Running up to the porch of a two story house I am about to unlock the door when I noticed the door is slightly ajar, the doorknob showing clear signs of forced entry as it was nearly gorged from its place.
Anxiety and fear pour into my body and i run upstairs and rip the door open, my eyes wildly taking in the scene before me, the dresser by the window is overturned, the pillows are ripped, the carpet is covered from the stains of the perfume bottles that lie smashed on the floor. I'm scared and I don't know why, and for some reason I dread what's going to come next, I know I have been here before but I can't put my finger on it, but the harder I think, the harder it gets to remember anything, and my head is starting to throb, frustrated I make my way out of the room.
As I pass i catch myself in the reflection of the jagged shards of what used to be a mirror.
I see myself a lot younger, there is still that youthful fullness in my lips and my hair swirls around my shoulders in soft auburn wisps, my jeans and converse sneakers are caked with mud and my hands are scraped but I don't feel the sting.

That's when I hear it.
A shrill, high pitched scream breaks the eerie silence that had been hanging over the house, its filled fear and its screaming my name.
I break into a run and hurl downstairs as fast as my feet can carry me, rounding the corner of the dining room I see a little girl that's younger than me, her hair the same colour as mine, she seems familiar, just as the whole house does, I try to remember her but my mind goes blank.

My heart stops when I see that she is thrashing against the grip of a solid man that is about to pick her up, I know she has no chance against him, and I know something bad will happen if I don't help her.
They haven't seen me yet so I make my way over to the knife stand on the bench, pausing to edge around a broken vase that lies shattered on the floor, my muscles are tense and I can hear my own heartbeat pounding in my chest as if its about to leap out.
I feel like I'm in a trance as I ease the knife out of its resting place and wait until the little auburn haired girl will break out of his grip, I don't know how I know this, but I do, I watch the seconds tick by on the grandfather clock, time slows down and I start counting back from three.

Two. She claws at his neck and hits him at the base of his throat.

One. I can hear her light feet against the mahogany floor boards as she flees across the room trying to gain some distance before he makes his advance.

As soon as the last second crawls by, everything speeds up like someone hit the fast forward button. My wrist flicks forward just as the intruder has recovered himself and takes his first step forward. The knife rotates itself four times before hitting the man in the shoulder, he whirls around to face me and I yell at the girl to get out, my only thought is for her to get out of the house safely, then somehow everything would be worth it.
I have a sudden urge to see her face, I know this could be my last time, she is about to turn around when the man blocks my view, but I feel relief when the door slams shut and I know the little girl is out of harm's way.

My hands are shaking, so I try taking deep breaths, I know the knife cut the man deep, I can hear him nearing, but the injury is keeping him back, the idea of more time calms me.
Taking deep breaths I centre myself I remind myself I need to move, I fly upstairs and slam the door shut, I know even with his injury it won't be long until he gets here.
But somehow I am calm, I don't know why but I am glad I bought myself sometime, taking a quick survey of the room I consider jumping out the window, but my body won't move.

I feel a strange sensation beginning to vibrate within my chest like a power that is trying to break free, but I know I can't give in to the sensation. Not yet.
Wait, I tell myself.
Every second that goes by I feel it building, my body is quivering from the effort it is taking to keep myself contained, everything inside my body is begging for me to let go, but I hold on.

The door opens and there he is. I can feel his stare boring into me, as he takes his first stride into my room, oblivious to what's about to come
I know it's finally time to let go, I exhale and let the energy leave my body, a pulse of power comes out of me in a large wave, the whole room lights up by the rings of electricity that burst out, and I am almost blinded by the light, it hits the man and his body spasms like he had been electrocuted before crumpling at my feet.

Dizzy with exhaustion, my knees buckle, and then I black out, but not before hearing the sound of approaching footsteps.