Shadow (part 56)
Mathew tumbled in a churning, pounding wave of confusion. Struggling with this other him.
“Noo, you aren’t me,” he screamed.
This mirror of inner terror.
“Noo, these aren’t my feelings. Not my thoughts.”
“Yes Mathew, they are your fears!” he heard himsef say.
The child clung to him as they fell and rolled and vied for dominance.
“We are one Mathew, why do you fight me?”
“Shut up, shut uuuuupppp.”
Mathew’s flesh split as nails scratched and dug. Pain sucked away his breath as the child kneed him in the stomach. Slaping it’s face to the side, Mathew pushed it’s cheek into the wood floorboards, letting his weight trap the small body and head. Rage urged him, harder, flatten him, hurt him, he leaned in.
A muffled voice rose to meet his ears.
“Why does humanity fight it’s other side Mathew? Your mother knew to embrace me. Our mother.”
“She is NOT your mother, you demon, you devil, leave her alone.”
“I can feel how you enjoy hurting me Mathew. It feels good doesn’t it? Hurting people?”
He whipped his hand off the child’s face. It looked at him, the small, smiling mouth. A sickly sweet of overripe lifted into the air through brown stained teeth.
“Mathew, you do know she’s not your mother either.
Mathew moved forwards and pushed his knee on top of it’s throat.
“You’re a fake, you’re time is up.”
“I can’t breath Mathew.”
“Good!” He pushed harder.
“You’re hurting me, Mathew.”
“Good.”
A small voice. “So now you’re a killer?”
Mathew stopped pushing down. He looked over at his mother crouching by the wall, then out through the window, he sensed the roots below him and the stars above. “Give me strength.”
“The only way out is through, Mathew. Embrace me. Your shadow!”
https://theprose.com/post/259869/your-turn-collaborative-challenge