She, the darkness
The darkness
She rolled over
The darkness rolled with her
She cried out in her sleep
The darkness swallowed her tears
She clenched her fists and
The darkness bit her flesh
She opened her eyes and
The darkness didn't flee
She was terrified
And the darkness was absolute.
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There was a beast behind her. Turning, she saw it standing there, red eyes staring, not seeing. She stared back. Its maw gaped and tendrils emerged, reaching for her. The darkness lived within, she saw. Her terror returned, blinding her. She tried to run, though she knew she could not escape. This beast was her own. She could not escape.
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It crept into her bedroom that night
Sidled up underneath her bedclothes
Icy claws pricking her flesh as it
Crawled up to her ear, whispering
Teeth clacking
Told her what it wanted
It wanted death for the promise of light
It wanted selfishness for the fact of survival
It wanted betrayal in the face of love
It wanted death for the promise of tomorrow
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Sobbing and shaking, she cut his throat. Blood poured forth in waves beneath his now-glassy eyes. His last breath like the wind, stirring the red sea into a tempest. The ocean stilled around her knees. She stood clutching his tiny body to her heaving breast, alone in the grey world. The beast stood beside her, teeth glinting as they stretched to the sky. The darkness bobbed and lurched within, wild, waiting for escape. She closed her eyes, face lined with his blood and her tears. Claws clutched at her wrists and she obeyed blindly, eyes still closed. He slid into its mouth, into the darkness. Teeth tore his flesh, and she felt it in hers. Jaws snapped his bones, and she felt it in hers.
Its black tongue lapped her brother's blood, and she could taste it.
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He sat at his chair. The fire flickered. Her shadow was thrown against the wall. His paper rustled. The rope was heavy in her hands, too thick. The monster crept in the corner, red eyes reminding. The rope came to life in her hands. Slid around his throat, and threaded through her fingers. She pulled. He cried out, gurgling; feet sliding, bunching up the rug. His fingers scrabbled, nails ripping at the rope. She shut her eyes and pulled harder. He went still. The beast crept forward, scooping his legs up. She released the rope and he fell down its gullet.
It swallowed her father like a gull would a fish, and she felt his scales stick going down her own throat.
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She could think of no other way. The outstretched hand clutching the shotgun, offering; whispering. How easy it would be now. She met the old woman's eyes, and her wrinkled mouth held firm. Her red streaked fingers snaked around the barrel. The old woman stepped away from her and into the shadows. The weight felt hot in her hands, though she knew it was cold. A life for a gun.
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Her veins were filled with shards of ice. She hoped one would pierce her heart. She knew that it would not.
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Her dress was on the floor. Stepping over it, she crept, followed the trail of discarded clothing. Opening the door, the steam brushed her face. Her beautiful head above the water, painted toes kept dry. The world turned grey around her glinting white pool, her black hair kept in place with a rose's stem. Her head turned, red lips parting. Beauty. She could not face it. Aiming for the center of the rose nestled among those black curls, she fired. The water filled with her. The beast pressed at her back. It urged her forward. Her hands curled under her wet body. Turning, she slid her into the beast's waiting mouth. The rose caught on its teeth. She turned back to the tub.
Looking into the endless depths of the water, she saw her mother's face floating on the surface, perfect lips still painted red.
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She stood in the rain. The beast stood beside her. The lights of the cars flickered as they passed. The screams she had fed to the beast echoed in her ears. The knife. The rope. The gun. The blade. The knife. The blood. The rope. The crack. The pull. The gun. The pain.
They were still there. Right before the darkness, they waited. They waited for the day when she found no one else. When she had nothing left to give. For when the monster turned to her and, red eyes glowing brighter, stopped her heart and consumed her too.
They waited for her, unimpatient.
