The Parasites That Live in The Cracks

15. Definitely Not Heaven

Bree

  I woke up to a searing pain in my head. I was no longer in my cell, I knew because I could feel a soft bed under me. Yes! Soft! I couldn't be dead though, because pain isn't supposed to follow me... Then again, who could say for sure?

  I squinted my eyes open slightly and moaned, it was brighter here. The light hurt my eyes and my head.

  "She's awake!" I heard a familiar voice whisper excitedly.

  "Mom?..." I groaned quietly, making my head throb. Okay, so either I'm not dead or Mom's dead too.

  "Yes Bree I'm here, are you okay?"

  "No... Where am I?"

  "We're in the prison hospital, they let me come visit you until you're better. You've been out for a week now... Why would you do that?" I could hear the fear and pain in her voice.

  "I'm sorry Mom..." I whispered and let my eyes close again. "I'll explain when my head isn't killing me..." Could it be literally killing me too? I might not mind...

  I slipped back into a deep sleep, half-wishing to not wake up.

⇎

The next time I woke up the pain in my head had been reduced to a dull ache.

  I opened my eyes slowly, half-blinded by the light.

  "Bree! You're awake again!" Mom exclaimed.

  "Yup... Can you turn off the light?" I asked quietly. The light both hurt my eyes and made my head throb. I wasn't so sure smashing my skull open had been a good idea now.

  "Sure sweetie." I heard her footsteps and the light flicked off.

  "Thanks," I said and opened my eyes the rest of the way.

  "Bree sweetie, why would you do that though? You fractured your skull... You could have died... What was that bad, is prison really that bad?" Mom asked anxiously.

  I sucked in a breath quickly, remembering it all.

  "The-the vampires! The vampires were coming for me, they drink my blood! It's almost every day now... Mom take me home!" I half-yelled, trying to sit up and causing my head to pound painfully.

  "Bree... Vampires don't exist... But I'll ask if I can take you home." Thank goodness! Yes! Take me home! End this nightmare! 

  “They do, it’s awful in there, it’s so dirty and see, I’m always covered in dirt and poop and…” My voice trailed off as I looked down at my freshly washed skin and clothes. I fumbled at my hair, feeling the clean strands, smelling the faint fragrance of strawberries. They didn’t… No, they did, they covered it all up.

  A woman walked in as if she knew mom wanted to talk to her and looked between us.

  "Everything okay?" She asked with a fake grin.

  "Can I take my daughter home?" Mom asked.

  "I'm sorry, she is a murderer and as of her little episode here she's also believed to be delusional. It isn't safe for either of you."

  I sat up quickly and opened my mouth to say something, but the woman wasn't done. It must be her job to make me crazier than I already might be...

  "You should leave now, having you here seems to be setting her off. Obviously, she's stable now, no threat to her life. We will notify you if there's anything you need to be aware of."

  The woman stepped forward and grabbed Mom's arm, pulling her towards the door.

"NO!" I screamed and grabbed for Mom's hand, but missed. "Don't leave me here! They're going to feed me to the vampires I'm going to go insane don't leave me here!" Sobs rose in my throat, my voice coming in shaky, high screams. Echoing off the walls, like mocking voices telling me exactly what was coming.

  Mom’s eyes were wide, mouth slightly open as she was trying to speak but couldn’t. Was she scared? Of me? "Bree I can't-"

  The woman cut her off. "She is worse than I thought... Come on, quick." She pulled Mom through the door.

  I jumped up, ignoring the now intense pain in my head. "Mom! Come back! Please don't leave me here Mom please!" No! I couldn't do this, Mom was just going to make this more painful... After a bit of hope, I'd just be more hopeless. My chest ached, deeper and more painful than even the pangs shooting through my head. 

  The woman slammed the door closed and I heard a lock click. I pounded on the door and screamed for Mom to come back. She couldn't leave me here!

  Except she did. I was alone.