If Gold Won’t Stay Why Would Darkness?
Darkness surrounds us all,
He watches as we fall,
He will encroach upon our heart
With wishes to never depart.
But darkness shrinks to flame
So the Viper hides from blame,
So the gray will fade away.
Darkness goes today.
Until Eden is destroyed,
When our emotions become void.
The flame will always glow,
With the purity of snow.
You Stampcrab
Dearest Os Coxas,
I have the utmost regret for every ounce of pain I have caused you, and may continue to cause. It was never my intention to bring you harm, I love you both very much. I would like to imagine that you will stay strong and never leave me even as I grow old. For you see I could not bear to have to get a hip replacement for my shortcomings.
Inasmuch as I have deeply wounded the two of you I promise, from this day forward, to stop slamming you into the dreadful counters, bookcases, and the ever-present doorways. I do hope you have never detested me for my rough treatment. You see I am but a clumsy fool who grows too excited and forgets about their lack of coordination. When I run to deliver exciting news I often forget about the counter and if I don’t execute the perfect turn you will receive a vicious blow for my miscalculations.
Don't fret that I am specifically targeting you. As, regrettably, it's not only you who receives this unjust treatment. My pinky toe has also seen it all. The treacherous edges of the walls and the monstrous vacuum. It is my hope you will extend this apology down to,
Right Pinky
5th Phalange Lane
Clumsy, Homo Sapien 014
For it is the pinkieds that I cause some of the most harm to, besides you that is.
This apology isn't just empty words that are meant to soothe you until my next clumsiness attack. Seeing as neither of you have ever wronged me I've decided the best solution is to bubble wrap every sharp and hittable corner of my house. This way the next time I happen to trip, you will be merrily on your way.
Sincerely,
Stupidly Clumsy
The Argents
The moon was just starting to rise to its peak when we pulled into the two story Victorian homes driveway. The brakes of the Ol' Smoker, Jason’s beat up Civic, screeching to a halt as Jason stopped in the driveway.
"This is the house?" I asked warily starring at the open door.
"692 Daimon lane." Jason replied as he got out and grabbed the bag from the back seat. "It's time to go." He softly stated when I still hadn't moved from the passenger seat.
I slowly unbuckled my seatbelt and grabbed my necklace from the rearview mirror and made my way to Jason. He stopped and looked at me for a beat before saying "We have to do this Anna. You know that right?" He placed his hand on my shoulder "We can do this, nothing’s going to happen. We will be in and out in no time."
I stared up at the house which had all the lights out but one that was emitting a dim flickering orange glow. I glanced back at him and slowly nodded, still doubtful. We were just teenagers we weren't ready to handle this.
Jason walked up the steps and over the threshold opening it wider to reveal blood splattered walls and slashed family paintings. Along with splintered table and toppled chairs. The sight of the blood alone made me want to run as long and far away as I could but Jason just stepped forward like it wasn't even there.
That, was made us so different. Jason could compartmentalize his feeling any time he needed. He never seemed to feel anything while I always seemed to feel too much. Mrs. Jenkins often said that I felt enough for the both of us, that I was an empathizer and a pacific. However, things could not be settled civilly, not tonight.
Every fiber of my being screamed at me to run, get back in the car. Drive away from the small town I grew up in all my life and leave everything and everyone I knew behind in search of a better life. Alas, I knew I couldn't. For I am the pastor’s daughter and because of my father’s untimely demise it has fallen to me to take care of our 129 population town.
Before we walked any further in the house Jason turned to talk to me.
“It won’t be like what happened to him.”
"Promise?" I whispered meekly.
"Promise." He stated with conviction as he now gently guided me through the house.
Once we got to the kitchen we knew we had found the spot we needed to be for the rancid smell emitting from around the corner was the last sign. Upon turning into the dining room we found a small 10 year Annalise Walker sitting in a chair crying. My immediate instinct told me to run up and comfort her but Jason's hand tightened on my shoulder and he only shook his head subtly telling me no.
"Where is Annalise Walker?" He commanded in a strong and intimidating tone that sounded just like my father.
You see when Jason was just 9 his parents died of a drug overdose leaving him an orphan. The whole town turned their back on him, like he was a pariah. My father, Pastor Luke, just scolded the towns’ people and took Jason in. Jason trained under my father so he too would one day become pastor of our small town. Although my father raised Jason as one of his own he was never formally adopted which left Jason feeling unworthy of our surname.
When Annalise replied I could only stare on in horror listening to her say "I'm right here don't be silly."
Only it wasn't Annalise Walker’s voice that spoke but an ancient, gravelly, and malicious voice.
“Exorcizamus te, omnis immunde spiritus, omni satanica potestas…” Jason’s chant filtered in and of my ears as I stared on in shock and disbelief. This once loveable and delightful little girl had been taken over by a demon bent on destruction and death.
“Get away, get away!” The demon roared shaking the foundation of the house and blowing out the once flickering candle, are only source of light. Using Annalise as a marionette the demon fought against the constraints that Annalise’s parents put on her before they slowly lost their grip on reality.
It’s yelling broke me out of my stupor and jumpstarted me into helping Jason with the chant grabbing the holy water from the bag and sprinkling it across Annalise’s forehead.
“She can only live if I’m alive you send me back to Hell and she dies with me!” The demon cackled in our faces spitting at us in its rage. Jason ignored the spirits threat continuing the incantation so I followed suit using my cross necklace my father had blessed to hopefully advance the exorcism and protect us in the process.
Soon the demon stopped struggling against the bonds that trapped it, leaving me to wonder if we had finally condemned it back to Hell and we could get Annalise back. With Jason still chanting I didn’t give it the benefit of the doubt and we worked together in the silence of the demon to finish what it had started.
“I killed your father. I ripped right into his soft, pale, and mortal skin and let him bleed to death! I relished every long and everlasting second of it making sure to draw out his agony! I killed him for fun just because I was bored and when I found out he was an Argent knew I would have to find you too. To get the satisfaction of killing you just as I did to your father! This time I’m going to send you Hell and let you be torn apart by every demon that your father has ever condemned!”
My face drained of all color and I stuttered through the next line of the incantation feeling sick. The Argents have always been the top exorcist to call for help. In our family it is a rite of passage to learn how to expel demons from the bodies of innocent humans.
Our name serves as a threat to all evil beings. But, with my seventeenth birthday just two months before my father died he never had a chance to teach me. Jason who had turned seventeen, just months before me had a chance to learn the basics. Leaving the obvious candidate to led this exorcism seeing as he was more erudite than I, in this particular subject.
My father died doing a ritual to save a little girl just like we are trying to now. Knowing this is the same demonic spirit was able to take my father, who had 20 years of experience, down made this ritual for Jason and me much more dangerous that I thought it would ever be.
I pushed my thoughts away and looked at Jason who too looked paler than usual.
“Let us pray,” he persisted with the ending of the incantation which would hopefully safely get Annalise back to us. “God of heaven, God of earth-“
“No, hold your tongue before I rip it straight out of the back of your throat!” The demon writhed and screamed fighting more urgently than ever to break free. It was blood-curdling to watch a child say these things even knowing it wasn’t truly her and that deep down she was trapped waiting to be free again.
“I will end you.” The demon whispered staring straight at me, sadistically smiling at me. “I bet your blood it sweeter than your fathers.”
Time seemed to stand still as “Annalise” broke through the constraints and rammed me causing my head to thump against the wall with a sickening crack. Even dying the demon had too much strength for me to fight back.
“Anna!” Jason screamed conflicted between helping me and finishing off the final words that would finally rid us of the beast that killed my father and God only knows how many other innocent lives. Before he could make a decision though the demon puppeteering Annalise grabbed the butchers’ knife from the kitchen which was fully visible from the dining room.
“There’s no hope for any of you. I’ve been hiding in this town for two months! Everybody’s infected. You all will die!” Chills were sent down my spine and my head thumped along to the beat of my heart.
“I think for the first death we will start off with, poor miss Walker,” Then before either of us could move the marionette sliced Annalise’s throat and we could only watch on in despair as Annalise’s body crumpled to the floor like a rag doll.
Jason starred on in shock and my brain tried to process what had just happened. My movement felt sluggish and as I turned my head to look at Jason my vision started to swim. Slowly, Jason turned to me going paler than I had ever seen him.
“We have to get you the h-.“ Jason coughed into hand and I look down to see blood in it.
“Is this what it meant?” I slowly choked out. “Are you dying?”
“We have to go Anna, come on.” Jason stated ignoring all my questions. He carefully pulled me to my feet and took a step towards the door when my knees buckled and I collapsed to the floor almost hitting my head against the wall for the second time that evening. I tentatively lifted my hand to my head which was still pounding and felt something warm and sticky against it. I carefully adjusted my hand into my narrow line of vison and noticed it was stained crimson.
“Oh,” I sluggishly stated. My eyes were growing heavy and my emotions were scattered and I couldn’t think straight. I just wanted to lie down, sleep and have my dad help me figure this whole mess out.
“Hey, no you have to stay with me Anna.” Jason tone sounded frightened. Jason was never frightened not for anyone or anything. I dully opened my eyes and attempted to focus on him. There were still specks of blood on his lip.
“Save them Jas.” I muttered as strongly as I could. “Try to save them, before it’s too late.”
“I promised you that you would be safe.” Jason replied sounding more panicked and frightened. “You can’t leave me, you are all that I have left.”
Tears welled in my eyes completely obscuring my vision, “Thanks Jas, for everything.”
My Silence
“Why? That would be the only question I would have to ask. Why would she do this to my baby girl?” Miss Crimson one of the most notorious serial killers of the twenty first century has been put to death. Crimson killed 30 people over the span of two years in the cover of night….”
The British narrator droned on about Crimson, the worst serial killer of the 21st century. His voice filled the small office room making my blood boil. This is "my" story. This is the legacy that has been left behind for the next generations to remember me by. This is “my” mark that has been left behind for the world. But, this story is not my own. The killer they arrested is me but it should not be.
In endless circles they drove looking for the butcherer of innocent lives. Looking only with their two dimensional eye sight with I happening to be so close by their two dimensional circle turned to a sphere but to them, they saw a straight line. This line was the final step to closing the case. Oh, how they do not see nor do they think, they just do and that is there greatest fault. You see, I am a witness, I am a victim, but they only see a monster.
As this disgraceful documentary has stated I had been sentenced to death. But what they do not state is that it’s for the fault of another man. When they arrested me I did not object. What good would it have done me? They were like a dog with a bone, unwilling to give up there prize. So with every harsh word they lashed out at me I replied with the sweet silence of nothing. For you see I did not speak then, nor do I now. I am not mute but I stopped speaking long ago for reasons I'm not quite sure are my own. My impeding death did not encourage me to speak. Sooner or later they would have realized what they've done. When I was still alive I remember their abusive treatment, how they would throw me to my destinations, let others spit on me, and every now and then get in a good hit. But, I did nothing for they were happy. They thought they had found Crimson. That things could go back to peace, but they wouldn’t. I am the key to finding the man who's framed me. His only surviving victim, this was his plan. He can now hide in peace while I am doomed to wander this Earth searching for mine.
I can hear his cruel laugh in my ears smiling and not shedding a tear. I remember his eyes so mean and uncaring how have I been confused with such a beast? That trip down the hall was one of peace. No birds to sing or mouse to squeak. Nature knows the truth for she is pure, the people ahead are just full of greed. Roughly the officers had strapped me down to the cold and uncomfotable bed. I only complied with them preparing for my last breath of this putrid prison atmosphere.
Everyone stared with malicious grins and anger. Except for the young camera man whose gaze was curious but full of fear. Instead of looking at my impending demise he consumed my focus. For in my last living moments I realized he is gold, he is pure. His colleagues had not yet corrupted him and fueled him with hatred. My gaze made him squirm but his did not leave mine so I lay while he stood continuing our curiosity fueled staring contest. That's when I felt something rise in my chest and swim through my veins. Something that felt strange and new but old and familiar in a sense. I continued starring as that feeling gained in intensity. Through some miracle he seemed to sense what was happening and took a slow and weary step forward never breaking our contest. Soon enough I had felt as though I might burst and finally decided that this feeling was something innocent, just like the young man in front of me.
"I am not Crimson," I uttered so quietly and in such a hoarse voice I was positive that he could not have heard.
Oh, how contrary that is as that day I saw his eyes widen with shock and doubt and then trust. That is the power of eye contact.
Alas, the prison guards had had enough of me and I slowly felt the poison creep through my veins like a steady army of ants. My heart beat, once strong and steady, started slowing to a crawl. While my vision soon after started to fade leaving me to wonder about my last words. I had supposed then that I had to make them count. "Find him," I whispered praying I would not die for nothing.
Immediately, I saw his eyes harden with determination but there was something else hidden within his emerald depths. In my last dying moments I could not figure out what it was. I now figure it must have been regret for letting an innocent woman die, but that hardly matters now for he knows the truth.
With my last breath I decided to focus solely on his beautiful emerald eyes that were the last innocent object that I saw before fading into the blissful emptiness of death.
Nevertheless, I wander these prison halls waiting for him. That hope he fueled me with in my last living moments appears to have been everlasting. It is the sole thing that has kept me sane and from turning into the other Hell distorted creatures I have witnessed in my time stuck in the shadow realm of Earth. Besides waiting I have pondered what that feeling, so pure and innocent, that I had felt before my untimely demise was and why I felt it then of all times. It was familiar like a book you haven’t read in years so you’ve forgotten what it’s about.
Since I am now without a sense of time I am unable to tell you how long it took me to figure out what this feeling was. But, I am positive it is an embarrassingly long time. You see, I had to reflect upon my life as a child to understand and once I did I soon remembered why it is such a beautiful feeling and what it was. In my dying moments the emotion that surged through my veins faster than any poison was, hope.
Freedom
Spinning, spinning, spinning
To the dizzying beat of drums
A flash of cheshire grinning
And the faint sound of hums
I know I am sober
But my vison becomes blurred
Is it still October?
How do I know what's occurred?
This shapeshifter is in control
My once beloved subject
Has managed to make my skin crawl
With undeniable hatred
This beauty is mine alone
I could watch him all day
In every way perfect
He will never go away
The beat of drums increases
He is almost here to stay
I might just fall to pieces
When he takes my breath away
A cold and uninviting steel
Manages to meet my lips
How should I feel?
When I know it's a full clip
Green bores into lifeless pupils
Like a vice he hold me in his grip
My resistance would be futile
I can feel my heart trip
It couldn't be a dream
My subject really loves me
I can only begin to beam
While most would want to scream
His whispers reach my ears
A promise that I cannot ever leave
That day I didn't shed a tear
We'd be together every summer's eve
This is not possible, how can it be?
This grin is cold and unfamiliar
How could I let it trick me?
This false reality could never last
But, I would never put him in the past
So tonight one shot will ring out
My freedom will come about.