Deep Into Darkness Peering

"Man produces evil as a bee produces honey."

—William Golding

I look both ways like an animal, my own blood oozes from the cuts on my arms and drips from my finger tips. Pieces of glass float everywhere as I trod down a wooden hall, my ears pricked for the slightest noise and heard humming. I softened my steps until something smashed against a door directly adjacent to me.

As if on cue the glass moved back to its place forming a vacuum of images that completely reformed the room. Now I was on wet tile, I looked down and instantly regretted it. I was toe deep in blood and gore. I slid my feet on the floor in a shuffle along the floor not wanting to step on even the slightest thing.

I neared the end of the dimly lit hospital hall and realized that there was writing in blood on the wall. A light flickered as I read,

"If you want to live

Don't look into his eye"

"What the?" I muttered to no one before I was yanked off my feet. I landed face first and looked back in panic and saw a myriad of long-nailed, bony, blood soaked hands pulling me into a whirlpool of blood that came out of nowhere. I clawed against the tugging in vain as the hands grasped the entirety of my back and pulled me into the whirlpool.

I screamed through the ungodly liquid until a soft hand pressed a finger to my lips. My eyes shot open and I was in yet another environment of a bed in the center of dimly lit emptiness. Large tendrils seemed to wave in the distance. I about looked around my environment further but the blonde woman guided my eyes to her.

"W-who are you?"

She smiled warmly and stroked my hair, "Laura," she giggled, "you just keep your eyes on me."

I tried to still my breathing and she cocked her head, a question in her eyes.

"You lost someone to?"

"I-I lost my fiancée in a fire."

Her smile caused me to grow cold, with sharp teeth she said,

"Oh, no wonder my brother has taken an interest in you."

She drew closer and my breathing stopped when she finished,

"No wonder you are in the center of his eye!"

***

I woke, screaming into an empty house. Panting in panic I felt disgusted that it was yet another dream of Laura. I felt the empty side of my bed and cried within the safety of my bedroom. Why?

I sat up and fingered our wedding invitation that was still on my nightstand. I brushed my fingers down the pictures.

"Save the date!" It said, "For the joining of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Camilius."

Sadness spun like demonic butterflies in my gut as I got ready for yet another day of teaching. I went into the kitchen just as the sun cast a blue light through the blinds and opened the fridge. Bare as usual but I got a glass of milk and sat trying to calm my thoughts and feelings.

I peered lazily around about the mess of my bachelor home and another reminder of that horrible day struck me. I shot up and kicked a shirt I wore the other day from the ground into the dark, lonely living room. In mid-flight, a note I made for that day fluttered out and I picked it up.

"Make sure to make the new kids feel welcome!" It said with a smiley face on the end. I snorted a laugh, if only some people knew of my composure at home. How tempting it would be just to smash and burn all reminders of my loneliness. But even the thought of burning was a reminder.

I sighed heavily and plopped back into my chair to finish my milk. Everything seems to be a reminder doesn't it? The fact that I'm alone is a reminder... so does that mean I want to smash and burn myself?

A few sleepless hours later, the day was mockingly bright and cheery. I drove to school trying to remember all the new students. I had two bad boys in second and third period but have had gotten to befriend my last student in first period. I tried to place her name...

L-Lily Castellanos? Yeah, that's it.

Little girl brought me an apple on her first day. I teared up from her sweetness and innocence that day. That was the first time a student had done that. Usually I get brats that call me Mr. Camel behind my back thanks to my last name, Camilus.

However, there's still just something out of place about her. I can see it in her eyes and timid demeanor at times. It's like something had traumatized her at some point.

The days usually followed the same old schedule. The students who are used to the routine came in early with Lily a tad bit late. She usually makes up for that with an apple, and that apple brings a smile to my face every single time.

Today the sun filtered in through the blinds like some cheesy movie about young love. I checked my phone for the time and to make sure it was on silent. Five minutes. I scrunched my brow, if Lily takes any longer I may need to send a note with her father.

I never liked doing that, especially to someone who was new. I checked my textbook and then proceeded to fill out what I could of the roll sheet. Just before I started teaching, the very pale Lily stumbled in. She blushed a bit as she advanced to her seat and some of the boys in the back corner snickered. I gave them the stink eye before finishing up my notes on the board.

Finished up, I turned around but stopped dead in my tracks...

To the sound of humming.

"Who's humming?" I asked sternly.

The students just looked at each other with confusion all over their faces. One of my best students said,

"Umm, it's been silent sir."

My eyes passed over Lily who was pale blue.

"Ms. Castellanos? Do you need me to ring the nurse's office?"

She just shook her head, like saying anything might cause her to vomit. I sighed, prideful middle schoolers. I began my lesson on American history.