The Grey's Curse

Chapter Thirteen - The Talk

We were seated in the living room but it was silent with both of us just staring at each other, it was the type of silence that you could hear your heart pumping in your chest but still, no one said a word. the silence was long, drawn out and awkward but it was thankfully interrupted by Mom's heavy sigh.

'Here we go'

"I know you probably don't want to talk about what happened last night but I would really appreciate it if you told me what you're comfortable with" I was slightly shocked at the calmness in her voice, I was expecting her to be furious with me for leaving but instead she was...calm, reassuring and she didn't demand me to tell her everything that happened.

'Well that's new'

I fiddled with my fingers absentmindedly as I thought about my answer "Yesterday was Dad's death anniversary and I wanted to visit him and give him some wild flowers, time had gotten away from me and it was later than I thought it was so I tried to hurry home but then...that guy started chasing me" I got quieter with every word I spoke, nearly whispering at the end.

Her expression softened and her shoulders slowly slumped "Mari what happened is in no way your fault, but please don't leave without telling me, I know that your intentions were good but something like this could happen again and something worse could happen" I was silent the whole time and just stared down at my hands, trying to blink away tears .

As relived as I was about her being okay and surprisingly not angry with me for leaving, it only made the guilt of storming away from her even worse.

"I know Mom I just...didn't think that this would happen" she released a deep breath and wrapped her arms around me to bring me in a side hug "I know baby, but that's how things are, I would change it if I could but I can't" I swallowed down a painful lump in my throat and said quietly "I know, it's just not fair that I can't visit Dad without something like this happening" she nodded slowly with her lips set in a small frown and her eyes hardened.

"It really isn't fair but that's why I need to know when you leave so I can go with you" she paused with a sigh "And I know that you're going to get mad about what I'm about to say but...I don't want you visiting your dad anymore, at least not for a few days" My eyes snapped to hers with confusion and slight anger.

"What? Why not? you just said that I could if I told you" She just shook her head silently with her brows slightly furrowed and I leaned back away from her, trying not to blow up "Why don't you want me to see Dad? Just because this happened doesn't mean I want to hide away form the world!" My hands were clenched and trembling as the thought of never seeing Dad again haunted me.

She tiredly rubbed her eyes as she calmly explained "Because of what happened last night, I just want you to stay in for a few days because that creep could still be out there and that animal you were talking about could still be prowling around here" her words slightly quelled my anger and as much as I hated to admit it, she was right.

I leaned back into her side hug and mumbled "Yeah, I guess you're right" we sat like that for a while, just enjoying each other's company for once.

I didn't mean to but I was slowly dozing off in the comfort of her arms 'Probably the first time I've fallen asleep in her arms since I was a baby' it felt so nice being in her warm arms 'Just a little nap won't hurt' and with that as my last thought I let myself drift off to a peaceful sleep.

I don't know how long I had been out but when I woke up I was alone and confused.

'....What time is it?'

I couldn't see any sunlight peaking in from the window meaning it must be nighttime now 'Was I really asleep for that long? The sun was shining when I fell asleep' I slowly rose up and wiped my eyes free of any sleep crust that was there.

'Ew'

"Mom?" I stumbled a bit and see black spots when I stood up too quickly 'I hate when that happens' I walked to the kitchen to check and see if she was in there but only saw a running sink 'That's odd...Mom would never leave the sink running' I ran to her bedroom with panic starting to take over.

'Did the monster come back?!'

"Mom?! Hello!" My panic only increased when she wasn't in her bedroom either, my breathing was getting faster and heavier. I run outside on the porch to see if she was outside and let out a breath of relief when I saw her standing in the yard with her back turned to me.

"Mom, thank goodness, I was getting worried that something happened" I walked up to her and gently grabbed her shoulder "Mom why did you leave the sink runn-?" I gasped and let out a shriek when she turned to look at me.

'Mom...'

Her eyes looked like they had been gouged out and blood was completely covering her face, some of her skin looked ripped and torn in a few places and a big chunk of her ear was missing, I stumbled away from her and nearly tripped on my own feet.

'What happened to you?'

She tilted her head and reached out a hand to me and to my horror she was missing some of her fingers; she only had her pointer finger and ring finger left on her right hand and her other hand was just a gory stump.

'She looks like she's been massacred'

I gagged when I saw maggots squirming and crawling in her finger stumps, horrified, I immediately turned around and ran back inside the house with tears running down my face and the moment that I stepped foot into the house, I quickly slammed the door shut and locked it for good measure.

My mind was still trying to catch up with what happened 'What happened?! Was that really my Mom?! No, No it couldn't have been right?! This is some kind of nightmare right?!' I stepped away from the door and jumped when I heard a thump come from the door.

'It's probably...Mo-that thing out there'

I let out a shuddering breath, my hands shaking at my sides 'This has to be a nightmare, it has to be' I raised my hands up and slapping my face as hard as I could, desperately trying to wake myself up.

"Come on, wake up!" I screamed and slapped myself again "Come on, please wake up!" I could feel the early stages of a panic attack begin with the way my chest was starting to heave and the way my breaths were becoming quicker and smaller and the feeling of not getting any oxygen worsened.

I was nearly pulling my hair out from frustration and fear.

I let out a loud scream when I felt a hand grab the top of my head and pull my head back; forcing me to arch my back to accommodate to the new position and a dark red shadowy being holding my head firmly in place and keeping me bent over backwards.

'WHAT THE HECK IS THAT THING?!' I stared at the Monster with my mouth agape and eyes wide.

'This is just a nightmare...right?'