(I am dedicating this chapter to Lexlex because this reader is completely loyal to my story, and urges me to continue and hopefully finish my story when I’m too lazy to get to a computer. You’re awesome! Hope you enjoy it!)

“Not again,” I muttered under my breath in frustration.

“Courtney!” I screamed for the hundredth time as once again the kitchen lights were extinguished. Sighing in annoyance I threw the pencil in my hand across the room as I eased from my stool at the counter before shifting towards the light switch. My hazel orbs widening in the darkness I budged from my spot unwittingly snagging my foot on the counter’s wooden surface, a yelp of pain slipping from my lips before I could contain it.

A giggle of warped amusement sounded out into the silence.

Hopping on one leg towards the switch I found bitterness lacing into my tone as I mimicked my mother’s past words, “think of all the sacrifices I make for you.” The sudden illumination at my hand’s movement did little to lessen my exasperation as I limped back to my seat disheartened by how bleak my night had become.  “I don’t ask much from you girls; one night of babysitting really won’t kill you.”

“You know you really shouldn’t make fun of mommy like that, Anna.”

Jumping within my seat I allowed my startled gaze to fall upon Courtney’s sudden emergence beside me, fright besieging my pounding heart. “God, next time make a sound,” I retorted breathlessly, my palm clutching my chest. My fingers rose to wipe the exhaustion from my eyes as I mumbled, “And you really shouldn’t eavesdrop either.”

Her features turned angelic as she beamed in the face of my irritation, those big blue eyes peering up at me, her loose brown curls falling in pretty ringlets down the back of her sweet powder blue dress. “It’s the only way to learn anything of any true value.”

Rolling my eyes, “here’s some valuable information that you might find useful.” Glancing at my watch, “it’s almost nine-thirty…” leaning down condescendingly down to her level, “and do you know what happens at ten?”

A brow rose over her amused cobalt lenses, “no Orphan Annie, but I’m sure you’ll tell me.”

My smile disappeared from my lips as I pulled back, my arms crossing over my chest, “I told you to stop calling me that.”

Laughing at the anger on my face she retorted, “why would I do that when it fits you so well?’

I watched her walk in a slow progression around the counter, her small form climbing onto a stool facing me, her tiny hands resting firmly upon the marble surface that separated us. “You’re a bastard child borne from a useless criminal whose only contribution to this world that he’ll make is the moment he leaves it.”

My mouth fell ajar appalled by the cruelty of her words, “Courtney-.”

“And let’s not even start on Mommy.” She leaned in mockingly closer, her small pointer finger rising, “one word, Chesterfield.”

My brows furrowed in confusion, “what the hell is Chesterfield?”

Amusement tugged at the corners of her lips as she wrenched free what looked like a pamphlet from the front pocket of her dress. “I’m glad you asked.” Throwing the small folded booklet onto the table’s smooth surface I shifted to get a better look at the picture of an historic brick building, girls in uniform smiling blandly on the lawn in front of it before my gaze rose to clash with hers. “I’ll say it plainly for you Anna since obviously you’re having trouble keeping up,” she insulted gesturing towards my open Chemistry book. “Chesterfield is the all girls’ private boarding school dear old Mother wants to send you and Andrea to.”

My fingers trembled as I reached to take hold of the pamphlet’s glossy covering, my body’s tremor making a mockery of my imposed vacant features. “You’re lying.”

She rolled her eyes prettily,” why would I do that? I found that in her dresser. Just ask her if you don’t believe me.”

“She would- wouldn’t do that to us.”

She smirked, “yeah, and your stuttering gives great confidence in your argument.” She giggled at my disbelief, a sound that seemed so innocent and yet menacing at the same time. “I do believe that kills two birds with one stone.”

My sight rose to endure her ridicule as she continued, “think about it Annie. You the unwanted will be completely out of the way. She can get rid of you and still say that she’s doing it to better your education.”

Her petite hand rose to snatch a cookie from the plate, her body jumping back down to her meager height, her shoulders barely reaching the counter’s edge. “And I highly doubt you’ll be seeing much of your beloved father even if he could afford the plane ticket.”

Glaring at her contented form, my mouth twisted into that of a grimace, “you’re an evil little-.”

Her finger rose in a mocking gesture of censorship, “now, now Annie. Please do remember you’re supposed to be my role model.” Laughing at the pure hilarity of that comment she ignored the hatred within my gaze as she happily skipped towards the entrance, her silken hair bouncing out behind her.

My eyes fell back towards the evidence of my mother’s further rejection, my lips trembling as I tried to contain the frantic beat of my heart. Blinking away my troubled emotions I responded manically, “its time for your bath.”

I heard Courtney’s receding footsteps cease as she turned back to me, her voice suddenly so free of malice, so full of young innocence, “my show isn’t over.”

Twisting in my chair to face her fully, “yeah, well you know the rules. Mom wants you in bed by ten.”

Smirking at my unexpected strive at authority she asked sweetly, “how about a deal? You let me finish my show while you run the bath water…”

Rising to regard her irritably I countered, “And what do I get out of this?”

Standing within the doorframe the smile upon her lips vanished leaving her eyes extinguished of all former simulated warmth, “simple, I don’t make your life a living hell while you do it.”

The door closed, her footsteps leading her back towards the den as I exhaled visibly. My hands rose to wipe away the obvious signs of fatigue eating away at everything I was as my hazel lenses wandered back to Courtney’s unveiling. My eyes remained on the sight of such forced happiness depicted upon the girl’s faces until the image blurred within useless tears. Blinking away such futile vulnerability I whispered dejectedly, “all I asked for was one night.”

Shoving the offensive paper inside my Chemistry book my past self slammed it close before moving resigned towards the back staircase, my future essence quiet while inwardly watching the missing pieces of that night slowly slot into place. My feet were soundless as I made it to the upstairs hallway, my body unafraid of the shadows lurking in corners. My past nature remained blind to what my inner identity saw clearly. In silent dismay my more knowledgeable personality within witnessed the horrid sight of crimson irises stalking my every movement while seemingly choosing to linger in darkness.

Guilelessly my hand shoved open the doorway to Courtney’s room flicking on the lighting while privately counting the minutes until this torture would end completely ignorant to the whole host of demons mutely scrutinizing my every step. They remained along the sidelines of every room I entered as if slowly watching a show commence, as if leisurely placing bets on their chosen victor.  

My foot kicked aside countless toys, dolls with their heads missing, bears with their stuffing torn out. I grunted in annoyance gazing upon the wasted extravagance while muttering, “And she’s their favorite.”

Tanned fingers pushed open the bathroom’s door, my former identity walking naively straight through a crouched apparition of a demon still in shadow form as I illuminated the small space. Its sinister appearance separated, its mouth gasping as if in searing pain only to reconfigure directly behind my form before hurrying to sink further into darkness’s shade.

Sighing tiredly I reached undaunted for the golden knobs, testing the water’s temperature before grabbing the bubble bath. There my body froze, my eyes mindlessly watching as endless soap suds filled the tub as I tried and failed to block out my emotions. Lids closed, my fingers pushing back my curls as I let the weight of my tresses fall further down my spine, my neck extended and my shoulders loosened, a long weary sigh falling from my lips. I rose to venture towards the mirror, my appearance seemingly worried even as I tried to hide it, my thoughts far more preoccupied with Courtney’s cruel secrets revealed than the partially scorched demon standing directly beside me.

Half of his face was merely blood soaked bone, the other singed by embers. Skin remained slipping off features, melting like wax before an open flame.

I turned on the sink’s tap, splashing cold water on pale features. My fingers grasped the white hand towel to dry my face while completely blind to the raging hatred coming off the adjacent demon in waves as he glared at my absolute obliviousness. I dropped the damp cloth upon the gleaming counter while staring deeply into hazel eyes. Fixated by golden orbs I wondered what exactly it was my mother saw that she hated so much when she gazed upon me while internally my future essence remained frantic at the sight of so many. Inwardly my captured future self remained panicked at the mirror’s reflection depicting the image of countless ravenous forms surrounding my lone figure while furtively wondering how the hell it was that I maintained such ignorance about their existence for so long.

My former self twisted back towards the tub, my clueless image continuing to walk through demons as their forms disassembled in my wake. My fingers shut off the water as I shouted, “Courtney, bath time!”

My yelling was met only with silence.

Gritting my teeth in irritation I muttered under my breath, “every freaking time.”

Rising swiftly, the horde of demons parting from my path as I made my way back to the landing I screamed, “Court, your bath is ready!”

Still the house remained noiseless.

There was no answering retort, no sound of small footsteps coming my way, not even a moan of the wooden floorboards. Rolling my eyes, I stalked down the back staircase really not in the mood for my sister’s warped idea of fun only to pause at the discovery of Court’s obviously newfound form of amusement. Blood printed footsteps lead from the stairs through the kitchen on towards the hallway.

My hands fell to the start of my jeans, my palms resting along my hips, “great, just fucking great.”

I grabbed a bucket, cleaning solution, and a brush from the hall closet before stooping onto bended knee to brutally scrub the paint from the lumber’s exterior, the hardened bristles scratching the wood’s polished surface. I blew a wayward curl from my view muttering, “as if you breaking stuff won’t get me into enough trouble.”

I twisted towards the closed doorway shrieking, “I hope you don’t think that this was in any way funny!”

Appearing suddenly at my side, “I don’t know… I got a little chuckle out of it.”

Gasping while clutching my chest once again I openly glared up at her, “we are not playing hide and seek right now. The time for games is over.”

Her brow rose over amused bright blue orbs as she stepped slowly along her marked path, her footsteps marking new tracks for me to clean. “I wasn’t aware we were playing games, Anna.”

I scrubbed at a newly formed print, the paint only smearing across the floorboards. “Why? What part of your brain thought that this was a good idea?”

A small smirk lied upon her pink lips, those eyes oddly joyful, “everybody does finger paint. I just wanted to be original and do my feet.”

Gesturing towards the stained floor, “does this look like paper to you?”

Her grin widened, “no, but it looks like fun.”

Beyond tired of her antics I callously threw the brush at her delicate feet, “then you fucking clean it.”

Her answering laughter sounded more contented than scared of anything I could do to her. It was only now as my future essence replayed this scene that I noticed the way her gaze held such pity for me as she openly mocked and ridiculed. How she clearly found it ironic that I was the older one and yet obviously knew so little. Those orbs held such contempt for my innocence, for my naivety. I wondered now that I could see the truth if even back then did she ever once question her orders to attack, or if she simply enjoyed deceiving and manipulating me.

“Since you’re such a little mind reader now how about you tell me what I’ll do next?” Courtney taunted.

A flash of lightning pierced through the room, her eyes altering for mere seconds to that merciless scarlet before transforming back to that beautiful blue hue. My body fell backwards, the bucket of water spilling across the floor.

“What the hell?”

Smirking at the fright pouring from my figure she easily countered, “Too late.” Sprinting playfully towards the hall, her words spoken floated back over her shoulder, “catch me if you can…”

I felt my former self rise before blindly following Courtney into the darkness while I now wondered… why didn’t I question the changing of her eyes… or even her ability to appear and disappear at will. Was I that blind? Was I that similar to my mother that I allowed myself to never truly see what was right in front of me?

My disgust for my past self forced me to plant my feet firmly to the ground unwilling to watch the scene of my own stupidity play out again. My body moved forward even though I willed it to hold still until essence and form disconnected excruciatingly. It felt as if my skin was being leisurely ripped from bone until dazed… I watched from the kitchen’s entrance as my former self carried forth without me.

Bewildered at this unknown ability I gazed down at my shaking hands noticing how effortlessly I could see the literal floorboards through my skin as I heard within the background my other half whisper, “Courtney?”

Stunned, I trailed slowly watching as my past image traveled through the darkened room. Navigating gradually through the clutter her voice sounded more frightened with each passing second. A minion eager to rip into her docile form stalked her movements, saliva dripping from his blood soaked incisors, scorched skin barely hanging onto exposed muscle as a talon rose directly above her head as she paused in the darkness, the television the only source of light. That claw swept out violently towards her cranium, its edges so sharp that a curl was sliced in two as a larger demon tackled its cohort before it could do further damage, their bodies crashing towards the ground. The impact of figures tussling as they slammed into the dresser caused its foundation to tremble, its drawer to extend before the stronger of the two viciously twisted the neck of the ravenous fiend until I heard its bone pop. The body of the wounded slowly plummeted to the ground, its form crashing into the drawer causing it to bang close, its head now resting inert next to its corpse. 

Gasping my younger half twisted petrified towards the sound, “Court, this isn’t funny anymore.”

Idiotically I watched as she once again ignored every obvious sign screaming for her to get out of this house, choosing instead to walk straight into darkness’s clutches as I witnessed another minion literally sweep her feet right from underneath her. Her body crashed harshly into the glass table while managing to take the lamp down with her. Painfully I stood by as glass embedded palms, watched as tears gushed from hazel eyes as she was forced to yank them from our skin.

Watched as demons crowded around my form licking at my puddles of blood like dogs fought over a bone.

Blinking back moisture as the memory replayed my hand pushed through my curls in aggravation, the sigh that slipped from my lips a sign of pure exhaustion. “They were toying with me all along.”

“Demons like to revel before the kill. You should know that by now,” a voice similar to my own spoke out into the silence.

My brows furrowed before I twisted from the sight of my misguided feeding in disgust before moving further into the room to face my reflection within the glass frame along the wall. “You said I couldn’t separate myself.”

My darker twin smirked, “I think by now we’ve learned that rules when applied to you don’t always work.”

Internally I felt hope slowly fill my heart, “then maybe-.”

Her features turned cold, “you need to face facts, Marie. Andrea is dead.”

“But you just said-.”

“Trust me, detaching from a past self is a huge leap from traveling back in time to prevent death. And as strong as you are even you can’t pull off that kind of miracle.”

Blinded by uncontainable emotion my eyes wandered back to the sight of my past walking foolishly out into the darkened hall still stupidly searching for Courtney. “You don’t know that. You know as much about these powers as I do.”

My gaze clashed back with my mirror image, “as you have already stated rules don’t always work when applied to me.”

Her expression altered into that of what I would assume was distress for I had never truly seen that emotion upon such normally ominous features. “Sadly Baby girl, I’m afraid that’s one truth you will never prove me wrong about.”

Trying to blink away my crumbling composure I heard the beginning of the destruction of the library, my screams piercing the silence as I whispered, “I guess we’ll just see about that.”

My footsteps were virtually nonexistent as transparent naked soles followed the sounds of the library’s devastation. I paused within the hall gazing back towards the darkness that had once engrossed me. Taking a step towards it instead of the spectacle of my almost fatal collapse, my eyes strained focusing to see beyond the dark cloud of indistinctness. To witness what lurked within ebony enclosures only to see the sudden illumination of reddened lenses like that of countless lighting bugs slowly revealing its glow within the dimness.

My footsteps instantly halted, my breathing labored as I realized just how many had lied in wait surrounding my clueless form. Back tracking quickly I unwittingly slammed right back into my oblivious identity stumbling from the library’s entrance, my frightened soul bonding instantly within her trembling figure into that of an unbreakable hold. No longer was there a separation of thoughts, of actions. In that moment we unintentionally became one completely trapped in a nightmare labeled my memories. As if spellbound I traveled towards the light like a foolish moth to a flame, forced to repeat previous mistakes.

“Courtney,” I whispered into the surrounding stillness, the occasional clap of thunder nearly stopping the rampant pound of my heart.

A playful giggle lingered with the glacial wind, its breeze trickling through my tousled tendrils. “Courtney?”

I heard my name whispered, my curls swung out around me as enlarged hazel lenses peered out into the surrounding pitch blackness.

Swallowing with difficulty I questioned, “Hello, is somebody there?”

“Aww, come on Anna,” I heard murmured causing panicked eyes to twist back in the direction of the light only to be confronted with the vast emptiness of the protruding hallway. “You’re not even trying.”

I felt rage swallow my fear instantly, its presence taking along with it not only trepidation but my ability to make wise choices as I stalked lividly towards the hall’s conclusion screaming, “I’m done with this. You can stay hiding all you want!”

Halting to peer irately around me I ranted, “Do you hear me, Court? I’m done playing fucking hide and seek!”

My footsteps ceased suddenly at the sound of someone approaching directly behind me. Turning slowly, my heart beat quickening, my head instantly connected with the metal rod of the golf club in Courtney’s hands as she swung it abrasively towards my unguarded face. Upon impact my body crumpled to the hard ground, my vision blurred while even through a sight indistinct in its view I saw through a pained haze as my little sister’s tiny form shifted over me. Her sadistic eyes appeared gleeful, speckles of my blood now lingered upon her pretty blue dress.

My hand rose, red liquid tainting its tint as if silently beseeching her to stop only to witness her expression never altering from its desire to see my life extinguished as that crimson colored club rose back up over her head.

“That’s because you’re too dumb to realize you’re the one that should be hiding,” she cruelly uttered just before with a strength no human could ever obtain she swung the club straight for my cranium.

My vision went sightless for several horrifying moments, that black void taking over my perception. My lips fell open gasping, choking on the unspeakable pain erupting along my frame as strike after strike collided with the fragileness of my figure. Blood splattered my face, my sight now wavering in and out but in a haze of unpitying red. The vision of my sister repeatedly clobbering my defenseless form with no sign of stopping her brutal assault left me not only dejectedly overpowered but heartbroken.

“Courtney,” I attempted to plead through the gurgling sound of blood spewing from my busted lips, its taste choking me.

Her attack halted, her tiny figure panting in seemingly physical exertion. Brows furrowed at my outwardly pathetic attempt to reach her compassionate nature right before my consciousness with this world was viciously severed as unsympathetically she swung her weapon directly for the hazel tint of my imploring orbs.

Her final blow at last silencing me completely…

My mind was a swirling vortex of reality and the unexplainable. I saw visions of my Grandmother before me. Quick flashes of trees taller than anything ever perceived here on this earth, water so beautifully clear of any pollutants, of the sky so gloriously untouched by man’s unwitting contamination. Irises eerily similar to my own appeared pained to gaze upon me, gray tendrils drifting around an aged beauty as words spoken from her lips interweaved with actuality’s harshness.

“Am I dead?” I questioned, my eyes gazing around the sheer exquisiteness of this place while inwardly knowing there was no way this could be on earth.

“Not quite,” she whispered gently. “There is much you will soon find out.”

“I feel… I feel,” I stumbled just as the pain returned with a burning vengeance. My eyes opened into blood soaked slits to take in the sight of the annoyance lingering within Courtney’s pissed features, Andrew standing calmly behind her. They both stood watching emotionlessly as I struggled for breath.

Rick’s assistant removed his spectacles along with a small cloth to wipe the smudge from glass before returning them to the bridge of his nose. “I must say you are your father’s daughter when it comes to emitting out punishment.”

Loose ringlets swung over one shoulder, blue eyes innocently gazed upon him as Court inquired, “Whatever do you mean?”

Smirking in the presence of such false purity he persisted, “would it not have been more… I don’t know… humane to simply end her life quickly?” His footsteps brought him closer, his shrewd eyes inspecting the swollen nature of my bruises resulting in my face being almost unrecognizable. “You could have stopped her access to air with a simple snap of your fingers. Perhaps… sliced open her throat with an effortless slash of your nails. Heck, even propelling her tumble down a series of steps would have been quicker. But no, you preferred to club her to death.”

She shrugged indifferently, her conscious if she truly ever had one obviously unaffected by his words. “I attempted to take her life with power-.”

He snorted, gesturing towards the demolished library, “oh is that back there your attempt at ending her life mercifully?”

Her blue orbs quickly engulfed in rampant flames, its flicker burning away all trances of its sweet cerulean tint leaving behind only that damning scarlet hue. “Do you know what its like to be compared to complete inferiority?”

Courtney’s reddened gaze fell back to the slow progression of my rising chest, my bruised skin, massive contusions enveloping my beauty. “To compete for Daddy’s attention when it’s solely focused on something so… completely useless?”

Diminutive footsteps circled my crumpled form, “she never displayed even an ounce of alleged greatness and still he feared she could defeat me.” The club suddenly slammed into my leg forcing me to whimper indistinguishably.

“To train day and night the moment my abilities began to manifest because he worried she would become more powerful than I.”

Blinding pain erupted in the pit of my stomach as a sadistic whack crashed into my gut, tears lingering within the paths of blood coating my face.

“I endured torture because of …her,” again I received an agonizing strike to my chest. “Had what little soul I possessed ripped into tiny pieces thanks to my big sister,” a brutal throbbing exploded throughout my arm, my battered mind fearing its bone now broken. “Saw more death and destruction a mere child my age should never see.”

The golf club struck my spine causing me to arc away unbearably, the sting vibrating throughout my core.

“And I’m supposed to grant her mercy?”

Sighing tiredly in response to her warped speech of cruelty Andrew attempted to interrupt. “Now Courtney-.”

“Mercy?” she questioned eccentrically. The weapon rose within unyielding fingers lingering within the air. The lightning made its silver tint sparkle within its brightness as she brutally vaulted it once more towards my head, her voice shrieking, “where the hell was mine!”

Gasping, my hands rose to tenderly touch my bruises only to discover an uninjured skull, my bewildered eyes fell to the sight of my dress once again blowing in the sudden gust. The ocean gently lapped against my feet as panicked, the vision of such beauty blurring within my eyes.

“Descansa a mi hija, its only natural to be scared, Anna Marie,” my grandmother consoled, the vision of her distorting with the coming darkness as that inky all-consuming blackness seemed to grow. It appeared to taint and swallow everything it touched.

Fighting against its firm hold as it wrapped itself resolutely around my twisting limbs I screamed, “no Abuela, don’t leave me!”

Smiling softly even as her figure began to disappear she replied, “You will be fine, mi Nina. Just remember that you are always loved and protected, and with that knowledge nothing in darkness can ever truly conquer you.”

Despondent at being deserted once again I collapsed to the ground watching as darkness’s limbs branched out all around me ingesting my figure into its clutches, tossing me back into my damaged form.

Courtney moved quickly towards Andrew’s impassive features while gesturing wildly towards me, “she deserves every ounce of pain inflicted.” Grinning insanely she irately justified, “besides I’m half demon, and demons do not believe in mercy!”

“Sometimes it’s hard to believe its only half.” Taking in my struggling figure he shrugged carelessly before turning back towards her small form. “Well I believe it’s abundantly clear who has won this particular challenge.”

I watched weakly as she beamed victoriously as if approval was the real goal she aimed for.

Brushing imaginary lint from the shoulder of his impeccable suit he countered while easily taking the wind from her sails, “not that it was much of a contest considering your competitor knew nothing of her true abilities.”

Her smile amended quickly into that of a grimace as black shadows crept the length of her face. “All the more easier for me to crush her.” She moved an inch closer to her father’s assistant, that club tight within her grip, “careful Andrew, anybody could almost think that you had hopes of her ending me.”

His spine stiffened although the step he took to distance himself from her palpable rage spoke volumes of his fear. “Then ANYBODY would be wrong. This was simply a test enforced by the council to see which of you held more power to defeat its opponent, which of you would go on to rule our future species. Death being the only natural conclusion.”

His eyes lingered once more upon my battered form before he turned dismissively towards my sister, “have your fun, but make sure you complete your task. I must get back to your father.”

Instantly as if he could no longer stand to be in the room he vanished from sight leaving me alone once again within the clutches of a raving homicidal lunatic.

Muttering ambiguously under her breath, tiny feet slowly trailed back towards me, “everybody feels sorry for poor pathetic Anna Marie.”

She used the club to gently nudge my figure to see if I had gained consciousness again. At my unresponsiveness she continued encircling my battered body before crouching down to gaze into my beaten face. Her head tilted gradually as if trying to detect falseness to my form’s stillness. “What is it about you that makes them all want to protect you, huh?”

I felt fingers delicately trickle through blood caked curls, “what is it about you that makes them all love you more!”

Callous palms clutched my tendrils forcing my head to snap back as she dragged my damaged body into sitting position, my lids piercing open at the agony sweeping down my torso. Smiling in delight at my awaking she retorted gleefully, “Aww, Annie it’s so good to have you back!”

Wheezing uncontrollably, panicked bruised hazel eyes shifted towards hers as I whispered, “why?”

She leaned in closer, “what was that, dear sister?”

“I said why?” I questioned, coughing painfully while barely being able to speak over the throbbing pain. “Why did you do this?”

“Simple, it was me or you.”

I blinked slowly, my lips barely moving, “no, why this? I was as innocent as you were in this situation. Why cause me so much pain?”

Her eyes fell upon the club still clutched tightly in her palm, her grip on my curls loosening; the red within her eyes seeming to slowly dissipate just as a shadow behind her seemed to grew into the shape of a girl before my very eyes. Courtney’s hands fell away from my shape, her gaze still unable to meet mine as I slumped back weakly against the floorboards. My eyes remained intent on the now slowly materializing shape.

My little sister rose back to her feet, her orbs still fixated on the club she held, the blood covering its surface, her hair shielding half of her face. “You don’t understand.”

What was once dark shadows became flesh behind Courtney’s shoulder, blonde hair fell into tangled, drenched waves around her downcast face. Moving slowly this stranger removed itself from darkness’s shade, its heels soundless against the floorboards.

Completely oblivious to our newfound company Courtney continued, “I don’t have a choice.”

My sight engrossed upon the figure looming closer I found myself stuttering, “We-we all have cho-ices.”

The figure halted directly behind my little sister, its drenched clothing quietly dripping upon the wood.

Breathing heavily as if resigned to her fate Courtney gripped the club firmly within her hands before with trembling arms she raised it high above her head.

My palms rose, my eyes more panicked with my crazed sister then the growing apparition behind her. “Wait,” I pleaded. “Please just wait!” I implored trying futilely to appeal to the girl I was just talking to. “You don’t have to do this!”

Troubled lenses met mine before all compassion vanished from her orbs, “you just don’t get it. It’s me or you, and quite frankly I much prefer it be you.”

Lightning lit up the sky, thunder booming throughout the heavens as that metal rod remained halted in mid-strike.

“Don’t worry… I’ll make this one quick.”

Rage distorted Courtney’s features as I watched my little sister allow darkness to completely take her over. Her mouth opened, an animalistic shriek rising from her lips as the golf club ascended behind her ready to deliver a fatal blow. I cowered protectively as the metal club begin to descend just as the unknown blonde’s hand rose propelling Courtney easily across the massive expand, my little sister’s body crashing brutally into the glass table on the other side of the room.

Trembling at witnessing the truly unbelievable, my eyes noticed the blood now surrounding Courtney’s stationary figure before frightened hazel orbs rose to take in my unidentified intruder. Her head moved slowly to peer down at me, her face still concealed by the mass of knotted mud coated golden waves. She took an unhurried step towards me.

Panting, I darted back against the wall while yelping at the pain any movement caused me. “Please… don’t hurt me.”

Dirt encrusted heels slid closer to where I cringed; lightning illuminating the sky while awarding me the quick glance of her black high heeled boots. I scrambled backwards into the front foyer, my injured arm hanging limply against my chest, blood trailing after me, staining the polished wood. “My mom and stepfather… they’ll be home any minute now.”

“That’s… not… exactly true, now is it?” it spoke, its voice deep, its tone fading in and out as if bruised from over usage.

Still crawling slowly from where she trailed my sight remained fixated on her figure as it stalked my progression instead of the crumpled figure of my little sister. “Please just take whatever it is that you want and go.”

Her heels clicked against the polished tile as she followed my scarlet lined path, “what… if…it’s not something here that I want, but… something …I want you to have, Anna.”

Pausing in mid-struggle, confusion superseded my fear forcing me to question, “Yo-you know my name?”

“I … know everything… there is to … know about you.”

Panicking, my eyes shifted to a photo of Andrea and I framed along the wall. “Then you should know that my sister is already on her way. An-and once my father gets here-.”

She seemed to crumple at my words, her body bowed, her hand against her stomach as if seriously suffering as I shakily rose onto unsteady feet.

“He’s not coming.”

My lips trembled at her words, my eyes watering as the true meaning attempted to don on my staggered brain, “what?”

“I said… he’s not coming,” she repeated plainly, her voice oddly empty of emotion as if admitting it drained every ounce of feeling from her tone.

Once again illumination filled the room as at last her blond hair fell back from her face, her golden shield no longer concealing her identity while allowing me to finally gaze upon her features in dismay. Her heart shaped face was completely bruised, her skin literally ripped from bone in certain places. Glass remained embedded in her forehead, remained fixed partially inside cheeks, but what really and truly horrified me was where one of her eyes was supposed to be lied nothing but a bloody empty socket. The skin entirely crushed around its shape.

“Anna,” she whispered, her hand reaching out towards me.

Although I could see clearly what laid before me my mind remained too fragile to comprehend it, and I found myself screaming unbearably in response. Gazing at what should have been my sister I felt my quivering hands grip my curls in a failed attempt to maintain my sanity.

She collapsed onto her knees before me as at last I became aware of all the things darkness had kept hidden. The massive amount of blood covering the red crop top she had thrown on earlier, the butterfly ring still glittering against the light as again she called out to me. “Anna?”

Tears poured in tragic streams down my cheeks as I shook my head in denial. Limping further towards the door I murmured miserably, “no, you are not my sister.”

Scarlet tinted liquid trickled from her eye like that of droplets of anguish, “Baby doll?”

My curls swung out hitting my wet cheeks as I continued to reject what I truly couldn’t recognize as truth, “no, my sister is fine. She’s…” I swallowed over the massive lump clogging my throat. “She’s going to be home any minute now with my su-surprise… and we’re going to stay up all night-.”

Crawling closer she distraughtly muttered, “Marie, that’s not gonna happen.”

My head continued to shake viciously in disagreement. “No you’re like her!” I spat back at her gesturing towards Courtney’s limp body. “You’re evil! You can’t be Andrea!”

Moving with a speed unlike any human I had ever seen she rose to her feet taking hold of my arms while forcing me to peer directly into her damaged face. “Anna, we don’t have time for this!” Her hands reached into the pocket of her jacket revealing a glass vial. The clear liquid glowing within her hands.

“What… what is that?” I questioned, my heart hammering inside my heaving chest.

“You need to drink it.”

My head began to shake only for her grip to tighten causing me to yelp in pain.

“Look, Marie time is a luxury we can’t afford right now, and I need you well enough to run.”

Liquid clung to my lashes, “the contents inside there could be anything. How do I know you’re not a part of them? How do I know one sip from that won’t kill me?”

“Because I saved you.”

Verging on hysterics I reasoned, “Maybe this is some sick game. Maybe you just want to kill me first.”

“I have always protected you, haven’t I?” her injured features pleaded for my loyalty. “Not even death could keep me from your side.”

Sobbing openly I glanced back at my unconscious little sister wondering if all this was simply a nightmare, wondering if I’d wake up panicked and scared but within my own bed.

Gentle hands twisted my view back to hers as she implored, “Marie, I need you to trust me right now.” Her fingers extended towards me, the vial within her grasp. “Like I promised you the day Daddy got arrested. I’ll always be here to protect you. I’ll always be here to keep you safe…”

Bawling uncontrollably at those words repeated my trembling fingers took hold of what was offered and before too much common sense could enter my way of thinking I downed the contents in one massive gulp.

Glass smashed against tile as gasping my spine arched as liquid traced a path throughout my body. Its mixture slithered through every pore, every muscle, every crevice I possessed healing bruises and contusions that graced my figure. I felt bones pop back into their rightful place, discoloration seeping from skin until what was once brutal blackened swollen bashes now appeared nothing but a rose colored tanned hue.

I straightened to my full height cautiously, momentarily stunned to experience no pain. “It doesn’t hurt.”

The laughter that slipped from my lips was one of wonderment as I twisted to view Andrea. The sight of her figure slowly fading from my sight instantly killed any joy I felt from being healed. Panicking I screamed, “Where are you going? You can’t leave me now!”

Sapphire lenses plummeted to the sight of her gradually vanishing hands before clashing back with mine. “I don’t think I have much of a choice.”

Crying at the sight of her continuing disappearance I openly begged, “Please, please don’t go.”

Her head turned back towards the way we had come before quickly she twisted back towards me, “listen to me Anna! This is important. I need you to do something for me.”

Wiping away the moisture that continued to fall I tried to focus on the words leaving her mouth.

“It’s not safe for you in this house. You need to get out of here.”

Shaken I countered, “But with Court…” my eyes followed hers to the darkened hall gazing at the blood soaked puddle suddenly absent a body.

Firm hands took hold of my chin turning my frightened features back to hers even as hers continued to vanish, lips urgently whispering even as the image of my older sister disappeared into the wind. “You don’t have time for tears or self doubt, Baby doll. I came back to give you a fighting chance. Don’t ruin it! Forget the police, forget calling Mom. Just get yourself out of this house.”

I heard the sound of a giggle off into the distance…

With my eyes peering into the surrounding darkness I backpedaled until my fingers clutched the handle of the door.

“Remember Marie, don’t fight. Just run!” with Andrea’s last words still lingering all around me I yanked open the huge wooden entrance sprinting out into the dark thunderous night as if the devil himself pursed me…

………………………………………………………………..

To be continued…

I don’t know how I feel about this chapter… I may change some of it later… who knows…

Anyways, I hope whoever is reading this enjoyed this chapter. I am still determined to finish this story. I had some issues with posting my last chapter so let’s hope that that does not happen again. I think somebody might have reported it. I have no idea. I didn’t put anything outrageous in the last chapter that would cause anyone to that, but oh well…

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Until next time…