Thanks Inky

#7

Without Him

I hope you are okay.

I didn’t even notice I had paced from the front door to the couch for the umpteenth time. I took a deep breath and told myself to just sit down and relax. I walked over to the couch and plonked myself on the soft cushions. I closed my eyes.

But the next thing I knew I was biting on the pillow I squeezed like a teddy bear. I couldn’t help it. Sammy had been gone for a week, some may consider it short, but I really miss him. He always bring me such comfort and closure, love. He made all my fears go away. Without him even for a day, I feel like non-existent eyes were watching me through the few cracks in the walls. At night, when it’s dark I always had that irrational fear something would jump out from the dark and whisk me to somewhere horrifying.

I could barely eat and sleep without Sammy. I constantly texted and called him to check on him, it’s not like he can’t take care of himself, I’m just...a little paranoid. I can’t help thinking that something bad was going to happen to him anytime soon. The times when he didn’t respond to the texts I sent for 5 minutes already made me super worried. Everyday my mind just tortured me, hindering me of doing anything.

I felt so vulnerable alone. Every half and hour I would go around the house to check if the locks are still intact. I kept thinking I see something in the the corner of my eye and it really freaked me out. There was one day where I sat in bed for 2 hours straight, dazed, unable to move. Every day waking up without Sammy felt like hell.

That night I lay in bed, waiting in anticipation for tomorrow. The empty space beside me felt... well... empty. But Sammy will come back, tomorrow. I tossed and turned, unable to find a comfortable sleeping position to drift off.

Sammy is going to be okay. I reassured myself over and over again.

Ding! My phone received a message. “I’m on the plane! Don’t worry! I’m fine!” I smiled. The empty space beside space didn’t feel so empty anymore.

#4

My Happy Balloon

Throughout my childhood, I always held my Happy Balloon. Sometimes it deflated just a bit, but it always expanded after a day or so. It floated with me the whole way.

When I was a teenager, things got a little bit rough with my Happy Balloon. They were people who would try to pop it by stepping on it. It was a bit dirty, and sometimes it would deflate for a long, long time due to some holes in it. But Cassie would come. She would pick up my Happy Balloon, and put plasters on the holes, my Happy Balloon would then return to normal again, smiling. It was all thanks to my dear friend Cassie.

Then I went to college. Cassie and I went to the same school. One day we saw some people messing up someone else’s Happy Balloon. Cassie and I quickly ran to get help. When the people went away, Cassie and I went and fixed up the person’s Happy Balloon. It was as good as new. The person thanked us and introduced herself as “Lessie”. Lessie, Cassie and I became very good friends! Or so I thought.

Cassie, Lessie and I helped each other, we were best of friends, ready to protect one another. But soon, I noticed Cassie and Lessie started to drift away from me. I felt my Happy Balloon start to deflate little by little, day by day. Then finally, they popped it. Without my Happy Balloon by my side, I felt sad. I had no more friends, and no Happy Balloon.

I was now working at a convenience store as a job. One day, the new guy came up to me. He had a Happy Balloon by his side, it reminded me of when I had my own Happy Balloon. He came up to me and told me his name: Jonathan. Jonathan asked if we could be friends. I was skeptical about it, but I accepted it.

I expected Jonathan to be like Cassie and Lessie. Drift away from me after a while. It’s been 3 months. He hadn’t drift off yet. He had been so kind to me, he had protected me. He even gave me a Happy Balloon. It’s been forever since I had my Happy Balloon! We were best of friends.

It’s been 2 years. Jonathan still hadn’t drift off yet. Neither did I. We had ups and downs, but nothing deflated our Happy Balloons. Nothing at all. Not even when Jonathan finally told me about his medical condition.

He had cancer. Something that cannot be cured. He had this for 3 years. He didn’t want to tell me as he thought it would deflate my Happy Balloon. I cried of course, I was a little bit mad at him for not telling me about it, but not for very long. It didn’t deflate my Happy Balloon one bit. I wanted to make his last few months with me the best months in in entire life. We went everywhere, to the places we always wanted to go, took pictures, memories.

Before he died, we went to our hangout. The swing under the apple tree on Silent hill. We looked at the beautiful scenery. It was so peaceful. Then Jonathan told me, “Promise me, that even if I am gone, you would hold on to your Happy Balloon. Remember that I’ll be up there, looking after you.” I cried and hugged him for a very long time.

I kept my promise. I visited his grave, holding onto my Happy Balloon that Jonathan gave me. When I saw Jonathan’s Happy Balloon floating next to his headstone, I cried, I knew he was at peace now. His death didn’t pop my Happy Balloon. And it will float by my side even after death.

End~

Photo courtesy of New York Times

The Secret Room

          When Janice turned eight, she was at the age where she was curious and adventurous. She loved to run around and poke around with her sister and brother. Out of her 4 siblings if you ask them who was the most active and curious they would simultaneously point to Janice. She was also very clumsy, often tripping over her own feet, tripping over invisible rocks on the ground. She had gotten use to the pain of scratches and bruises on her legs and arms. Her mother always thought that her curiosity would be put into good use in the near future so she encouraged Janice to be more curious. Her father said otherwise. Janice did not care, she continued being curious and adventurous just like what her mother said.

         One day, the family decided to move into a new house about a state away. Janice wasn’t particularly happy about it but she also saw it as a chance to explore the house and neighborhood. As soon as they stepped into the new house, Janice rushed around, opening doors and exploring them. Her father rolled his eyes playfully while her mother giggled at Janice’s reaction to every room she opened up to. 

          But nothing could compare when Janice opened a door to what seem like heaven itself.

          Shelves and shelves of books filled the room. There were two bean bags, a table and chairs and even a window seat! It was like a paradise to Janice. One look at the books, the warm and inviting room and the sweet smell of books, she knew that she was meant to be in this house. Janice rushed up to her mother and father, who were unpacking their luggage, gave them a big hug and screamed, “THANK YOU! THANK YOU!” Her four siblings came up and wondered what the commotion was all about.

          A few months later, when the clock strike twelve, Janice immediately threw down her pencils and raced to the ‘Library’. She shut the ‘Library’ door behind her and roamed the shelves, looking for the perfect book to transport her to a wonderland. As her eyes roamed from title to title, her eyes glued to one captivating title. ‘The Secret Room’. It sounded like the book ‘The Secret Garden’ which was Janice’s all time favorite books. Her eyes lit up and she reached out a hand to take the book out.

          It wouldn’t budge. Janice raised an eyebrow and tugged at it. It still wouldn’t budge. Janice forehead wrinkled in confusion. Is this book glued to the wall? She gripped the book with both hands, took a deep breath and tugged hard at the stubborn book.

          CLICK!

          The book tilted abruptly but stopped all of a sudden, sending Janice stumbling back and falling on her butt. “Ow...” She got up and dusted herself just in time to see something extraordinary.

          The bookshelf with the tilted book swung open to her very slowly. Like a door. Janice’s eyes widened in both fear and excitement. She took a tentative step towards it and peered inside and gasped.

          It was a room! It had a blue bed and a picture of cherry blossoms on the wall. Janice couldn’t breathe. She stepped inside and swung her head wildly. There was a desk at the end of the room. She tiptoed towards the room and found a purple velvet book with a rusty key next to it. She picked up the purple book and blew the dust on it away. Janice started to open it but realize there was a strange lock on it, the same colour as the key......

          Janice sat on the blue bed and flipped to the first page. “The Secret Room. Wait, it’s that book!” Janice exclaimed excitedly, just as her mother called her for lunch. Janice reluctantly got up and turned the key, locking the book. After putting the book back at where it belonged, she stepped into the familiar ‘Library’ and shut the bookshelf. Janice grinned.

          No one will ever find that room. No one will ever enter the room. No one will find out what is hidden. Because it is mine. And mine only.

1. One sentence summary: Janice was a thirteen year old girl who found a secret room behind a bookshelf in her new house.

One paragraph summary: Janice was a clumsy, adventurous and curious thirteen year old girl who unintentionally stumbled upon a secret room behind a bookshelf a few days after she moved in her new house. She decided that this room would be hers and no one should find out about it.

Photo courtesy of New York Times

The dream

          I had the same dream over and over again. My sister would always be there to wake me up. She said that I was sweating and sometimes screaming. And yet in the dream I never scream at all. Every morning I would wake up to my sister’s calling, and the dream still fresh in my mind. But when I try to tell anyone about my dream. It would disappear, and I wouldn’t have anything to say. I could tell no one.

          It all happened after my mother’s death. She died in a car crash, a tragic death. I was still sullen months after her death, I could not move on, her death haunted me. She was the only person, besides my sister, who truly loved me and cared for me. She was the best mother, but now she was gone....forever.....

Except my dreams...

          I would go to sleep and wake up in an unknown place and the sky would be pink, which always reminded me of my mother, since it was her favourite colour. I would be standing on a wooden bridge that led somewhere. I would also find myself wearing my mother’s jacket, I took it from her to remember her. But instead of a pink jacket, it turned red. I would walk and walk and walk till my sister called me up and pull me back to reality. It was the same, strange dream every night. 

I didn’t know what was going on...

          One night, my sister was away to attend a party hosted by her friends. I was left all alone in the house. I had lots of work to be done and went to bed real late. But my sister still hadn’t come back home. I figured that she had fell asleep in her friend’s house. I lay awake, thoughts all on my mother. I missed her terribly, I really wished to give her one last hug. To feel her warm embrace. Her presence. My eyelids grew heavily, and I was pulled into the web of unconsciousness.

          I woke up. Again on the same wooden bridge and pink sky with pink and white clouds. With my mother’s once pink now red jacket. I stood up and once again waked towards the end. The only thing different was that now no one was there to wake me up. 

I reached a dead end.

          I found a beautiful mirror at the end. Unknown light glinted of the surface of the glass. I saw my face looking right back at me from the mirror. I picked up the mirror and sat at the end of the wooden bridge. I stared at it, uninterested. When the image of my face changed. It turned into my mother’s loving face! We looked very alike, I just needed long hair and blue eyes to look like her. She stared unblinking at me, frown curling up into a smile. I was shocked. It was a dream, but with my mother. I grabbed the mirror and shouted, “Mom! Can you hear me! Where are you? Mom! Mom?” I stared at the mirror. Mom’s face was just there, smile frozen in place.

“Henry, dear?” A soothing voice piped up.

          I whipped my head up and tears ran down my cheeks. “MOM! Oh my god mom I miss you so much!” I put the mirror down and got up. Mum was floating with beautiful white wings, about two metres away. “I know we haven’t talked in a while. Come to me.” She head her arms outstretched. I ran towards her, but she changed in a split second, to bloody eyes, shirt and wings... Everything became red around me. And after that split second, I fell into the red abyss, and darkness whisked me away...

Mother’s P.O.V?:

I looked down and couldn’t see him anymore. I smiled. That was another one who took something from the dead. I stared at the pink jacket o the bridge.

Who will be next I wonder?

Inspired by a Korean Urban legend made by ‘707′

Photo courtesy from New York Times

My former owner

         I’d had lived in the Dog’s Rescue Center nearly all my life. I wasn’t properly taken care of by my former, blind owner, and I was kicked out of the house because my former owner said that I did not do my job well as I did not lead him to the supermarket and instead, the park as I thought he said he wanted to go to the latter. It wasn’t my fault though, he should had given me food for me to be alert. My neighbor found me lying at the doorstep, close to dying and when she found out that my former owner did not want me anymore, my neighbor brought me to the Dog’s Rescue Center.

         I was fed, bathed, given water and sympathy. For the first time, I felt warm, loved and welcomed. I immediately knew that I was going to enjoy my stay there. And I wasn’t wrong.

         I was greeted by many curious faces staring at me on my first day when I was brought into the playroom. A big dog that might be two times larger than me stepped up and sniffed me. Is this how you greet others? I wondered as he sniffed me. Then he raised his head and stared at me with his large black eyes. He held out a paw and I timidly placed mine. In an instant, all the other dogs in the room barked and cheered, and the edges of my mouth pulled up into a wide grin. I was definitely going to love this place.

         The rescue center was only ran by one person who went by the name, Vanessa, that was what I heard anyway. I knew this because I loved running around and I checked the whole place, every nook and cranny of that place, and I didn’t find anyone. A volunteer or two may come but it was always Vanessa.

         So why did I see him there after the second day?

         On the second day in the rescue center, while I was eating breakfast with my new friends, I saw a strange figure in the corner of my eye. But when I looked up, it had vanished. I got a clear image of it though, during lunch. It had a black hat on its head, its head was hung so low so I couldn’t see the features of its face. He was wearing a white shirt and black trousers. But the strangest thing was......

He looked awfully like a doppelganger of my former owner.

         He would appear and disappear at random points of time, and no one would notice. Even if he was in plain sight and I would signal to my friends to look, but they would look at me weird and say that they did not see anything. He had never tried to speak or touch me. He would just stand there, looking and smiling at me, his face still hidden. I was the only one who could see him. My friends would stare at me whenever I growled or threatened the strange figure.

         A week after staying in the rescue center, Vanessa entered the playroom and gently called out to me, “Robin. Someone wants to meet you. Come on!” I got up and looked back at my friends. They all had a smile on their faces, and I turned to follow Vanessa. Apparently, a nice couple wanted to adopt me! I was ecstatic! They were so nice, compared to my previous owner, they were always petting me and even complimented my shiny fur coat.

But what about my friends?

         I raced into the playroom and announced jubilantly, “Hey! Guess what? I’m getting adopted!” “So you’re leaving?” Jacky, a small Dalmatian, piped up sadly. Peter, the giant dog who greeted me on the first day gently patted Jacky’s head, “He has to go some day or another.” A smiled sadly at Jacky, and looked up at my other friends. “I’ll remember all of you.” “We’ll remember you too!” They all chorused. I wagged my tail good bye and headed out to my new owners. As we passed the front counter. I jumped up on my hind legs and to bark a good bye to Vanessa. That was when I saw him. He was standing behind Vanessa, leaning against the back wall, grinning the same old grin. I barked and barked ferociously at him. Vanessa thought I was saying good bye and she smiled sweetly and waved a good bye to me. Just as the man disappeared in thin air.

         We stopped at a cafe which allowed pets so I went in too. I was showered with attention for a while but eventually got bored. So my eyes wandered around the cafe till I saw a television playing the news. It was talking about a person falling into a ditch only to be found about a week later. I squinted at the television to get a good look at the victim’s face.

          It was my former owner.

Photo courtesy of New York Times

“Happy Birthday Sabrina.”

          “Remember! No peeking!” Amber said playfully, “You don’t want to ruin the surprise, do you?” Sabrina shook her head vigorously, sending her pigtails into her friend’s face behind her. The trio giggled and they continued leading Sabrina, who was blindfolded, to the ‘surprise’.

          It was Sabrina’s birthday, and she was blindfolded the moment she woke up. She knew her friends were around and she could not wait to see what surprise they were going to give her. Her friends were the most sweetest people Sabrina had ever met, and they always gave her birthday gifts and a shoulder to cry on during Sabrina’s bad days. Ooh what’s the surprise, what’s the surprise! Sabrina was bursting with excitement.

          She heard the opening of a door, and one of her friends gently pushed her in. The she heard Amber’s honey sweet voice as if she ate honey every morning, “Alright. Sabrina, please turn around.” Sabrina did as she was told, biting her lip to hold back the screams of excitement that were building inside of her throat. “Okay! Now, take off your blindfold!” 

          As soon as Sabrina ripped off her blindfold, she felt a shove, fell backwards and as soon as she hit something, tiny, colourful things flew into the air at her sides. No way. Could it be......

          “SPRINKLES! Thank you! You know me so much!” Sabrina wiggle her arms and legs in the swimming pool of sprinkles, her favourite topping! Her friends laughed in front of her at her funny antics. “Hey, come join me!” Sabrina looked up just as she heard the click of the door......followed by silence......

          “Umm...... Amber? Helen? Penny? Come on! Stop playing with me! Come out!” Sabrina called out to her friends, first playfully, then she became a bit uneasy. Where have they gone? Maybe they went to get my birthday present? Sabrina got up to find them.

          Suddenly, something locked around her ankle and lifted her leg up, making her fall again into the sprinkles. Sabrina proceeded to stand up but something locked around her other ankle, tighter than ever. Sabrina looked down to see a bunch of sprinkles forming around her ankles, connecting to the pool of sprinkles.....

          Before Sabrina could even process this madness, sprinkles locked themselves around her wrists, forcing her into the pool. The Sabrina widened her eyes in horror and realization. “HELP! HELP ME! SOMEONE HELP!” Sabrina screamed her throat raw as she try to fight against the iron grip of the sprinkles. Sprinkles started to gather around her stomach, forcing her down even more, it was as if they were trying to drown her. Tears of horror ran down her cheeks as her life flashed through her eyes. She had no strength left and gave up. Sprinkles covered her vision and she was gasping for breath. Her lungs burned for oxygen as she was slipping into unconsciousness. The last bit of light was gone and all she saw was pitch darkness. As her vision went blurry, she heard a girl’s faint whisper,

“Happy Birthday Sabrina.”

          Sabrina’s eyes widened and cold sweat trickled down her forehead. She slowed her breathing when she realized where she was. “Oh. It’s just a stupid dream.” She glanced at the calendar hanging on the opposite wall and smiled gleefully. “Oh yeah! It’s my birthday!” She jumped out of bed and began dancing happily. Then, out of her window, she caught something. She peered out of the window and saw......

There, in the backyard, was a pool filled of colourful sprinkles.

“Happy Birthday Sabrina.” And then everything went black.

________________________________________________________________

One sentence summary: Sabrina got pushed into a swimming pool of sprinkles, her favourite topping, but something pulled her deeper, and it seems like sprinkles wasn’t so pleasant anymore.

One paragraph summary: Sabrina got pushed into a swimming pool of sprinkles! It was her most favourite topping for anything, and now she was swimming in a swimming pool full of it! On her birthday! She was about to thank her friends when something tugs from below, suddenly, it seems like sprinkles wasn’t so pleasant anymore.

#5

An Unusual Emergency Call

I had been working as a police officer for quite long. One of my jobs was to respond to the emergency calls. I would respond to the call, and send help where necessary. Everything had been going quite smoothly. But I still do remember one very unusual emergency call.

As usual I picked up the phone.

Me: 999, what’s your emergency?

Unexpectedly a little girl’s voice responded on the other side of the phone.

Caller: H-Hi. Um, my mummy collapsed. And she’s not waking up.

Me: Your mom collapsed! Is she breathing?

Caller: I’m gonna check.... She is breathing. She is breathing! When are you going to come?

Smart kid. I thought.

Me: Help is on the way, don’t worry! Could you tell me where you live.

Caller: I-I don’t know...

Oh no... what was I going to do... no location at all. Then I remembered that this was a really small town so I asked:

Me: Sweetie, could you please go outside for me? There should be a sign there showing your street. Could you please tell us the street and describe your house?

I didn’t quite hear much but I now knew she was on Queen’s Street, and she had a wind chime on the front door. Thank god. I hope I could locate the right house.

Me: Thank you! We are very near it’ll only take us about 3 minutes. What’s your name dear? How old are you?

Madison: Madison. I’m 6 years old. Is mummy gonna be okay?

Me: Okay Madison. Your mummy is gonna be just fine be calm my dear. Help is on the way! What’s your mummy’s name? What happened to her?

Madison: I-I don’t know what happened. Just heard a loud sound. And then I saw her on the floor sleeping with some blood on her head.

Me: Your mummy is going to be just fine. What’s your mummy’s name Madison?

Madison: Um.. Mika.

Me: Okay. You are taking care of mummy right? When you hear the police sirens please tell me okay Madison dear?

Madison: O-okay. Oh! I hear sirens!

Just like that, the line went dead. All heard was the beeping of the phone. I thought since she said the police arrived, I assumed that they would be fine, I hoped.

The next day, the news about Mika was shown on television. Thank god she was okay. But I never got to see Madison. I asked my friend about it. She was confused. She said, “There was no little girl in the house, we only saw Mika.” I told her, surprised, that the person who picked up the phone was a 6 year old girl named Madison. My friend suggested we go visit Mika, see if she was able to tell us anything about Madison. I told her maybe it was just her neighbour. My friend raised her eyebrow. I sighed.

My friend and I visited Mika in the hospital. After some small talk to make Mika comfortable. My friend went straight to the point. “Mika, do you have a daughter name Madison?” Mika froze at that question. She smiled sadly. “Yes I do have a daughter. Madison died at the age of six. I miss her so, so much.” Wait what. “But Mika, I just heard your daughter call for help when you were unconscious.”

Mika smiled even more. “Madison may have passed away. But she will always be there to protect me, like my own little guardian angel.”

End~

#10

Stupid

ALYSSA smiles sadly with downcast eyes.

Alyssa: Stupid. You’re so stupid

Points to head.

Alyssa: You think bandages can fix this wound? No. Of course not. Are you that naive? Or do you think I’m just that dumb?

ALYSSA throws her head back and starts laughing.

Alyssa: (Mocking sweet voice) Omg yesss let’s be besties, I soooo forgive you ahahaha. (Returns to normal voice) (frowns) Seriously? Stop wasting your time on me, idiot. Haven’t you learnt that?! Stop leeching off me. Go away.

ALYSSA turns away and sits on the floor, clutching her knees to her chest.

Alyssa: What do you want? Could you just leave me alone. You’ve done enough damage… (sniffs)

After a while of tense silence, ALYSSA gets up and turns around. Her expression has changed to anger.

Alyssa: (sneers) WHAT DO YOU WANT SO BAD, HUH?! YOU’RE JUST GONNA COME BACK, TRY TO MAKE ME YOUR LITTLE TOY AGAIN! WATCH ME SUFFER AND CRY. I HAVE KNOWN BETTER, DON’T EXPECT ME TO FORGIVE YOU WHEN YOU COME PATHETICALLY CRAWLING BACK TO ME.

ALYSSA is out of breath. She calms down, and turns around. After a while, she turns her head to the side and looks down.

Alyssa: I can never forgive you. I’m not going to sympathise with you ever. I’m better now, but I shouldn’t have been friends with you ever. Find someone else to give you a second chance. But...

ALYSSA looks back in front of her.

Alyssa: You don’t deserve one.

ALYSSA walks away.

End~

Photo courtesy of New York Times

Another Chance

          My mom passed away right after I was born. My father was devastated, but he didn’t tell me anything about her death. I was too young and innocent. But of course, I found out sooner or later. I wasn’t that sad though, to be honest, I did not see my mom at all except in photos. Didn’t mean I was all that jolly either.

          I respected my dad. He wasn’t abusive or anything. He was nice, though he was a bit distant. It broke my heart to see him so depressed and sad, when he looked at pictures of mom. But I couldn’t help him. I tried, and it went horribly wrong. I told him it was alright and that mom was in a better place. He practically screamed in my face and threw a vase at me. It might’d flew an inch from my face. I felt the wind of it go by. Let say I didn’t say anything after that.

          It might be somewhat fine in the household, but high school, was hell.      

          I was 15, starting a second new year of the same school, with same people. I walked through the packed hallways with my head down and hood up. The kids there know me by a lot of names. ‘Emo Freak’, ‘Loser’, ‘Quiet Freak’, ‘Idiot’. You name it. I was the quiet kid of the school who barely had any friends. You think I should had speak up or something, right? I did, in fact. But it also went horribly wrong.  I tried speaking to some people, and tried to make friends but it just got me more enemies. I didn’t know why they hate me so much. But I could guess the suspect to be my eyes. Their purple, and they think is the sign of death. Which is stupid. I tried telling teachers, but they won’t do anything.

          Then on the 20th of October. Something life changing happened.

          Dad’s mental health must had gotten worse without me knowing. I come home to find dad...                                                                                                                                 ....in a pool of blood.

          News spread like bush-fire. Soon nearly the whole school knew that the ‘Emo Freak’s’ father had committed suicide. And what was disgusting is that they find it funny! The bullying got worse day by day. I got more depressed each day by each day. The demon and taken over my head and there was no more angels singing in my head. I grew colder and colder. Till the point where I started to think that grabbing a knife and killing everyone was better off. 

          I got up from bed and walked to the kitchen. Then something had happened, but it was a blur before I fell into darkness.

          I woke up in a bed. It wasn’t mine though. All around me was blue. Peaceful blue. I stood up and caught a door in my sight. It was blue except for the doorknob, which was sparkling gold. I timidly tip-toed towards to the door and opened it. I was immediately blinded by bright light.

          I shot up from my bed. The covers flew of my body. I was sweating profusely. It was all just a dream. I ran a hand through my hair and heard a familiar voice calling for breakfast. “MUM! DAD! Oh my god I’m so glad you’re alive!” Both gave confused and amused laugh and glances. “I had this dream and... Nevermind, It’s not important.” I smiled and ate my pancakes with my loving family. Then a voice sounded in my head, 

“You’re not hopeless Mandy. Don’t listen to others. Purple can represent anything. For you it would be hope. I’ll give you another chance to live. To change.”

photo courtesy of New York Times

The Painful Truth                                                                   

“BANG!”    “BANG!”    “BANG!”

Three swift kicks was all it took for the rusty hinges to break and the cobwebbed door gave in. As it crashed onto the ground, breaking the eerie silence, dust particles danced in the air as Lucas shone his only source of light- his phone- in all directions. A three-legged chair appeared in the powerful beam along with a silhouette of a piano in a distance. Lucas took one step in, and a plume of dust danced up at where he stepped. The tall, lanky boy coughed, and slowly walked in. His footstep inaudible, due to the many layers of dust in the abandoned house. A drip of sweat rolled down from his forehead.

A shimmer of light caught Lucas’ eye. He whipped around and saw......

Another Lucas staring at him, the light illuminating the impostor. Or so he thought. Lucas approached the impostor and saw brass. It was a large mirror. Lucas was looking at his own reflection. He groaned in annoyance. He stared at his reflection for a while.

His reflection smiled. Lucas’ eyes widened.

A bloody hand immediately shot out of below the mirror and gripped Lucas’ ankle tightly. Lucas’ shrieked and fell back. His phone clattered onto the floor, his shadow dancing on the walls of the house. He frantically shook his leg, trying desperately to free it. But the bloody and bruised hand had an iron grip on his ankle, like a chain connected to a metal ball. Slowly, another as bloody and bruised hand appeared out of the mirror. A leg, the other leg. Then, the whole body appeared, towering over Lucas’ immobilized figure on the floor. 

It was a boy that looked exactly like Lucas. Except that this boy was bloody, and his clothes were stained with dried blood. A large bloody stain stained the middle of the boy’s chest. A wide ‘Cheshire-cat’ grin was plastered on his face. He stared hard at Lucas, and said in a deep voice that filled the room, “Hi, my brother.”

Leo!? Lucas was dumbfounded. “W-what! Leo! What happened to you? Where have you been?” Leo’s smile vanished immediately. He laughed a humorless laugh and said, “Oh. Mother murdered me. Just because I found out her littllleeee secret.” Lucas shook his head in disbelief. “NO. This is a hallucination. You’re not real!” Leo sighed, shaking her head. he knelt down in front of him. “Tell me Lucas, my brother. Why do you think Mother comes home late? Huh? Don’t you see a drop of blood anywhere on her? She’s an assassin Lucas. An assassin.” He emphasized those two words,and smiled. Lucas couldn’t move. He remembered the other day when he saw a red stain on her blouse. He widened his eyes. Leo never lie. 

Leo got up and held out a hand. Lucas shakily held out a hand and placed on Leo’s icy hand that send cold shivers down his spine. Lucas got up and followed Leo uncertainly. Leo opened a door Lucas had never seen before. A rotting, putrid smell immediately wafted out that small room. What Lucas saw made him run. Out of the door of his abandoned house. With rage fueling him.  

Lucas burst through the front door, and ran to the kitchen. He held something that brandished in the moonlight. Once he held that cold brass handle, insanity possessed him. This is your punishment Mother. You Killed Leo! KILL. KILL. Those words repeated in his head as he stealthily approached a wasted woman on the couch, surrounding it were alcohol bottles. 

“Bye Mother.” Lucas lifted the knife.

He stood over her body. Her eyes were shut, almost as if she was she was sleeping......peaceful. 

He smiled and aimed the knife at the center of his chest. 

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One sentence summary: Lucas stumbles upon his very old house and finds out the truth behind his brother’s death.

One paragraph summary: The twin’s mother is an assassin who killed Leo without Lucas knowing as Leo found out his mother’s dark secret. Lucas and his mother moved into a new house and Lucas soon forgot about Leo and runs away in tears when he got into a fight with his mother. He stumbles across his previous house and meets the spirit of his brother who told him everything. Lucas returns home, filled with rage and had no self-control, killed his mother and then himself.