Emery's Greenhouse

Emery lived in a garden inside a large greenhouse. For the most part, she liked where she was. Her garden was made up of gifts delivered to her by the Gatekeeper. Sometimes the deliveries were wrapped in shiny holographic boxes with sweet smelling flowers inside. Other times, she received bazaar things she couldn’t explain, like pieces of bloody flesh.

It didn’t matter what Emery received. Emery kept it all. The unusual things, she kept in a closed off area at the back. She placed it as far back as she could, to the point where she could only smell the putrid scent coming off of it if she opened the makeshift door. That was the only downside she could think of. But the front of the garden, that is where she spent her time.

Today, the Gatekeeper had another present for her. She knew because the birds always made a ruckus whenever the gate opened.

Caw, Caw, Caw. The crows’ cawing overlapped the cacophony, only ceding in waves to the fluttering tweets of the parakeets. Emery looked up at the circles of crows flying in unison, dodging the parakeets’ colorful swarm.

“Calm down, guys,” Emery said smiling.

“Calm down, guys,” repeated a raven that landed on her right shoulder.

“Calm down,” repeated a vibrant macaw that landed on her left shoulder.

The raven and macaw playfully pecked at each other as Emery walked closer to the gate, where the Gatekeeper impatiently waited with a package in her hand.

The Gatekeeper, at least twice her height and size, always had a grim look about her. She wore patchy gray robes, very much in contrast to Emery’s vibrant yellow sundress that showed off her clear ivory skin and hourglass figure. The Gatekeeper’s robes were so loose, Emery thought they could make two robes from one, something impossible to do with Emery’s dress if she were to stay modest.

The Gatekeeper always had a staff in her hand. One day, Emery got curious and asked what it was for.

“Stop sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong,” she sneered, tossing a small blue box into the garden. Emery had spent days searching for the box. She swore she heard a cackle every once in a while. Maybe it was her imagination.

The Gatekeeper looked tired today; a gray fog was clouding her eyes. She silently handed over a box wrapped in parchment paper and a twine bow. As if she was gliding, the gatekeeper turned and returned to her post. That grim expression made her look older, at least one hundred.

The Gatekeeper pulled up her hood.

Emery gasped. Should she apologize? She hadn’t said anything. She fumbled and hesitated awkwardly before turning and walking away hurriedly. She thought she felt someone watching her until she finally reached the center of the garden.

In the center was a grand fountain, not unlike those found in Rome. There were even coins on the bottom of it, too. Emery sat on its side, while the raven and macaw flew into the tall trees encircling the fountain.

Emery untied the twine bow and carefully took off the brown paper. She opened the box and saw a map. It was a map of the garden. There was the fountain in the middle. There was the gate at the front. There were plants and birds and that retched closet. She could see her bedroom directly opposite of the closet. A little sun and moon were sketched in adjacent corners outside of the greenhouse. There was an “X” at the gate where the Gatekeeper stood.

“X?” said the raven.

“X, again,” said the macaw.

Emery just shook her head, “Guess I’ll take a walk.”

Emery didn’t bother to head for the mysterious “x.” She had already received identical maps before. Every time she got to the Gatekeeper, all she received was a scolding. It wasn’t like Emery couldn’t see outside of the greenhouse. It was transparent for heaven’s sake! Most days, it was the swirling winds of a frigid blizzard. On occasions when the wind slowed to a crawl, she could see a beautiful, glowing orange sun in a purple sky. It was a shade of purple she didn’t have in the greenhouse.

As Emery walked, she began to smell a familiar stench. She was standing in front of the closet full of rancid gifts. Her eyes watered at the smell of rotting flesh. There was a dark fluid leaking and spreading. She gagged as she opened the door. The birds of the greenhouse began to fly in a disorganized manner, flying into each other in the chaos.

“Stop. It’s okay! Please!” Emery shouted in as much of a calm voice as she could muster.

Hawks’ cries pierced the air. They swooped down and started devouring the other birds, holding them down with their sharp claws.

“Stop! Stop!” Emery cried, tears streaming down her face, “Stop!”

The hawks turned their attention to Emery, taking off in her direction, growing in size as they got closer. The last thing she saw before closing the door behind her was a multitude of talons reaching for her.

Inside, there was nothing but darkness. Darkness, and the smell of rotting flesh. She stood still, afraid to make a sound. Multiple pairs of glowing red eyes stared her down. As Emery’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, she began to see things that she had placed in the closet years ago: a bloody knife, dripping fresh blood; a human head with glass shards all over one side, shedding tears; toys that played cruel words from their colorful apertures, in voices Emery knew.

A cold, hollow feeling swept over Emery. She stared blankly as she feebly tried to raise her hand against it. She was outside all over again. She wanted to cry out for help, for the warmth of the orange, glowing sun and of the serene purple sky, but instead she felt a crushing loneliness and despair.

“Poor… little… Emery,” the voices said. A pair of floating red eyes made their way to her. The inside of its mouth glowed like fire, emphasizing the outlines of its pointed teeth. The rest of its body was pitch black against what little light there was. “So afraid… and yet…,” it creeped closer to be eye to eye, “capable of wrapping us up and sending us on our very… merry… way, hahaha.”  

Emery flinched.

“Poor little Emery,” the monster repeated in faux concern, “Did you really think you could keep me contained? Whatever will you do?” The monster towered above Emery, raising its hands full of talons, “Here, let me help you.” She felt a large slash across her stomach and warm blood pour down her fingers as she reached for the wound. She felt something metal. Confused, Emery looked down and saw only a knife in her chest.

“What a failure,” the voices whispered in a ripple, “All this time and nothing to show for it.”

Emery ran but tripped over wine bottles. She winced as the monster’s foot pressed her face into the floor, breaking the bottles underneath.

“Know your place!” the voices sneered in her ears and cackled. “Who would want you?!”

“You’re running out of time,” another voice said.

Everything was spinning. “Time?” Emery stuttered, her body shaking.

Emery woke with a start. She stared at the sunlight shining through her window, warming her skin gently, the purple hues inviting her outside. She decided she wouldn't let the fear consume her anymore. She didn't want to waste any more time stalling.