Unmasked Realities

Chapter 7 - Endless Torture

I stripped the sheets away as I ran to my bathroom. I bent down over the toilet seat as the contents of my stomach came rushing up my throat burning like sour acid. After I puke up the last of it I flushed it all away and began to stand up when my sweat-drenched shirt was pulled backwards sending me crashing into the opposite wall. Pain shot through my head as I winced before opening my eyes to see him right in front of me. “You look like shit” I could hear the sneer in his voice as he looked at me with disgust. He was back. “w-who are you?” I stuttered as I felt my stomach lurch as though I was going to puke from the nerves. “I am your perception of life, a bodyguard if you will!” he stated calmly as he walked towards the door before he turned to face me, “ill protect you from all your enemies, which let’s be honest you have a lot of them!” he exclaimed as a surprised expression showed on his face. I felt my spirits rise slightly as I whispered with hope “Like a friend!” “Oh no don’t be silly, who would want to be your friend?” he exclaimed as that small amount of hope suddenly vanished. “You are after all literally repulsive, so it would be much too embarrassing to even utter your name, let alone be seen with you” My head dropped as I stared at the floor, my vision began to become blurry by ushered tears. I willed them to not fall. After all He was right.

He laughed heartedly as I snapped my eyes towards him glaring intensely at him as hatred began to boil within me. “Oh don’t get upset with me, it is the truth and you know it.” He spat with venom laced to each word before he turned and made his way into my room. “Hurry up or you’ll be late” he shouted back at me. I rushed out of my bathroom about to question him on how he knew that and a million other questions when my room came into view and I see two other guys identical to him, identical to me.

One was lying on the bed; his mouth had jagged cuts on either side of his mouth as if he were always smiling. His eyes seemed to drain me of my energy the longer I held his gaze as his skin embedded so many cuts big and small, some healing others fresh and although this would have normally made me wince at the very sight, I found myself craving them as strange as it is.

I tore my eyes away to see another version of myself, we have the same body structure and I just somehow knew it was me, only he had his hood drawn darkening his features as I couldn’t make out his whole face, only his mouth which seemed to be quivering as he mumbled to himself. I felt like I couldn’t even stand to look at him as an overwhelming feeling of grief washed over me. They made their way over to me, the guy on my bed limbed over to me, the one I spoke to moments ago walked over with pride and the one near my door with his head hung low slowly made his way over as well. I slammed the door instantly shut and locked before I clenched my eyes shut as I began to scream a fearful shrill, the mere sight of them terrified me to the core.

By the time my voice became hoarse and I stopped screaming I noticed I never heard them call out to me or bang on the door. “You foolish son of bitch! You can’t keep us out!” shouted the mutilated creature as my eyes snapped open and they were all standing around me. “Come here” it exclaimed as it grabbed my arm slicing through my skin with its long sharp nails. “fuck!” I exclaimed as I felt the hot burning stings. It payed no attention as it wrenched open the door and dragged me to my bed before slamming me down on my back and straddling me at my waist. Its long needle-like claws slowly dragged their way up from my waist as they tore through my shirt and sliced my skin open just enough to draw blood. Adrenaline coursed through me and although it stung, I felt as though I need it.

I stared up into the wild eyes of this beast as its deadly touch slowly caressed the sides of my torso. I closed my eyes as I welcomed the pain, convinced that this will be the death of me. I took in a deep breath as the hot stinging slicing blades made their way to my neck, when without warning the weight which weighed me down suddenly gave way as the stinging sensation stopped. 

I heard the familiar bone-chilling scream from the monster that held me down, torturing as I did so only moments ago. I looked up at the end of the bed he was hanging from his hair screaming and clawing at the guy who insulted me earlier. His cuts were desperate and deep and although blood came gushing out of his arm the man did not flinch but instead stated “I knew you wouldn’t be able to contain yourself you fool beast.” He stated and walked over to grab the other guy by the neck and moved towards my door as it swung open on command and he threw them out. They vanished into smoke before he turned around and smiled at me. “How greedy of him to have his fill on the first day” he said eyeing my up and down. “Well almost at least…go and clean yourself off your already late” he commanded and I shot to my feet and headed to shower.