Bitchcraft

Chapter Five

It had been only the day after Halloween that the Institute had been finished. The building really didn't seem to be very much, just an ordinary - yet large - house just on the other side of town.

"Do not worry..." Henry whispered in my ear as he held me close to his body the day he was leaving, "God will protect you until I am able to come and take you from this place."

Then he did something that I was not prepared for.

He kissed me.

Slowly, Henry moved his lips against mine, creating a warmth between the both of us as his tongue caressed my own.

I had never been kissed before, and even now - two weeks later - I can still feel Henry's tender touch. The way his tongue moved with mine, the way his lips felt on my lips, and his body pressed close to my own.

He promised that he was going to be coming back for me, that he was going to bring me to the Institute where I could worship God and live in peace knowing that I was safe. But, he hadn't. He hadn't even written me of his plans.

Day after day, I'd look outside the windows and tap my finger against the frame.

"Freak..." Mary taunts as she walks by to lunch, "you starve yourself and still look like a effing hippo."

The girls around her laugh. I had nothing to say to her, she was right. I have barely eaten anything since Halloween... and when I did eat, it just came right back up again; yet I wasn't losing any weight at all.

A fear was creeping into my mind; poisoning it. Telling me that Henry was never coming back, and that I wasn't anything special at all. Each day was growing harder, each hour seeming twice as long than the one before, and each cut became longer.

They now covered my arms from my wrist to my bicep.

And now, today, I nicked a vein and blood sprayed the white walls as I try to cover the stream with my hand. It bubbled from the gash and filled the sink. I couldn't stop the flow, I couldn't stop the pain, and I couldn't stop the never ending sound of Mary Ellen's evil cackle in the back of my mind.

My knees started to give, slowly, I slid onto the tiled floor of the bathroom and laid on my back, "God," I whispered through my chapped lips, "please, just take me home..."

A single tear rolled down the corner of my eye and splashed onto the floor.

Each time I blinked, I felt sandpaper drag across my eyes and a breath huff out, "Elsbeth... Hold on," a gentle voice cooed in my ear, "just hold on a little while longer."

"I can't," I breathe out and turn my head to look at the woman in the corner.

"You must, my dear," she takes hold of my hand, "you need to finish what you started. You cannot give up now while you are so close. They need you."

Her brown hair fell over her shoulder as she kissed my forehead and took hold of my hand, "Do not give up."

"Don't leave me," I cry out as she pulls away, my blood staining her knees, "take me with you!"

It came out as a scream as I frantically reach for her, "please, I want to go home, please!" I beg as the woman covers her lips and shakes her head, "no," I sob as she disappears and the door opens.

"Elsbeth!"

Someone pushes past Ms. Goode and slams into their knees next to me, "Darling, look at me," he whispers and takes my chin to try and turn my face from the now empty corner.

"She didn't take me with her. She left me again, Henry, why would she leave me again?" I could feel a cloudiness covering my consciousness as my eyes roll back.

"Elsbeth..." Henry shakes me, "you must stay awake, my dear."

"It's so beautiful, Henry," I whisper as he picks me up. I wasn't seeing the ceiling of the halls, I was seeing green fields and golden streets. Sapphire waters and a jeweled beach.

Girls were in the hallway, staring and mumbling to each other as he carries me out of the bathroom and blood drips behind us.

"I know, my love," he says quietly and moving the bleeding arm into my lap.

"Even more than I remember..." my head tips back and I stare at the ceiling because I had seen this place before as if it were so long ago I could only remember the feeling that it left inside my soul, "there aren't any clouds... the streets are shining brightly against the sun. But, it isn't too hot, Henry."

"I know, I know," he whispers to me as he carries me out the front door, "you must come back though, darling."

"I don't want to, it's so beautiful," I slur as he lays me in the backseat.

"Please, Elsbeth," he begs as the car starts.

I couldn't answer him, my tongue was turning foamy and heavy as the trees rush by my eyes, "I didn't think you were going to come back."

"I'm so sorry, my dear," Henry strokes my hair, "I'm so so sorry."

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Sorry that was a short chapter.... I'm just really busy and I'm not sure if very many people are liking the story, but thank you for those who are reading:)