Curious Occurence

I cannot breathe in this cluttered world of mine. All my knick-knacks, my shadowed remains of a time long lost, close in on me. Every glimpse showing stacks of trinkets intent on destroying the rickety bridge between life and death. The fire is nothing but grey flakes and ash. The black velvet curtains hang heavy over any shred of daylight that wishes to peek through.

I close my eyes, then open them to the sound of crackling. Suddenly, my world takes on an orange hue. I turn and see a fire, a very much alive fire, roaring amongst the forgotten ash. My breath catching, my pulse quickening, as I see in amongst the vast dancing flames of deepest scarlet, a cold, steady glare of intense azure. Like eyes, floating in a sea of warmth. The devil himself, mockingly staring at me.

As the sensation of raw fear diminishes, I relearn how to breath. I squint curiously at this strange apparation and ponder at the nature of its presence. Why not ask? I've done much worse...

“What is your business in my chamber? Fires of hell, burning in my room tonight, what is your wish?” I state clearly. I wait a few agonising moments, observing each flame flicker, every wisp of smoke slowly dancing towards the ceiling. I shake my head, and think of my own foolishness. Like a fire, even a mysterious fire like this, was really going to respond to my call! I attempt to go back and wallow in my own pool of melancholy depression…when I hear an unexpected whisper. Faint, but the words so clear.

“You enjoyed it.”

I whip round in a flash, a personal inferno in my own eyes.

“What did you say heathen?!” I say fiercely, but the fire just flickers, the eyes only staring emptily at me.

“What…did…you…SAY?!” I shriek, my voice becoming shrill, my face so close to the flames that my chin and cheeks start to burn. Not that I notice in my fury-filled state. I eventually stand upright, my face a mask of disgust. Then I hear it again.

“You enjoyed it.” It uttered darkly, only a whisper of a voice. Hardly even there. Was it really from the fireplace, or was my thin thread of sanity finally snapping? I seize some satin sheets and promptly sit in front of the blaze, staring into the blue, blue eyes of this demonic being.

“I detest you.” I snarl. “You appear in my room and taunt me with repetition and cryptic messages. What do you want so that you’ll LEAVE me to my isolation once more?”

“You enjoyed it.” It replied flatly.

“What are you referring to, you spawn of Satan?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN??!!” I scream, grabbing and hurtling the first thing that comes to hand. It’s a letter. It flies through the air and lands in the centre of the ghastly inferno. Yet instead of burning to a crisp, it stays intact and unfurls itself, revealing the words that sparked off my nightmare. I don’t want to remember, I don’t want to see…

Yet I do. I already know what it says. I can only allow myself glimpses at the words which began my inner turmoil, and every single word causes a stab of icy pain in my heart.

“I miss you.”

“I’m coming home early to see you.”

“I can’t wait to see you again.”

“I love you!”

I yell out in anguish and ache. The fire says tauntingly, almost smugly;

“You enjoyed it!”

In reply I simply scream, my pale hands pressing close against the sides of my head, for I know it speaks the truth. I enjoyed every cruel moment. Every last crimson drop that spilt and stained the ground below.

“I…I apologized! I did…I did! I didn’t wish for this, but I had to do it! He would have finished me if I hadn’t….cut him off!” I protest, crying salty tears of despair.

“You enjoyed it.” The demonic inferno sings mockingly before dissipating into nothing. No trace that it had ever been. Leaving me to scream and curse to the chaotic mess of my room.