Glass shattered upon the wall. Liquor dripped from the shards and down the peeling white paint staining it a with a yellowish film. I sat there next to the shards and stared at the dirty wall that would never be truly clean. The heavy footsteps approached and I did nothing. A rough calloused hand gripped my shoulder and ripped me from my kneeling spot on the floor.
"I told you to get me another!"
The gruff voice rasped in my ear right before he threw me to the kitchen. I stumbled but remained upright. Shakily I made my way to the old grey fridge and opened it to see the plethora of beer, from cans to bottles. I sighed and grabbed one of the stronger brews before walking back out to the living room. Back to where He sat in his leather recliner staring at the tv. I glared as I handed him the glass and he roughly took it opening the top with his nasty yellow and brown teeth before chugging down half of it. When he saw I hadn't moved he waved his hand indicating I was dismissed. I took a deep breath and forced myself to walk away. Part of me wished to leave and never worry about him coming after me, while the other was whispering frantically on how I could get away and live happily. I went to the closet that was designated as my room. I opened the door and saw the nasty old mattress covered in old alcohol and who knows what. The small teddy I had gotten as a gag gift for my 19th birthday was sitting on it with a missing arm. I growled and my eyes narrowed. I hated that man.
~Then get rid of him. ~
I sighed. Could I really?
~Of course you can. It's easy. ~
I didn't want to live here anymore.
~Then leave. He won't be able to follow you. ~
I looked around the small 'room' and gave a small smile. If I could leave and not have him follow me I would be free. I could finally be happy. I'd never have to worry about my father again.
~All you need is one match. Then it'd be over. ~
In that moment my small smile at the thought of my freedom bloomed into a maniac grin.
Of course! Why hadn't I thought of that before? The guy reeked of alcohol. The walls, the floor, the entire house was saturated in it. It'd be easy. I closed my door after picking up the one armed teddy and walked back into the kitchen.
"What're you doin ther?"
I heard him slurring from his seat. I hid my grin and called over my shoulder.
"Just going to make some food for your dinner father. Don't mind me."
A grunt was the reply and my spirit soared. I could be free so soon. I turned on the oven but didn't light it. I then found the matches and busied myself with the fridge as if looking for something actually edible. I pulled out an old chicken carcass with a, lay no meat left and threw it in a pot. I picked up the matches and grabbed a beer. Leaving the kitchen I opened it and stood in front of the man who my life a living hell. He glared up at me for blocking the tv. I smiled and dumped the bottle on his head. He coughed and spluttered before roaring and leaping to his feet. I jumped back and ran to the front door dad following. I yanked it opened and lit the match watching his face go from rage to mildly confused. I threw it and it hit the wall next to him, where all the shattered glass from his last beer was. The match caught and lit the alcohol and traveled up to him and as he went farther into the house to get water he encountered the kitchen. The fire caught on the gasoline in the air and the house went up in flames. I was already running down the hill and laughing as the bonfire that used to be where I lived roared in the background. I made my way through the forest and up another mountain. I looked back at the burning building from my high vantage point and smiled. I was free. I was no longer under His control. No longer shackled to the old man who couldn't do more than have his way with his own daughter. I despised the man. And now he was gone. Slowly the smile fell from my face. Did I really just do that? Did I just kill him? Did I just kill my own father? What kind of a monster was I?
~Oh you aren't a monster. You're a courageous human. Just like me. ~
I squeezed my eyes shut. No no no. This was murder. This was a cold blooded murder.
~Trust me Harmony. He deserved it. He was the monster. And all monsters must die. ~
I shook my head holding it in my hands tears streaming down my face. I killed him. I killed him. I killed him. Over and over the words danced through my head and the voice continued to try to placate me.
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The sun rose and I opened my eyes to see the smoldering remains of the house and I struggled to my feet before turning and running in the other direction. Up the mountain I ran hitting branches and trees on my way. Tears blurred my vision but I couldn't go back. I had made sure of that hadn't I?
~Harmony it's okay. You have me. We can get through this. Together. ~
I choked on a sob and tripped my foot getting caught on the root of a tree. My hands flew out to catch myself but met nothing. I opened my eyes in confusion and saw the large hole I was currently falling into.
~No. no no no I was almost free. Damn you Harmony. ~
My head hit the ground and everything went dark.
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There was nothing there just solid black.
I couldn't move.
There was only silence.
It was like being underwater.
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Where was I? Was there any way out?
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Silence. The horrible silence wouldn't end.
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Is this my punishment? For killing Him?
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Please. Let me out.
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Silence and darkness
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LET ME OUT!
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But nobody came.
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A crack of light entered my line of sight and I cried out in joy. Slowly the crack opened and I was bombarded with light. There were two words floating in front of me in the blinding light. There was a figure standing in between them smiling. He was solid black and looked rather like he was melting, and had skeleton hands with large holes in the center. His face was a skull with two cracks one one each eye both going in opposite directions. His smile was unnerving but welcomed after the horrible darkness. Each of his hands was gesturing to one of the words on either side of him. He tilted his head and watched me.
"W-who, who are you?"
My voice was horse from screaming in the silence for so long. He responded but it was a language I couldn't recognize. He saw my incomprehension and just smiled sadly. Once again motioning to the buttons.
I approached and left the darkness behind for the bright white of the area around the skeleton. As I drew closer I could see what the words said.
Reset
End
I stood there staring at them both and looked back up at the man. He just smiled and took a step back.
"What do you think I should choose?"
He shrugged.
"If I, reset, will I be back with Him?"
Again he shrugged.
"Does End mean I die?"
He took a moment longer but also answered with a shrug. He took another step back and the light started to recede.
"Wait! What if I come with you?"
He stopped shocked. Then shook his head sadly and pointed to the words again. He disappeared the light fading with him leaving me in the darkness with two words next to me. I sighed and look at them both.
Well I don't want to die and it seemed more likely than not that is what End meant. It could be I get to leave this place or I'm just stuck here forever. A Reset would probably put me back to before I killed Him. Before I was free.
I sighed. Was it worth it? But I couldn't take the darkness and silence any more. It was compressing and squeezing me. I reached out a hand and chose Reset.
The world went dark again before filling with blinding white light.
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I opened my eyes to see a bed of golden flowers.
