The Other Side

A Dark Ending

Matthew ran through the house calling for the young girl.  She had to be here somewhere.  He could feel himself getting weaker with every passing moment and knew somehow his time was ending.  He had to hurry.  He started to fill with panic as he ran up the stairs to continue his search.  There was still so many questions.  All he was sure of there were three deaths in this house and at least two of them happened just before they were able to find love.  He had no idea what was behind the deaths but there was a malevolent being behind the deaths.  He couldn't even imagine the story that would unfold when he finally did hear Delilah's story but he knew that she was in pain and he wanted to save her more then anything.  He couldn't figure out how a girl so young could have lost love but he was determined to find out.  He continued down the seemingly never ending hall.  Doors closed as he approached.  His vision going back and forth watching the doors close on their own.  He knew that should scare him but in all honesty he didn't know what they could possibly do to him as a spirit or whatever he was.  So he ignored them until he reached the end of the hall.  The door at the end of the hall was strangely out of place.  It didn't match the rest of the house.  It didn't belong there.  He reached out for the handle which was a old fashioned bronze color metal.  He turned the knob it creaked as he slowly opened it and looked inside.  It was a set of stairs.  He couldn't believe how big this house was.  He wondered how he would ever reach the end.  He climbed the stairs each seemed to moan in pain as his he stepped on it.  He reached the top of the stairs to find a attic.  It was full of toys and there was Delilah.  She was playing with dolls.  He couldn't help but think that was cute but he didn't have time.  He ran over to her.

"Hey Delilah." He said softly as he took a seat in front of her.  She looked up and there seemed to be a spark of happiness as she saw him and smiled sweetly.  "Matthew!" She said excitedly handing him a doll, "Do you want to play with me?" she finished offering him a doll.  Matthew took the doll and couldn't help but laugh, "Sure I'd love to play with you.  But Delilah we still need to talk.  You know I need to know how you died right?" he said in a soft tone hoping not to scare her.  She nodded and the spark of life that was in her eyes quickly faded away.  "I know..." She said softly looking back at her doll as she danced her around on the floor.  Matthew couldn't help himself and hugged her gently.  "It's ok Delilah I am here for you." He said softly.  She nodded as he held her in his arms.  "Very well..." She said softly and with that once again the world melted away around them.  

As the world came back he found himself in the same attic as before but again it was clean.  Full of life.  Delilah looked beautiful.  She played with her dolls as the sun beat down on her hair.  He wondered how old she was and he made a mental note to ask her later.  Time seemed to speed up slightly which was a first and all of a sudden they were outside.  She was playing throwing some stones in a stream.  He looked around and saw the house just in view so they were nearby.  He watched Delilah play she was so full of life.  Then there was a rustle.  Matthew took a deep breath, "This must be it." he said as he looked to see where the rustle was coming from.  Delilah must have heard the noise too because she stood up from her crouched position.  "Hello..." She said her voice quivering in fear of the unknown.  A man came out of the bushes and was beaming a expressive smile right at Delilah.  "Hello Delilah." He said bowing respectfully to her.  Delilah backed away nervously.  It was clear she was uncomfortable.  Matthew tried to get between them but of course it made no difference he wasn't really there.  "I am sorry sir I do not know you." She said softly never raising her voice even though she was clearly afraid.  He took a step closer to her.  "I know.  But I know you." He said taking yet another step.  Delilah took another step back from this total stranger that was approaching her alone.  She curtsied to him politely, "Well it was my pleasure to meet you sir, but I must be returning home now." she finished and turned to run away from him.  Matthew was proud of her.  She was a smart child.  The man reached out and grabbed her wrist as she tried to escape.  Matthew ran up to him and swung his fist into the man's face.  But of course it just went right through him and from the force of his fist hitting nothing he fell over.  "Please sir I must get home." She said softly trying to get away from him as he pulled her closer to him.  "We must be silent Delilah." He said in a whispered tone as he continued to pull her in.  With that Delilah knew she was in trouble and she screamed as loud as she could for help.  As soon as she let out her scream in fear the man immediately punched her and everything went dark.

Matthew walked in complete darkness for what seemed to be hours wondering why he was still here if it was over.  Then light flashed for a moment.  "Delilah is still alive..." He said as he watched another flash and some movement.  He could see a shadowy figure above her but couldn't tell what it was as it kept fading back to darkness.  As the light came back again and again it lasted slightly longer then the time before until finally the world came back once again.  Delilah pushed away as the man finished inside of her.  She rolled over to her side into a tiny ball crying in pain as he got up with a huge grin across his face.  "I knew you would be a perfect little girl for me." He said as he crouched down beside her lifting her face to his and giving her a kiss as tears continued falling from her eyes.  He then left her there where she continued to cry until the sun set.  

"DELILAH WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!?" A man screamed at her as she returned to the house.  "Father... I... I... I..." She stammered in fear trying to figure out what to tell him.  He looked her over.  Her dress was torn and she was filthy.  Her hair a mess.  Clearly she had gotten hurt he would have to help her.  But he turned red in anger.  "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE DELILAH?!?" He screamed again.  She looked up at him with fear in her eyes backing away from her father who was approaching her with his hand raised.  "Delilah... it's time..." A voice came from nowhere.  Delilah tried to explain but her voice was cracked and no words were coming out.  "YOU ARE NOTHING MORE THEN A LITTLE WHORE!" Her father yelled as he grabbed her by the hair and slammed her into the wall hard and once again the world faded away from him.  

Matthew looked down and saw that he still held Delilah in his arms.  He held her even closer hugging her tight.  "I am so sorry Delilah..." He said softly as he continued to hug her.  He could not believe such a beautiful young girl could have had come to such a horrible demise.  She never did anything and yet she paid a very harsh price.  "I would do anything to take away your pain." He said softly as he continued to hug her, "Not everyone is like that Delilah.  People now would punish something like that with death." he finished trying to explain how unfair her death really was.  "It was a very long time ago Matthew... But thank you for your concern." She said in almost a unfeeling way.  It was almost as if she detached herself from all feelings of that event.  Not that he could blame her.  "Delilah, how old are you?" He asked as he looked down at her.  She lifted her head up and smiled at him.  "Oh I am eleven and a half years old." She said proudly.  He couldn't help but smile at her but he was still really sad at how that could happen to such a young girl.  "I see you are a big girl.  Okay then let's play dolls." He said smiling at her as he picked up his doll and started dancing her around on the floor like she had.  She smiled and quickly jumped off his lap grabbing her doll and began playing with him.  Matthew knew he didn't have time for this he still needed to figure out what was going on.  But after what she just relived for him it was the least he could do.