Heart Strings

Looking upon this person we knew and did not know, as they woke and slept in what seemed like an endless cycle through the night was boring. We looked even closer, seeing the sweat drip off their face and the ragged breathing, tossing and turning as they'd open their eyes to then close them not too long later. Hour after hour passed in this dark room as we watched, the small hairy creature they called Mittens lied in the corner of what they were asleep on, occasionally looking up at us with those sulfur colored eyes. They'd move again, and our gaze would return to them once more, as they talked while they slept. It was mumbled however, and difficult to hear. We each put a finger on them, looking closer into what we'd call a vagueness that was blurred, shapes and images flickering by in colors they might never truly know of yet. The images seemed to slide into focus, becoming more and more clear as they shuffled and shifted into one.

As we looked on, we saw what looked like another person, close, intimate, pressing their lips to each other on occasions until all turned black. It felt cold, colder than what we were used to as we watched.

It was bright then, a stark white that almost hurt our eyes, for it had never been that bright here within these halls. Not a shadow was cast, even as this person stood within the middle of it, and they were shaking slightly. Their eyes were trying to find something, anything it looked like. Nothing was on these floors, and the only true shape that existed was the molded walls, which were of some floral patterns, or maybe scroll patterns, similar to how it used to be long ago from what little we remember, at least we think. It seemed to morph and bubble into different patterns that all looked familiar. Even the texture of the walls, wallpaper, paint, it too was recognized.

They shifted, their bare feet sliding against the floor as they started to walk. We followed just behind, and each step they took, we took. We all walked, and walked and walked for what seemed like eternity in this never ending hallway. They continued to shiver, their bare arms showing the hair that stood up, their breath vaguely visible. We had heard something behind us, and we all, including this new person, looked behind. The blurred red shape stood down this hallway, seeming to vibrate and glint as it stood. It was hard to see but we knew what it was, this vague version of this person forgets every time, but we remember, we always remember this part. We remember.

It started to walk, and it got less blurry until it came into focus, and we turned back to look back at the person who had started running, their breath ragged as their feet slapped against the floor. The walls bled a bright crimson of shapes and sigils, similar to the thing beginning to walk faster, an echoing click ringing with each step it took. Other hallways and passages erupted left and right, and they darted down them, the sigils following as they finally had some distance on the red figure. Once stopped, breathing heavily,they turned to the wall, their hands scratching at it as if to break through. The clicking came closer as they breathed heavily, and drew their arm back and punched through the wall, red dust erupting from it as they reached in. They pulled back with nothing to show but the red dust that mixed with the sweat on their face, it falling down their cheeks and neck like blood. They then started running again, punching, feeling, running again and again and again, repeating this process a few more times before pulling out a red antler and they took a sharp breath.

It was dark again, we realized we were back in the bedroom, and Mittens was licking their face. We heard the heavyset breathing in the doorway, and we looked, seeing the door open and it standing there. Its white deer skull contrasted against the red, flesh-like membrane that made up its body. Stringy bits of flesh stuck to the skull, wriggling slightly like little fingers as the tall red antlers sprouted off the top of the skull. The eyes looked at us with nothing but dark holes that seemed to go on forever, and we did not stare long for we believed if we looked long enough, we'd fall into those never ending pits. Its body shimmered, making a small slithering sound each time its fleshed moved which was almost at a constant. It turned and walked down the hallway, its hooved feet clicking against the wooden floors. The door closed behind it as it left us with them and the cat. Right, it's called a cat. We remember.

They awoke finally, gasping gently as they sat up and started petting the cat, rubbing their head as we looked on. They looked more tired tonight than other nights. It took them longer this time to escape. They looked up at us, and blinked, but we were gone when they opened their eyes. We left the room to go about the house to various parts of it as daylight broke, and we grew tired as this person rose from their bed to go about their day.

Parts of us played with them, others kept their distance when they were awake. They'd be confused as they looked at what some of us had done, which was sometimes funny or annoying. They'd walk about this old home, having some workers come in, which parts of us especially loved playing with, and they'd usually leave in a hurry. This person was a bit odd, always talking into the little box in their hand. Some of us were confused by it, while a small part of us think it's a phone. Yes, a phone we think. New one. Few of us remember.

They'd laugh and talk on the thing while telling these woodworkers and such what to do and what needs to be done. They'd make even serious conversations sometimes over it about money maybe. We'd watch from afar as it grew closer to nighttime, and they'd go to bed again, and sleep soundly most nights until it decides to come out every so often, and this person would have the same dream once more.

Running, punching, reaching and feeling, repeating and repeating again and again till they pull out the bit of antler again and take that sharp breath to wake up back in their bedroom. It had left at this point again, going down the hallway, its hooves clicking still as it walked. We'd think about this thing, and the horridness it had brought. It brought us fear, even this new person even if they had yet to see it when they're awake. Parts of us remember a time when it didn't exist, but that was so, so long ago now, it's so muddled in the memories that are so confusing, we can barely remember what things are. It's been like over the years and years we've been here, even after a person is added, we only know the fresher, newer ideas in their head for the time being, then that too gets muddled.

From what little we remember, from some part of us that has lost so much of ourself, we remember a time long ago when this house was built. There was a dispute of some sort with the locals, and it appeared. We started to collect ourselves soon after, then things began to fade, and even as we recall this, it's difficult.

We do not wish for this person to join us at this age they're at, we want them gone even though we know that part of us is close to them. We look upon them sleeping and remember fragments of their childhood, and we're there. We're their parent, their grandparents, aunts and uncles, a long line of the forgotten. We remember, and we do not wish for them to suffer the same fate as us against this beast. We know they won't last long since they've moved in a few months ago, since they inherited this grim place. Unfortunately we are too powerless to do anything. We look up to the mirror that sits within the room, us seeing the may faces of our past selves, and most do not look recognizable or even lively. A mixture of greys and faces that look like smoothed mud and sour expressions leave us confused even more so. We never try to look for too long.

Again with the dream, the dust bright and red as it flies out, covering the empty hand as it pulls back from the wall. Again and again this continues, longer and longer. It catches up, and almost grabs them as they yank it out, them sitting up in bed abruptly, seeing it standing next to their bed. The fear in their eyes, cold and empty as they shook, Mittens hissing at it. It makes a low grunt as it walks out, looking as if it shakes its head slightly as the click of its hooves sounds over their quickened breathing.

The door closed behind it, and this person sat there, staring at the door. Its groans and screeches echoed throughout the house, the feeling of dread and frustrain seemed to pour out from each splinter of the wood we resided in. Probably less than an hour went by before they moved, grabbing the cat and a small bag, grabbing some clothes before they rushed out to their car in the long driveway.

We stood in the foyer, looking as they locked the door behind them, the cat in their arm as we looked right and down the hallway, it standing there, breathing heavily as it groaned, and the halls and walls flickered white before going back to the bleak darkness. Right, this is how it happened to each of us, but it had gotten us in the dream. Each and everyone of us that is now looking at this crimson beast stomp down the hallway, its shoulders hulking and the flesh wriggling with each step. We'd run after that dream, but were never lucky enough to get to the door. A portion of us remember when it got us, and a very small sliver of us remember why it exists. Something to do with the locals who resided here hundreds of years ago, and a disagreement. The finer details of course escape us. We Remember.