Heritage

Heritage (Chapter 44)

Chapter 44: Ethan

A week had passed since the battle that nearly cost us our lives. Elena and I now found ourselves on the United Docking Station Olympus, the primary hub for all high priority personnel. The Apollo suffered major damage during the large skirmish we faced.

I step out of the shower – the first shower I've been able to enjoy in months – and stare at myself in mirror. I look into my own eyes and feel the tears well up as they did before. I can't stand to look at myself in the mirror any more. I'm trying so hard to carry everything on my shoulders.

I try to divert my mind by picking up my straight razor, a gift from my father years ago, and shaving the small amount of stubble on my face.

I bring the blade to my neck and place the blade on my skin. But before I'm able to shave, my mind starts to churn a multitude of thoughts.

It's so simple for me to just end the suffering right now. Why not? It'll be easy. I think to myself, pondering the gravity of such an action.

I see a shape forming in the mirror as I drift off in to my thoughts. I squint my eyes as the figure comes into clarity. My eyes become wider as I recognize the character, instantly dropping my razor.

"You...why...?" I say in a stutter.

The figure laughs sinisterly and moves closer to the mirror, a dark wiry grin spreading across its face.

"What's a matter my darling Ethan? Not happy to see me? That just makes me all sad, I think I may cry. Did you really think I'd forget all about you? You honestly think that just because you've been cured that I'd ever leave you? Ha! You're mine Ethan, one way or another, you're mine," She says, the grin becoming wider, bearing her dark, sharpened teeth.

I shake my head "No... you aren't real...you're just in my head. Leave me alone...leave me alone," I respond, backing away from the mirror, clenching the sides of my head with both hands.

"I'm very real Ethan. You will never be rid of me. Not until you have no mind left to think with. Then, I'll take you away with me and I'll finally have that which I've always desired. My wonderful...loving...Ethan Blake,"

The words feel like nails on a chalkboard from the twisted voice that she has and I can't help but hold my hands on my ears as I back into the bathroom wall and slide to the floor in a seating position.

"You aren't real! You're just in my head! In my head! Leave me alone! Leave...me...alone!" I scream at the top of my lungs.

The bathroom door slides open and I feel the dark presence instantly disappear as Elena comes in and grabs me in an embrace. All I can do is sit there in her arms, rocking and shaking, trying to wrap my head around the event that just transpired.

"It's alright Ethan...I'm here...I'm here. Tell me what happened," Elena says to me in a calm, gentle tone.

I stare up at her, wrapping her hands in my trembling hands, tears running down my face. "She was here Elena...Little Katie...she was here. She still haunts me, even now," I respond, my voice shaky.

"Ethan, listen to me,"

"She just won't go away,"

"Ethan, please,"

"She'll never let me be,"

"Listen Ethan,"

"Not until she has me,"

"Ethan!" Elena yells, tearing me from my babbling.

I stare at her, my eyes darting to multiple points on her face from sheer paranoia.