INTRO / Preview
I remember when everything started... When one night something spoke to me. I always had fears that even frightened my parents. I spoke of them dying, spoke of me dying from a knife... or even darkness. I have drawings I've done all in red. I remember one was a stick figure I did in pre-school with thrown splotches of red mixed with a bit of black. My mom told me to stop making stuff like that. I cried that day because I didn't know it was bad and I remember being told to. I just didn't remember who did. Now, what started my memories everything was one night. Only half the moon was bared in the night sky. I was fast asleep until I heard something that startled me awake. My eyes fluttered open to the ceiling of my parents bedroom, the glow-in-the-dark star stickers shining brightly. I sat up to look out past the door and saw the hall of the apartment. I saw a mass of black slither down the hall. I gasped. I looked to my left and right next to me, seeing my parents in deep sleep. I tumbled over my mom's legs and rolled onto my feet on the floor. I started for the door. I came out into the hall and stood. I looked from one side to another. The left side of me was lit by the moonlight and the other half pitch black. I started walking to my room until I felt a scratch on my ankle. I screamed and whirled around looking down. I kept kicking around, hoping to hurt whatever hurt me. I turned and saw nothing. I decided to get water and try to get to bed, suddenly remembering I have a cat. In the dining room, I looked out to see the moon shining down onto the water of the beach. I was a pretty view. I was disturbed when a knock made my ear twitch and I turned. Nothing. Just the wall, just my shadow. Suddenly, a scratch was being made on the wall. I watched it being created until it stopped. I was in shock. I just stood, with my mouth wide open. I didn't make a sound though. I came close to the scratch. I touched it. I ran my fingers down it. My heart leapt through my chest when a dark hand grabbed me. It was transparent. I was screaming but no one came to see me. It started pulling.
"STOP IT! MOM! DAD! HELP ME!" My hand disappeared through the wall and the rest of me followed.
I looked and saw I was where I was originally standing. I looked around for a minute then ran to my parents' room. They weren't there though. But I heard a loud bang in the kitchen.
"F*** YOU Ed!" That was my father's name. I ran to the dining room.
"Mom? Dad?"
"Shh Sam... She's asleep. Please... can't we just talk this out?" A pan came flying past him and hit the wall. He ducked late. A few spoons came and hit his legs. "Stop!"
"F*** YOU ED! F*** YOU!" Forks came past him. One hit his face.
"STOP IT!" He instantly backed up into the table. "Sam!" All I saw was my mom's shadow come closer to him. I was hiding behind the wall. I saw her hand raise. Something was in her hand. He began crying and screaming. "SAM!"
"MOM!" I screamed. "STOP!" But, she just kept coming closer to him. Her hand struck down on him. I ran out from behind the wall again.
"TAKE IT!" She repeated that, each time giving another strike on him. The pure white walls became splattered. Like my paintings. I was screaming to her. Telling her to stop. I was too afraid of approaching her. Tears were streaming. She stopped. She stood up straight and began wailing.
"ALICE! COME HERE!" My eyes widened.
"No mommy. You hurt daddy. LEAVE ME ALONE!" She stood still, no response. I turned to hearing a scratch being made on the wall opposite me. I ran for it, thinking it will get me out.
"ALICE!" I felt my heart banging hard against my chest. It almost hurt. I touched the scratch. The hand grabbed me and I slipped through the wall.
I ran from the wall and huddled in the corner. Crying.
"Alice..." I heard a faint and calm sounding whisper. A boy.
"What? Who's that?"
"I'm your shadow. Turn to the wall behind you." I turned and saw a silouette of a boy next to me.
"My shadow? Wouldn't you be a girl?"
"Not in the world I showed you."
"What's your name?"
"Alex."
"You're mean aren't you? Was that you that grabbed me?"
"Yes. Alice, I had to show you the future. I'm scared for you Alice. I've been quiet for long enough and I have to speak to you."
"The future? I don't want mommy killing daddy. NO! NO! NO!... no" I started crying again. I lost complete hope that I was having a nightmare.
"I'm helping you. If you come back and prevent it, you will save him. And your mom. She didn't mean to. She got sick I think.
"I'm scared Alex."
"Listen, just remember Alice, when your hand touches your shadow it's the present intersecting with fate."
"What does that mean?"
"Just remember it. You will know what it means soon enough. Also remember, only trust me. No one else. Your shadow is your true friend."
"Okay. You're my friend?"
"I am."
