, uncertain about how to react. The poor woman was clearly delusional! Driven off the bridge of sanity indeed.

"Look, I'll leave as soon as I can okay?" I assured her as I slowly hand away. She nodded her head furiously and I went back to the place of my childhood. Her words upset me, I really did miss her.

That night, I dreamt of the fire again. Only this time instead of watching it happen, I was in it. I was in the house that eventually burnt down. The feeling when the fire burnt my skin and the smoke cloud my lungs was beyond painful. Every second was an eternal hell. No one knew I was in the because no one expected me to be, and at that moment I realized that I was the one who set the fire.

I woke up in cold sweat as I breathed heavily.

12:47

My alarm read. Just as I was about to go back to sleep, I smelt something weird. It was the same one from my childhood. Rotting flesh and maggots.

The only thing different was that now, it was obvious where it came from. I crept over to my closet, silently as I could. I put my hand on the handle, and I pulled it open. I could not see anything but darkness behind my clothing, I crouched down to see if something died there. Maybe a rat or some cockroaches.

But all I could feel after that was a hand grabbing me, pulling me in as I screamed bloody murder. It was slimy and hairy at the same time, it did not feel human. Panic arose in me as bile came up from my throat.

I woke up in cold sweat, breathing heavily.

12:47, my alarm clock read. I sat in my bed with unease. Was the dreams a premonition? Was Laisha telling me the truth? If that was so, I had to leave right one.

I flipped on a light switch and started throwing everything I brought with me into my bag excluding the cloths. I wanted to get away from this room as fast as I could, the child within me wanted to leave. Running down the stairs, I almost reached a door she appeared.

There she was in the pale moonlight, still as a picture.

My mother turned to look at me, a bright smile was plastered on her face. She looked unusually.... plastic. Her smile seemed too wide to be true, and that sent chills down my spine.

Her blonde hair was neatly tied in a low ponytail, her hair was dry and crisp. As if.... it was burnt.

"Good morning son," she took a step towards me, her smile not once faltering. "do you want some breakfast?"

"I PUT A LOT OF EFFORT JIMMY!" She screamed, but her voice wasn't hers! It was a man's voice and mentally cursed.

I threw my bag in her direction, knocking her over. She fell but she got up quickly. Luckily I was able to reach the door before her and got out before she could reach me.

"JIMMY COME BACK! MUMMY LOVES YOU!"

I quickly turned on the ignition and sped away with the scene replaying in my head. I was in such a flurry to leave that I did not notice the figure in front of me before it was too late. My car rammed into Laisha was I slammed on the breaks.

I ran out of the car. She was still consious.

"I'm so sorry, I'll call an ambulance now!" I cried, pulling out my phone. She shook her head. She had blood oozing out of her head and it was forming a Halo on the ground.

Raising her head to look at me, she smiled the same smile my mother did.

"She's coming to get you."

Final part will be up in two days. Any predictions?