The Nightmare

Another thought that dawned on me... hope you enjoy... I suggest reading Growing Up first to know who Sally is

There is no light... it is cold... it is quiet... until a shrill cry escapes into the night, followed by a high pitched screech.

Slowly, a girl becomes aware of her surroundings as the light from a full moon leaks through a small window. Sitting up, the girl looks around and takes in everything: She was lying in the basement of her house... The shadows of boxes topped by boxes overlook her and a small prayer stand sits in a corner... and crawling over the boxes is a dark figure...

Too freightened to move, the girl cowers until someone lifts her up and yanks her forward, "Sally move!!!!"

Sally stumbles over her feet as she is pulled up the steps. She looks behind her to see another person running behind her, "Mommy?"

Her mother cries to her, past her, "Anne, run to your sister's room!!"

Sally looks forward to her sister who turns the corner into the living room. Sally hears the basement door slam behind her as Anne yanks her up yet another flight of steps. At the top of the steps, Sally feels herself shoved forward into her room. Anne and their mother follow close behind. As Sally clammers onto her high bed, Anne and their mother start moving her dresser in front of the door. Anne sits on the bed as well and their mother does the same.

Sally pulls her knees up to her chest, "Mommy, what was that?"

Her question goes unanswered. Suddenly, she sees her mother pull out what looks to be a gun.

Turning to look into her tri-split mirror, she watches as she looks at her sister in one of the mirrors, her mother in the middle mirror, and herself in the last mirror. Her mother and Anne were arguing back and forth...

"... it down!"

"No, I will not let that thing get to you!"

"Why would you-"

"It'll be alright!"

"No it won't! You'd be left to face it?! We can take it together!"

"Do you know what that thing will do to you?! I'd rather let it torture me than you two!"

The arguement ended when there was a repeated bang on the door... and then... the dresser moved...

Sally flinched when she saw a long, bony hand reach in... it was black and the nails were pointed and long... the door opened a bit more and Sally caught sight of pointed teeth and red, beady eyes... a high pitched screech had her holding her ears. She looked back into the mirror again to see her mother raise the gun... and then... the mirror cracked as a bang resonated through the house...

 

Sally shot out of the bed and almost fell onto the floor as the remnents of her nightmare flashed before her eyes. She pulled the heavy blankets closer around her body as she swallowed the silent scream that tried to escape her lips... instead she gasped for air... Using the corner of the blanket, she wiped away the stream of tears that wouldn't stop falling...

Looking around, she stared at the tri-split mirror on her dresser, as if she expected to see her mother holding up the gun to aim it at her trembling form.

"Did I just... have to dream about...?"

Sally still felt the fear creeping over her... the thought of having something in the house that freightened her mother into the decision of ending her life and her sister's life only scared the living daylights out of her... and continued to scare her even more. The darkness in her room seemed to get even darker... and the room felt like it was closing in on her. Sally settled down in her bed and yanked the blankets over her head, curling into a ball. She debated going to her sister's room; it wouldn't be that hard to unlock the door and Anne would understand and surly not kick her out of the room... or she could go to her mom's room; that door would be unlocked already, but she didn't want to disturb her mother...

Taking in a deep breath, Sally squeezed her eyes shut and blocked out any noise that might have sounded from beyond the blanket... She willed sleep to overtake her... but that dull fear never left her...

 

Sally awoke the next morning, glad to see the sunlight leaking into her room. Stretching, she tentively set a foot down onto her carpeted floor, waiting to see if that black and bony hand would wrap itself around her ankle and suddenly pull her away; she instantly repremanded herself for even thinking so foolishly. Sally shook her head and prepared to go to the bathroom... but she still couldn't help but glance at the tri-split mirror... as if she would be greeted with the sight of the cracked mirror with blood splattered on it...

 

Shivering slightly, Sally quickly opened her door and ran into the bathroom to freshen up and escape the nightmare that still lingered in the back of her mind...

 

Author's Note

Just thought that I'd mention this... This little story is connected to the short story Growing Up

Ano... it takes place beofre Sally met Anina, when she was a lot younger... maybe around age 8-10

Reviews

[Elle M.]

It's kind of scary how I picture what the thing looks like! This is good and I remember you telling me about this dream!
~ your sister

[Japanese Cherry]

haunts me even till today