Pounding.
Panic.
“I can’t breathe.”
Flashes.
Screaming.
“I can’t breathe!”
Running.
GET OUT! GET OUT!
I CAN’T BREATHE!
Katharine woke up with a start; panting, lying down, frozen with terror. She had so many questions. She ran her hands across the hard, flat surface she lay upon, and realized that there was nothing covering her. Katharine lay still, her body aching, still breathing heavily. The ceiling was wooden, the walls were wooden, and she guessed by the feel of it, that the table was wooden as well. Katharine sat up slowly, her heart skipping a beat when she realized that she wasn’t alone. There was a woman sitting in the corner of the room on an old, wooden rocking chair. The woman rocked methodically back and forth, the floorboards creaking with every sway of the old chair. Unblinking, she stared right at Katharine. The woman's hair was straight and black, the humid air causing it to stick to her face. She was slim, far too slim: her bones were pointed harshly at the joints; her arms were scrawny, her skin stretched tightly around her bones; her face was sunken, pale as the snow with dark, deep marks surrounding her cold, gray eyes. She looked fragile, as if she would break if she tried to leave her chair.
What is going on?
Katharine knew that something was wrong. She had a horrible, nagging feeling that something really awful was going to happen to her. With this in mind, Katharine’s eyes quickly swept the room as she looked for a way out. To the left of the woman, was an open window lazily allowing the moist summer breeze to float around them. The room was dimly lit by the rising sun peeking through the clouds, timidly making its way into the rickety old house. With this new found light, Katharine could see that there were scratches and holes in the wooden walls, and the room seemed to have been recently soaked and stained with a dark, thick crimson: like blood. This sudden realization made Katharine’s heart beat faster. She started to smell the stain on the walls as it mixed with the sweet air floating through the window, making her feel sick. She had no memory of coming here. Her thoughts were swirling in her head when, out of nowhere, she heard:
“Good morning sunshine.”
Katharine jumped and snapped her head to the left, locking eyes with the woman once again and, unwavering, the woman started to smile. Her smile grew and grew, the thin skin on her face stretching, her lips cracking, and a small drop of blood fell leisurely from the center of her bottom lip onto her bony thigh. A shiver shot through Katharine from her head to her toes, causing her body to jolt and shake violently with fear.
“How did I get here?” Katharine asked breathlessly.
“Why, I brought you here, my dear.” The woman replied calmly.
The world started spinning and black started to creep in from the outer corners of her eyes. Katharine couldn’t think, she couldn’t remember anything.
Why can’t I remember? Oh my gosh. What is going on? Oh my gosh! I can’t breathe!
Katharine’s breaths came in short bursts but she felt no relief from the air going in and out of her lungs. She was grasping and groping at her throat, weezing, desperately trying to breathe. Tears started running down her face in a constant stream, soaking her cheeks and hair. Her ears started ringing loudly and the black spots continued their trek across her vision. She was determined to keep consciousness out of the fear of what might happen to her if she slipped under the dark lull of senselessness. With much difficulty, Katharine was able to breathe again, she slowly filled her lungs with the warm, moist air filling the house. The black spots started to disappear and the ringing stopped. She closed her eyes and listened to the wind in an attempt to center herself as she pondered a way out of the house. She wiped her face and opened her eyes, looking directly at the strange woman. Her eyes were wide and unwavering, her smile growing more, splitting her bottom lip, causing a slow stream of hot blood to drip down her chin and onto her pants. She was enjoying Katharine’s unease.
Suddenly, a blood curdling scream burst through the silence, making Katharine turn white with fear once again.
Where did that come from? Oh my gosh, oh my gosh!
Katharine was sobbing uncontrollably. She tried to think of what she did that made her deserve such horror.
“He’s coming!” The woman sang.
“Who’s coming?” Katharine gasped.
“You ignorant little girl,” the rocking stopped. “You think humans are in control of everything! Darling,” she teased, “This is the work of the Gods!”
“The work of th…”
“You think you’re so special don’t you? How do you think humans are able to survive? The Gods control everything! We must please them to save the rest of your kind!”
“My kind?” Katharine questioned fearfully.
“Humans, dear,” The woman replied impatiently.
Katharine was in shock. She didn’t know what to think.
This is insane! The work of the Gods? What does that mean?
Katharine asked timidly, “What do you mean, ‘we must please them?’”
The woman laughed maniacally “Why, nothing pleases the Gods more than human blood. It keeps them strong and assures their loyalty to this disaster you call a world.”
Katharine felt numb. Her mind went blank, and she couldn’t speak. She was going to die and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Her mouth opened and closed as she tried to speak, tried to think, but only a soft moan escaped. Katharine gasped as her memory came back in a flash, hitting her like a brick, sending her body back against the table so violently, it made her head spin. She had a family! The love of her life was waiting for her at home.
Alex! She remembered, her heart breaking.
She was leaving for work, it was supposed to be just like any other day. Katharine had accepted a work trip where she would meet others to discuss how they could make the world a better place.
Make the world a better place. Katharine thought.
Make. The world. A better. Place.
The woman's voice ambushed Katharine’s brain, suspending the flood of memories, as the voice mocked her over and over again: “We must please them to save the rest of your kind.”
He told me not to leave! Oh my gosh, he told me not to go. Katharine thought hopelessly, remembering Alex.
Alex.
The woman interrupted Katharines thoughts, her smile just as wide, saying, “You’re just one of many. I’m sure, of course, you can smell that. I’ve heard that humans have a way of smelling their own… both inside and out.”
Upon hearing this, Katharine turned quickly and vomited violently until she was sure that if she retched any more, she would surely die: she hoped that this was the case. She would rather die now than wait for how she might be killed later in her undeniable, inescapable slaughter. Unfortunately for her, the vomiting ceased and she was left feeling weak and defeated.
“Are you done, dear?” the woman asked, mocking pity.
Katharine did her best to block out the tsunami of memories torturing her: her head hurt, she couldn’t do this anymore! She realized that her pity would get her nowhere. Katharine let out a final sob, releasing her fear, releasing every feeling she had until all she felt was anger. Pure, allconsuming hatred. This woman was taking everything from her! She would never see her family and friends again. She would never see another sunrise, another waterfall: she would never see the beautiful world that she always wanted to see. Katharine was furious. Her face was hot and her vision blurred, her anger filled every inch of her, taking over.
“How many humans have you taken?” Katharine muttered, her teeth clenched.
“Come again, my dear?” The woman sneered.
“Stop calling me that!” Katharine screamed, “How many humans have you taken?” she roared, enunciating every word harshly.
“Getting angry now, are we… Dear.” The woman's smile returned, making Katharines blood boil.
It was as if something had possessed Katharine. She wasn’t thinking, she wasn’t seeing, she felt disconnected from her body. Every intention she might have had was annihilated instantly and replaced with an animalistic fury. Her teeth were bared and she was ready to pounce, to tear the woman apart, piece by piece.
“You devil.” Katharine spoke deeply, biting each word.
The woman laughed, catching Katharine off guard. She smiled - a dark smile - her face changing and contorting.
“Oh no, my dear, I’m your guardian angel.”
Still laughing, she grew taller and the skin on her bony limbs seemed to melt into her frightening, elongated figure. Her legs and arms grew out, her hands and feet turning into claws, six inches in length. Her neck stretched, spiraling and coiling like a snake ready to attack. Her face was pulled forward off of her skull and was molded to a point, almost a beak, while a multitude of menacing fangs pierced through her soft gums, soaking them in blood.
Katharine’s anger was slowly suppressed, her face turning white: she had forgotten to breathe. She gawked at the creature, unbelieving and horrified by this sudden change. Her anger had given her a hope that she didn’t realize until now: now she had no chance. This creature was more horrible and terrifying than anything she could have ever imagined. Her tears returned, accompanied by uncontrollable sobs as she stared at the face of her killer. The creature laughed deeply, a horrible, bellowing laugh and started towards Katharine. She jumped off the table and hid behind it, allowing her instincts to take over, though she knew that she wasn’t protected. Her breathing increased, a soft whine escaping her throat with every exhale.
BANG
Katherine’s head snapped toward the door. Someone was trying to get in… some-thing was trying to get in.
“He’s here.” the creature hissed.
Katharine looked around the room, tears streaming down her face. She thought about her family and her Alex.
BANG
She thought of the world that she knew so little about, but loved so dearly. She took a deep breath, inhaling every happy memory she had ever had and she let this joy consume her.
BANG… BANG… BANG
“Goodbye,” she said softly, her voice wavering.
BANG!
The door flew inwards, Katharine let out her last scream, and everything went black.
About the Author:
Lorin Zamer has won 1st place in various speech-writing competitions and has won 2nd place in a local story-writing contest. In her free time, Lorin enjoys many activities such as singing, playing her oboe, and watching movies. Lorin is a student at Cookeville High School and she lives with her family and two dogs in Cookeville Tennessee.
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