The Path to Blood

My princess styled room was filled with thick darkness. The plastic crown nightlight in the left corner flickered on and off. Shadows of my stuffed animals bordered the sides of my painted pink walls. Besides the nightlight, there was a ray of light peering through the small crack between my door. Inside my room, I could smell warm bitter blood. I closed my blue emerald eyes with fear.



Outside my bedroom I woke up from a terrifying scream. This scream was unlike any scream I have ever heard. This scream literally made your blood run cold. It was so high pitched that it could break a wine glass. You could tell the victim was in brutal pain. The pitch changed with the pain level. The sound of crying was jumbled in.



The scream bounced off every wall and rang into my ears. The pain in the scream reverberated in my tired mind. It made my hungry stomach grow nauseous. I could literally feel my vomit ease it’s way up my lungs.



I hugged my soft teddy bear for protection. Mr. Snuggly, my teddy bear was the bravest and strongest teddy on the planet. Every night he fights the monsters under my bed, because they want to eat me. With Mr. Snuggly by my side I can sleep easier. Knowing that he will guard me.



“Colby?” I whispered. Teardrops of water gushed out of my eyes. My tears drenched my rosy cheeks and ran down my nightgown. The pink silk fabric started to stick to my light tanned skin.



“Colby!” I whispered through my tears. Hoping he would hear me.



My mind was now focused on Colby. Colby is my 8 year old brother, he’s a year older than me. Colby is more like a father than brother to me.



I forced my skinny body out of my canopy bed. Under my skin my bones were shaking with fear. My heart beat pumped twice as fast. With slow steps I walked to Colby’s room.



With Mr. Snuggly clenched to my chest, I walked down the coffee stained rug and held my breath from the scent of blood. I walked past all the creepy portraits hanging crookedly on the plain white walls and ignored the constant screaming from behind. Uneasiness turned in my hungry stomach.



Once I reached Colby’s bedroom, I knocked on the door as hard as I could.



Inside Colby moaned in his deep voice. “Who is it?”



“Colby it’s Haley! Are you alright?” I cried.



Colby immediately opened the door. His caramel brown, skater hair looked like it was tossed back and forth. Kinda like a toss salad. His glassy green eyes were wide with worry.



“Haley why are you crying?” He kneeled down and wiped away my tears with his warm, gentle fingers.



Another disturbing scream traveled down the hallways. Colby’s green irises grew bigger. With shock I dropped Mr. Snuggly and flung to Colby. I hugged his warm body and wouldn’t let go. Colby’s strong arms hugged me tight. It felt like I was the princess and he was my castle.



“What’s happening Colby?” I asked. My tears were getting his red checkered shirt wet.



“I’m not sure, but I’m going to find out!” He pushed me away and pointed to his closet. “Go hide in my closet. When your in there you’ll always be safe.”



“But I want to go with you!” I whined. Colby gave me his evil glare and walked away, down the long hallway.



I know Colby is right about hiding but I can’t let him go alone!



I grabbed Mr. Snuggly and threw him on Colby’s cartoon, monster themed bed. Colby was out of my sight by now, I panicked. I sprinted down our creaky hallway and turned left to our lackadaisical kitchen. My nightgown swung back and forth with the movement of my feet.



“Colby! Where are you?” I cried softly. The only noise I heard was the rain fall on each of our black shingles on the roof and drip away. They would land on our blossomed rose bushes that Colby planted for me.



After about a minute another blood curdling scream launched. The scream sounded like it was coming from the living room. Building up the courage I ran past my parent’s bedroom. Down another hallway I ran, constantly looking behind me, making sure my parents weren’t following me. Once I reached the living room I saw Colby glimpsing through the door.



“Colby? What do you see?” He didn’t answer.



I crawled in front of him and sat on his big clown feet. I peeked open the door a little bit and saw what Colby witnessed. I stared up at him with tears streaming down my face and my lips trembling. Colby looked down at me with guilty in his eyes.



“This is all my fault.” He murmured.