Raveling You(54)
Darkness settles
a heavy quilt
suffocating.
I can’t breathe.
Whisper the words,
They say
Whisper them and we’ll free you.
Whisper.
Whisper.
Whisper,
that you worship us.
Belong to us.
That you’ll do anything for us.
We’re coming back for you.
I swipe my finger to unlock my phone and illuminate the screen. Then I aim the light toward the forest. A screech echoes from amongst the thick leaves then a figure zips from the trees at me. I stumble back, clumsily drop the phone, and darkness smothers me.
Find the fucking phone.
Footsteps rush around in soft pitter-patters.
I collapse to my knees.
Find the fucking phone.
“Ayden, Ayden, Ayden,” a low chant echoes around me. “You think we’d let you get away that easy?”
Ayden, Ayden, Ayden,
do you hear us calling your name?
Feel the cuffs around your wrists.
We own you now, Ayden,
there’s no getting out, even when you leave these walls.
Ayden, Ayden, Ayden,
Do you see what we can do?
Do you see the blood that stains the ground?
If you leave, we’ll come after you.
“Ayden, Ayden, Ayden.” Whispers mix with the wind. “We have her. Your sister. And we’re coming for you.”
“It’s just your imagination.” I cover my hands with my ears. “You’re just remembering again. Nothing is happening… Nothing… There’s nothing out there.”
I feel a tug on my hair, strands getting ripped out, then nothing. With a deep breath, I lift open my eyelids. Nothing but darkness and trees and I lower my hands from my ears.
“Ayden.” A voice slams up from behind me.
I stagger to my feet and spin around, only to find Dr. Gardingdale standing there with shock frozen on his face. “Where did you…” I reel back around. The area is silent. The trees still. As if nothing happened. “I don’t…” My mind races a million miles a minute.
What the hell just happened?
Did I just imagine it?
Or was it real?
They said they’re coming back for you, like they did when you were pulled out of that house. Is this it? Are they returning to me? But then, why taunt me instead of taking me? Why scare me, rip out a chunk of my hair, and break into my house to take my knife? Is this part of the ritual? And what is the ritual for?
“What’s wrong?” he asks as he surveys the parking lot then the forest. “Did you see something out there?”
I face him and shift my weight so the trees are in my peripheral vision. Then I give the doctor a recap of what I think I just saw, trying to explain to him the best that I can.
“It could have been a homeless person or some kids messing around.” He scratches his balding head as he stares at the trees and shrubbery. “Both have caused commotions around here before.”
“But they said my name.” I lower myself onto the curb and drop my head in my hands. “Or at least I think they did… Maybe that was just part of the surfacing memory. Maybe the amnesia therapy was delayed or something.” I grip the back of my neck. “I don’t know though.. I thought they pulled my hair. And it actually hurts right now.”
“Pulled your hair?” A pucker forms at his brow. “I think we should at least report the incident to the police, just to be on the cautious side.” He sits down on the curb next to me. “I wish you’d have told me how bad the memories were—that you were having a hard time grasping reality while they are happening.”
“It’s never been that bad before.” I raise my head and stare out at the cars on the road ahead of us.
“It might be wise if I prescribe you something,” he suggests. “Just until you get a better grappling with remembering.”
“I’m not taking drugs,” I reply in a clipped tone. But after seeing my mother turn into a monster when she was doped up, I made a vow never to use drugs of any kind.
“It’s just a mild sedative that you can take if you have another episode.” He pushes to his feet and cautiously moves toward the trees. “You don’t have to take it all the time, only when needed.” He bends over and scoops something up before returning to me. “Let’s go inside so we can report this.” He hands me the object he picked up—my phone. “Then we’ll call Lila.”
I follow him back inside his office, take a seat in the chair, and listen to him recount what happened to the police. Everything that “allegedly” or “possibly” happened. I agree with him to an extent. I’m not positive of what was real after I heard the scream.