Twelve years back I was in a loving family who were slaughtered by the remorseless creature that stood before me. His eyes did not leave mine, staring...fixed like a predator on a prey. His glare reminded me of the same glare that he gave me before I was able to escape . I remembered my brothers pleading scream for help as he disappeared beneath the icy waters of the lake. I remembered the distraught look on my little sister's face as she was carried away by my father before she was torn between the yellow canines. My brother's scream for help only echoed in my head now. Throughout the slaughtering I remained hidden deep within the vast forest, too afraid to come out, too afraid to do anything. Guilt! Beneath this creatures translucent cloth lay a rose of black colour, entangled in the jagged bones between his ribcage. As rivers tears poured down my face forming sharp icicles, the grin on his repulsive, distorted face broadened as an evil laughter escaped his blackened lips. I finally broke free from the revolting image of the immortal creature and ran towards the desolate forest which surrounded the aged structure of the house and the lake that contained the body of my brother. The moon glared upon the land as my body staggered in between the leaning trees that swayed with the powerful winds, their branches dislocated, bending, competing to seize me from beneath my blistered feet. Their leaves crunching beneath the cover of the December snow. My boots are sank into the ground destroying the beautiful nature beneath.
The competition came to an end as the nature's battle finally saw its victory. The december snow was disturbed by my violent fall to the ground. I heard no footsteps behind only a sudden gust of wind stired up the leaves beneath the soft cover of white snow.
“I see you have found it, hoped you would.’ There he was with a wide grin across his face, leaning against one of the swaying trees. Was this a game? Was he waiting for my outburst of anger? Was he waiting for something….or someone? “ Pretty face I must say. You see, I've been thinking….long and hard...why don't you just do me a favour, go hang yourself off one of those gorgeous trees, because to be honest you owe me! It really would make my life – oh hold on....d-e-e-a-a-th a touch easier!”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Oh you don’t know?!” he cringed pulling a distorted face. “Isn’t the reason you are here is because of what happened twelve years back? I have been waiting for you every day and night, that’s the good thing about being dead, you don’t sleep!” His bellow only became an aggressive roar. He raised his pale arms grabbing violently of what was left of his hair and pulled hard. The extensive claws peeled away the skin off his scull, a touch of blood escaped, I was surprised he had any left at all. Sharp creases appeared above his crooked nose, lips taught, sharp teeth gritted to the extent that his jaw muscles formed jagged shapes beneath his pale white skin. He clenched to his skull, his face became blood red and somewhat of an ugly picture. “You left me, you left me to die!” he wept. My hands were immobile from the cold of the snow, my eyes burned from the salt from my tears but I seemed not to care. I hung my head low but when I raised it to look up to the dark night sky my eyes did not meet his deformed attire but the hanging corpse above him. The corps did not appear that of an animal but a human, the only flesh left on it was the delicate cloth of white flesh in between the ribs. I bet that was his latest meal, maybe the ribs weren't his favourite parts. I frowned and shut my eyes tight to escape this horror of a show, hoping it was a nightmare. Guilt. Sorry is a hard word to say when you know that no stitches would heal the now-still heart of his. I left him, I left because I could not bare his deeds, I could not bare to see him yet forget about my family.
“I didn’t-”
“You didn’t what?!” he growled with rage.
“I am sorry! How could you expect me to forgive you? How could you expect me to love you after you ruthlessly slaughtered my family? Did you expect me to run away with you into the blood-red sunset?”
“You said you would sacrifice anything for our love. I expected you to come with me into my world!” This speak of love and death disgusted me. Looking at his disfigured skeleton it only made me wonder why I ever loved such a heartless creature.
“Now you must sacrifice your so-called precious life for what you have done. My heart may have stopped beating but memories are treasured.” A slight spark in his eye warned me to be cautious of my movements.
All is black. Through a small gap between my squinting eyes an outstretched shadow crept slowly towards me. My attempt to jump failed therefore I fell back to the ground, my legs were feeble and could not hold my weight. The slight rays of the early sun were like needles, needles that pierced my eyes. I'm guessing it wasn’t a horrific nightmare, the restless trees still surrounded me, in the distance I saw the old dishevelled house and the frost upon the lake.
“Morning sunshine.” His repulsive body blocked the piercing needles;he stood looking over me. I looked up only to see his menacing face. ‘This time you remain right here’ what was meant by that I did not recognise but it sure didn’t sound right. Was I dead too? Shivers ran up my spine and arms. Looking down I saw the pure white snow beneath my hand camouflaged beneath, no footsteps, not a single twig, not even a slightest shade of grey. This sure wasn’t paradise, how could a place of such beauty contain a devil? I lay there.
My legs became stronger as time passed:strong enough for me to stand up. I staggered slowly towards the frosty waters of the lake. My urge increased. My life would have ended one way or another, or has it already? I could not stand the thought or immortality, I could not live any longer knowing, remembering the dripping blood of my family. This was my fault. I had no one now and I guessed I must pay the price. I edged closer to the lake until the water filled my boots. I must go on. The wind forcefully pushed me further. A rose of black colour dropped upon the water. A leaf slowly floated down and froze upon the lake as my life began to die. I must go on......I must.
