Arrhythmia
By destroy
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Part. VII

Shadows drawn in the split face of a dream drove me from sleep. Our black forms on the wall lay entwined like Siamese twins, breathing rhythmically, relying on a single heartbeat. For the longest time I had only watched her, wishing that I was able to join her slumber. My eyes burned harshly through her skin, each blink only flashed an image where she was slowly carving herself into my eyelids where she might remain forever.

Here in the dark we were both the same; there were no families or homes to return to, only each other. That thought somehow left me at peace though I knew there was no medium in this place. The gloom will lift where I would only fade from her or the world will grow darker until she can't see me.

I closed my eyes tightly and began to grow frustrated that my logic didn't remain. Even my boots didn't seem to fit correctly anymore, I felt so unfamiliar to myself. I simply didn't know what I would do or how I would react to Rose not being here.

With each breath I took, time kept pushing me further away. I couldn't find my footsteps to follow my ghost back home.

-

She clutched my hand tightly in hers as she slowly woke. Her eyes focused intently onto mine with a calm understanding of where we were; there was almost no fear. At this moment, I realized how it would serve me better if she didn't look at me in this way. My insides were burning once more and my heart nearly exploded when my gaze left hers and trailed down to her other hand still grasping her locket.

My debt was so bitter, I nearly gagged. I didn't understand how the child had slipped my mind.

"Sharon."

Her lips curled into a smile. She seemed ambitious towards what seemed like starting a new day, as though her strength had been restored and Silent Hill was just a dream.

Thoughts raced quickly throughout my head, dizzying me and having me forever grateful for rest. I didn't want to leave our private space, the impure hush. I swallowed roughly this moment that was gone and returned a weak smile. Fingers drawn out, I caressed the delicate strands of hair from her eyes, seeking some sad favor of what could've been one last touch of her and rose up from the bed.

"Yes. Sharon."

I quickly turned my back to her and pretended to busy myself with my magazine clips. My heart was pounding so hard and at this moment I really just wanted to cry, to scream, to run. Did my touch just pass through her like a stranger on the street? Am I really so lifeless that she just does not feel me? I felt her gaze cutting through my back as she still sat on the bed. There was nothing left for me to do but find Sharon, return them to their family and…

"Cybil"

With reflex, my eyes closed at what was such an icy whisper on the back of my neck. I didn't move. The vicious fibers threaded into her core, hot to the touch on my lips and cold as the sea to my heart were set to destroy me. She grasped my arm and turned me to face her. I tried my hardest not to meet her. Maybe now she knew how weak I really was. The firearm was slowly pulled from my clutch as she carelessly tossed it onto the bed beside us and wrapped her arms around me warmly. My body automatically joined her as she was such my second nature.

"Tell me that you're scared," her breath hot again on my neck, feverous.

My disguise was decaying, crumbling at my feet. I'd never wished harder for a shadow to hide in. I needed Rose. I wanted her. I feared losing Rose in the darkness more than my own survival. The fright of her not existing to me was worse than death. Her thumb stroked the back of my skull soothingly. My mouth remained stitched shut, still grasping at her shoulder blades. Torsos pressed against each other, I wanted to crash through her, wave farewell to my sad skin and grab her silver lungs which haunted me so bad. I was saving the last of my sanity for her. I'd pretend I was brave until I couldn't take it. At this moment, I just couldn't bring myself to say it…

…I've never been so scared.

Waiting for a response that never came, her weight lifted from me as she turned and headed towards the door. Her hand was still wrapped in mine as she pulled me behind her. I swiftly wiped the warm tears swelling behind my dead vision, retrieved my gun and followed her through the passageway; our footsteps kicked up dust and clouded the love of the room as though it was never there.

-

Stolen sunlight left a miserable trace across the familiar pale sky, strewn across what seemed like a child's forgotten dollhouse. Again, the silence was deafening between us. I felt as though I should rehearse our escape plan for when the sirens sound, but my tongue was twisted and slack behind my teeth. I was beginning to feel angry and defeated at my cowardice lately and when I saw her small frame walking in front of me, one inch below me, I withdrew my hand from hers and spoke.

"Let's go this way."

"I think she's this way."

Her voice trailed behind me as I continued walking down my own path without her. I knew that it was unfair to direct my blind wrath towards her marriage, her daughter. All I could ask for was her hatred in return, breaking me when I step out of line. Despite the harm I'd already done, harm that couldn't be undone, this was what seemed like better behavior as my callous reputation was already tainted. I couldn't mask the feeling of evil boiling inside of me, Rose was so helpless but still I pressed on and she followed me quickly.

If we were to survive this, her lips had to just become one of my memories, her breathless gasp; just my fantasy.

Squinting down the street, I tried to comprehend what my next idea was when I felt her reach for my hand once more. What dead emotion was under her bones? Recovering was fatal. Quickly pulling away, I tugged on my firearm and clutched it in both hands instead.

She gave me air, a new day to venture, but I just couldn't breathe. There was nothing I wanted more than to have her always, but I knew the whispers and screams were lies. Strangely, there was so much I felt for this woman I hardly knew.

Recoiling from affection had me drowning in scarlet, choking in my own blood as my heart pleaded with me to hold her, to take her. But I continued to fondle the cold steel in my palm abandoning comfort and security, spending my life alone, as she lagged beside me desperate and dazed,

Oh, the things we do for the sake of little girls.

-
A/n – Reviews are always appreciated. Part VIII to be added shortly.