Truth Out Of Darkness
Chapter 28
"Where did it go?" Chloe looked around, confused. Just moments ago, Chloe had lain in a warm country field. Wildflowers stood tall around her and a warm summer breeze caressed her. She was happy, safe and warm, like the sun had wrapped arms around her. Somewhere off in the distance, a drum sounded.
Badum, badum. Steady and reassuring.
Badum, badum. In time with her own heartbeat.
Badum, badum. The two beats became one and she could no longer tell which was which.
It was like two halves of the same heart, long ago split apart, now coming back together. Becoming whole.
Chloe lay there drowsily, caressed by the sun, listening to calming heartbeats, when suddenly it went away. She was cold again and alone; her lone heartbeat pounding wildly.
"Where did it go?" She felt like something very important had left and she didn't know what it was or how to get it back.
She found herself in an old house. It was night. It was always night in that house.
The house was full of shadows, the shadows full of soft spoken words and half remembered dreams.
Fear lived in this house. It was a tangible, palpable force you could feel in the oppressively heavy air.
Chloe stood in a long hallway. At the end there was a door. She knew what was behind that door, for she had been in this house. Yes, she knew this house well.
Chloe sees herself in the mirror. She's smaller now, younger. Thirteen? Fourteen? She's fourteen years old. She looks young and innocent, but her eyes give her away. They are sad, haunted, old beyond time.
She begins walking toward the door. She has no choice. She does as she must, as she has always done, as she always will. She stops just outside the door. She hears soft voices on the other side. Someone is crying softly. She opens the door.
And screams.
Chapter 28
"Where did it go?" Chloe looked around, confused. Just moments ago, Chloe had lain in a warm country field. Wildflowers stood tall around her and a warm summer breeze caressed her. She was happy, safe and warm, like the sun had wrapped arms around her. Somewhere off in the distance, a drum sounded.
Badum, badum. Steady and reassuring.
Badum, badum. In time with her own heartbeat.
Badum, badum. The two beats became one and she could no longer tell which was which.
It was like two halves of the same heart, long ago split apart, now coming back together. Becoming whole.
Chloe lay there drowsily, caressed by the sun, listening to calming heartbeats, when suddenly it went away. She was cold again and alone; her lone heartbeat pounding wildly.
"Where did it go?" She felt like something very important had left and she didn't know what it was or how to get it back.
She found herself in an old house. It was night. It was always night in that house.
The house was full of shadows, the shadows full of soft spoken words and half remembered dreams.
Fear lived in this house. It was a tangible, palpable force you could feel in the oppressively heavy air.
Chloe stood in a long hallway. At the end there was a door. She knew what was behind that door, for she had been in this house. Yes, she knew this house well.
Chloe sees herself in the mirror. She's smaller now, younger. Thirteen? Fourteen? She's fourteen years old. She looks young and innocent, but her eyes give her away. They are sad, haunted, old beyond time.
She begins walking toward the door. She has no choice. She does as she must, as she has always done, as she always will. She stops just outside the door. She hears soft voices on the other side. Someone is crying softly. She opens the door.
And screams.