I See You...A Short Story

Turning the computer off in disgust, I shuddered at the sick words that had covered my screen, the imagery that had filled my mind making me feel dirty just for reading it, the chat room quickly losing its appeal despite the holiday season.

Moving away from the small desk, I headed for the kitchen, so much for a season to be merry. I was now in a worse mood then i when i had started. Looking out over the snow covered trees, I sighed deeply as the jug started to boil.

As a romance writer one would think I would have more luck with love, but despite my heroines always finding the right man, I seemed to always only attract creeps.

Stirring the honey in the tea, I made my way back to the lounge room, the glare I directed at the computer changing to a confused frown. I was sure I had turned the machine off, sipping the hot drink; I made my way over to do just that.

My hand hovering over the mouse as the screen went blood red, scrawling black writing filling the screen, as my mouth wet dry.

I see you!

for a moment my heart hammered in my chest, all the long buried fears rushing back, as my eyes went to the dark windows, my over vivid imagination filling in the darkness of the night with unseen danger, the threat growing in my mind with every breath I took.

Giving a harsh laugh I hit the power switch, the snow not only covering the trees in heavy fall but the road as well, there was no way any psycho was braving the chilly Christmas eve on a night like this. More than likely it was a virus, which meant that i really did have to wait until after Christmas before I could get back to work.

Two steps away from the computer, reaching for the TV remote I froze as the sound of the fan whirling back on filled the lounge room as the system started to reboot.

"You’re got to be kidding me" Placing my mug down on the coffee table, I moved behind the desk, pulling the power cord free in one firm tug. The speakers crackled once as the lights in the remote farm house went out.

Leaning my head against the wall I swore, this holiday couldn’t get any better. Alone, a chat room stalker, a virus and now a black out, and the blizzard hadn’t even hit yet. I should just go to bed and sleep right through to New Year.

A dot of strange colour flickered in the middle of the screen, leaning down to look closer I backed away with a yelp of surprise, stumbling over the office chair, as the dark eyes started to grow, taking shape on the screen in front of me.

The pupils following me as my shaking hands pulled the office chair in front of me moving backwards slowly. I would know those eyes anywhere, but it was impossible, I had seen him die, it couldn’t be…

I see you

The black writing wrote itself across the screen as the eyes slowly turned a deep orange, watching my every move.

Frozen to the spot as my legs backed me into the couch, this was more than a virus, the thought barely had time to cross my mind as the screen flickered on and off in time with the lights, the speakers distorting with screams and agony as the glass seemed to ripple then bulge, the shape of the head started pushing itself through the screen, his face contorting with pain as I stared to shock to move.

RUN! My sister’s last words filling my mind get out of here

The crying voices ripped my speakers apart as the glass finally shattered spraying glass in all directions. Raising my arms to protect myself I barely felt the glass cutting into my flesh as the whole house begun to shake.

Everything rocking on the shelves, the picture frames rattling as a black force exploded into my living room. With a high pitched howl the black mist started to form, Books and ornaments flew at me from every direction as the computer burst into flames, trying to protect myself from the flying object, I ducked behind the lounge, unable to take my eyes off the swirling mass forming into a man in my house. Looking back at him as a vase slammed into my cheek. Ignoring the blood I stared wide-eyed,

Holding his arms out, the head slowly turning to look me, the eyes glowing with victory in the darkness of the room, a demon come to life.

I see you!

Screaming at the familiar face, I didn’t stop to think. I ran the sound of my desk splintering apart following me as i rounded the corner into the hallway, my slippered feet sliding out from under me, as I slammed into the wall.

The doorway seemed framed with light, as everything inside of me urged me on towards it, nothing else mattered but getting out. Breathing fast, I clambered to my feet, as the lights flashed blindly before blowing, sending more glass raining down on me, stumbling the last few steps I cried out as my hands grasped the door handle.

Desperately turning it, i swore as the heavy step sounded behind me, looking over my shoulder I yelled in frustration as my fingers fumbled with the lock.

As impossible as it was, he was behind me, a black force of death more powerful now than he ever had been in life, my floor boards breaking apart with every step he took an evil smile of anticipation crossing his face as he savored my fear, making my sigh of relief more a yell of triumph as i pushed the door

open.

Before i could take a step the door slammed closed as I was thrown back, crashing into the hall mirror. Falling to my knees I groaned, blood pooling around me from the deep gashes as I struggled to my feet, my vision swimming as I tried to see him in the thick darkness of my hallway.

Victoria

How the hell was this happening?

The fire from the computer was spreading fast, as the flames licked their way up the old timber walls, Shaking, fear and pain consuming me; I bit back a sob as a staggered forward. The pain of old wounds reopened making my progress slow. I knew I wouldn’t live to see morning, but I had to try. I had promised her to never give up.

Do you remember what I said when I died?

"How could i forget" I hissed through the pain, ignoring his dark form beside me each step painful as I leaned against the wall, a trail of bloody hand prints behind me.

I had taken great satisfaction watching him being wired to the chair, the scars on my body nothing compared to the scar seared into my soul when he had murdered my twin in the dank cellar.

"see you soon", he had promised me before his body had started to thrash, the electricity cooking him from the inside out, had in the long run only added to my nightmares, and therapy hours.

In life i was famous he continued,

"You were a sick serial killer" I spat at him, "you should be burning in hell"

Ahh but in death I became a god, and you are my favorite play thing

Terrified cries seem to swirl around us as he lifted his hand,

HIs fingertips brushing my side, just under my ribs, buckling over in agony I screamed hoarsely as the memory of the sharp blade sliding into my naked side gripped me, his face over me at the time had been almost orgasmic as he had pulled the blade free.

Gasping as the pain swallowed me afresh, the old knife wound reopened with just a touch of his hand, how was I going to escape this?

Raising my trembling fingers from the wound I stared at the fresh blood smeared across my fingers. The small flicker of hope dying inside as my pulse grew louder in my ears.

You never should have escaped me, betrayed me

"we all have burdens to bear" gasping for breath, keeping my eyes firmly on the front door, I started to inch across the wooden floor again, more dragging myself than crawling.

You have to be punished, made an example off.

His words were distant as I crawled, my blood smearing across the floorboards as I reached for the door, even knowing I was going to die, I had to get out of this house, and I had to open the door. The house flickering around me as I blinked reality morphing as the proud walls of the farmhouse seemed to crumble and char in the swirling smoke.

But the door knob was almost in reach, straining my fingertips brushing the smooth porcelain I cried out in frustrated panic as an unseen force slammed me onto the bloody mess of my back,

“You are dead!” I yelled in pain and anger,

So are you He snarled into my face, his eyes glowing red in the darkness that formed him, his hand rose high poised to strike.

And you are mine!

Twisting before his blow landed I pushed open the door with a scream of agony, desperate to escape not just him, but the house that seemed to be echoing with more than just my screams.

The shock of seeing her face barely had time to register as I fell in the doorway, my body shuddering as he pulled his fist out of my back. Horrified she reached out to me, but didn’t move to step up onto the porch.

The bright light behind her highlighting the spray of my blood as it fell, staring at the fresh blood disappearing from across the porch, leaving only a stain of where it had once soaked into the pine decking.

The sound of my breath stopped as I rolled to my side, the old police tape tacked to the door fluttered in the freezing wind as it started to snow. The old house charred and abandoned, covered in ash and grime from time forgotten. The cries of terror that filled the walls where mine, the memory of my death stained into the very house itself,

“Come on!” she called her voice frantic as his heavy tread sounded behind me,

You will not escape me

If my heart could it would burst with fear as understanding filled me, my body wasn’t hurt, I wasn’t fighting for my life, I was fighting for my soul.

Ignoring the darkness of the house my sister, my twin took the steps of the porch in a rush as his burning hands gasped around my ankles. Her fingers brushing mine with a yell of denial as he dragged me back. The door slamming closed against her and the light.

Already dead with no escape, all I could do was Scream her name, still reaching for her as my murderer dragged me deeper into the burning remains of the house, my tomb, my hell,

********

Alone again at Christmas, I couldn’t help the heavy sigh that escaped my lips as I switched on my computer…