Swampy Nightmare

Chapter 4

I began my walk through the heavy rain. My mind riddled with questions. Why was he talking about my eyes? Who was this friend of his? And why did he seem so sad? Did something happen to his friend? All these question swarmed my mind like an angry hive of hornets. Each one making me more and more curious. I tried my best to contain my curiosity. I tried to ignore the questions as best I could. But that didn't help in the slightest. I was still curious. And I still wanted answers. Answers that I know I'll never get. But maybe it's for the best. After all, it's that guy's business. I don't want to pry into another person's business. It's not my place to know.

I continue along the muddy path before me. My eyes gaze at the metal doors ahead. If I make it to those metal doors, I might be able to find an escape route. If I can make it out of here, I'm home free. I just need to get to those doors. My pace begins to quicken. I need to hurry! I need to make it out of here! I reach the doors and push them out. When I do, I almost run from them. But suddenly, my feet stop.

A small pain shoots from my head like a tiny needle. Initially, I disregard it. But that tiny pain soon becomes unbearable. Immediately, my feet buckle from underneath me. Sending me tumbling down to the ground. I try my best to get up, but the pain is too intense. In agony, my throat sends out a scream of help. But no one or anything responds. No one listens to my cries of help. No one. The pain begins to shoot out from my head into my body. It's long fingers stinging my nerves with a thousand needles. I can't take this anymore! I... need... to find... help...

"Please... someone..." I said, the words barely coming out of my mouth. I slowly look up, my eyes just trying to find someone. But when I look up, I saw my vision begin to blur. The pain slowly began to fade away. My vision began to go to black. Desperately, I try to fight the encroaching blackness. No... no, I can't! I won't! I did my best, but it was all for nothing. Before my vision was swallowed up, I heard someone call my name. My vision faded to black.

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I didn't think I would wake up again. I thought that pain would be the last thing I felt. But I was wrong. So very wrong. I didn't know how much time had past when I woke up. But then again, I didn't much care. All I cared about was where I was. When I awoke, my eyes bolted around the environment. Their meticulous gaze carefully scanning everything around me. From what I'm seeing, I was inside a house. A house... but how? All I remember was collapsing near that metal door. There's no way I could have gotten to a house. At least, not on my own. Someone must have put me here. Probably that crazy guy from before. Maybe he's got some new tricks up his sleeve. Well, whatever it is, I still need to get up.

After the painful experience outside, my body was very numb and achy. It resisted every ounce of strength I put in to it. Despite my best efforts, my body wouldn't move. Looks like I'll have to stay for a little while. At least until my body recovers. Oh well, no use in try to get up. I guess I'll be resting. Gently, I eased my body back down. When I did, I felt my eyes droop. Sleep soon began to over take me. My eyes soon closed and I laid there. My mind drifting off.

However, several small creaks began to echo through the house. Their volume awakening me from my slumber. Slowly, my eyes opened and looked sluggishly around the house.  Their sight lackadaisically looking for anything that could make the sound. As I looked, I continued to hear the tiny creaks. Annoyance began to surface within me. What's making that noise? If it the house? Or is someone here? Man, I wish I could get up right now and look. But oh well. It wasn't until a minute later that my eyes detected a faint shadow. A shadow? Someone's here! 

"Whoever you are, I can see your shadow so I know you're here. Do me a favor and come on out please." I can't exactly move right now. So I can't get up and check. However, that doesn't mean I can't ask nicely. The shadow moves closer to me. However, despite its closeness, I still couldn't see who it was. So much for asking nicely. I guess I'll have to be a little more straightforward then. My mouth goes to open. However, before a single word could be uttered, the shadow finally appeared. My mouth and jaw drop like a cement stone. Waves of shock, denial, guilty, everything goes through me at once. It that...? 

"Mom?" I asked, a lump forming in my throat. Mom came toward me slowly. Her famous smile wedged deeply in her face. I can't believe this. Mom is actually alive? But, no that's not right. Mom died by that monster, I saw it! No way could she be alive! This must be some kind of trick.

"Kit, I'm so glad you're safe. I found you outside town. You looked terrible! But don't worry. I patched you up. You should be fine now." I felt mom's hand gently squeeze my shoulder. Anger and grief began to wash my shock away. This is some kind of trick. Mom's not alive. She's dead. This must be that crazy guy's handiwork. How dare he do something like this! How dare he try to trick me with my mother!

"You... you're not my mother! My mother died by a monster! You're obviously some kind of actress posing as my mother. You're little trick isn't going to work on me" I said. Anger permeated my voice like a tidal wave. This woman isn't fooling me. She's not my mother. The woman's expression changes. Her smile is suddenly gone. Instead, it's replaced by a look of sadness.

"Kit, you must have gone through a lot. I'm so sorry I wasn't with you. It was too dangerous for me to stick around. Not to mention I didn't know where you were. When I woke up, I saw the car was gone and I thought something happened to you. Honey, it's me. I'm you mothe..." My rage cut off her voice.

"It you are, prove it! Prove it to me! Prove it and I'll believe you." With a soft sigh and a gentle squeeze of my shoulder, the woman began to talk.

"Kitana Alexandria Parks, you were born on May 7th. You've always loved to read anything you could get your hands on. Even when you were little. You love to read, you loved to hang out with your friends Lydia and Aneira, and your favorite dessert is cinnamon graham crackers with pecans on them. You also secretly loved to stash a jar full of cinnamon graham crackers in your backpack for lunch everyday. Would you like me to go on?" Mom asked. An even larger wave of shock erupted through my body. This isn't an imposter. It's actually mom. Only mom would know that I love cinnamon graham crackers. And only she would know that I stash a jar full of them to school everyday. This is really mom.

"So, you're actually..."

"Mhmm. I'm you mother." Mom's grip of my shoulder tightened a bit as she nodded. The lump that had formed in my throat began to give way. A sob and tears began to break through my anger, finally dissipating it for good. Tears rained down my eyes like a never-ending storm. Their clouds temporarily blurring my vision.

"Mom... I'm sorry," I said as the sobs rang out. Mom looked at me, her expression a mix of concern and happiness.

"Honey, it's okay. Please don't worry about it. I understand your caution. This place wasn't exactly the dream home we thought it would be."

"But mom, I'm so sorry! You don't understand what I've been though! After I left you, I crashed the car and was kidnapped by a crazy guy! He made me do weird stuff and... Please forgive me mom." Suddenly, I felt mom hug me. For a few minutes mom hugged me. Her warm embrace made my tears disappear. My sadness began being replaced by happiness. I'm so glad mom's okay! I'm so glad. Suddenly, mom pulled away and stood up. I tried to stand too, but again my body resisted my efforts.

"Everything will be okay honey. Don't you worry. Kit, you must be exhausted, not to mention hungry. You rest for a while okay? I'll go out and try to scrounge up some dinner. I'll be right back." Mom turned and began going to the door. When her hand reached the door handle, I said something to her.

"Mom, please be careful out there. There are monsters everywhere! Please don't get hurt again!"

"I won't." Mom twisted the door handle and went outside. When she did, I heard an inhuman growl and a scream. Oh no! Mom! Fear began to claw my insides. I have to get up! I have to save her! I can't let her die! Using all my strength, I pick myself up and run outside. When I do, I see mom run off with a zombie not far behind her. Mom! I run too and try to follow her. But I couldn't keep up. Mom's running too fast. I can't catch up in time to help her. It's hopeless. She'll die if I don't save her! I can't let mom die, not now! I'll do whatever it takes to help her. My feet begin to run again. My heart pounding as I race to find her. No matter what happens, no matter what I'll find you mom. Just hold out a little longer. I race to mom's aid, ignorant of the events that are about to unfold.