Crimson

Chapter 19 What is Reality?

I opened my eyes after what felt like the best night of rest I'd had in ages. I got out of bed and went downstairs. My  aunt was in the kitchen making breakfast and it smelled amazing. "Hey, it's about time you joined me." She turned from the stove and smiled, her face was partially visible from the light behind her. The light also shone off her golden hair, it made her look as if she had a halo. "I made your favorite breakfast, but you'll have to hurry because you've got school really soon, and your friends will be here to pick you up." She handed me a plate with pancakes, bacon, and eggs, all covered with syrup. The bottom of the plate was hot so I hurried to set it down.

"So, how was your trip to Vegas, or wherever you went?" Where did she go? I couldn't remember. Had she told me where she went?

"What do you mean? I haven't been on any trips." She turned back to the stove and continued to make her own breakfast. "Hurry up and eat or you'll be late." Why wasn't she looking at me?

It isn't real. The thought came into
My mind. I was confused, it sounded so familiar but I couldn't remember where from. I ate my breakfast in silence as I thought about it. The food was bland though, like eating air. I had to make sure that I was awake. I don't know what drove me to do it, I just did. I remembered the plate, did it burn?

I stood from my spot a the table and walked to the stove where my aunt was still cooking. "Sarah, what are you doing?" Her voice sounded as if it was coming through water. I had to find out. I reached out and stuck my hand flat on the frying pan, bracing myself for the searing pain that was sure to follow. But there was nothing. "Why Sarah?" My aunt, at least the person I believed to be my aunt, stood behind me. "Why couldn't you just accept it and be happy?" Her voice became distorted, like a toy when the batteries get too low for it to function correctly. I turned and saw the thing behind me change. It's limbs grew and joints popped, making sickening so mods. It's eyes popped out of its head and melted to nothing on the floor. It's hair fell out, and skin turned gray. It towered over me, staring down at me with glowing white orbs. "How could you do this to your own family?" Strings of saliva fell from its mouth, and it's voice clawed at my mind. The environment around us changed as well. We were no longer in my warm, welcoming kitchen, we were in some form of an asylum. "Too late now though." It came towards me and I ran. The sound of its laughter followed me. "Run, run all you want, but you can't escape from your own mind." What did it mean? It didn't make sense. I took a left at the end of the hall and realized, I had been there before. Images began flashing through my mind; my friends, all of them, their bodies mangled beyond recognition, panicked men in white, no, they were doctors.

It isn't real. It's not real. It is not real! What is real? What is reality?

"Sarah, you know you can't escape." The thing's voice sounded closer than before, prompting me to run faster.

"Sarah?" It was Rogue's voice. I stopped and looked around, breathing hard, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn't hear anything for a moment, then something fell behind me. "Sarah, what are you doing?" It was wrong, I didn't turn. "Sarah, please, you're scaring me. Look at me." I shook my head, and he began laughing in that horrible voice. I couldn't move, every inch of me ached and screamed for me to run but I couldn't. The laughter stopped and everything went silent. I stayed completely still and focused on the breath in the back of my neck. "Run." Adrenalin rushed through y body an I forced my legs to move, running again. Everything hurt and I felt as if I'd collapse if I were to stop. I could feel my body slow down, again and my mind immediately went to a place to hide. I made my way to an old office, closed the door, and sat against it. I closed my eyes and tried to calm my breathing. There was a shuffling outside in the hallway, slowly getting closer. I prayed for it to stop.

Now I know that it won't ever stop unless I do something about it. My name is Sarah, I used to believe that I was a normal high school student. But now, sitting against this cold, hard door, I start to think about what got me into this mess,with this creature coming after me. Two months ago? I don't remember anymore. I don't even know what reality is at this point. I need to put an end to it all. There's scissors on the desk, they'll have to work. I get up and move to the desk. The scissors look new, my face reflects off the blade. Is that really me? My face is pale, my eyes wild. I pick them up with shaking hands and take a deep breath.

"I'm sorry I'm not the perfect girl you may have been hoping for. I'm not strong, as I've got nothing left. There's nothing of me here, my mind is messed up. Is this really happening? Can anybody even hear me? There's nobody here, of course nobody can here me. This is it." I take the scissors and plunge them into my chest. Pain shakes my body, and I scream. It's so loud, someone's pounding on the door. I can't breathe, I just want it to be quiet. I push the scissors deeper and hear them ripping through. My body begins to go numb, everything is over. My hearing begins to fail and my vision blurs. I'm so cold. The pain, I know I'm supposed to feel it, but I just don't. Thank God, it's over.