Perseverance

Chapter Eight: Continuation

"Are you sure you're going to be okay alone? If you want us to, we'll stay home. Just tell us." Mom nudged me. I shook my head gingerly and huffed. I was currently laying in the corner of my bed; wrapped in various blankets. If I wasn't wrapped up in about a bazillion blankets, I would have felt vulnerable otherwise. I couldn't bring myself to figure out as to why, but I chalked it up to extreme anxiety. Why was I anxious though? I don't know, I just felt something was off.

Mom was losing nerves over me and I wasn't sure why. I figured it had to deal with whatever happened two days ago, but I couldn't remember anything that had happened. Mom had continually insisted she not go on her trip so she could stay with me. I, of course, kept listing all the reasons that she should go to the Bahamas.

She needed the vacation more than she gave herself credit for. I also didn't care. My mom and Ethan deserved their "couple" time and should needed the break to reflect on their zen state, take their minds off their work all else encumbering them, aka; me.

Besides, with them gone, I could at least reflect on my issues. I have my own problems that I need to address with myself.

Within the hour, both Mom and Ethan left for their Bahamian cruise. I chilled around in my room, taking my mind off my psychotic breakdown and healed myself in my very own way. I numbly watched TV, made pizza rolls, and read my books. After a while, with nothing else to really do, there was an eerie silence. I hooked up my music to the Bluetooth speaker and tried to remove the paranoia that still crept in me by blasting my music. After a while, it died and I couldn't find the charger.

By the way, another issue I had to deal with was a little less important than my mental health; I was removed from school due to my breakdown. On a strange bright side, they took the doll from me; thank God. Though I admit I kinda wished I had that doll to take up blank noise. As the eerieness of the house continued, the paranoia sank even further into my skin and brain.

I heard the chain gate in the backyard rattle.... It's just the wind, [ ].

I heard a noise come from inside the house... It's just the house settling like usual.

I heard footsteps... It's just my mind playing tricks on me.

I heard the floorboards creak... It's gotta be a mouse, [ ].

I heard my door knob rattle and with that, the door swung wide open.

"Hey!" Mask popped his head through the door. I screamed and threw the book I was reading at him. He dodged the novel and ran to calm me down.

"Shhh! It's okay, it's okay! I'm me; no worries! I'm so sorry I startled you like that, [ ]." he hugged me tightly as I cried like a sissy. I had every reason to be paranoid and jump at the slightest noise.

"I'm so scared," I murmured, "I'm scared because of you; that won't leave easily, but you're not a threat to me so I'm not entirely terrified. I'm scared that the thing that killed my father is also after me now."

I clung to him and cried heavily. He didn't say anything afterwards and rubbed my back. He seemed to be in very deep thought.

"Hey [ ]," started Masky, "I know that this is probably fucked up and the worst thing I could possibly ask of you. This is going to hurt mentally, but do you think you describe the monster that killed your dad?" he asked me slowly. With tears brimming, I remembered what I could about Dad. I explained to him what the sinister being looked like and how I so graphically recalled seeing my father shredded.

Mask's eyes widened with an intense fear I've never seen. He seemed to know something and I detached myself from him.

"You look like you know something. What is it you're not telling me?" I asked as slowly as possible.

Masky took a deep and shaky breath, "I-I can't. If I do, it's-it's,"

His hands were shaky and I could tell he himself was not in a good position. I grasped his hand lightly and pierced his eyes with mine.

"Tell me." I coerced in a slightly threatening tone.

He nodded and cupped my cheeks before giving me another hug and letting go of me.

"It's... It's Zalgo."