Madness: Shadows Tales

underworld

It was a cold night in Aberdeen. The sky was cloudy and the was thunder booming. There was a light sprinkle in the air tonight and Ian had his dog Stroker with him. a lil pup still about 2 yrs old a german shepard.
   They both liked there nightly walks. Looked forward to it actually. Stroker would wage his tail at what he called "that time" it was his time.
   Where the world was peaceful and perfect. That night essence was perky but unsettling.  tonight tho they where half way done with there routine. when Stroker ran away from ian and into the woods. behind the lil small sleepy town. Where folks layed dreaming not knowing what was about to happen.
   Ian chased him for awhile running into trees tripping over bushes and bushing death from the poison ivy in the darkened path he made. He could hear the whines of the pup up ahead but couldnt see where in the hell he was going. He screamed " plz stroke come home" repeatively each time getting louder and more worried. As this was happened the sky was rumbling flashes of white with razor sharp blue edges that passed by. as he felt rain brush across his face. It was a storm alright and this made him all the more fearful." Stroker" he yelled from the top of his lungs "come on buddy" thinking this isnt funny.
   Then he saw it. this magnifying glow it blew from the ground to the sky that white flash of lighting right infront of him. Stuck there. It didnt dissapear but it seem to talk to him. Come here child! Im a friend just whisper through me and you shall see paridise. Ian was baffled, stunned. Shocked to say the least he couldnt move. Finally after a moment. He moved closer stumbling but ready for whatever. It spoke to him again. Just touch me your one click away from a new reality. Just know there's no sanity sitting on the sidelines. It was speaking clearly slowly and with a calm presence. Saying one more thing,this is your chance play the game earn a shot. Come on champ what could you lose?.
  Ian reached out softly touching the spark of life. as he was now calling it. thinking what do i have to lose. Things couldnt get worse than what was happening to him now or so he thought.
   In an instant he got dizzy a blink happened in his mind. It spread throughout his body. The whole world now looked like a black and white movie. He felt fear but he felt different. new! He couldnt describe it for a second. Then he thought euphoria. he came back to earth from what seemed like an eternity in the clouds. He thought lifted off crashed down.  Headaches back and in full flavor.
  Ian walked back to his apartment. It looked black and white. the same as his but different. It felt odd somewhat his but everything was in the wrong place. his table was in the opposite sides from what he thought was his apartment. The key worked. There was nothing in his fridge but there never was. He went to the bathroom. Looked in the mirror. He screamed for what he seen was horror.. His body looked like it was melting with this black smoke surrounding him. he had no face just his black hair. The smoke seemed to be his body but looked more of a gel. like brushing your teeth and spitting it out just running down the drain.
    Ian blinked closing his eyes. Then opening them again to see he was normal. He thought to himself " ill go to bed. everything will be ok in the morning. So he did. he passed out hard. the headache had left. he wasnt dizzy just tired. Ever since his mother died a year again he was getting what he called "stress headaches"
   The next morning he woke refreshed and feeling a little better but he was a lil hazy still had his headache but this was different. Weird for the fact it never lasted this long at all.
   He got up. did his daily routine. shit shave and shower. He ate his cereal and decided time to give good ole dad a visit and see how he was handling things. It was the anniversary of Ian's mother's death. so he supposed he'd buy flowers and him and dad could put them on her grave.
   Ian didnt know where Stroker was but decided he'd look for him later or maybe Stroker would come back on his own but that was unlikely. He had pictures and knew people. He Thought he'd ask his neighbors to look out. They knew how much he loved that dog. It was a gift from his mother and he absolutely loved that little guy.
   He walked out his door locking it behind him. He made his way and bought some flowers.. Everything was still in black and white. he didnt understand. What was happening. The people were different. Kinda off he couldnt describe it but he could feel it. These people where the same people he saw everyday. Same voices, same walk even the same accent a plain german hey ya and how ya doing but when they spoke their breath smelt of death. a rotten clammy odor that stunk like a skunk. Their voices all had the same tone unpleasant and angry. When he paid for the flowers. they looked already dead but perfectly alive. The roses had a white outlining glow but a black center that seemed to glow brighter than the white itself.
    Finally after what seemed like an eternity. he made it to his dad's house. Naturally his dad Ricky was always happy to see his boy. He'd grab him and say " you lil sum bitch where have you been hiding. You know i miss the hell outta ya" then he'd give him a noogy and big hug.
    Today tho he seemed distant not even looking at him or bothering to give him that famous smile that went ear to ear. Today his eyes where dead black his face had this smile showing an evil grimacing look with sharp pointed teeth that seemed to say try me punk. After a moment. he heard his father's voice boom an unpleasant and raspy sound, what do you want you lil motherfucker. Huh speak up dont be shy. If the cats got your tongue either spit it out or leave. I have no time for the likes of you. Im busy! And just like that ian was shook again. he couldnt understand what was happening.
   Ian puzzled and dizzy looked at the man. Who he was closer to than anyone in his entire life. The man who took him to Denver to see the Nuggets. His first live game. It was a big deal to him. they had hot dogs screamed bloody murder and had his first sip of beer with but now he looked crazed and a little loony.
   Father he said whats going on? Why is everything the way it is. I don't understand. Ricky looking at his son puzzled saying in that raspy smokers voice, whats wrong with you boy? You know whats today? Dont remember you fool? Huh! Ian looks baffled more confused than ever. He quietly said i dont understand.
     His father replied quick and without hesitation. You are dumb! just like your mother. always have been. always will be. Now get your ass up here. we have some buisness to take care of. Can i trust you? Huh? Ian voice now shaking replied yes. He Thought i dont understand any of this
    This wasnt his father. he knew that but where am i. he thought whats going on. im not in kansas anymore or a reality i can call my own. What is this place. Its gotta be opposite day. This cant be real. He walked toward the doors behind Ricky and they left. Not knowing what the future had in store but pondering it cant be good. This i know for sure.
   As they where walking. Ian was standing behind papa rick. he was now calling him this. thinking to himself" Twilight zone!" This didnt seem real and his father now seemed like an ugly devil. Everything about him seemed raw. his eye were now staring at Ian. as they stopped halfway down the block. he turned around and looked at Ian. he took the flowers, threw them on the ground and crushed them.
   He looked at his son with eyes wider than before. They were blacker, deeper and seemed to have a flouresent gleam to them. If such a color existed. Then he smiled those sharp teeth and hoarsly said what are those for? your mother! You've always been a little over the edge for me boy. I dont understand you. Never have.    Ian looked at his father and said calmly, i do this every year. what's your problem? Ricky looked at ian with a smile saying, boy this world has two types of people. Do you hear me! Cause you better. Ian thought he must be drunk. he was slurring now and repeating the same phrase over and over" in heaven you dont win but in hell you can be free" as he said this. a couple people around him repeated it with him in cadence. There arms in the air. Their faces all black like a shadow on the wall. everyone appeared to glow a shadow that grew high in the air consuming everything in darkness. He thought, shadow people everyone of them his father all of them. Then he thought again what about me? Im here! I feel different is this happening to me? I dont feel insane yet. Maybe. No!
    Everything went back to normal. well this new normal of black white and gray with shadows hidden behind and around every corner. from what he could see . What the hell is this place he thought.
  They walked a couple blocks up they went into a building. In his world it was a grab in go a grocery store but here it was grab you and nab you.
   It looked like a fun house full of mirrors. To Ian it was scary every mirror showed him in a different view. One had him on the ground. it looked like he was having a seizure about to die. Another had him at his father's house with a knife stabbing him to death. In yet one other he was with girlfriend and they where making love but it wasnt him. he could feel it. that all of them werent him. He couldnt understand what was going on. it made him dizzy. he wanted to cry. He started to get a headache. He could hear his father's husky voice yelling from afar what the fuck is wrong with you boy are you in the kookoo's nest. Dammit. Get the hell over here.
   Ian couldnt believe all these things he was seeing. they where down right evil. He was killing his friends. he murdered his dad. He thought It wasnt me i wouldnt. He bursted in tears. he was almost in full blown tears when he felt a tap on his shoulder with that voice. he came to recognize as his father saying ok panzy ass i didnt raise a punk or a cry cry all day long babe. You're coming with me. He grabbed Ian. wrapped his arms around Ian's waist and picked him up putting him over his shoulder and carried him for what seemed like hours but was actually about a couple minutes to a door in the back. that led down to a basement of about 20 steps ten leading down it.  then a corner with another ten. As a black moldy door was at the bottom.
     Ricky was 3 inches taller than his son and about 75 pounds more than Ian and Ian was lanky and thin. His dad would say like a sap you grew into a fungus but now you've blossomed into a full grown tree. And they'd laugh
   Ricky opened the door to the smell of something gastly. It was damp, the floor was wet. With about an inch of what looked like water but didnt seem like it was. It felt goopy kinda like playdoh. The walls had water seaping down. trickling. It was dark and full of shadows. it seemed as tho everything was staring at him with death eyes some black some yellow. all looking at him but their was nothing there.  Nothing at all for people living bodies but were there? I mean he could see shadows but not on the wall. Standing right infront of him in human form but not just shade. They had deep dark eyes that seemed to pierce his soul. He felt useasy headache on full blast.
    His father threw him in the center of the dark lit room. Ian could see chains. The material was actually there in a physical form made of shadows.3d! They seemed to have a spiritual glow to them like a shadow on the wall and floor that looked like a shadow chain. It glowed darkness. There were hundred of shadow people all captured in the chains. They seemed to be evil creatures begging to be let off a leash.  whose spirtual form was also physical but looked at him as tho he wasnt real.
   Ricky spoke Do you know why ive brought you here today sunny boy? Huh asshole answer me? Do you? Ian looked scared with his knees slammed against the floor shivering as his voice tremblled no i dont. Ricky smiled looking more and more evil with his face starting to light up all over with a black glow. He looked at his son saying, from the moment i seen you i knew you werent real. We go through this every year. You run away! You come back! But every year you seem to not understand one thing. This isnt your reality its mine. Im the boss!
   Ian scared started to reply im not from here. I dont- Ricky interrupted i know who you are and i dont care. Its feeding time. His fangs for teeth now showing like a jack o lantern of fun glowimg a dark pressence that illuminated everything inside and out. It came from his throat. it put everything around him into a dazed and confused feeling with the shadow people couing a happy scream of "its time father take us to glory"
    The whole room was covered in shadow people. his father looked like a demon ready to devour an innocent child. In unison it looked like a religious sacrifice to the gods. No alter of course but now a days wasnt it easier just do the deed and leave Ian thought. And still thinking im gonna die in this devil's den.
  Just then the door popped open and a woman appeared. He couldnt believe it. Ian's eyes where decieving him or were they? That fair long brown hair like rapunsel but this was a long black medusa hair that hung down like sleeping snakes the eyes where deep yellow but the size and frame. It couldnt be but yet it was. His mother. Rachael!
     She looked like a messed up version of the corpse bride. Tall skinny like slender man and all that hair. All the way down to her feet but her skin was grey and dead inside with black veins running all the way up to her eyes and around them! Ian screamed, Rachael coldy looked at her son and softly said hush son mommy has buisness to take care of. then we can talk and just like that her eyes started to glow and she looked at ricky with that look he dropped. his body turned to smoke. Her eyes pierced a yellow light glowing array. Then a sudden thundering crack in the air. As that happened ricky dissipated into the air as the shadow people gulped his smoke essence into what looked like glowing shadow veins.