Strange people

I remember the night like it was yesterday.

I was asleep when the loud knock came on my door. I reluctantly heaved myself out of bed and down the stairs to the front door. I remember thinking it was probably my nextdoor neighbor/sister coming to talk, so I left my hair in the messy state it was in.

I remember the utter surprise when I opened my yellow door, with the chipping paint and squeaky doornob, and the person outside my house was a tall woman with dark hair tucked under a wide brimmed hat. It was hard to tell in the darkness but I could just see the faint outline of her hands holding a long stick. I was so tired that I didn’t think about what she might use it for. When she spoke, her voice was as smooth as a peble that’s been raked across the shore by huge waves, she said the words with a thick accent and a slightly confused tone.

“You are Brie Patcherson, yes?” She asked quietly. The sound rippled through the silent night. I stared at her confused and incredulous at the same time. How did this stranger know my name, and what was she doing at my door? I blinked a few times to clear my head.

“What are you doing at my house?” I asked, straightening my back to look taller than I was, but I was still petit compared to the woman.

“I have been looking for you.” My face contorted in a horrified expression, and she raised her hands and shook them in my face. “No, no, no. You do not understand. I’m looking for you for help.” The more she talked the more she confused me.

“So, you’ve been stalking me so I can help you?”I asked, trying to clear things up. The woman nodded. “Okay.” I thought to myself for a moment, waying my options. Honestly I don’t know why I even had to think about it, there was one clear option I should have taken; slam the door in her face and lock it. But being tired and confused I made a bad decision.

“Come in.” I said, and opened the door wide enough to let her pass through. I sat her down on one of my kitchen chairs. I short stool with a back covered in hot pink pleather. The chair was much too small for her, but she sat pollietly anyway. In the dim light of my kitchen I could see she had a small face, with big lips painted purple and eyes like a cat - yellow and obsevant. I offered her something to drink , but she declined by saying.

“Eating and driking is reserved for your kind.” I nodded slowly, completly perplexed by her.

“Okay. You said you needed help, how can I help?” Those four words basically ruined the rest of my life, becasue as soon as I said them she smiled. Not a kind smile, but a smiel that suggested she was going to do something bad.

“I will need a room for staying in. I’ve been wandering around for weeks, with no home. Then someone told me of your kindness, and the way you took in that scared little girl six years ago.” I remebered the little girl I took in - Isla - she had been wandering my neighborhood for so long, begging at every door for food or shelter. I don’t know how this woman knows about Isla, but it was a different situation. Isla was a child, this was a fully grown woman, with a strange air. While we were talking I had made myself a cup of coffee, and the whole thing was a little more in focus. I realized that I had let a stranger into my home, purposly.

“Who do you think you are, walking into my home, demanding to stay here?” I slamed my mug of coffee down on the kitchen table. The woman folded her hands on the table in front of her and pursed her lips.

“I am Marea, and if you don’t let me stay I will take what you most love.” She said darkly. She tipped the brim of her hat down and looked at me through the strands of her hair. Something about her creeped me out, so I had no choice but to show her to the room where Isla stayed. The bed is much too small and the light purple walls are too childish, but Marea turns to me and smiles.

“Perfect.” She ushered me out of the room and slamed the door in my face.

I remember not knowing what to do, and sinking to the floor in front of the door. It seems stupid to think about what I did - since there was no taking it back. I had let a stranger, probably dangerous person in, so there was only one thing to do; get out. As soon as I had made that realization I jumped from the ground and ran for the front door. I hurried to unlock it and when I did I jumped to the street. The moment my feet left the ground and I leaped, my house errupted into purple flames. My face burned from the proximity and I scooched away. I kept inching away until I hit something, when I looked up I saw a face that made me smile.

“Isla.” I said quietly, my face had tears streaming down it. Isla bent down as if to hug me and I opened my arms wide to embrace her. She reached her arms out for me and I fell into her embrace, only it wasn’t an embrace. She wrapped her hands around my neck, tighly. I struggled and flailed but she kept a strong hold, stronger than for her age should’ve been possible. I raked her hands with my nails but to no avail. She kept her hands there until my last breath. As my life faded away my dying thought was of Isla - the girl I had loved as a daughter - had killed me.