Author's Note: This story is probably the harshest I've done. More possibly disturbing content then anything. I don't think it's too bad, so I put it at the T rating, if you think I should move it up, review and tell me. I've read worse things rated T, and read easier things rated M. It's more a reflection on how my mind works then anything else. Please Enjoy.
"Come, let's away to prison;
We two alone will sing"- King Lear
Christine awoke from her nightmare. Screaming. Sobbing.
Father's coffin. Scarf. Lake. Knife. Dead lungs. No mother. 'Poor child, she must be so heart broken". Can't talk. Can't breath. Grief. Drowning in it. No one can save me now. Alone. Angel of Darkness. Angel of death. Voice is gone. Opera house. More death. Phantoms. Noose. Lies. Rumours. Masks. Dead body, her fathers, and her mothers, side by side, with the laughing angel of death beside them. "Only you left to join me". Lake. Raul. Safety. Being pulled away. Danger. Everywhere. RUN!
The images, feelings rushed to her, to be played out once again in front of her eyes, again and again.
"Even awake I cannot escape it." The eight year old moaned, putting her heads to her hands, trying to stop the visions.
What's wrong child?
Christine looked around, there was no one there. It was in her head. It was all in her head.
Why do you cry?
Christine hadn't even noticed the tears falling from her eyes.
Why are you so sad?
That brought another sob from the child, her tiny hands balling into fists, as she fought of the grief that threatened to tear her.
Why lay awake so?
She wouldn't go back! Not to the dreams, where she was haunted by everything, bad memories, good memories, and the knowledge they wouldn't last.
Why do you loath the darkness?
The darkness! It ate at her, trying to get her to give into the grief.
Why do you hate the night?
The nightmares. The nightmares only came to her at night!
Why are you afraid?
The tears continued to fall.
What do you fear?
Harder they fell.
Whom do you fear?
Convulsions wracked her tiny body.
Whom do you fear for?
She screamed, throwing her head into her hands.
Why are you frightened of being alone?
She rocked her body, trying to get the voice out of her mind, trying to get it to stop looking into it, touching the places she tried to hide, the places no one other then her had seen.
I am alone too. We could be alone together.
No one understood her, not her mind, it was a twisted place, like a mountain, with sparkling peaks, but with shadows twice as deep. It was a perversion on what an child's mind should be.
I understand. You should sleep, don't think, just do.
She couldn't sleep, she wouldn't let herself go back to the nightmares.
Then don't let yourself, just lie there.
She did as she was told, uncurling, and laying in the bed.
Feels better, doesn't it?
No.
Then wait.
Strong arms lifted her from the bed. Curled her into their – his – chest.
Safe. Strong. Comfort. Smiles. Summer. Candies. The feeling once you get out of a bath. Accents. Music. Songs. Notes. Clefs. Voices. Trumpets. Flutes. Piano. Tinkling laughter. All is right.
These images were nice ones. They weren't evil. And slowly, surely, she fell asleep.
"Oh Christine. Oh Christine. Christine. Christine. We can be alone together for ever. As long as you stay."
That... That wasn't from her mind.
She fought against the sleep that tried to take her, to open her eyes.
Do you like this?
She curled closer to the body.
Oh Christine. Don't open them. How do you know I'm real?
She gave a start of fear, she couldn't have her voice leave her!
Even if I'm just in your head?
She drifted of to sleep.
I'm not though. I'm as real as your nightmares.