Chapter 4
723 Words
Frantically, I called Jodie's hospital. They tell me Jodie left early because of a family emergency. But we have no other family, none that would warrant leaving work early.
I paced around my ruined apartment, searching for any evidence of what happened and begging for her to walk through the door. But there was nothing. Her phone went straight to the answerphone.
"No, no, no." Even my room had been torn apart, it seemed nothing was missing, just my sister. And that meant everything was missing. "I can't stay here." I said, as though she was listening. Hoping she was going to step out of the closet and say it was all a sick joke.
I managed to calm down slightly when I began to pack my bags. I had enough money to put me up in a motel for the night and on the way I would call the police.
Changing out of my ripped work shirt, I threw on a casual white shirt and cleaned all the makeup off my face. Looking at myself in the mirror, I practiced my breathing, trying to stave off another panic attack.
And then it happened. A crippling, tearing pain started all over my back. It felt like someone had taken two knives to my shoulder blades and sliced down towards my spine and proceeded to tear open the wounds. I had never felt anything like it. I screamed as the pain didn't stop, and I could feel a hot liquid begin to spread over my back. I had no control over my body, twisting around to look in the mirror and I saw red.
My entire back was soaked with crimson liquid. I didn't stop screaming as I pulled my shirt up. Beneath the layer of blood I could see raised skin and I could make out two deep gashes running from my shoulder blade down to my spine. It looked like something Jodie and I had seen in the most gory horror movies. The screams finally died in my throat and the pain subsided slightly, my entire back still burned as I continued to stare at the open wounds.
I was so mesmerized by the event I apparently missed the sound of my front door opening, because within seconds I could hear footsteps coming from my hallway. "Jodie?" I called out, momentarily distracted from the pain at the thought of Jodie returning. When I stepped out, I saw it wasn't Jodie, but a stranger wearing a crisp white suit. "Who are you?"
They looked me up and down. I could only imagine what a state I looked like with the blood that had soaked through my white shirt almost entirely. The man was handsome, not like the stranger from earlier. This one was almost angelic in his handsomeness with white hair and golden eyes, his skin tanned. "Are you Emery?" He asks bluntly.
"Yes, have you seen my sister, Jodie?" I asked out of desperation and they nodded.
"You'll be joining her soon." And then he reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a knife of pure gold. My throat burns as I screamed once again, grabbing the nearest thing to me, which happened to be a soap dish, and tossing it at the stranger. They move aside to avoid it easily, giving me an opening to rush past them.
I make it to my front door when an arm encircles my waist, and I am shoved into a wall. Pain shoots up my body as my open wounds collide with the wall and the stranger raises his dagger over my heart.
"Tell me where the demon is, and I will make your death swift."
"Demon?! What drugs are you on?" I screamed, hoping someone would hear me and help save me from this obviously insane man.
"The demon named Aether. Where is he?"
"I don't know anyone called Aether." I sobbed, the bloodloss had began to make my head cloudy and I could feel my consciousness beginning to slip. "Please, don't hurt Jodie." I shut my eyes and pray that the death is quick.
Before I black out, I feel the sharp point at my chest be relieved and can just about make out the deep sound of a familiar voice-
I'm going to kill you for touching her.
- Writer
