Nightmare Hallucinations
CHAPTER 10
The halls were crowded with people, the chaos was so perfect, like a movie. There was the couple that was always making out on the left side of the hall, and about ten feet farther down, the cliquey girls. Opposite them, the cliquey jocks, and between them, the parade of band geeks with their huge instrument cases. There were the aerospace tech kids who never did anything but make paper airplanes and the fashion kids that wheeled mannequins and clothing racks down the halls. And then there was me, not that I fit into any of those groups.
Just as always, first day of school.
The odor of the stale urine curled from under the restroom doors, depressingly mixed with deodorant and body odor in equal measure. Another day of tedium rammed down their throats with the keen sting of stress; always the tests, always the reporting, always the reminders of the consequences of failure. The place must have been designed by a manic depressive, either that or someone obsessed by grey or white something? I don't know. The teachers had done their bit, hanging posters in primary colors, yet the overall impression was of drabness. Broad and straight like the old canal that cuts through the town, only instead of watery greens overhung by new foliage it is all scarred and peeling paint. The floor is shiny though, just like the water in the mornings, brought to a high polish by the caretaker. It was a dark marble floors and white sort of grayish walls, not a hand print or scuff mark anywhere. The doors are a glossy black, numbered with silver digits that match the globe shaped handles.
Yet the school hallway was different today, a place where a sort of commemorating was with his final treasure waiting to be packed for the journey. In whatever room or place he had called him own ever since, there it had also lived and looked at everyone, not quite familiar, not quite smiling, but in its prim colonial hues delicate as some pressed flower. Its pale oval, of color blue and rose flaxen, in a battered, pretty gold frame, unconquerably pervaded any surroundings with a something like last year's lavender. It was him smiling.
It was Copper.
Heading straight towards the direction of his locker where his picture and sort of flowers and other stuffs used by commemorating him was all located. A bit ferocious feeling was being sensed by my instinct, all eyes glancing o me, others act as if they were saw a ghosts and others smirking like it was my fault. And then I realized I faked my death to cover up and solve a case that remains unsolved. Clenching my fist and swallowing air was the only choice I have. It was a tiny step to reach the area yet it seems too far because of the atmosphere. Reaching the said space, automatically close eyes and clenching fists were the only action that my body agree to deal with. Felt someone standing behind me. Yet didn't bother to look who is it and kept taking a deep breath, as if there were some heavy energy was coming from my chest after seeing my brother's face again, smiling at me as if he was not dead.
"Didn't realize that the great detective dick in town can't crack the egg of his twin" students started to gossips, whispering here and there. Giving some drama as if we are the star of the movie they're watching.
Didn't bother to look around, I just inhale some sort-a polluted air coming from the toxicity attitudes of these brats who lives for popularity.
Walking away from the scene as if nothing happened was the easiest way to do, it is like I don't have any choice but to just let it pass and walked blindly. Walking through the path, the gossips suddenly became vague, the only thing being heard was a hurrying and rushing breath from someone who is running from something, facing the floor and walk as fast as I could to get away from the eerie sound. The small steps become big, walking turns into running as the panting voice become clearer and louder.
What is it?
My feet suddenly stop roaming, focusing on the floor didn't realize the surroundings. Making the decision to observe, I stood up straight while sweats are pouring all throughout my body, my hands are shaking like a boy reciting in front of many people. My body shivers as I observe every single detail.
How can this be?
Is this my school?
Too dark!
It was like a place out of time, a place to rest without consequence. The darkness in that way was a sanctuary, a place to recharge and forget the things the world said had to be done. It wasn't that couldn't or wouldn't, but rather it is like sense of stepping out of the craziness for a while yet this can be the reason of getting loose, it stoles own form.
It was too dark
"Where am I?" roaming the place as if it was a hollow. Running as fast as I could find the way out of this crazy place. There was something in this place, full darkness like a promise, like the world before dawn.
I kept running
"H-Help!" as breathe cracks out of tiredness
Running and watching the sky plunged into an ominous darkness, awakening predatory creatures out of their lair. Jumped as a distant bloodcurdling howl made my hair stand on end. Watched anxiously as the place slowly transformed into a lethal dark forest. Tree branches stretched out in front of me.
What's this place?
What's happening?
Forming a cavern of distorted limbs that seemed to reach out and wanting to grab every inch of my flesh. A vile pain spread throughout my chest like a deadly infection, my lungs beseeched me to stop walking. My knees felt like rubber after running constantly for hours and now I gulped selfish breaths of air. Helplessly walked on, my feet dragging noisily on the carpet of lifeless leaves, each step triggering a rush of pain in my chest. In spite of my feeble condition, my lips curled into a smile as the realization that I had escaped finally struck me. Felt a smug at a little victory, yet the path at my feet fades as it leads into the darkness of the woods, and so my feet follow the narrow strip of naked earth among the giants of root and leaf. Stepping into the forest robbed off one sense and heightened the others. It was disorientating to be almost blinded but given the ears of a wolf. Even the soft saturation of the branches felt heavy in the ears. The sense of smell was sensitized, the loam in the earth and the decomposing leaves made the atmosphere close and thick. The blackness nurtured a sense of claustrophobic side even though the woodland stretched unbroken for miles. The narrow path, which was made uneven by the knotted roots that crossed it, branched at intervals. There was no map to follow, but even if there was the perpetual dark would prevent you from using it.
One step forward makes me gasps as I saw a figure same as mine.
"Who are you?" I ask him, stepping forward to reach him "where are we?... where am I?" asking as if any moment my emotions will break down
"B-Blade?" I slowly gasp out of panic. "You're alive?... W-where are we?... A-am I dead too?" asking out of disbelief
"Long time no see my dear Drain" he formally said that makes my heart throb as if I have a million stallion horses inside.
"Where are we Blade?" I ask stepping forward to reach him yet seems to be very impossible
"1-7-2-0" my eyebrow rises as he began to utter those numbers
"1-7-2-0… 1720?" I repeatedly to clarify things
"what do you mean by 1720?" I ask hopelessly
"we need to go back there! Drain, we need to help them" he stated
"what? What do you mean? Who? Who needs our help?"
Silences accompany us all throughout the darkness.
"Westfield drive" he took a step and move forward "I know that you know it Drain… I know everything"
"H-how do you know about that place? what's in that place?" I continuously ask him
"Mr. and Mrs. Chase" his creepy voice become an eerie sound on my ears.
I didn't get any point
"Lawrence and Patricia" I whisper when I remember the couple who lived and murdered on Westfield drive at the year 1720. "H-how do you know them?"
"The catastrophe has been summoned" he stated clearly as if we talk about something particular.
Summoned what?
Or
who?
"Summoned?" I repeat for assurance but instead of answering back Blade walks and smirk that makes me shivers and gives me goosebumps
This is very creepy
"Don't you understand Drain?... the tragedy started at 1720"
"who's being summoned Blade? Tell me what do you know! Tell me!" I recklessly shout in front of him
"you'll know"
I didn't get it
I wiped my face out of despair as I open my eyes the surroundings turned into a fully dark place.
Where is he?
Looking around for Blade was useless because the place was very dark and I can't see anything as if I was being blindfolded.
"I can sense it"
I look around to see where the voice came from
"Blade? Are you there?"
"Fear is rushing through your body… heart is freezing"
"cold shivers down through your spines… Fear and pain so deep!"
As the voice started to get clearer and louder, I have no choice but to cover my ears just to ease and avoid the eerie voice.
This has to stop
But how?
"Stop it" I whispered "please Stop"
"Stop!"