Into the Darkness

Chapter 4

Yay chapter 4 is up!!!  Looks like I updated a earlier than I thought.  But I'm still going to continue trying to upload at least once a week.  Thank you all for reading💜💜💜
-Lizzie

Chapter 4

November 24, 1994

"Mimi?"  I asked, rubbing my small tired green iris's.  Slowly stepping out of my small purple toddler room.  I slowly made my way down the hallway, tripping over my hand me down night gown.  I glided my hand down the mahogany wall, toward my older sisters' room.  Though it was hard to see in the dark, I took my time and finally made it to the wooden door, that was slightly cracked open.  Holding up my tiny hand I pushed it open.  The room was dark, only the light radiating of the candles that surrounded my sister's body.  She lied there on the floor; her matching auburn hair sprawled along the carpet.  The rain storm sprawling along her window. 
"Mimi? What's going on?"  Her eyes didn't open, she looked like she was sleeping.  So pale skin shining in the candle light.  Suddenly her eyes burst open, her once blue orbs now grey.  She sat up, her hair falling to frame her face.  She looked at me, a small smile playing at her lip. 
"What are you doing out of bed Maria?"  She asked, standing up.  She slowly strolled toward me and stuck out her hand.  I slowly placed mine in hers and stood.  She pulled me from the door and down the hall.  Placing me slowly in my bed and tucking me in tight.
"If you see the shadows don't be alarmed, they won't hurt you as long as they don't see you."  She said with a smile.  She rubbed my head before heading to the closet.  Closing the closet door, she heads to the door.
"And whatever you do, don't leave that bed until morning, no matter what you hear."  She said before shutting the door.  I sat there staring at the ceiling, not being able to sleep.  Time ticked by, few minutes later whispers could be heard from the garden.  I thought about what Mimi had said, but my curiosity over took me.  Slipping from my bed, I waddled to the window.  Quietly pulling back the curtains, I peeked outside.  Outside Mimi stood in a star of roses.  Out of the corner of my eye I seen figures.  Dark cloaked figures standing at each point of the star.  The shadows.  I swiftly ran from the door and down the stairs.  Heading straight for the glass door.  Once out I ran to the roses, far in the distance. 
"Mimi!"  The cloaked men whipped toward me. 
"It's now or never!"  I heard one of them yell in a raspy voice.  Before I could make another move, great red and orange flames conceived the roses.  The shadows quickly scurried away.  Inside I heard Mimi scream a glass shattering screech.  I hurried to the house and grabbed the hose with all the force a six-year-old could give.  Pulling it over, I rushed back to the house and turned on the water.  Putting out the rose bushes as best as I could.  Once most of the fire was gone, I rushed to the middle, Mimi flared out on the ground, drenched in water.
"Mimi? Miranda! Please wake up!"  I cried brushing her soaked hair away from her face.  I had to call someone, she needed help.  Before I could move, she fell into a coughing fit, some from water and some from smoke inhalation.  I held her hair back till she was done. 
  "Maria? What happened?"  She asked shocked.  I thought it better to get her dried off and changed before talking about it.  I slowly helped her inside, and upstairs toward the bathroom.  I got her a new nightgown whilst she cleaned herself up.  Once she was changed, I brought her back to her room and helped her lay down.
"Didn't I tell you to stay in your bed?"  She asked.  I looked down at a spot on the bed purely ashamed.  I disregarded her authority.  She pulled me into a tight hug, and started to cry.
"Thank you so much, you saved my life Maria!"  She sobbed into my shoulder. 

May 11, 1997

"Miranda! Step down from there, Its dangerous!"  Momma cried.  I coward behind my father's leg in tears.  My sister stood on the ledge of the bridge.  She was crying, and shaking.  Momma was trying to convince her to come down, but I didn't think it was working.  Mommy wanted daddy to stay home, but he came along anyways. 
"No! I can end this now!"  Mimi yelled.  What was she ending?  Did this have to do with the shadows?  The fire?  I slowly stepped out from behind my father, and walked through the puddles that were forming on the ground.
"Mimi? Please don't do this..."  I mumbled moving closer, trying to hold back the tears that were slowly easing their way to my eyes.  I slowly lifted my hand a grabbed her arm.
"Please..." I begged.  Her tear-filled eyes looking straight into mine.  Our bond was strong, but was it strong enough to save her from this mess.  I slightly tugged her arm.
"Let go of me!"  She hissed.  She pulled her arm away.  When she suddenly lost her balance, and slipped over the side.  She screamed, as she fell to her ultimate despair. 
"Mimi!"  I yelped, looking over the side.  Momma started screaming and crying behind me.  Daddy by her side, holding her. 

March 18, 2009

I shot up out of bed.  The memories of my sister coming back.  The cursed nightmare I have had since that very day.  Maybe if I hadn't cornered her, maybe if I did it differently Mimi would still be here.  But there was no time for maybes, the shadows were back and made me afraid, like they had all those years ago.  I saved Miranda's life when she was just 13-years-old and at 16 I took it away.  Sliding from the bed, I trudged toward the window.  Pulling the curtains back to bestow the night sky.  Staring back at me, the black hooded figure, but I didn't feel as afraid as I had.  Maybe this was my punishment, I caused my sister to parish.  Now was it my turn to meet my eternal fate?  The figure made no movement, plotting his next move no doubt.  Knock....  Knock....  I flared around, standing in the door way was my father.
"Up so late?"  He questioned, leaning against the door frame. 
"Couldn't sleep.  You?"  I asked crossing my arms over my chest. 
"Me neither.  Thinking about Miranda?"  He asked, stepping inside and perching on the bed.  He must have seen the saddened look in my eyes, because he patted the bed next to him.  I slowly walked over and sat next to him. 
"I know you think it is your fault kiddo, but you need to stop blaming yourself."  He said putting his arm around my shoulder.  I leaned into his fatherly touch.
"You didn't push her; you tried your best to bring her down."  He continued.  Tears fell down my cheeks, sobs broke in and out.  He pulled me in tighter grunting.  I knew he was trying to hold in his tears and console me.  But knowing my father, he couldn't hold it for long.  We both sat there crying for what seemed like hours, but was simply just minutes.  My father headed down stairs, and brought up a tray.  It contained cookies, warm milk, and a photo album.  We sat drinking our milk and eating cookies.  I distinctively remember Miranda loved warm milk and cookies before bed.  Once we finished, we scrolled through the photo album, talking of different memories we remember from the photos of Miranda.  The many times I had to help her through a break up, or when she had a crush.  Those were the memories I missed.  The memories I would never get back.  The memories I would give anything to live again.