A Shadowlander's Dream: Book Two - Policy of Love
By Kathryn K Williams
Part Five - Stained Glass Angel
Chapter Twenty-Three
Kima carefully climbed the basement stairs, Each step creaking in protest under the girl's weight. She could feel herself holding her breath with every sound that the stairs emitted, not wanting to disturb whatever it was that terrified Penny so much. Within minutes she reached the top and stared up at the wooden door trying to will herself to open it. Panic was finally beginning to set into her mind and she found she needed to force the feeling away before it over took her mind causing her to flee back down the stairs to the safety of Penny's hiding place. The thought of Penny made Kima glanced down to see the girl still waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Kima forced herself to smile at the girl, then wiped her sweating palmed against the legs of her pyjama before she took hold of the door knob. She sucked in a deep breath and held it, unsure if she really wanted to know what was beyond that door. Summoning every ounce of courage she could must she cautiously gave it the knob a test turn. It made a slight squeak, however Kima felt if she turned it quick enough it would not make too much noise. Still holding her breath she place both hands upon the knob and quickly gave the knob a quick jerk then pushed the door open.
The light from a slightly ajar refrigerator door told Kima that she must be in a kitchen. She crept though the door and felt along the wall in search of a light switch when saw something pass before the fridge door and across the floor. Quickly Kima backed away from the shadowy thing and ducked low behind a counter in an attempt to hide from whatever was in the room. She cautiously scanned the room in search of whom ever could be with her when she spotted something moving in the corner of her eye. The fridge light did not prove to be enough for Kima's eyes to focus and she needed to squinted in the darkness to see anything. Then she saw it again, this time closer, it was making its way towards Kima and she was sure that it would be upon her soon enough. It was small, whatever it was, and could not have been over knee height. Kima nervously searched for the creature when she noticed one of the lower cupboard doors slowly creeking on its hinges. She slowly turned to face the cupboard, not willing to let this creature get the jump on her or slip passed after Penny. A pair of burning red eyes peered out from within the dark recess of the counter, staring directly at Kima. She shuddered in fear as those beady eyes glared at her through the darkness. She could feel them burning through her skin. It felt as if the creature was examining her soul. She clenched at her chest in an attempt to conceal it from those eyes. She was certain that the creature was licking its lips wanted to tear its claws through her flesh and feed upon her core.
"I see you." Kima muttered under her breath, "You are not going to get a taste of me without a fight." She spotted a broom hanging on the wall near the counter. Slowly she moved to grab the broom, careful not to attract the creatures attention too much. She wrapped her fingers around the pole when the creature suddenly dashed across the kitchen floor at the redhead. Kima quickly freed the broom from its hook and brought it down hard on the beast's head. The blow only seemed to stun the creature slightly as it shook it's head and prepared for another attack. It shrugged the broom off of it's back and rushed at Kima again. This time Kima punched out at the creature with her fist, tossing the creature high in the air. Kim was almost certain the creature felt soft and fuzzy, not like any animal she had ever felt. The creature careened through the air and land in the sink. Hastily Kima was to her feet and flipped on the lights to discover a teddy bear laying face down in the sink. Its limbs flailing about as it struggled to right itself.
"Huh?" Kima watched the bear carefully as she approached it. Now that she got a better look at the creature she realized that it was not an ordinary stuffed animal. There appeared to be something moving under the fur. Like the creature was wearing the teddy bear's skin for clothes. Flaps of torn fabric could be seen hanging around long sharp claws. It reminded Kim of the teddy bear that attacked Kai in Penny's room earlier that same day, but much nastier. She held the broom firmly between her hands like a bat and prepared for the critter to move.
Suddenly the bear lifted it's head and glared at Kima. It hissed at the girl, the muzzle of the toy partly falling off revealing hairless features beneath its skin and jagged teeth. Teeth that Kima was sure would skin into her skin if she gave it a chance. Without hesitation Kima shoved the tip of the broom at the teddy with enough force to stab it directly through the chest. Green fluid burst forth from the wound down the sink's drain. The bear screamed out in pain as it struggled to free itself of the broom handle, which Kima held firmly against the bear not allowing it to escape. She glanced around the room to find a block of knives on the counter nearby. She pulled the biggest knife from the bunch and smiled at the stuffed animal.
The bear stopped fighting with the broom to stare at the gleaming blade in the girl's hand and the grin that broadened across her face. One would almost think that there was a flitter of fear in the creatures beady eyes as Kima brought the knife down upon it's head. She repeatedly stabbed the thing, sending greenish blood flying across the room. Globs of goo covering the curtains that hung over the sink and splattering Kima's clothes as Kima furiously hacked the creature to bits. Only when Kima was it finally stop twitching did she discontinued her assault. Her mind cleared of the haze and examined the scene before her. There was bits of stuffing and tattered remains of the bears fur mixed with thick green blood all over the counter.
Kima shakily wiped at the blood on her face as she tried to catch her breath. Terrified of what she had just done she dropped the knife to the floor and backed up to the basement door, "It was only a bugbear." She muttered to herself, "It is not the same as before." She tried to convince herself but she did not feel her words sinking in.
"K... kima..." Penny's voice softly drifted up the stairs, "Are you alright?" She anxiously inquired.
"Penny!!" She called out down the stairs, "We need to hurry." She ordered, not taking her eyes off the gory mess.
Penny nervously stepped upon the first stair then took a step back, "I... I can't..." She cried up at Kima.
Kima held her hand out through the door, "You need to." She commanded, she was almost sure that there were more of those creatures coming and she would not be able to fight them all, "Please." She added in a gentler tone.
Penny glanced around the basement then up at Kima. She took a deep breath then charged at the stairs, taking them two at a time. Kima watched in astonishment as the girl's age reversed with every step she took. By the time she reached the top step she was ten years old. Penny ran into Kima's arms who hugged her tightly.
"Good girl." Kima soothed as she stroked the back of the girl's hair. She figured what ever it was that lived up here must have a great amount of power to cause Penny to become a child again. This fact alone filled Kima's heart with dread. She was not sure she was ready to face whatever nightmares held this girl in its grip, "We need to get out of here." Kima urgently stated, trying hard to hide her own fear.
"But..." Penny glanced around the kitchen, "My belt..."
"Well will find it later." Kima promised, taking the girl by the hand and pulling her across the kitchen until she found a light switch and hit it. The room was flooded by light and for the first time Kima could really see where she was. They stood within a old, run down kitchen with water stained walls that Kim's suspected might have been white at a time. There were two exits out of the kitchen and Kima was considering which to take when Penny began to cry.
"I... can't leave without it." She stammered vulnerably, trembling at the mere thought of leaving, "I can't..."
Kima let out a sign, she had no idea how she would find this belt or what it looked like for that matter. For all she knew it might not even look like a belt at all. It could be some odd symbolize that appears in dreams and never made any sense. She considered telling this too Penny when looked down into those frightened eyes as they stared at the dead bugbear. Kima ushered Penny's eyes away from the grotesque sight then glanced around the room Whatever this belt was it must be special and Kima finally gave in to the girl's wishes and nodded in agreement, "I'll help you find it." She agreed.
Penny wrapped her small arms around Kima's waist and hugged her close, "I hope you can." She stated dismally, "No one else has."
Kima let out a sigh of despair, "We'd better get moving." She stated and scanned the two exits, "You have any idea where we are or which way we should go?"
Penny pointed to the larger opening that lead to a long dark hall.
"Of course." Kima slouched, "It always has to be the darkest hallway." Pulling herself back to her full height, took the girl's hand and started across the kitchen towards the hall.
******
"Are you hurt?" Kimberly asked Jessica as she scanned the bruises and cuts on the girl's arms and legs.
Jessica shook her head, "It only hurts a little." She replied bravely, however her eyes said otherwise. They were filled with a terror that Kim could hardly comprehend. Suddenly they heard loud thump against the door they had just escaped from.
"We need to get out of here?" Kim stated urgently and started towards the stairs.
Jessica merely nodded and slowly followed the redhead, her eyes unable to pull free of the door as it bludged with the force of each blow to its surface.
"Come on!" Kim took the girl by the hand and started back down the hall towards the stairs. She stopped at the stair well and glanced around. Something was missing. She scanned the hall to see her stuffed raccoon laying in the middle of the hall, "Racky!" She exclaimed and rushed after the stuffed animal. Just as she reached for the toy a paw burst through the door. Kim could see a small set of claws protruding out of a stuffed paw as it ripped at the wooden door of the room which she had only recently left Sarah in. Swiftly she snatched up the raccoon off the floor and ran back to Jessica, "RUN!!" She commanded.
Jessica did not wait to be told twice as she bounded down the stair two at a time with Kimberly right behind her. A dark silhouette stepped out at the bottom of the stairs, "KIM!!!" Jessica screamed as she tried to stop her decent.
"Jessica!!" Kim grabbed the girl by the remains of her shirt and pulled her back. The two girls tumbled backward to be seated upon the stairs only steps away from the shadowy figure. Kim glanced up the stairs to see more shadows gathering at the top of the stairs. They were suddenly trapped with nowhere to run.
"Kim?" A familiar voice called out from the bottom of the stairs.
"Kima!?!" Kim called back, "Is that really you?" She inquired, for the first time glad to hear her twin's voice.
Kima started up the stairs with a smiling upon her face, "Kim, I'm so glad to find you" She stated, truly relieve to find her other half, "I thought you were right behind me. What happened?"
"I found Jessica!" Kim explained pointing down at the small child as she got to her feet.
"Jessie?" Kima cocked her head at the child, "Now weren't you a cutie." She ruffled the girl's hair.
"Tease her later." Kim commanded taking a peek over her shoulder to see several stuffed animals working their way down the stairs, "We need to get out of here." She helped Jessica to her feet and the three of them hurried down the stairs.
"Penny?" Kim blinked at the girl who smiled weakly back at her, "Wait... Was she in the basement?" Kim inquired uneasily.
"Yeah..." Kima replied, perplexed by her doubles question, "Why?"
Kim glanced around, "Where are the other girls?" She asked peering into the living room.
"What other girls?" Kima inquired curiously as she followed Kim into the living room, "What are you looking for?"
"There were several girls living here." Kim explained as she searched the room, "Four of them I think." She scanned the room when she discovered a pile of girl's cloths in the corner of the room. The cloths were yellowing with age and were covered in dust, but looked as if they could have been worn by the children she has seen earlier, "They were wearing clothes like these." Kima approached the clothes when Jessica pulled on her arm, "What is it?" She glance down at the child.
Jessica only shook her head. There was even more fearfulness in her eyes then before and she kept glimpsing down at the pile of clothes. "No..." She trembled, "... don't..."
Kim stepped away from the clothes. Something about the look in Jessica's eyes told her she would be better off not seeing what was under those clothes. Then she notices something peeking out from beneath the pile. She lightly kicked at the mass and a small arm rolled out from under the clothes, blood upon its fingers, "I... I... I think we should get out of here." Kim stammered as she slowly backed out of the room.
"Good idea." Kima agreed, she spun around to see a group of long shadows moving down the hall, "I do not think those are stuffed animals." She states edgily.
Jessica suddenly dashed passed the girls across the hall and opened a large pair of sliding doors to the dinning room. She signalled for the other girls to follow. They quickly followed the girl and Kima hastily closed the door behind them and locked them.
"Now what?" Kim asked in distress gesturing at all the windows, which had been nailed shut from the outside, "How are we supposed to get out of here?" She exclaimed as she spun around in search of another exit, then spotted another door in the far corner of the room, "How about that way?" She inquired, starting towards the door when Jessica grabbed hold of her by the hem of her dress.
"N... no..." Jessica stammered and tugged on Kim's clothes, pulling her away from the door.
"What is it Jessica?" Kim gently inquired, allowing the girl to lead her across the room to one of the windows.
Jessica stuck her tiny fingers between one of the boards of the window and pushed. The nailed screeched then released their grip to reveal a narrow hole only big enough for a small child to crawl through. She then turned to Kim and gave a half smile at her success.
"Good going!" Kim exclaimed proudly and gave the girl a tight hug.
"Great!" Kima rushed over to the window, "I think you can all fit through." She turned to Penny, who was still standing near the door and held out her hand, "Come on Penny." She offered.
Penny nervously glanced around the room, "M... my belt..." She commented apprehensively and staggering away from the window.
"Penny we have to go!" Jessica suddenly commanded, "Please..." She held out her hand to the girl, "Don't make me leave you."
"Leave her?" Kima exclaimed, bewildered by what Jessica was suggesting. She looked between the two girls then back to Kim, "We are still part of their nightmare." She explained.
"But Jessie." Penny finally spoke, her eyes darting from the door back to the girl, "They will find us. They always do."
Abruptly there came a loud knocking at the door, "Jessie? Penny?" A kind sounding man's voice called out, "Time to come out."
"Penny!?!" Jessica cried and reached out towards the girl, "Please!!! I promise they will not find us."
Kim wildly looked around the room then back to her twin, "What do we do?" She panicked.
"Girls?" The voiced drifted through the door, "We know you are in there so COME OUT!!" The kindness quickly devolved from the voice and was replaced by imitation.
Kima's mind raced as she tried to think of a way out, "I... I..." She bit her lip in worry.
Jessica's eyes filled with terror, "P... please..." Her hand began to tremble with fear.
Penny backed into a corner, "N... no..." She mumbled, "They will find us..." She sunk into the corner with tears streaming down her face, "They will find us..."
Something heavy slammed against the door, "GIRLS!!!" The voice screamed, "You open this door this instant or you are in deep trouble Is That Understood?" The voice commanded.
"I'm sorry..." Jessica suddenly ducked through the window and crawled out of the house.
Kima quickly turned to Kim, "Go with her!" She pointing at the window.
"But..." Kim stared at the door as it bludged with the increasing hammer, "What about you?" She asked frantically.
"I will be alright." Kima assured, "You need to get Jessie out of here and find Jenn."
"But!" Kim hesitated unsure of what to do when a hammer broke through the door.
"GO!!" Kima ordered and pushed her twins head towards the hole, "We'll find another way out." She stated before shoving the girl out the window.
Kim tumbled out of the window and rolled across the grass. She rapidly got to her feet and turned to face the window, "KIMA!!!" She called out only to find the house was no longer there and she now stood waist high in a river of fog, "Kima..." She sunk into the fog as despair gripped her heart.
*****
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 visit my site and see some of the art based on this series at http://www.KatAndNekoManga.ca
Also if you spot any typos or other errors please contact me at Kathryn@KatAndNekoManga.ca
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