A snippet from the year that she stepped beyond her own limitations: a fictional tale
Photo by Chris Gallagher on Unsplash
I’ve never really liked Halloween. That’s not true, I didn’t mind it, but it was never a truly central holiday in my mind, not like my Birthday, or Christmas. It wasn’t until I was 15 that Halloween became a big thing for me.
It was on that night that he came for me.
The day started calm and fairly normal. I would be staying home, watching TV with my family, nothing unusual. It wasn’t even until bedtime that it happened.
Halloween was almost over, when I heard a knock at the door. My dad answered it, and called me down.
It was him.
I’d seen him around.
I always saw him around.
He acted like he didn’t really see me, but I knew he did. He made sure I knew it too.
That night, he looked at me differently. He talked normally, but as he did, his neck twisted, and before I could do anything, he grabbed me, and pulled me out into the night.
The door swung softly closed behind me, and I was left alone in the dark with him holding me tight. I couldn’t scream, it was as if I was paralysed, and my chest wouldn’t force out the sound.
He looked at me, and I could see the moon reflected in his eyes. “I knew I’d get you eventually” he whispered; hungry. I still couldn’t speak, my thoughts racing with what was going to happen next.
He pulled me out of the garden and down the road, and before I knew it, we were hidden behind the Chapel at the end of the street. The old lady who looked after the building had clearly gone to bed hours before, leaving us entirely on our own, with no-one to miss us.
I didn’t want to think about what he was planning to do to me. I certainly would never have predicted what had happened next.
“I’ve been watching you” he said quietly, “As soon as I saw you, I knew you were the one”
I looked at him. I still didn’t trust him. How could I even think of it? Somehow, I didn’t think I had a choice.
He let go of me, and I shrank back.
I couldn’t run, my legs seemed to have turned to jelly, and I fell to the floor.
Standing over me, he smiled, and said
“After tonight, your life will never be the same again”. I felt fear creep all over me, as the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
“Wh… what do you mean?” I found my voice. He smiled again and bared his teeth.
At what I saw, I tried to scream, but it came out as more of a whimper.
“Don’t be afraid. I’ve been watching you. I know it might seem hard, but this is your path” he said.
I felt numb.
All alone in the churchyard, I knew that I had no choice. He knelt down and leant over me, brushing the hair from my face and neck; caressing me gently.
I began to relax, before gasping, as pain shot through me, and tears began to fall, the night faded from my eyes, and I slipped into unconsciousness.
When I awoke, he was gone.
I didn’t see him again for a long time, but what happened that night was to change the course of my life for ever.
I’d never been anything special. I never thought I would amount to anything. Most people thought the same thing, but that night changed it all.
When I awoke, he was gone.
So was the night.
I was left lying in the damp dewy grass. It was foggy, and raining a damp, misty rain that soaked everything. Getting to my feet, I felt different. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I felt strong.
Powerful.
And I knew that nothing would ever be the same.
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Li Carter is a writer, artist and crafter. She lives in South Wales, UK, with her family, and five rescue dogs. She’s on Twitter @rbcreativeli , Facebook: Rainbow Butterfly Creative, and Instagram @rainbowbutterflycreative and is the author of My Only True Friend: The Beginning. She is currently working on a new series titled The QuickSilver Chronicles. She is the original Rainbow Butterfly, and wants to fill an ever darkening world with a little bit of beauty and creativity.
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