Short Horror Stories

Sunshine and Madness Pt. 2

Halloween Special continued...

Read at your own peril!

Happy Friday the 13th, Minions!

HRH

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Part Two:

"Follow the White Rabbit"

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"It's a beautiful day."

Alice looked up and smiled, squinting into the sun.

Stephan's large form towered over her, interrupting the sunlight in streams. It shone through his long strands of hair, making him appear as though he possessed a halo.

"Hello, Stephan." She said fondly, a smile on her young, trusting face. "It is a beautiful day."

Stephan sat in one of the lawn chairs across from her and his face became more visible to her from this angle.

He was so handsome.

She always lost her wits a little when she looked at him.

"Anything interesting today?" He asked her conversationally.

"A new guard is working the front gate. Terrance something. He seems nice enough. I found a beautiful dead butterfly on my windowsill this morning. Was that you?"

"Yes, angel. It flew onto my hand and died in my palm when I was taking my predawn walk through the woods. I thought you might like it."

"That is so sweet! I added it to my collection."

They smiled at each other, the oldest and best of chums. Stephan was her best friend and she hoped that she was his, though she had never exactly asked.

She trusted him more than anybody. Certainly more than the family who'd abandoned her just because she was different. She trusted him more than she trusted her own psychiatrist.

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Alice had cried and cried when she'd first come to the Elderberry Institute.

Stephan had even had a hard time comforting her. He lay beside her on the little bed, stroking her arm and murmuring soft things into her ear. "It's all going to be alright, Alice angel. Please don't cry."

"They left me." She sobbed into her pillow. "They gave me up. They had me committed! They think I'm crazy; damaged, broken. They've given up on me. I must have been such a burden if they can't even bear to have me around anymore. It's like I don't even have a family."

"Sshhh." He kissed her cheek, tenderly brushing hair off her damp face. "You have me. I'm here. I'm right here. I'll never leave you."

"Promise?" She snuffled, looking up over her shoulder at him. "Because I don't think I could stand it."

"I promise, Alice my angel. We will always be together. And don't worry about your family, love. They'll come and visit you, I'm sure of it."

Alice turned over and buried herself in his chest. He slid his arm around her, holding her close to his big, warm body. "Maybe I don't want them to visit me. All I need is you, after all. They didn't believe me about you. They wanted me to choose between them and you and I choose you!"