Elle

one

I wasn't always a liar. But, in the end, it didn't matter. In the end nothing would. Nothing ever does.

As soon as the door closed, I knew exactly what I had done. Looking down at the figure below me, everything came rushing back.

The warped and crazy memories flooded into my mind all at once.

The smell of the old, rustic, abandoned building, the sounds of metal against metal and animals running across the tile floor, and the horrid, metallic taste of blood inside my mouth.

My body fell to ground in a graceful bow. I heard the thump of my frame hitting the floor before the pain even registered in my mind.

I remember screaming.

I remember the cold wet tears flowing through my eyes, landing on the body that lay before me.

The blood mixed with the water and stained my worn clothes. Under the fluorescent lights, the red liquid flowing from his veins looked purple. Like royal purple seen on the gowns of queens, on the crowns of kings.

The warm purple coloring calmed me enough for my body to rise from the ground.

It calmed me enough to pad over to the door and twist the knob. But it didn't calm me enough to leave the man alone. It didn't calm me enough to tear my eyes away and forget.

I squeezed my eyes shut tight but still saw the dismembered man. I pulled my hand away from the doorknob and walked back towards him.

My eyes ran over the course of his body, of his bloodied legs and translucent, still open eyes, and bent down to my knees to examine him once more.

I started sputtering out random words until one phrase became recognizable. I'm sorry. Over again and again those two words found their way from my vocal cords to my lips. At first, just a whisper, but as it repeated, the words grew gradually louder, until, eventually I was screaming at the top of my lungs.

After my voice was hoarse and my lungs were scratchy, I felt myself begin to be lifted from the rigid, cold, floor. My screams must have carried to the neighboring farm house. I sensed arms wrap around my frail, limp body and my weight gave in to the support.

I was carried down the long corridor and then felt the blaring sun on my skin. I hid my face away in the crook of the arms as I was set down on a stiff seat. Then, I heard a deep, smooth voice, speak.

"What is your name?"

With all the energy I had left in my body, I managed to utter, "Elle."