Wretched

Friends?

I go to stand, too abruptly, and tangle myself in the chain attached to my ankle. My toes scrape on the dirty concrete as I fall forward. I jerk my foot from the cool metal, rubbing my sore ankle. I glare at the calloused, permanently bruised skin as if it chained itself. 

Focus! 

I shake my head and grab the tattered grimoire by my knees. I hold the leather bound book out and trace the letters. I practiced and practiced just to get it right, so I could summon the perfect form. I finish the words in front of me and drop the book, quickly grabbing a broken clay pot. 

I hold my hand out, my heart hammering against my ribcage. This is the right thing, it's the only way. With a brief glance at the shard in my right hand I press it to my wrist. Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and force the jagged ceramic into my skin. Flesh tears and warmth runs down my arm. 

My lip quivers and I bite back tears. Holding my hand over the circle I've drawn, I let the liquid soak into the salt. After a substantial amount drains I lean back, lightheaded. It never took this long before. Did I do it wrong? 

I'll never have another chance. It seems like forever I wait, trying to hold my eyes open, before the mist materializes. I sit up barely able to hold my head to peer at the image forming. They're a blur, my eyes attuned only to the darkness surrounding me, but I can see a little girl. She smiles kneeling in the circle.

"No," I whisper slumping forward as I believe I messed up.

"You did nothing wrong child," she tells me in a soft, giggly voice.

But you're the child here.

"You need my help, do you not?"

I'm awestruck, confused on what a small girl could possibly do, but nod. This seems to amuse her further. She holds a hand out, "Friends?"

I glance to it and feel my own tremble. I'm not supposed to break the circle. I'm desperate though. I want my freedom, no matter what. I reach forward, shakily, and engulf her cold palm. 

She gives a toothy smile, her eyes lighting up at the contact, "Oh, we'll get freedom."

Her words fill me with dread. She yanks forward, with an unbelievable amount of strength. I'm hauled forcefully into her chest. A cold sensation rips through me as her arms surround me. I shake violently unable to move, suffering until finally the pressure disappears and I collapse. I want to breathe, cry, stand, and run but can't. Nothing responds, yet my body lifts from the ground.

What is going on here?

"You're body is mine now," a voice eerily similar to my own echoes.

My bare foot brushes the pathetic salt away creating an opening. Then a chuckle rings through my ears, "Now, lets go say hi to daddy."