FIGMENTS 07
The car journey was virtually silent; it was only remotely covered by the faint hum of the engine as it soared down the highway. And for the first since I'd been in his car, Lee didn't have any music playing. When we got into his car initially and he had turned the keys in the ignition so hard it was wonder they hadn't snapped off, Fall out Boy started blasting out. At an alarmingly fast rate, he turned it off as soon as it had started.
I'd been so shocked; I let out a small gasp and immediately clamped my hands over my mouth. I didn't dare say anything. Lee, hands clamped firmly on the tattered wheel didn't turn to look at me at all. It was almost as if I were invisible, perhaps that would've been more convenient for him.
"Lesley, Lesley, Lesley."
I close my eyes, just for a moment. We'd been driving for what felt like hours, and from glancing at the clock hammered into the dashboard, school had finished long ago but I didn't have a clue where we were.
I open my mouth then snap it closed, realising that anything I said would just piss Lee off even more. At this rate, I may never get home.
The sun was already beginning to fall over the buildings and skyscrapers, thick, glistening beams of light broke out from between them, making the light of the street lamps seem feeble and mundane. It was almost as if heaven itself was trying to cleanse the city of darkness, as it was determined to hang on the last slither of light it had left.
But in the end, darkness prevailed. Just as it always had and always would.
"Lesley, Lesley, Lesley."
I bite my lip to stifle a scream. I needed to distract myself; I need to get out of this musky and cramped car. I need to forget, more than anything. I need to forget his chilling voice echoing inside my head.
"When are you going to stop driving around aimlessly?" The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. I clamp a hand over my mouth, but it's too late; the words had already tumbled out of my mouth.
I brave a glance over at Lee, I watch as he tightens and untightens his hands on the steering wheel. He exhales heavily, as if he'd been holding his breath since we first entered his car.
"Until I'm no longer pissed at you." His words fell out of his mouth as a growl, shocking me a little, but oddly, not scaring me.
It remains silent for another couple of minutes before I throw him a lob sided smile he probably can't see and say, "Well I guess we're going to be stuck here for almost eternity."
He raises his pierced eyebrow, "Almost eternity?"
"Yeah, the petrol has to run out sometime." I grin.
Lee turns and smiles at me, playfully biting his lip to stifle a laugh. However, when a small giggle that sounded more like a deranged hiccup spills from my mouth, he can't help but throw his head back in laughter.
A sudden turn jolts me to the side of the car, causing the window winders to be slammed in my arm, my head collides with the firm glass window, flakes of black are scattered all over my vision, my head feels almost as if it's been set alight.
"FU-" Lee barely has a chance to finish swearing or regain control before the car smashes into a wall.
"Lesley, Lesley, LESLEY!" His voice screams in my head, each syllable feels as if it's being hammered into my brain. I want to run away, but I can't, the only thing I can see is darkness. I shout Lee's name, but no words come out, my ears are ringing, screeching. The sound is deafening.
I feel shadows creep around me, snatching and tearing at my skin before devouring me whole.
The Church in front of me glistens in the shimmering sun. Rich sheets of gold and bronze line its windows and multiple archways that most likely lead into the Church. I smile, its rich architecture reminds of me of Buckingham Palace back home. There are intricate carvings of angels winding around its pillars. It's almost as if they're flying back into the heavens.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" His voice floats into my earshot, I prepare myself for the sudden shot of fear that usually accompanies his presence, but it doesn't come.
I turn around to see Simon at the steps of the Church; he's stood smiling at me, wearing a suit. However, there's something different about him.
I saunter down the steps to get a better look at him.
Chocolate brown eyes gaze back at me through a pair of glasses resting on the tip of his nose. I gasp and in return he reaches out his hand towards me. I take it without hesitation. My eyes widen. His skin is warm, soft. Not like the winter ice.
"Your skin isn't cold." I whisper.
The edges of his lips twitch upwards, not in a way that's terrible; that sends shivers up my spine, not in a way that's beautiful; that makes me struggle to breathe, but in a way that's nice, lovely, in a way that makes me want to smile in return.
"Your hair is silver," he mutters edging close to me in a way that is the complete opposite of his usually inhuman grace. He weaves his hands through my hair, almost caressing it. My lips part in shock as I gaze up at the slant of hair between his fingers. It's metallic silver, not kind of silver that comes with old age, but like steel. I almost wonder if I'd be able to see my reflection in it.
I'm so close to him that I can feel his warm breathe on my skin, his chest rise and fall as breathes in and out, the rhythmic beating of his frail heart. He wraps his arms around me and I do the same in return, wanting nothing more than to be lost in his arms.
A shadow between the pillars catches me eyes, I reluctantly pull away from him.
There my mother stands, her wispy brown hair whips around her in the breeze. She seems much younger than how I remember her, her face looks as if it's been swept clean of any signs of age. She smiles and beckons me closer with her finger, and before I know it, vanishes into one of the arches of the Church.
I chase after her, getting to only the tops of the steps before I realise Simon isn't following me.
"Simon?" I call.
He hadn't moved a muscle since I left him. "I'll be there in a moment. I'm just admiring the sun."
I nod in return and make my way into the Church, pushing the great cross encrusted doors of the Church open.
There she was, stood at the alter in a brilliant white, angelic dress that fell and swirled around her ankles.
I run into her arms.
"My sweet Lesley," she whispers, running her hands through my hair.
"There's someone I want you to meet mother, he's just outside. He should be here in a moment." I smile at her, but then it falters when she doesn't return it.
"Honey, Simon cannot come in here." Tears are leaking down her glowing face. They look out of place on her, such a kind and gentle woman. They contrast heavily against her nature.
"What?" I gasp.
"Darling," she murmurs. "He's not like you or me. He's not of the living nor the dead."
Tears cloud my eyes. "But-" I take a deep breath. "He is now, didn't you see him?"
The doors slam open, I just back in shock. I turn to my mother, hoping her expression mirrors mine. It doesn't. She just looks on to the sunlight flaring into the Church.
"Lesley!" Simon shrieks. I let out a scream.
His hair is matted with blood and filth; his eyes had faded back into a shadowy black. His finger nails were broken and crusted with earth, it looked almost as if he'd dug himself out of his own grave. His glasses were missing and his skin was deathly pale. He looked dead.
"Lesley!" He doesn't come in, doesn't move but for his screams. He reaches out towards me, the shape of a cross burned into the palm of right hand.
I stumble towards him, my hand outstretched, wanting to hold onto him at the nearest possible second I can. I trip and slice my wrist on a piece of metal lodged in the door, scarlet blood almost forms a bracelet around my wrist.
"Lesley." His voice is softer, more silky this time, but cuts through me like ice. He grins maliciously, revealing pointed teeth. I gasp; his are rolled back to their whites. Blood from his inky hair trickles down on his face, he scoops it up onto one of his fingers and licks it, sending chills bursting down my spine. He looks terrible and beautiful all at once.
I'm just a couple metres from him now.
"Come here my sweet Lesley," he whispers. "Come out here and play my sweet Lesley. I'm hungry and you most certainly do look like a delicious treat."
I take a step towards him without even realising.
"Good girl," he cackles, more blood is dripping down his face now. I want to scream, I want to run, but I can't. A mixture of horror and lust passes through me as he violently jerks me towards him and licks my neck. His arms clamp me in place, but oddly, I find my arms weaving around him.
I try to pull him closer to me as if that were possible, but instead I stumble and fall back into the Church, dragging him along with me.
I'm too shocked to even scream as his cracks saunter down his skin and he breaks apart into nothing more than dust, flickering in the rays of sunlight that fill the Church.