A Shadowlander’s Dream: Book Three - Rules of the Flesh
Written by Kathryn K Williams
Chapter Fifty-One
Natalie crept down the long hall with Caitlin close behind her. A free hand upon the wall and the other holding Caitlin’s hand, careful to not slip upon the blood smeared floor. Natalie’s head raced as she tried to place who’s dream this could be and finally she decided it must be one of the new girls because that was the only way to explain Caitlin’s appearance there, unless Caitlin wasn’t from the dorms and just another apparition of this dream. Whatever the case Natalie was just happy not to be alone in this new nightmare.
The trip down the hall took longer then she expected it too and the longer she studied the bloody marks the more she realized that the body that was pulled along the floor was not very big. The width of the marks was no more then a foot wide at spots. The thought of a child, bloody and crying, being dragged down the hall sent a shiver through Natalie and she was even more sure that she did not want to look in the washroom that Caitlin finally confirmed was at the end of the trail, which was why they now traveled the opposite direction, towards the living room. Part of her mind nagged at her to turn around, that maybe the person who was having this nightmare was in the washroom right now, scared and alone. However Caitlin refused to venture any closer to that room and Natalie was more then ready to turn away from the room.
Before long they arrived at the edge of a carpeted area that Natalie suspected must be the living room. To confirm her suspicious she saw a small TV sitting on a wobbly stand in the far corner. Her breath caught in her throat for a moment at the sight of the device; ready to see a replay from her own nightmares begin to flicker across the screen. However only static greeted the girl and she let out the breath. Carefully she took a step into the living room to get a better look around and quickly regretted it. She stood frozen in shock as she stared at the sight before her. There, sitting upon the tattered and worn sofa, sat to adults, male and female, with a child sitting between them. Their chest has been cut open from neck to stomach, the flesh pulled back to reveal rib cages that glistened in the flicker of the television static. Their intestines has been pulled out and arranged upon plates set on rickety fold up aluminium diner tables. Their eyes had been gouged out and stared blankly at the TV.
Natalie held a hand to her mouth as she felt vomit build up in her mouth. The sight of her own dead parents was bad enough, but this display was more then she had ever expected. She toppled to her hands and knees as she tried to keep her last meal from emptying upon the carpet. It is only a dream, she reminded herself, but still this dream was too real to just be someone’s imagination. Someone faced this and survived. Her head quickly lifted and her eyes shot down the hall to the door the trail of blood ended at.
Caitlin glanced up and down the hall and then down at Natalie. As if she understood what the girl was thinking Caitlin stepped into the middle of the hall and held her hands up, shaking her head profusely.
Natalie pushed herself back to her feet. The sickness and fear inside of her built to anger and a need to protect whomever was living in this nightmare. She approached Caitlin and gestured for the girl to move, “Out of my way Caitlin.” She demanded, trying hard to keep the edge out of her voice.
Again Caitlin shook her head, her arms now outstretched to each side, “N… no… Please…” She protested weakly.
“I need to see what is behind that door.” Natalie insisted, “They may need our help.”
Caitlin thought for a moment, then shook her head again, “Can’t… promised…”
Natalie flinched at those words. Yet again another promise, but this girl did not hold the light of a Promised One. No there was something else behind this girl’s eyes, a flicker of panic and regret. Natalie placed a hand upon Caitlin’s shoulder, “I understand you want to protect them, but I may be able to save them.” Natalie gave the girl a sympathic look, “I think the reason I’m here is because I can understand her pain. My family was killed in front of me. The man who did it still haunts my memories to this day. But I fought him and I can help you face this, both of you.”
Caitlin glanced over her shoulder, down the hall, then back to Natalie, “Y… You can help her?”
Natalie nodded firmly, “I will dammed well try that is for sure.” Caitlin reluctantly lowered her arm and Natalie quickly pushed passed the girl, “You will not regret this.” She assured the girl as she headed down the hall, slipping with every third or fourth step and sliding up to the door. Her hand touched the doorknob and she recoiled at the heat. She glanced around the doorframe to find it made of flimsy wood. She stepped back and planted her back firmly against the far wall then kicked at the door with all her might. The door’s hinges rattled and shook with the force of her kick. She kicked at the door again, this time closer to the hinges. Screws creaked and screamed in protest, but she did not let up her attack. Finally she shifted her weight and lunged at the door with her shoulder. The door broke free of its bearing and she came crashing into the washroom. Quickly she got to her feet, suddenly worried that the person inside might be under the door. Finding no one she glanced around the room to find a tub overflowing with murky red water. Panicked she plunged her hands into the water in search of something, anything.
Caitlin came to the door at that moment and leaned against the frame of the door, her arms crossed, “She doesn’t want to be saved.” She said calmly.
Natalie glanced up at the girl, her hands still searching the tub, “What do you mean? How do you know that?”
Caitlin glared down at Natalie, “You said you were like her, then you should understand.” She said coldly, “We don’t want to be saved, we just want to die.”
Natalie looked up, placing her dripping hands on the rim of the tub, “Didn’t she call us here?”
Caitlin simply shrugged.
Natalie looked back into the bloody waters and stood up, “Well you might have given up, but I’m not.” She swallowed as she started down at the tub, “She is in there, I can feel it.” She rolled up her sleeves more, “This is like any other dream right?” She asked no one in particular and got no answer in return, “It will be like stepping into a mirror.” She lifted one bare foot and dipped a toe into the icy water and shivered. Slowly she set her foot upon the bottom of the tub and drew the next one in with her.
Caitlin watched Natalie wide-eyed, “W… what are you doing?” A tremble in her voice, revealed the fear she was containing.
Natalie pointed at the water, “Your friend was in here and if I’m right and follow her example I will be able to find out where she went too, like walking through a door or something.” She nervously stared down at the water as is slightly swirled around her legs, “Or that is how it is supposed to work.”
Caitlin glanced around worriedly, “But…”
Natalie smiled, “It will be alright, just take my hand.” She offered, slowly lowering herself into the water, trying to disguise her own fears, “We’ll just come out on the other side, everything will be-“ Her sentence was cut off as a swarm of arms lunched up from around her and grabbed Natalie, pulling her under the water.
Caitlin ran to the side of the tub, reaching for Natalie’s flailing arms. She caught one arm and was about to pull when she realized that it wasn’t a girl’s arm and suddenly was pulled into the tub with Natalie. The water splashed and sloshed about for a brief moment and as suddenly as it started everything became still again, the girls devoured by the murky depths of someone’s nightmares.
*****
To be Continued . . .
*****
Note: The world of the Shadowlands, Its stories, Characters and ideas are a copyright of Kathryn K Williams.
This story is based upon my manga of the same name. If you wish to view art from this series please visit my deviant arts site at: http://shinigami-shimai.deviantart.com/
For more of my stories visit my deviant hearts site at: http://www.devianthearts.com/viewuser.php?uid=159
Also if you spot any typos or other errors please contact me at katwilliams @ rogers.com
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