Warning For Mentions of Violence

Fea

As we settled down, I stood in the living room and Walter walked right in. 

“Oh wow, this place even has a coffee maker!” I turned in his direction, I hadn’t noticed that before.

“If only we could use it.” I sighed.

“Who said we couldn’t?” As I looked up, I noticed he was holding up a packet of ground coffee.

“Where did you get your hands on that?”

“I have my ways.” He smirked. He then began the preparation. Once he was done he handed me my drink. I already felt relaxed by the first sip. However, it tasted off, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I ended up finishing my beverage, even with the offputting flavor. I headed over to the bedroom. It looked a bit old and tacky but it was definitely left untouched. As I critiqued the place, I couldn’t help, but feel a bit cold. I shook it off but it began worsening, it no longer was your typical cold…. It felt as if it was coming from the inside, as strange as that sounds. It felt a cold-like pain in my stomach, causing me to feel uneasy, the cabin and the aroma it fumed out wasn’t helping. My eyes began dilating, my hands began shaking, and my knees became weak, I was on the verge of breaking down… But why? What’s happening? This has never happened to me before….. As panic began settling inside me, I collapsed on the old dirty bed. The sheets were unbearable. Why? Why is this thing so damn itchy? It irritated my skin, but I was too weak to move. Instead, I wrapped myself in the old shaggy blankets and dozed off. 

As soon as my eyes collapsed, I woke up and I found myself in a dark room, I was laying on a cold pale ground. I got up from the wary situation and quickly looked around. I found myself standing in front of myself, or was it simply all in my head? I then came to realize, it was me. Even though this thing looks nothing like me. My marks that make one unique seemed to have been printed on her as well. To the knees and neck. I would be a fool to deny this conclusion and simply label it as a mere coincidence. She wore a nightgown that seemed to be torn up and smudged in dirt. I got closer, to see this supposed new image of myself. She was pale, paler than me. I brushed my fingers against her cheekbones. She looks malnourished. Nails overgrown, hair all over the place, and cold as ice. I continued to stare at her and began brushing through her hair. Just as I grazed my hand right through as gentle as I could be, a clump fell out. I couldn’t help but feel disgusted with myself. Is the universe informing me, this is to become of me? Or is this simply a dream?

I looked around once again to scan for anything I had missed, she then suddenly grabbed me. 

“What?!” I blurted out, I was startled and tried pulling away immediately, but I couldn’t. 

“H-h-hey! Let me go!” I tried pulling harder, nothing. Her head then drooped. She’s still not letting go! Her grip began tightening and I became frantic. 

“NOW, LISTEN HERE! LET GO!” Still, nothing. I resulted in pulling with two hands but somehow couldn’t break free. I pulled more and more and then it cut to red. Red painted my wrist. I was free but her rat-like nails managed to scratch deep into me. With the force I’ve been pulling, I fell back and managed to catch myself on my injured wrist, stupid of me. It hurts. It hurts so much. I clasp my other hand on my wrist in an attempt to stop the bleeding. Covered in a cold sweat and my own blood I looked at my supposed self, she was now staring right at me and all I saw…. was her face.

It was gone, her face looked mangled as if it was ripped off, It-it wasn’t like that before, what happened to her face?! She was covered in maggots that were going in and out of her own flesh. Her eyes were still wide open. They were filled with tears, but couldn’t close, her eyelids were missing and her teeth. No… her teeth were? There were more? She had teeth stuffed in her mouth, leaving it crooked. She began walking towards me. Her nails caused a loud scraping sound as she dragged her feet. Her breaths were heavy, shallow and she would gasp in each breath she took, she had trouble breathing. She couldn’t breathe. Wait, I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t breathe! I clapped my hands on my throat. I couldn’t breathe. How could I not breathe? She made her way on top of me. Her face was right above mine and I smelled the wretched smell of rotten decayed flesh, as her flesh and maggots fell onto me. I was gasping for air. However, as soon as my lips pried open out of desperation, she melted. Melted into thousands of pieces and entered my mouth. I felt every maggot and every bone passing right through me. As she was being sucked in by my mouth. I couldn’t bear it, it was as if I was being pulled apart, I teared up. I then saw a glimpse of 9 people in mud-like figures behind her. One stood out to me, it was a girl. She stood dead center of the group. Her face was all deformed and her teeth ripped out of her mouth leaving nothing, but her half-cut tongue hanging out. She ran towards me screeching in agony, and as soon as I was devoured by myself, she was right in front of me. Then BAM, I was awake. My whole body was shaking. I had trouble breathing and my heart was racing. 

Walter

I sat in the kitchen thinking about what I should prepare for dinner. We didn’t have much in the cabinets, but I guess it could do. I started to get my equipment so I could properly prepare the meal but I froze as soon as I saw a dog idling outside of our front porch. You know, I always wanted a dog, and I guess I could say the same for a brother. I dozed off looking down. I wanted a brother? I couldn’t help but feel a bit upset, but I jumped back into reality by the sudden movement of the dog. I decided to head outside. For all, I know this guy could be lost. I opened the door and the dog turned my way. The dog happened to be at an old age and was a brown overweight dog. It got startled by my sudden approach and ran off and for some ungodly known reason, I decided to go after it. It headed towards the thick forest. I was lost for a moment but heard a man. 

“Lucy! Come here, girl!” I made my way towards him and there she was.

“Oh, is this your dog?” He was confused by my sudden presence, just like his dog.

“Oh, Lucy? Yeah! Had her for a long while. Was she at your home?”

“Erm, she was. But don’t worry, she didn’t cause any trouble. I was just worried she could be lost, glad she had an owner close by.”

“Ah! Well, I’m glad you cared about this little old lady, she does get lost from time to time but she never wanders off too far. Say, did you happen to move into that cabin nearby?”

“The cabin? Well yes but only for a moment, we came by to visit our folks for a while.”

“Ah, that’s nice. My daughter is also visiting me for a while. Did you pack supplies? It can be hard to gather things out here you know.”

“Well, we don’t have much for groceries, do you happen to know any nearby stores?”

“Nearby? Well, the closest stores are located in the town, there’s pretty much nothing out here but us and the animals. If you need anything feel free to come over. We’re hosting a market. It only happens twice a month. It can get pretty packed, you should come with us!” 

“That’s really generous of you, we would love to, thanks…” I realized he never told me his name and I was unsure of what I should refer to him.

“Call me Eli, and you are?”

“Walter Grey, you can call me Walter.” He was quiet for a second, his attitude seemed a bit off.

“Oh, Walter Grey? Didn’t you used to live around here?” 

“That’s what others have been saying, but to be completely honest, I don’t even remember.” He looked disappointed by my answer, and I quickly spoke up as soon as the silence followed.

“Well, I should head back now, I’ll see you there!”

“Well alright, head back safely. The market is close by, it’ll be hosted on the cleared patch of land you saw on the way here.” I nodded and made my way back to the cabin, but I couldn’t help but continue on thinking about the reaction he gave me. I called out for Fea once I arrived back.

“I’m back! I went outside for a while, you wouldn’t believe what I found out!” No response. She usually always responds. I searched through the house for her and found her in the bedroom. She looked sick. I rushed to her side. 

“Hey, are you alright? You don’t look well.” She was gasping for air. I quickly grabbed her shoulders out of pure fear, she then immediately pushed me away. 

“I’m fine.” 

Why did she push me away? She got up and headed towards the bathroom. I knocked at the door. 

“Fea?” 

“I’m fine Walter, I just need to be alone.” I was at a loss for words. I was silent, then responded.

“Alright, I’ll go ahead and make dinner then.” All I could possibly do now is respect her wishes. I don’t think there’s anything I could possibly do. She came out once dinner was prepared 

“How are you feeling?”

“Not well, I just had a bad dream, I don’t really want to talk about it right now.” I nodded and proceeded to tell about the old dog and the man I met nearby as well as the market that’s going to be hosted in an attempt to break the silence. 

“That sounds fun, I’m not sure if I would be up for it if I get worse, but you should go. We need some groceries.” I nodded once again. Once we finished eating, I cleaned up the table and washed the dishes. The least I could do. 

“I’ll change the sheets, they’re extremely uncomfortable, get to bed soon, alright?” She announced.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to do it? I’m almost done here.” I was a bit worried, she could collapse at any moment.

“No, it’s fine, I’m getting better.” I couldn’t help but feel more worried by her clear lie. She headed to the bedroom and I finished washing the dishes. I went to bed. The next morning I woke up and she wasn’t in bed, so I panicked. What if she was unwell and collapsed somewhere? I quickly got up but found her in the kitchen in her robe. 

“Are you alright?” She didn’t say anything, she looked exhausted. 

“I’m sorry.” I was confused, what does she mean she’s sorry? 

“What for?”

“I’m sorry I got mad at you last night, I shouldn’t have pushed you away.”

“Don’t ponder over it, you were unwell. You look even worse right now, let’s just get you into bed.”

“Alright.” I lie her down and cover her with the new sheets she brought from home.

“You really thought of everything, huh?”

She chuckled, then dozed off. I got ready for the market and changed the dampened towel I had placed on her head. I whispered to her, “Well, I should be going, I’ll be back as soon as I can.” I brushed her hair away from her forehead and gave her a peck. I headed my way to the location Eli described. I did see it on our way here when Margret dropped us off. It shouldn’t be that far… As I wandered deeper into the forest, I started to feel uneasy and my throat began hurting a bit while I was reminded of the dream I had of my supposed brother. Do you think my parents know any possible answer? Should I ask them? As I was pondering on what I should do, I saw bright lights. As I got near, it was crystal clear that I had made it. However, it didn’t look like your ordinary market, it was more like a festival mixed with a market. Just as I stood in amazement, I saw Eli, but he had company. It was hard to make out who he was with, I mean, after all, it was crowded as he’d described. As I got closer, I saw him with a woman. She seemed too young for me to assume that that was his wife. Could it be his daughter he was talking about? 

“Hey, Walter! Come over here, don’t be shy now!” Somehow that statement just made me even more nervous.

“Hey, Eli!” 

“You came right on time, this is my daughter, Mary.” I turned to her and gave her a slight bow.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mary, I’m Walter.” I couldn’t help but feel that she looks awfully familiar. How come?

“Hello Walter, have we met before?” I stood there startled but was relieved that I wasn’t alone in the conclusion.

“Well, I have no idea, just now I thought how awfully familiar you look.” I smiled, hoping she might give me any possible answer.

“Hmmm…” She looked up and down at me and I couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

“Well, I can’t put my finger on it, but I’m sure it’ll come to us eventually.” I was a bit disappointed, but she’s right, might as well enjoy yourself then ponder over the unknown.

“Hey Walter, why not come join us?” Eli cheered. 

“Oh, are you sure that’s alright? I don’t want to interfere with your time.”

“It’s fine, isn’t it Mary?” 

“Yeah, we don’t mind!”