Memory Is But A Vision... (Pt. 3)

Present Day...

She was shaking again, her body the epitome of pain and suffering. Thrane had taken it upon himself to cut into her on a daily basis and escalated it every week. It all began as a once a day torture but now he had it done almost every hour as if he were trying to test something with her. Each time he did it, he cut along the same lines, opening scars and slicing flesh apart to reveal muscle and bone.

Screaming did not help and begging only infuriated him so much that he had stabbed her right in the heart once. It, sadly, did not kill her and she hated how disappointed she was about that.

On this day it had been almost five years and she’d heard them talking about a silver haired girl. Were they doing to someone else what they’d done to her? How long? Tears sprang to her eyes at the thought and she tried to push up from her bed, only to tumble off it and cry out as she hit the hard floor.

Her hand reached out toward the bed, hoping to use it to pull herself up, but a new pain soon joined the constant ache she felt. The world grew dizzy and confusing, blurring and darkening at the edge as she tried to look upon her assailant. They were far too blurred and the light above made their shadow too dark and bright all at once to make out details.

“It’s time to go.” A deep voice spoke just as she blacked out.

***

By the time she awoke again, she was alone on the side of the road. Looking around at all the dark asphalt and the grass she was currently laying in, it was almost easy to pretend the last five years had not happened. In fact, she had no clue what had happened - there was no real memory of it, aside from a distinct recollection of constant pain.

A hand went to her head and she moaned softly at the throbbing there. Pulling her hand away, she saw the familiar crimson of blood. Was that hers? Did it belong to someone else? Without any memory, she was unsure, but the throbbing seemed to give it away.

Struggling to her feet on shaky legs, the pale woman tried to brush aside her long brown matted hair to no avail. After attempting to fix it several times, she gave up and began walking. The sun was rising higher and higher, making her think of a giant sunflower floating in the sky. It was a silly notion at best, but it was what she thought. There was nothing else she could do during her walk, after all.

As clouds went by, she made out shapes and called them what she believed them to be.

“Bunny!”

“Fox!”

“Cat!”

“Bat!”

Eventually, the clouds darkened and opened up a torrent of rain that fell onto her, making her clothes and hair heavy with it. Hugging herself, she kept walking and would glance around in an attempt to keep her bearings, but it was close to nightfall and she had no light with her. The only thing that told her she was partially safe was the grass and mud beneath her bare feet.

That was when she heard it - the snarl just before the fresh pain that pulled a new scream from her. She was quickly thrown, feeling like she was floating for just a moment before landing in mud and wet grass. Her hands quickly began grabbing and pulling, trying to get moving as whatever it was let out another snarl.

What was it? Where was it? What did she do to deserve such an attack?!

Teeth suddenly dug into her side, jaws pushing them into her flesh. Screaming, she kicked out and beat a fist on what she assumed was a snout. “LET GO! LET GO!” She demanded between screams and fresh tears.

For what felt like forever, she was thrown back and forth, held by those strong jaws. It was as if everything was going in slow motion until she was released and went tumbling in the grass and mud again. A soft moan of pain was all she could get out as a voice roared at what had attacked her.

“Back home-!” The voice was male and full of anger, barely audible over the heavy falling rain. “-foolish beast! I sho-!”

A sudden flash revealed the world for only a split second, letting her spot the beast the voice spoke of. It was huge and dog-like, mouth open wide as it snarled - all sharp teeth and a long forked tongue with a skeletal head. Fur hung heavy in the rain - or maybe it was flesh. The flash only offered a moment of sight and was soon followed by a loud boom.

A fear filled whimper slipped past her lips and she curled up into a tight ball. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Whatever I did, I’m sorry!” She yelled, fingers lacing behind her neck.

Nothing happened to her for a long moment, but she was hyperventilating - panicking and crying as rain poured down on her small body. She was so freaked out that when a hand touched her shoulder, more screaming escaped her and she flailed, only for hands to suddenly grip her arms.

“Let go! Please! Plea-!?!” A sting hit her cheek, forcing her head to jerk to the side and she went silent. Hot breath would soon be touching her ear and words spilled in.

“Get moving. Keep walking.” It was that deep voice again. “I can’t help you again, so go!” Those hands on her shoved her away and she stumbled, falling to her hands and knees for a moment. “GO!” In fear, she scrambled to her feet and got moving again.

Hours later, headlights would fall on her and a van would drive up as she turned around…