The Wonders [Short Stories]

Whirlwind

A man walked around his yard, making sure the grass was cut neatly, and that there was nothing wrong with it besides the foot markings of his clean shoes.

Seeing his own beautiful well, he walked over to it. He placed his hands on the edges, looking down. It was deep, and it was dark.

The man knew his well looked elegant and well-made, and was often given surprising compliments about it.

He leaned over the edge a bit more, his body angled over it. He could see something shiny in it, and he was curious. It was day time, so anything could be shiny- but this caught his attention.

Quickly, he was shoved over the side of the well, and down into it. He let out a strangled yell of alarm, before feeling something sharp go through his mind, and his world went dark.

Moments later, he woke up, and everything felt... better. His head didn't hurt, but now he was laying in the field of his... old house? He stared up at it, feeling confused.

Shrugging, he got up, and the grass under his fingertips felt rocky and a little wet. He felt his forehead, it felt like he was sweating, but the liquid was a little too thick to be just sweat.  He moved on, going towards his house. For this moment, he ignored the now pulsing feeling in his mind.

The man walked to his childhood home, and as he walked up the steps, he went to knock on the door. Without his hand even touching the door, it gently swung open, letting him inside. This was usual of his old home. The home was small, it showed memories of hardship and "no money" situations. It was nostalgia at its worst. Taking his first few steps inside, he was taken aback, seeing his younger sister, at 8 years old, staring at him.

She spoke some words, but they sounded jumbled and like a low rumble. She suddenly let out a terrified scream, and it hurt his ears, so he covered them quickly. His eyes shut as well, and after a moment the scream was finished, and he opened his eyes. His face paled, seeing blood drop from her opened mouth, and her eyes were white with veins, no pupils seen.

Her lifeless body took a small step towards him, and he stumbled back, not having thought about the door at all, until he slammed right into a shut door. But hadn't he kept it open? He was too terrified to think, and she took another step towards him. He slid down the door, closing his eyes and covering his ears. He waited for almost a minute, terrified- his heart beating quickly. He opened an eye, seeing no one there. He felt his forehead, attempting to wipe the sweat away, but it didn't move.

He sighed, hoping this was all just a nightmare. It had to be, right?

The man got up, thinking he'd be safe. He moved into the house more, looking around.

Of course it was just a nightmare, but it felt so real... He took in a gulp of oxygen before turning to the side, hearing quiet humming. He recognized this last hum, it would be the last time he would hear it. A shot ran out, crashing through the window- and aimed right at his younger sibling's head as she played with her dolls.

Every passing moment caused a wave of dizziness to go through his mind.

His younger sister fell to the ground, the doll fell from her hand. Tears welled up in his eyes, watching his sister die for the second time. He heard a child crying next to him, and he glanced down, seeing his younger self staring at his own younger sister. In a minute, he was sobbing- he couldn't contain it like he usually could.

His younger self turned to him though, and as he fell to the ground, he felt smaller arms wrap around him. He sobbed, and his younger self cried too, but eventually the young boy's eyes stopped their tears, and he went quiet, still hugging him.