Welcome Home

Chapter VIII: Hallucinated Corruption

~💀~

*Bella's  POV*

It's midnight and lightning is constantly flashing through my window. I'm sleepless, I keep tossing and turning while TJ sleeps in peace. I can't think straight, nothing I do will allow me to get the rest I desperately need and it's killing me. It's been a long time since I've gotten a decent hour of sleep. I keep having nightmares every single night, and I fear that they will come true.

I sat up in bed and looked around. It's completely dark, and I'm kind of scared. I stood up and walked in the bathroom. I splashed cold water on my face and dried off. I looked up at myself and saw my bruised up body. There were bruises that were never there. There are red cuts on my arms. I don't remember doing this, and I don't remember having this many bruises and scars. In fact I don't remember anything. My body is in so much pain, what's happening to me? I looked down at my legs and saw there were even small red cuts all the way up my thighs. I swear I didn't do this. I never had a razor or a knife. I didn't even feel any of these wounds. I want to wake TJ up and tell him, but I don't want him to worry. He's worried about me enough. I don't want to be the cause of all his stress.

I left our bedroom in the middle of the night, and descended my way downstairs into the kitchen. I opened the refrigerator for a bottle of water, and that's when I heard a voice call my name.

"Bella.....come here." It said.

I turned around and I didn't see anyone.

"Bella ...look behind you."

I turned around again, and I still didn't see anyone.

"Who's there?" I quivered.

"Bella.....look in the mirror."

My heart started racing as the voice became louder. I covered my ears, shaking my head because I know it's not real. It can't be. No I will not look in the mirror!

"N-No go away. You're not real. You're just a pigment of my imagination. I'm....I'm not crazy. I'm not crazy. No......" I said as I started backing away from the kitchen into a corner in the dining room.

I sat down in the corner hiding away from all the mirrors. I closed my eyes, praying that this will go away.

"Please don't harm me. Please spare me. Leave me alone. Go away. Get out. I don't know what you are but go away. Leave me be." I whispered.

I opened my eyes only to see that nothing was there. But something was moving against the wall. There were shadows of ghosts moving towards me. My stomach became tied in knots, and I couldn't breathe. I wanted to scream, but I couldn't. Tears were flowing down my face, and my heart started hammering.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" I yelled at the shadows.

I closed my eyes once more and buried my face. This is the end for me.

" Bella?" a deep voice said.

I looked up and saw that it was TJ standing in front of me. He had a worried look on his face. He turned on the light and kneeled down in front of me. He held my hands and looked into my eyes.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"N-No I'm not. I saw...I saw s-shadows moving against the wall." I panicked.

"There's nothing on the walls. Who were you talking to down here?"

I paused and just looked at him. I didn't respond. I couldn't. TJ placed both of his hands on my cheeks.

"Who. were. you. talking. to?"

I still didn't respond. My words have frozen as well as my tongue. I can't explain myself. No it's impossible. I don't want to scare him away. I just covered my mouth and sobbed. He pulled me in his arms and just held me.

"Shh it's alright I'm here. Nothing is going to get you. I'm here to protect you remember? I'll always be here for you. Always." He whispered.

"If you dare say anything I will haunt you and kill you."  The voice said.

I let out a loud gasp, along with a whimper. I'm fearing for my life from this entity....