House of Tricks

It was the sixteenth corridor. It was much colder here, so cold I could feel icicles grow on my lungs. It stung the cuts on my arms, burnt the slashes on my neck and face. Crimson rivulets froze, dripped to the marble floor and shattered to a million pebbled rubies.

Another thousand doors ahead, waiting for me to open them all. To look without seeing. To feel more painful jabs of sharp objects through my body. I wondered how many more corridors and doors I have to go through this House of Tricks to find my goal. I can feel its existence in this place. I imagined its warmth in my bleeding palms. Its light shining on my face for possibly the first time.

But dread gripped through me again. Truth was hidden within this horrible place. This place filled with a million bones, dozens of skeletons in the closets. This place that is filled with so many traps, I’ve almost bled to my death.

I was in a house made of cards; a false breath, a false touch, a false step, and everything would crumble over my head.

But I felt that Truth was in here somewhere, hopeful and dreadful Truth.

I carefully moved to the first of the thousand doors, reached out a shaky hand. A silent prayer was dispatched from my thoughts into the chilly air.

Spiked vines sprung from the doorknob, breaking into my skin, trickling the crimson liquid to the floor. I swallowed a cry and tried to pull my hand away. It stuck to me like teeth. Like a million knives. I beat my fist on the door and the vines released me, leaving behind its warning marks.

Lies always covers Truth.

I should have known. No, I’ve always known. Like the other things I’ve known for a while now. Like things I’ve realized here about the House of Tricks.

That Truth is buried here, within this container of pain. That Truth is enough punishment to those who seek for it. That Truth is lost within this place like a red shirt with a stain in a million laundry baskets.

And another thought drifted in my mind that my mind’s eye refused to acknowledge. I know it in my wounded, frozen heart.

Truth has already become none existent in this House of Tricks.

---

Well…it’s been a while since I’ve posted something…and so short too…

Anyway, don’t forget to review. Criticisms are most welcome!