Breaking Light

Chapter 22

Melissa woke up to the sound of a crying baby. All the work she had been doing for the past few weeks had left her exhausted. She looked at her side, rubbing at her eyes, Michael lay there sleeping like a log. She leaned in and gave him a kiss, she loved the man, and he loved her equally. Life was tough but it was beautiful. The crying intensified and Melissa hurried out of the bed.
"I'm coming sweet heart, I'm coming." she said while pulling her night gown over her and rushed to the room. An eerie red glow surrounded the door frame and she could see shadows moving. Melissa rushed to the door but it seemed to move further and further away from her as her pace quickened. The crying got louder and louder and she ran as fast as she could, still unable to reach the door, she cried for it and tears started falling freely. Suddenly the crying stopped and she could hear growling, she was in front of the door now, her hands trembled as she grasped the door knob and turned it. The door opened to a silent and unfurnished dark space. A red spot light shone on the baby cot placed in the centre or the room. Melissa took a step inside and heard the baby cry again, she rushed to the cot. It was empty. Gurgling laughter echoed inside the room and a drop of blood fell on her cheek. She looked up at the ceiling. A convoluted mess of thick red shadows swerved about and started dripping on the ground, roughly forming into the shape of a baby. It had glowing red eyes and it started tumbling towards Melissa. It's mouth bloody and dripping, it held its hand out to her, She was frozen by the sight, unable to move. It's mouth was hung open, but an inhuman deep gurgling voice called out to her,
"Hold... me... Mama..." it's jaw dropped on the ground revealing it's oral cavity and blood oozed out of it, its unusually long tongue flopped about. There was another cry echoing from a distant. The baby kept tumbling towards Melissa, her eyes focused on the horror in front of her. Its body arched suddenly with the sound of bones being crushed and joints dislocating as a stream of deep red shadow burst its way out of the baby...

"JACK!!!!!!!" Melissa bolted upright from her bed, screaming, her entire body profusely sweating and her hands glowed with magic she instinctively gathered.

"Hey. Hey. Hey. Lissa. I'm here. It's okay.... Calm down... It was just a dream." Michael wrapped himself around her tightly as he consoled her. He held her and she started crying, clinging to him with all her might.

"Shhh... Lissa, it's over..." Michael held her face and kissed her. He put two fingers on her forehead and whispered "cessabit", a stream of soothing light flowed through him and calmed her down till she lay there in his embrace, sobbing and shaking.

"Oh Jack... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I couldn't save you..." she spoke between sobs

"Lissa, look at me." he held her face,
"Look at me." watery eyes found a warm face of hope and comfort and she regained control of herself. They both stayed huddled together for a while.

"Was it different this time?"

"Yes. A memory I had tried to lock away... Oh Jack..." Tears welled up in her eyes again. Michael held onto her and pulled her in closer. He wiped her face with his sleeve and gently kissed her.

"I'm okay. I'm okay." Melissa slowly got up and Michael sat up straight. He held her hand and caressed it lightly.

"I love you Lissa. Always have. And always will. No matter what."

"And That is what keeps me going Michael." She smiled back and gave his hand a squeeze before walking to the bathroom and locked the door behind her. She stood silently under the shower, letting the cold water wash away the remnants of her nightmare.

"You want coffee?" Michael spoke through the door,

"Yes please."

He walked to the kitchen to prepare the breakfast, swerving his hand in the air, bowls and utensils floated to the station. He was a humming a tune as he cooked. There was a knock on the door and Michael asked the visitor to come in.