The Darkness Within

20 - Home in Dreams and Daylight

Ciara found herself in her old room at her house that she was raised in. It was a happy day, she could tell. The sunshine was pouring in through the windows in her room. Downstairs she could hear the happy music her mom had put on as she cooked breakfast. She looked over to the growing number of photos on the wall of her and her friends and smiled at one of the more recent photos of her best friend and her at a track meet. The two of them had almost tied in their race, her best-friend just barely winning and holding her medal up triumphantly in the photo.

She smiled even wider as she remembered her best-friend pulling her over to the side and asking her to be her girlfriend shortly after the photo was taken. Ciara had hinted at being gay to her best friend for a while and had secretly found herself more and more infatuated with her best friend, but had never imagined that the female felt the same way about her. She remembered how she had kissed her passionately and gave excited 'yes's between kisses. Today would mark a month since then, and the two of them were going to be leaving for another track meet today.

She heard the doorbell ring and jumped up, absolute elation soaring through her. Her lover was here and she practically ran down the staircase to open the door for her. When she finally got there, somewhat out of breath, she opened the door to her best friend and lover. The girl noticed her heavy breathing and gave her a teasing smile before embracing her.

"Already running? You're going to ruin your chances for today's races," the girl teased as she stepped into the house, kicking off her shoes. Ciara shoved the girl with her shoulder before walking to the kitchen to see her mom.

"Hey mom," she said as she entered the kitchen and the woman turned and smiled at them.

"Hello Mrs. Hart," her lover greeted as she entered as well.

"Well hello, girls," the cheerful woman said. "Just in time too, the food's ready."

The woman placed two plates of breakfast down for the two of them, both plates with extra toast so they'd have extra energy for their races today. They thanked her and began to eat.

Suddenly, the bright and happy light dimmed in the room but she was the only one who seemed to notice. Her mom continued to make food and her lover continued eating. Footsteps were heard down the hall and she turned only to see her father enter the room. The man who forced himself upon her when her mom wasn't home.

"Hey honey, are you hungry?" her mom said as she turned to her father. The man was just standing there staring at Ciara.

Like nothing was wrong, her mom turned back to the stove. Her father's hand moved from behind his back, revealing a wicked-looking pistol. She knew that gun. It was the one that her father killed her lover with that horrible night.

With sickening dread, she realized that this was a dream. She was on the other side of the United States, hadn't really been home for over a year and a half, and her lover that sat beside her full of vibrant and loving energy was dead.

The man held the shining gun out to her.

"Shoot her," he said, offering the gun. "Shoot her, free yourself of her sinful hold, and you will be spared."

She opened her mouth to scream and no sound came out. It was like her mother and lover were unaware of her own and her father's presence in the room and continued about their activities. As tears began to flow down her face, the man's smile grew sadistic and full of pleasure.

The light in the room dimmed further and colors lost their vibrance.

"Kill her," he demanded, angry now. "You know what your punishment will be if you don't"