Happy Halloween!

UPON THE STAIRS

 

            Kelsie drug along the floor and up the stairs she labored until she reached the top of the first landing.  Every night was the same as Kelsie fled from the killer.  His yellow eyes burning into her while laughing at her attempts to live.  The front of her blouse was soaked red as it ran down her jeans sticking to her skin and running through her toes as she dragged her leg.  There was no pain because the shock and fear mingled with the adrenaline.  She fought the desire for at least a quick death.  Her eyes glazed over as her fingers pulled on the threadbare carpet covering the steps. 

            “And when you reach the top darling where will you then go?”

            Kelsie continued to climb as he followed behind.  The knife in his left hand catching the light of the moon.  It fell across the room revealing the blood stains on his pants where he wiped the knife off.  His face was evil in a way she couldn’t describe because he wasn’t ugly or deformed, but something made you want to turn and run.  He stopped as Kelsie slowed as he always did.  There was no hurry to catch her because where would she go and it wasn’t really about the last breath, but the many small breathes as she hyperventilated with a fear that one only knew when facing the devil himself. 

            “You are disappointing me tonight.  I much prefer you when you fight.”

            Kelsie stopped and turned to face him.  He dared to mock the way she died when dying wasn’t something you could ever control even if it were by your own hands.  Dying fell in the hands of someone of another world, another place, another time not to ever be revealed to those who still walked upon the dried earth.  He dared be disappointed because in death Kelsie didn’t meet his expectations.  He watched her face as the anger flashed through her eyes, and slowly he smiled knowing she would now try to kick out at him like she always did. 

            Kelsie kicked and landed her foot in the center of his chest as the pain shot up her leg like a hot poker going into the meat of her thigh.  She screamed in agony as he grabbed her foot and twisted it causing the room to start to dim and spin around her.  He released it, and it fell with a thump on the stair.  Kelsie pulled it up with her hand, and the tears streaked down her cheeks falling on the blood soaked blouse that revealed the shape of her beautiful breasts. 

            He reached up and cut the buttons off the blouse one by one as she turned away.  Using the tip of the knife he opened the blouse showing the cut that went to her chest to the top of her left breast.  Such a shame because Kelsie was truly a beautiful girl.  He reached down and put his hand under one, and she grabbed his hand throwing it aside as he smiled.  He put the flat side of the knife under her chin and lifted it up. 

            “How long will you deny me the simple things that I want?”

            Kelsie stared into his eyes as they turned a deep ocean blue and beckoned her to put her trust in him.  His voice was always so calm and soft as it whispered to her.  Kelsie tried to turn away, but he would turn the knife preventing her from looking away from him.  It nicked her throat, and a small drop of blood seeped out as he put his finger on it then put it in his mouth.  Such a sweet taste.

            Kelsie closed her eyes and took in a deep raspy breath as the pain from the cut burned into her soul with such vengeance that a chill visibly ran down her.  She opened them and looked back into his eyes that were soft and understanding.  He took the knife away and stepped back from her.  Her chest rose and fell with each labored breath as the moonlight moved through the dust that rose in the air.  She wondered how there could be dust in the air.  Kelsie looked around at the tattered curtains that hung haphazardly from the windows, worn and threadbare as if the sun had broken down the structure and color over time.  The chandelier was missing some of the crystal, and the webs covered most of its brilliance with dirt covering the rest. 

            “Look at me darling.”

            Kelsie turned and looked into his eyes.  This wasn’t real.  She had to wake up, and she had to do it now.  She willed herself to wake up, but he remained there on the stairs watching her.  Kelsie pulled herself closer to the banister and looked down between the spindles as the room spun slowly calling up to her.  She pulled herself up and away from him as he watched.  This was an interesting change.  Kelsie looked him in the eyes and then threw her weight against the banister as the wood cracked and fell into pieces as it dropped down the two flights crashing upon the floor.  She felt herself float and then stop as he reached around her pulling her back to him his eyes blazing yellow.

 

            “Death will bring you no peace.  There is nothing there for you to seek or hope for salvation.  It is too late.  You have pledged yourself, and I am here to seek the spoils of the game.”

            His breath was so hot against her neck as he whispered that she felt like it would ignite her skin.  Kelsie pushed away as he pulled her into his arms.  His strength was so brutal yet his touch was so soft.  She was weary and broken as the blood ran from her onto his shirt where it disappeared into his skin as though he were a sponge.  Kelsie reached up and touched his chest as his eyes became blue again.  He bent down and kissed her as she fought against desire and revolution of what he was and what he wanted to be and what he’d always do to her. 

            “You still deny me.”

            “I don’t.”  Her voice was weak, and her resolve was gone.

            “Oh, but you do because you are surrendering to the pain and not to my love.”

            “I can’t.”

            “You will.  We both know that eventually you will.”  He kissed her one last time and then she was alone until he came again.

 

@barbarasvetlick 6/2008