Whilst You Slept

Chapter One: I’m Your Eyes When You’re Away

By: Jen a.k.a. Shades Of Hades

 Death. It seems that it is everyone’s worst fear. To die. The pain of death. The uncertainly. No one knows what to expect. No one can explain what it feels like to die, what awaits us in the next life.

I adjusted my tie, my hands steady and unwavering, even though a scene of horror was played out before me. I was told by my boss to always keep a neat appearance. Keep myself tidy in my pressed suit and dark shaded tie.  My hands gently brushed at my black suit as if wiping invisible crumbs away. My shoes shone highly polished in the morning sunlight as I step through the reddened mud. It had rained here the night before.

How fitting.

He had always liked rain. I remember him sitting and watching in fascination as it dripped down the tinted windows of our little house. It often rained around here. We had frequent serve thunderstorms. Sometimes the lightening would strike so hard my brother and I could feel the whole house shake. Trib and I would sit by candlelight and read into the wee hours of the night, listening to the crack of the thunder as it drifted farther and farther away with our worries and imaginations.

If it wasn’t for my imagination, I think this gruesome scene would have surprised me. Father was always too kind for his own good. This just proves it.

My dark tinted glasses hide my scanning eyes as I take in the full view.

It was everywhere. The blood was even smeared across the windows my father loved. He had spent so much time cleaning them, only to have them drenched in his own blood. How ironic.

My lips twitched in to a slight smirk, but it dropped quickly as I stared down at the man who resembled a much older version of myself. His once blonde hair was caked in blood, his green eyes still wide. I could see the terror in them as I kneeled down beside him. I gently brushed away stray hair from his delicate, handsome face, the hair on my body rising as I touched his cold and clammy dead skin. He had, just yesterday, been sitting, perched in his wooden chair, gazing out the front window.

I never understood what the man saw. It drove me insane. How could one just sit there for hours and stare into nothing? It was perplexing.

“Azdra? Are you okay?” I felt my body tense up at the familiar voice.

I forced my eyes to fill with tears of sorrow, if only for effect. I had to make myself look sad, it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t.

“I can’t imagine how you feel right now.” I played along, biting my bottom lip as I trembled. I’ve always been a great actor; at least that’s what Trib use to tell me.

I looked up at him, his deep brown eyes saying the words with the equal honesty. The way his gaze flaunts his true emotions makes me feel physically ill. To think, anyone would want to showoff their “feelings” where everyone could see. This man was weak.

I managed to rip away my stare, as I looked down and pretended to sob into my delicate hands. He bent down and took my body into a huge hug, his large hands moving over my back in “comforting” little circles. “Thanks, Eric,” I whispered as I grounded my teeth in anger.

“If you need anything…” he had started, but I cut him off—

“I know, I know. I can count on you.” He nodded at me as he stood up. I drug my clothed arm across my face as I began to stand as well.

“That’s right. Remember, you can always talk to your friends.” Faking a smile in his direction, I began walking towards the homely looking little house. If he knew what actually had happened to that man, I knew he wouldn’t be soothing me.

 Bating away the rest of my meaningless tears, I turned the turned the golden doorknob.

The rooms were exactly as I always remember them when I was a kid. They were rather small, and not well furnished, but just the essentials. There were only three rooms in this house: one bedroom, a tiny kitchen in which you could barely move around and an empty living room. It was extremely quiet too. It had always been quiet.

Father liked the silence. Deafening silence that could drive any sane person to…. Well… insanity. There was never a sound. Never a laugh from us children, just the quiet air, drowning us out.

Nothing had given us the reason to laugh and even now in the vacant house, the air felt heavy and stale.

I took in a deep breath. The house smelt of blood, betrayal, greed and guilt. My mouth tasted of aluminum and decay. It was impossible to escape no matter where you were in the house.

“Run!” My mind screamed as I breathed in the bloodlust still new in the air. It was dangerous. I could feel the blood pounding through my veins. I feel lethal and strangely guilty. The blood so sharp to my senses was my own, still fresh from yesterday.

My heart beat in my ears like an endless machine, drowning out the rest of my senses. My vision blurred and my throat burned as I pushed open the bedroom door. Everything was so familiar, yet foreign to me.

Broken toys scattered lifeless across the room, like a lost childhood. Everything was lifeless. And silent.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and ignored the butterflies in my stomach. I knew what I would find. Under the thick comforter, sown (albeit, badly) into the fabric of the mattress lay a toy... What one would assume a toy, at least… It was so much more though.

I pulled my knife out of my pocket, clicking it open with expertise.  I slashed the material, digging out my prize with nimble fingers. I held it close to me as soon as I had recovered it. I clutched it to my chest as if as precious as a new born child… I could never let it out of my sight again.

“Azdra?”

“Dammit,” I said quietly as I looked around for some place to hide my “toy.”

“Are you in here?” Eric came around the corner, his curious eyes gazing around the room in fascination “ Are you sure you’re alright in here?” He stepped past the door; worry clearly written on his face. “The boss said to check on you.” The man took another step closer to me, his deep brown orbs eyeing the toy I still gripped to my chest. “He said the killer could still be around.” The man was clearly fixated with the thing; he never took his eyes off it as he talked. “What’s that you found?” He limply pointed his arm in my general direction.

I just sat still… staring with my large, green eyes fixed on him. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t tell. I couldn’t do anything.

“Azdra… Are you okay?” He moved towards me again, this time only a foot from me, looking like he was a bout to squat next to me.

“Fine... just a bit drowsy, that’s all…” I quickly recovered, blinking up at him. Rising to my feet, I pushed past him, still holding the precious thing in my claws.

I seen my father’s face again as I walked out and felt violently sick.

Why?

Why did I?

I ran as fast as I could back to my car… I had to get away. I had to go somewhere else, anywhere else.

I got in, buckling my seat belt and starting the engine, my toy lying in the seat next to me. I stared at it again with lazy eyes.

My hand shook on the steering wheel and my foot pumped on the gas paddle. Breath quickening every moment more, I peeled out. I had to get free; I could make up a lie later. I just concentrated on one thing.

I had to see Trib. He would understand. I had to see him now.

A/N: Sorry this chapter’s so short, but I’ve been busy. The title of the storie and chapter’s subject to change, but I hope to be able to add more to this really soon. Plus review and tell me what you think so far. If you really care, then you can e-mail me and I can tell you somewhat everything I have plan for this piece of crap. Grins and Waves Bye!