The Beating Drum
By: J.H.S.
Quiet... be quiet... we don't want him to hear us. Total silence all around and yet you beat so loud. My fear makes us weak, and I am truely sorry. You beat so loud as if you are a drum. The rythum of your beat draws me inward, I allow you to take over, drowning out everything around me. You are my protector, you keep me in, allowing numbness to control our body. So that we feel no pain when he comes for me. With you, I will always be safe... that is your unspoken promise to me. With out you i would be lost, and alone and in constant pain. PROMISE me you'll never leave. One day soon, we shall be free of this place and of he who brings pain... but until then you must be strong enough for both of us.
You who comforts me... tell me again of she who betrayed us. Of she who abandoned us, when we needed her the most. Of she who was our mother, who brought us into this world, and at the first sign of trouble, left us here helpless and alone. What was she like before him? Did she love us? Or was we just a burden she needed to dispose of? Was she pretty? With each passing moment I forget more and more about her. We've been here in the dark for so long. The days intertwined with each other, and it may have been longer then I wish to believe because we have grown so much. She who betrayed us has faded with time, but I recall a memory of the night she left. He had given her a lot of money, she said she would be right back. I cried to go with her, even after the door was closed and the car had disappeared around the corner. I had stood at the window crying "MOMMIE, MOMMIE." He had swooped me up sceaming in my ear, "Shut up! Just shut up!" and when I didn't, that's when he threw us down the stairs into the darkness. Oh...oh why didn't I listen? I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. Why do you protect me from him when it's my fault we are here?
Listen... I must go back out to listen for him... to see if he's given up looking. I know you are fearless and brave all the time, but it is I who must be brave this time. SCARED? YES, I'M TERRIFIED! , but I know that you are with me... and that my friend makes it a lot easier. Slowly, I will peer out from our spot. I can't see in the darkness, but our hearing tells us he's still down here. Our sight is telling me that hearing is right because the door upstairs is open. Thought...our chances of making it out today are half and half, but could be better if we knew exactly where he was in the dark. Over there, to the right. Did you see that? It might be him, and if it is... our chances have just went up. GO FOR IT! Wev'e all agreed, run for the stairs on three. ONE...TWO...THREE...GO! GO! GO! We're doing it... We're really doing it... Almost there. Here he comes! DON'T STOP! RUN! We made it up stairs... shut the door, locked turned now he is the one trapped. FREEDOM! Now lets get out of here before he gets the door open. Surprise, fear, and confusion when something grabs our shoulder from behind with one hand and covers our mouth muffling our screams with another. It's not possible...how did he? How could he of? It can't possibly be him. Or could it?