The Crooked Man

Saving Me...

I fell off my bed, beads of sweat dripping from my face and onto my night shirt. I was tangled in the sheets and my lamp was knocked over. I looked around frantically...I was back in my room. It was only a dream Ryan, calm down. I told myself as I took a deep breath. I looked at the clock, 5:46. No use in going back to bed. It's not like I'm gonna' fall back asleep anyway. I stood slowly only to fall back to my knees, I grabbed my leg, it hurt like hell. Ahhh, dammit. I pulled up my pant leg to observe my shins. There was a huge black and blue bruise cascading down my leg. It hurt so bad it was hard to stand. "It was only just a dream, right?" I staggered to my feet. Cringing as I walked; I observed my window and noticed it was closed. "Didn't I leave that open last night?" I went over and looked out; nothing was there. I dismissed it and managed to make my way slowly down the stairs. The lights still flickering as I opened the refrigerator to get some breakfast. "I must have forgot to restock while I was out." I sighed. No use in going out now, it's not even 6:00 yet.  

All of a sudden the phone started ringing and the lights flickered more rapidly. I cautiously went upstairs, the phone eerily ringing in the dark atmosphere of the creaky house. Each step made a noise as I walked. I finally reached my room and I walked to my nightstand, and picked up my phone. The name Anna, my ex-girlfriend, was scrolled across the top of the screen. I unlocked my phone and answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Hi Ryan."

"Anna? How have you been?"

"I've been alright. I heard you moved into your uncle Mark's house. How is it?"

"Yeah I did...but that was years ago."

"Yeah I know..."

"Anna, is everything alright?"

"Oh, yes, everything's just fine." She said almost too nonchalantly, as I heard a crashing noise in the background.

"Anna, what was that?"

"Nothing, Ryan. Everything's great. "

So I heard you moved into your uncle Mark's house..."

"Yes Anna, you've said that already." I was starting to get worried now. "Anna are you oka-" Right as I said that, I heard a deafening scream and the line went dead. "Anna? Anna?! Oh, god, Anna?!" I dropped my phone and ran to the kitchen to grab my keys. Just because she's my Ex doesn't mean I never stopped caring about her. I jumped in my car and sped down the street to Anna's home. I pulled in front of here house; a bright sandy neutral color with blue shutters reminding me of our first date on the beach. I went to the door and knocked.  Once, twice, three times but no response. "Anna! Open up!" I heard another scream and my instinct took over, I kicked down the door and ran inside. "Anna! Where are you?"

The first of the sun’s rays were beaming through the windows as I ran upstairs. I slid the door open to Anna's room, yet it was still pitch black, curtains over the windows let in no light in her room. As I walked in my nose was met by an earthy, metallic smell a second before my eyes registered the scene in Anna's bedroom. I flipped on the lights, and saw her, Anna was spread-eagled on top of her bed against the far wall, her throat cut from ear to ear and her nightdress stained with blood. Two drops of blood fell from the saturated blanket with a drip-drip noise that sounded like a leaky faucet.

Scream after scream poured from my mouth as  all along the hallway, doors slammed and footsteps came running down the passage.

My eyes widened in shock at what I saw. I looked up, tears streaming down my face.

On the wall above her bed, written in her blood, were the words: “Why didn't you save me, Atlas?"