Don’t turn around

Chapter 5

Jackson examines his face in his bathroom mirror, without even needing to lean in he can see the difference, The reflection that stares back at him is a man that has not slept in days, double eye bags his skin turned a awful purple color on his cheekbones and hand prints around his neck as if choked every night. 6 days have passed and nothing has changed, since Anastasia has now been restricted from entering School grounds Jackson finds himself lonely but every now and than he can't help but look back at her old seat. It was always irritating how every morning there was something he'd always have to clean off of it; chewed up gum, "loser" sticky notes, or "Freak" writings on her desk, All while Alexis's popularity grew and she has now suddenly become a Survival victim of some Tragic accident. As Jackson looks at his face his bathroom door creaks open on its own very slowly Something in the mirror catches his eyes He directed his eyes on right corner of the mirror and nearly gasped seeing a dark silhouette of a man, A very tall large being with what looks like horns at the top of its head, Jackson whips his head out the door to the same spot he saw the Shadow in the mirror. Gone. He has officially lost it he thought, Ever since the whole Anastasia Episode he has been hearing and seeing things and it's just happening to him, only him, his mother seemed to have gone back to normal.

Funny she doesn't even recall even seeing him that day or greeting him.

Shaking his head he turns back to the mirror opens the faucet to wash his face, closing his eyes and gathering water with his Cupped hands he splashed the water on his face.

but something felt weird with the liquid, he kept his eyes closed and cupped his hands again the water felt warm when he knew he put it on cold , Jackson slashed his face with the liquid once more but it suddenly felt thicker than water sticking to his eyes, a rotten smell hit his nose and the taste of iron made his stomach churn. Clawing at his eyelids Jackson's eyes snapped open with a deep exhale the sight in front of him rendered him still he couldn't look away at the scene the room around him spinning as he fights for air

There, right in front of him the sink filled with blood, droplets cascaded down on to the floor but it was his reflection that stared back at him yellow vertical eyes with a sinister smile while, the reflection held onto two severed heads their eyes scooped they strangely resembled his mothers and his sisters.

That last thing Jackson heard was a women's laugh that echoed around his room, before he blacked out with the most gut wrenching scream. "Soon" the voice whispered

£

A warm rag was placed on top of Jackson's head while hot water cascades down his temples. Where is he? What happened? His thoughts run wild, body is on fire and his head is ready to explode. Soft Voices ring in his eardrums and his eyes lazily peel open, he blinked one's and the blurred vision makes out a woman with a face of a skull, His eyes widen as he jumps to sitting position and the Vision cleared.

His mother.

"Lay down lay down your burning up" she gently pushes him back on his shoulders.

Jackson Groans but complies, his body didn't give him an option, "what happened?" He asked as his head hits the pillow once more, his memory hazed he can't remember much only that he was washing his face.

"We heard a scream and saw you on the ground" His mother replied, just than Monica steps from behind her with tears running down her face.

"Jackson are you ok?" The young girl says tears stained her dark blue long sleeves,

"She has been by your side ever since wondering if your ok"his mother said

"It's ok M I'm alright" with a hoarse voice he gathered the little strength he had as he reaches out to pat her head, his mother looks up at something on his other side "Thank you so much for coming to help us" a deep appreciation was lacing in his mothers voice and an elderly female voice responded

" I'm glad I came when I did".

His movements stilled, brows furrowed

who is in his room?

Despite his current condition Jackson's head whipped to the left , there a thin elderly woman faced backwards with white hair, skin resembled the whitest of snow almost as if she's allergic to sun.

“The young man truly gave us quite a shock" Her voice grew thicker and a red flag was immediately signaling in Jackson's mind. The elderly woman turns around and Jackson's heart stopped, a wide grin on the woman's face, eyes were crimson red but it feels Jackson's was the only one bothered by it, her skin wrinkled with no eyebrows and her nails resembled claws she looked passed a hundred years old.

Jackson instantly grew uncomfortable at this woman presence.

something is off with this old woman

She walked towards him on wobbly legs her hand shakes as she reached over and placed a palm on Jackson's forehead and his hunch was correct.

the elderly woman's hand was ice cold , his whole body trembled and his teeth gritted.

She removed her hand and chuckled and Jackson sucked in a deep breath. The woman faces his mother "He is just perfect " her tone of voice was suspiciously unsettling as if she were dropping innuendos, he didn't remove his eyes from her once when she turned to the dressing mirror "oh thank you Dr thank you so much God bless you". Jackson watched as the woman paused staring at her belongings her smile slowly faded and a heaving sound left her throat. "Mom!" Jackson screamed fighting the urge to get up but for some reason couldn't move his body is like he was.... Paralyzed

His mother rushed over to his side her head blocks his right vision and her hair glides down almost blocking his left but Jackson Kept his on the woman and noticed her eyes twitching, Jackson watched her reach down into her purse digging through something, smiling when she seems to have found it, the object hidden her closed fists as she turns towards Jacksons unsuspecting mother and slowly walks over her reflection remains smiling a Cheshire smile. All of a sudden Jackson's words have been stolen, his lips are sealed shut and only inner screams can be heard, tears run down his face.

He can't move,he can't speak, he can't protect he's gonna watch the inevitable he felt hopeless.

The woman came to view, his mother turned her head and met the woman's daggers Jackson cried out once more seeing the elderly woman raise the closed hand and aimed it towards his mother, he closed his eyes and than Monica runs into the room, "look at my new doll Jackson" her excitement lights the darkened atmosphere and all eyes in her. Jackson turned back to the scene and the elderly woman smiles opening her fists revealing an herb as she lifts her left hand with an inhaler.

"These are Special chamomile lilacs perfect tea I've made tons of native medicines and I guarantee this will work" the elderly woman says.

The woman and Jackson's mother have one more conversation in front of Jackson's door as Monica goes on in his ear about the creepy porcelain glass doll in Mary had a little lamb outfit, the blue eyes were large.

No doubt this doll is creepy and won't be going anywhere near his room anytime soon.

Jacksons stared up at the ceiling his mind fills with Anastasia He wonders what she could be doing, or how she's doing her decided he'll pay her a visit once he's better. He shifts his position to the door and us startled to see the elderly woman's eyes, it's like they read a warning. He grew uncomfortable and turned away, he sighed a deep breath of fresh air when she heard the woman had gone, he felt better already his body was still a little soar and he decided to get a little rest, he shifted to the left and was met with Monica's red eyed doll from earlier but no Monica. Something about the doll bothered him and....

Wasn't the eyes blue?

"Monica" he screamed not bothering to look back, the door creaked open and Monica's shadow was casted on the wall

"Yes?" The little girls soft voice said

"keep your doll in your room not mine" he grabs the doll and hangs it in the air for her to grab. No sound no movement

"Monica here" he wagged the doll in the air

Footsteps approached his bed and the temperature suddenly dropped but disappeared when the front door was opened and closed and a voice made him snap his eyes open

"mommy where is she we've looked everywhere" Monica says

"Are you sure you left her in your room?" the mother questions

"I swear I left her in the bed.

£

Night soon swallowed the sun and Jackson seemed to have worsen but didn't want to worry his mother, he was wrapped like a burrito into his covers but his sweats grew uncontrollably, fever grew to a deadly 104 degrees but felt cold, the room spinning, his lips kept drying, voices growing and everywhere he looked a demonic shadow glided across the room.

His mother and sister were in the living room but he swears he can hear their voices as if they were right next to him, what is happening to me? He kept repeating over and over again he fought to stand up and walk to the bathroom when his door creaked open he froze and was met with an eerie dark hallway he stood still afraid of making any sudden movements the atmosphere around him seemed To have gone quiet, his breathing could be heard when his eyes adjusted to the dark and he was looking as his sisters closed door across the hall his heart dropped when her door started creaking open slowly, his eyes widen.

There, right in the middle of the room is Monica's doll looking directly at him smiling a low growl filled the room and the dolls head is yanked off in one scoop and thrown, Jackson watched the severed dolls head roll right in front of him as it hits his toes and rotated its head until it's facing Jackson keeping the smile, Jackson looks up and a pair of yellow eyes are staring right back the eyes disappear the room is still dark but a demonic screech followed by footsteps as in someone were running towards him were the only thing he processed before he He Lunges to the bathroom, Unaware of the pair of crimson eyes that were watching his movements in the darkest shadow.

Jackson is now in tears, his back towards the door as he glided down his knees hugging his chest as he wrapped his arms protectively around himself, his sobs grew as his heart wouldn't slow down , he shivers as he buries his head and his knees.

"She did this to you" a voice said , his head whipped up.

"She passed down her burden on to you"

"Wha-what? W-wh-who?"Voice shaky

"Anastasia she brought you to us" a severely raspy voice echoed in the walls.

"Anastasia?"

"She never cared for you, she just wanted ti get rid of this burden, she knew exactly what she was doing that day she planned it so well just to get rid of you " it's as if a snake a coiled up into his ear to speak the words.

"She did?" Suddenly a memory fills Jackson's mind as he remembers Anastasia smiling throughout the whole ordeal, while they cuddled on the floor she was smiling, when he brought her to the nurses station she was smiling, when she broke Alexis Davis's wrist she was smiling each time his back was turned she was .... Smiling.

No! It can't be it's not real

The voices seemed to have read his mind "yes it is real, she used you".

His chest tightened and sweat glided down his face He placed both hands on his ears to block out the noise fighting with his conscience, he refused.

it's not real it's not true He knows Anastasia... but does he really know Anastasia?

"I promise you she won't get away with this let me help you get revenge" A dark shadow suddenly casted behind him threatening to swallow him when to large clawed arms stretched out side to side behind him, They disappeared when Jackson jumped out of the way.

He refused to believe it there is no way, he knew all these events happening weren't real it was just his mind battling with himself to stay away from Anastasia like the others, no he really likes her and won't back away.

"Jackson you alright in there?" his mother called out from the bedroom.

"I'm fine I'll be out in a second" he didn't hear her leaving

"Mom?" Quietness Jackson reached for the door and creaked it open when he came face to face with a 7'0 tall silhouette and was grabbed by the throat in a flash slammed into the wall. Jackson watched in horror as the creatures lips cracked as it smiled a sinister smile revealing razor sharp teeth and long canines all of Jackson lights went out as for the final time he releases a blood curdling scream before darkness consumed him.