The Dark

come out and play.

He decided it wouldn't be safe if I stayed home.  I told him I
didn't want him going out alone.  I was afraid he wouldn't come
back.  In fact, I was almost certain of it.  I saw this in my
vision.  The blood smeared on the window.  The hands, they were
rotting away...fading into ashes until they were no more.  Until 
the wind blew them away.  And when I finally stopped screaming 
bloody murder, there was nothing left to do.  So I picked up the leftover
ashes and blew them away.  

           "Your love is bittersweet." he whispered into my ear.           
It was crazy.  I could hear his voice.  I could hear his heart beating.
But he was dead.  Dead people don't talk.  I was sure he was dead.  I blew away his
ashes.  I blew away my one-half of me.  I blew away my soul.  He was--


"DEAD!" I screamed, waking up.  Sweat was dripping off my chin and soaking up my
night gown.  Angela was muttering in her sleep again and Riley wasn't there.  She
told me he wouldn't be there and she was right.  He wasn't coming back to haunt
me.  Not now and not anytime soon.  But the dream  nightmare  was so vivid.  Like
someone was controlling it, trying to tell me something.  I could almost feel his
hands around my waist...no.  I was safe.  I pulled my hair up in a ponytail and crawled
back under the covers where I was safe and free.  Free.  There was something
you didn't hear everyday.  Or  at all really. 


Let me tell you my story.  When I was a child, I had this really good friend
His name was Riley McDunver.  He had black curly hair and the darkest of eyes.
 He made sure to protect me wherever we went, because well, we were the closest
and he couldn't imagine anything happening to me.  We grew up inseperable together
, but then one day [when we were sixteen] he was acting strangely.  He didn't talk
to me or didn't want to.  And everytime I tried to hug him or touch him in any
way, shape or form, he backed away like I was a disease.  Neglected, I didn't talk
to him for days.  And he was fine with it  but I felt so furious, so angry, that he
would give up on me like that.  I mean, what had I done wrong?  What had he done wrong?
What was going on in the first place?  So I walked over to his house [he lived next
door] and knocked on his door.  He opened it slowly, like he was afraid it was the FBI
or something and practically chewed his lip off when he saw it was me.  I asked him if
he was okay or if something was wrong and he said it was fine.  So I asked him why he
was avoiding me and he told me he wasn't.  And I told him it seemed like he didn't 
want me around anymore and asked him why.  The strangest of all things were always
the most attracting.  The most magnetic.  Like we humans couldn't get enough of the
drama in our lives.

                    "Look, Kelsi, I can't talk to you right now
                     and I can't tell you what's going on right now
                     until I figure things out myself."

                     "Why?  What's wrong?  Are you okay?" I asked, frantic.

                     "No, but I'll be okay.  Just  you have to go.  Now."

                     "I can't do that.  Tell me what's going on."

                     "No, I can't.  I'm sorry, please.  If you fear
                      your safety, you would go.  Please?"

                     I put my hands on my hips.  "No.  I don't."

                     "Riley." the distant voice called his name.

                      Riley's eyes widened and he grabbed my arm, fiercly, dragging
me into his house.  I caught my breath, frantic and scared.  Something was going on. 
Something was wrong.  I feared the worst.  My heart was beating out of my chest as Riley
pulled me up the stairs and locked me in his room with him.  "Riley?"I asked, "I'm
scared.  What's going on?"  

                      "I sold my soul to the devil."
                      
                      "What?" I choked out.
                      
                      "I...look, he'll get you too.  Kelsi, I'm sorry.
                      Just keep quiet and do everything I tell you."
                     
                     "Riley, I don't understand."

                     "Neither do I...barely.  Kelsi?  I promise, I'd
                     never hurt you.  You'll be safe.  Just be safe."

                     "Riley, this is insane.  This is  "

                     It's voice taunted mercilessly.
                           "I'm here."


[part 1 over.]