Burn Me to Butterflies

:~:Chapter One:~:

I slowly let my eyes flutter open, the blinding light snakes it's way through the curtains. I sit up slowly, my long auburn hair falling down my back, and look around the plain old room. Walls covered in chipped paint and the floor with its creaky boards, this was merely a piece of my Hell. I slowly stand and walk to the door. Something didn't feel right at all this morning, I could practically taste it. Opening the door cautiously, I peak out down the dark and empty hallway. A soft humming comes from the kitchen, a tune I recognize from my childhood. The old boards beneath me creak in agony as I make my way down the hall towards the soft light of the kitchen. The humming gets louder and I can soon hear the words being whispered.

What do you hear?
Sweet Lila dear.
Don't listen to the voices,
Coming from the forest to the West.

I grow closer to the light and recognize the woman's voice slightly. I can't quite put my finger on it though. I feel slightly younger and like the hallway grew taller.

Stay in your world,
Sweet Lila dear.
Don't follow the voices into forest.
They will-

"Krissy." I stop in the doorway. The woman's long, auburn hair reaches the middle of her back. She stands tall and proud over the stove as she always did.

"Mom?" She turns to me and I see the gentle face of my mother. She smiles at me. A smile I missed dearly. My mom opens her arms and I rush into them. "What are you doing singing that song? It brings bad luck!"

"Nonsense, Krissy. It's a simple tale." she releases me and I take a seat at the dining room table. She turns and returns to cooking, however I cannot smell what she's making.

They will take you away.
Turn you to them.
Strange things in that forest to the West.

I see something in the corner of my eye. Turning my head, I see chips of paint peel off the wall and turn to ash. Slowly they make their way to my mother. "Mom! Stop singing!"

What do you hear?
Sweet Lila dear.
Don't listen to the voices,
Coming from the forest to the West.

With each second she sings, the darkness beyond the paint comes closer. "Mom please stop!"

Stay in your world,
Sweet Lila dear.
Don't follow the voices into forest.
They will take you away,
Turn you to them and...

"Mom?"

The dark reaches just a couple inches around her. She turns to me slowly but this isn't her. Her skin is pale and peeled like the paint. Her eyes are completely blank and her lips once painted red are now oblivion black. A haunting smile creeps upon her face.

They've got me.

I shoot out of my bed, a blood curling scream escaping my mouth. Thomas and Lina burst into the room. I can't stop screaming, the horrible image stuck in my head.

"Kris! Kris, calm down!" Thomas grabs ahold of me and shakes me lightly. Hot tears stream down my cheeks. I stop screaming but that doesn't stop soft whimpers from escaping my lips. Lina hops on my small bed and hugs me. I return the hug tightly.

"Kris, that's the fifth time this week. And it's Friday." Lina whispers to me.

"I just can't get it out of my head." I manage to speak.

"Well clean yourself up and get ready for work. We have to be on time. You remember what happened to Andrew for being just three minutes late, don't you?" Thomas walks to the door. I nod. An old friend Andrew had accidentally slept in late on a work day and received a harsh and public punishment for it. If I remember correctly, he got whipped by his group's leader. Three lashes per minute late.