Two Sides of the Same Coin

I shiver. My rain-soaked hair covers my eyes, obscuring my vision. The sky rumbles, or maybe its my stomach, as I pull my coat tighter around my shoulders. My leaden footfalls echo within my head, the only sound, except for the constant, pounding rain. “You know you want to turn back. They are wondering where you are,” he whispers.
“It is because of YOU that I left,” I snap.
“One way or another…” he drawls.
“No!” I storm forward, firing mud everywhere as heavy raindrops hammer me down. A hunger pang makes me wince. I rifle through my bag and pockets searching for anything edible. “Don’t bother,” he sneers. I push him down and start to run, useless as it is. I know he will catch me, he always does.

My mind races, faster than my legs could ever know, bringing me to them. Always them. He always hated them. Maybe it was that they didn’t know he existed, my fault I guess. Because now he is getting violent, I knew I had to leave. And he would hunt, like a predator stalking prey. “There is no point in running,” he whispers,” we can get them back for everything bad that’s ever happened to us.” A secret desire, finally voiced, blossoms in my mind. I finally stop running, and now exhausted, fall to my knees. “I-I c-can’t, “I say haltingly,” They are too important to me.”
“Too bad, I did give you a chance.” I look at myself in a puddle, but I don’t see me. The face is the same but my, no, his eyes are different. Cold. The blood drains from my face as I realize how much control he’s getting.

Twin beams of light suddenly pierce the shadows on the horizon, blinding us. The spots begin to fade as the slick rubber tires pull to a stop. “Now we go home,” he murmurs, a snicker escaping him. The dark window rolled down, “You alright there boy?” The voice was kind but hinted at suspicion. The driver stared quizzically as a scramble for control went on. And I lost.

“I would really like a ride home,” The driver said something but I wasn’t listening. I managed to take control to look for escape routes. None.

“Check and mate, I believe.” The horror of realization that he would soon take them away struck home. His laughter echoed through my mind….

. . . . . . . .

I bolted upright; cold sweat had drenched the sheets. Long, vertical lines painted my face in the moonlight. “Prison isn’t that fun after all is it?” he enquired. My cellmate stirred. “Having nightmares, new fish?” He drawled, ”Killing your own family will do that to ya. I couldn’t do that. Too cold. Too brutal. You’ll do well here.” He laughed. It chilled me to the bone.


Chapter 2

Our footsteps slap on the wet concrete. The moist air from recent rain dampens our bodies, and the moonlight washes across his twisted face. I struggle uselessly. Where did he get such willpower to control? And how is mine so weak?

The final steps to the front door await, to the sleeping house ahead. My, no, now his, face is cracked with a terrible smile. He craves this, he trembles in excitement. ¨Don’t do this, ¨ a whisper, all I can manage.
¨Don’t? Hahaha, it is revenge. They tried to make me go away, tried to make us separate. I only do what you are too afraid too.¨ He booms, literal thunder in comparison. ¨Then, it’ll be just you and me.¨ Laughter escapes him as he reaches for the door.

Soundlessly, the door opens. White moonlight mixing with the lengthening shadows. He creeps in, a predator stalking helpless prey. Like a shadow, he glides to the kitchen, dragging me along as he chooses with sinister glee his instrument of pleasure/torture.

As he begins, we both move beyond rational thought, he acts like an animal, but one playing a sick game. I can only watch, horrified.
We share two emotions though. Hate and Love.
He hates all that I love, loves all that I hate. ¨Do I hate myself? ¨ I murmur. His psychotic smile terrifies me. ¨I do this for you.¨ His only words.


Their screams cut through my mind, my own screams now mingling with theirs. He laughs at their pain and looks them straight in the eyes until the light fades from each pair.
But I can still read those dark sockets. ¨Why?....¨


. . . . . . . .

I flop to the floor, a fish out of water, a mess of twisted sheets. Cold sweat covers my trembling body. Rasping breath passes cracked, dry lips.
I scramble to my feet, rushing though the house, checking frantically in every room. It couldn’t have been real. They are all safe.
Sleeping.

Rain begins to hit the windows. I know the only option left for me. I take my heavy jacket off the hook next to the door, turn the handle and start to cry.

. . . . . . . .

I shiver. My rain-soaked hair covers my eyes, obscuring my vision. The sky rumbles, or maybe its my stomach, as I pull my coat tighter around my shoulders. My leaden footfalls echo within my head, the only sound, except for the constant, pounding rain……..