THE GATHERING

I sit at the beautifully decorated table.

My smile is as tight as the dress I wear.

My new mother stares at me, a beautifully soft smile forms on her perfectly red lips.

"You ok?" She asks.

I nod as she pours me a drink.

Red liquid fills my cup.

My father lovingly looks at his new wife.

"Welcome to the family Lenora" He softly whispers .

It takes everything to keep me from cringing and crying openly.

I take a sip of my drink to calm me down.

I twitch alittle, but not on purpose.

My fingers tightly grip the table cloth.

Mother still has her eyes on me.

"Is everything good love?"

I give another nod.

"You made this?" I ask.

She nods and for the first time in a long time looks away.

My throat closes as my brother brings the main dish.

Roasted turkey.

It sits beautifully in the middle of the tray.

Surrounded by delicious sides.

My eyes roll to the back of my head and my eyelids flutter.

I feel vomit rising up my throat.

"I know you never liked me.

I know you prefer your real mother. So you can go be with her."

The entire family smiles at me as it all fades to black.

I seizure into heaven.

Heaven is as red as the drink and my mothers lipstick.

Heaven is hot and depressing,

Heaven has horns and wings.

Heaven grins and whispers a deal into my ear.

I nod immediately as the words of smoke twist its way perfectly into my ear and clouds my head.

"Kill her for me."

it says.

"Get your revenge."

It smiles.

I knew there was a catch but I felt my eyes roll to gray pupils.

I felt my lips pull into a puppets grin.

I lifted back into my body.

I was trapped under 7 layers of dirt.

I pound and scream.

Frustration brings tears to my eyes.

I grunt and continue to push my way out.

My hand feels the fresh air and i crawl into the nightime.

Smiling through my tears.

I open the door and screech.

"IM BACK." I say with an energy that is not mine.

"IM HERE LENORA! I KNOW YOU WANTED ME GONE BUT IM HERE!"

My teeth sharpen.

Everyone walks outside.

"LUCY?"

He says paling. He whispers a prayer and I laugh.

"A prayer wont save you now Kevin." I laugh cruelly.

"I knew you wanted to be with her. The second I die you run into her arms. Take her. Keep her. Have your little family. But how are you going to kill our daughter for her? How dare you brainwash our son?

I screech one more time and feel blood drip out the side of my mouth.

"Please lucy. Please- you know we mourned your death.

We were so sad- and about your daughter-"

I stab her in the stomach then slit her throat.

"Kevin."

"I'm gonna kill you Kevin."

I say.

My brother whimpers and runs.

I don't bother trying to get him.

I need someone to tell the story.

My sister was possessed by my mother.

"My mother made a deal with the devil to use my sister as her ticket back to earth to try to kill us. I barely survived."

Rodrick shows the bites on his neck.

"They bit me though, I will always be poisioned."

Rodricks eyes rolled back and he smiles.

We got used to it though.

Everytime he tells the story to people.

He does that.

But he doesnt do what hes doing right now.

Shaking, his mouth bubbles.

He cries blood.

I stare in shock.

"HELP SOMEONE GET HIM SOME HELP"

I scream.

The lights flicker and everyone except me is smiling with their eyes painted white.

I try running but I dont get far.

My sneakers squeak against the floor.

I hear their footsteps.

Blood dripping down their mouths.

The sign saying 'listen to the story of a demon survivor' flips and floats.

It shatters in front of me and i cry.

My soul tries clawing out my body.

My heart bleeds and i choke on blood.

All the blood puddles into a trail.

I look up from my place on the floor, i see a girl smiling down on us all.

Blood flowing from her legs.

I try standing but my stomachs weak.

"MAMA" i yell. Sobbing.

It all becomes dark.

And im dragged.

D

r

a

g

g

e

d

.

D

r

a

g

g

e

d

Down.

The heat eats me alive.

I hear the chanting.

the shouts.

The misery of the area fills me up.

Im pulled by my neck

coughing i try to escape the grip of the devil.

"LUCY LUCY." I cry out.

"Let me go!" I yell.

"MAMA, SISTER, FATHER!"

I'm dragged into the dark.

"Daughter." I hear the voice of Lucy.

"MOTHER SAVE ME PLEASE!"

"You should've been with us.

You left."

She says simply.

"BUT WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME."

I cry again.

My face peeling and blistering.

I see Robert and my sister.

Both are burned and deranged.

"You are apart of this family.

and this family is apart of this life." Robert says.

"Its about time you came."

"Its about time you played your part."

"My part?" I asked .

"Mother sent me after you. She connected with me through the bite. You were there by my side when you found me. Listening to my stories to all those people. They believed it though you didnt.

If you had- things wouldn't be this way. You would've come to me asking about it. But you neve asked." Robert said.

"I thought you were doing what you had to do to get money."

I say through my teeth.

"You had NOTHING before i took you in."

I dont see them but i hear them laughing.

"How can one be so stupid," My invisible mother scowls.

"This.

All this.

Every

single

piece

of

this

was

all part of the plan."

"WHAT PLAN?!" I spit out.

"The devils plan."