The Closet Downstairs

Flashbacks

I wake up again, sitting straight up. The front of my shirt is soaked with sweat, and I feel more crawling down my forehead. It feels like the spiders. I scream and smack my forehead. There is nothing there but the sticky sweat that is collecting on my head.
I know the closet was a dream. It must have been. But, the spider bites and the burns - it was all so real. No, it wasn't real. None of it happened. Even my father telling me I'm worth nothing to him.
I look around me. I'm lying on the ground of my room, and the door is locked shut. Like I left it when I ran in...after being in the closet.
I jump to my feet. This is freaking me out. All of this. I'm going to find Cole. He went in too. He's got to know how to make this better. I'm having all sorts of flashbacks. This isn't normal. What am I going to do? I feel panicky. The palms of my hands are sweaty and I feel dizzy. What happened? The closet is fake, its all fake, I continue to tell myself. It has to be - right?
I begin to walk toward the door again, but the ground is cold. Like it was before. When I followed Cole. To the closet. I jump off the floor and onto my bed. I put on my ugly sandals. As long as I don't touch that floor again with my bare feet, I'm fine. I never want to be bare foot again. Or bare at all, for that matter. I shudder.
I plop them on and start back for the door. At least I won't have to walk down the stairs again. I walk out and see my Dad, that nasty grin on his face. I shriek and squeeze my eyes shut. When I peek again, he's gone.
Okay, this is not good. I spin to my right and dash down the hall, the stairs looming behind me. I step on all the creaky loud boards, but I don't care anymore. I have to find Cole. That's all I can think about right now. Only problem is, I don't know where his room is.
Tears begin to well up in my eyes making my vision blurry. I see hundreds of people laughing at me again and I instantly begin to moan, as if the flames are scorching me again. I need to get away. Find Cole. He can help me. "You're no daughter of mine," a whisper echoes through the hall.
"No please!" I cry out, tears pouring out of my eyes now. I look around myself wildly, but no one is there. Just the long endless hallway of several doors. Any could belong to Cole. I can't handle this. What is going on? "Cole!" I scream.
Two doors away from me, I hear a voice.
"Rhiana! Come here!" It sounds urgent. How can I trust it? The door is open a crack. It looks just like the door downstairs. I back away, my arms in front of me.
"Who are you? I'm trying to find Cole."
"I am Cole!" His voice hisses at me. I continue to stare, unwillingly. I just can't. A hand reaches out - a good, normal, human hand - and invites me. I long to grab it, but I can't go through that experience again. Suddenly, it wraps tightly around my wrist and yanks me in the room. I try to yell, but a hand muffles it, covering my mouth.
Once we are in the room, a light comes on, and the hand lets go. I fall to the floor, trembling and panting. I look up to see Cole's upset face. It instantly softens when he sees mine.
"What happened Rhiana? You look like you just saw a ghost."
"I did, Cole," I whimper. "I followed you down to the closet. I followed you in. I'm seeing things. I'm so confused! Nothing is making sense anymore!"
His eyes widen. "Wait you went in? What were you thinking? Why would you follow me?" He runs his hands through his hair. "I had to go in! I didn't have a choice!"
"What do you mean you had to?" I ask.
He sits down by me. His face is serious, but also understanding. I also notice he's not wearing his glasses. It is the middle of the night, but I'm still touched.
"I found that room last week. I saw my worst fears. It took me three hours before I could get out." My heart drops. Three hours? "I saw my five worst fears over and over again until I finally found the door," he explains. "I have nightmares every night. I know how to stop them now."
My heart leaps. "What do you do? I have to know!"
Cole sighs. "You have to go back in." Everything around me starts to swirl. I suddenly feel light - headed. My vision gets clouded. Cole calls my name, but it sounds distant. I shut my eyes to stop it.
My dad is building a doll house. It looks identical to the one he built me when I was a kid. The same woman from the closet comes into view, and she's holding a child. It's a girl. The toddler wiggles free from her mother's arms and towards her dad. My dad. Then, he laughs. I haven't heard that in a long time. He then picks her up, and swings her around. She giggles. I see a young girl in the background, watching sadly. Then, my father smiles to the girl and says,
"I love you Jay. You are my wonderful angel that I love so much. This is for you." He motions to the doll house. Jay squeals in delight. I look back to the crying young girl and discover myself. That's me. That little girl is me. And Jay is being portrayed as Melissa. Dad always loved Melissa. He hates me. He would always tell me, "Why can't you be more like your little sister? She behaves and does as she's told!" He would use a ruler and slap the backs of my hands as if I were his school student. "Don't ever disappoint me again." That's all he ever told me. He always liked Melissa more. Now he has a new wife and child. And Jay is my middle name. "And may you please your father unlike..."
I come back to reality before he can finish. Its just too much. I'm lying on the floor again. Cole is looking down at me, his face white. He's kneeling by me and has one hand on my forehead.
"Come with me," he grabs my hands and helps me up.