SwEeT MaDnEsS (Watty Awards Winner 2012)

"...There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable.."

SwEeT MaDnEsS

ChApTeR  SiXtEeN

               "Daddy!" I shouted running out of my room. I had, had a horrifying nightmare, my heart was pounding desperately in my chest. I'd woken up drenched in sweat, screaming. My small bare feet moved swiftly along the dark hallway. I was not a fan of darkness but I didn't want to be alone in my room either. The house was extremely quiet.

               "Daddy?" I called him again, as I reached his door. For some reason, I'd become more attached to my father than to my mother. My father was the one I would run to when I was scared or in trouble. I got on my tiptoes trying to reach the doorknob, I was really small even though I was five years old. The pediatrician had said it was because I needed to improve my eating habits, I was on an strict diet to help me grow.

                 I caught some movement from the corner of my eye and snapped my head towards the end of the hallway. There was an open glass window there. The white curtains hanging around it were moving slowly with the breeze. I could not see anything beyond that window, no light of any kind shone outside, it was pitch black. I swallowed timidly calling out, "Daddy?" I knocked on the door keeping my eyes glued to the end of the hallway "Daddy, please," I said louder and pounding on the door this time.

                 "Angeles"

                 I heard a whisper and froze, my hand stuck to the door. The wind blew stronger, causing the white curtains to fly out suddenly from the open window. My hair whipped savagely around my face getting into my eyes. I shrieked as I tried to get my hair out of my face. I stumbled backwards falling on my ass with a thud.

                 The wind was so strong that I had to struggle to keep my eyes opened. My short nightgown was flying up almost covering my face leaving most of the rest of my body exposed.

                 "Daddy!" I screamed terrified. What was happening? I wanted to stand up but each time I tried the wind push me backwards roughly and I ended up falling on my ass all over again. Tears flowed from my eyes then I saw it; a tall dark form standing next to the window. The wind didn't seem to affect it. I started crawling backwards until my back hit the wall behind me.  The figure disappeared into the wind, turning into dark smoke. I screamed at the top of my lungs as I watched the smoke rushing towards me.

                   "Daddy!" I snapped my eyes opened. I was breathing heavily. My entire body was covered with sweat therefore the hospital gown was sticking to my skin. I was shaking uncontrollably. Holding my chest, I sat up trying to calm myself. "Just a dream, just a dream," I chanted over and over again to myself. My heart was hammering inside my chest and I could not blame it; that was one of the most horrible nightmares I'd ever had and believe me, I'd had many. A wave of dizziness washed over me and it was then I noticed how weak I was. I licked my dry lips and held my face with both hands.

                 Madness...

                 He was the reason I was so weak. He fed on me and then I would fall into blackness for a while. How did he feed anyway? I could feel him drain my energy but that was it? Was that all he needed to survive? I didn't think so. I let out a long sigh getting out of bed slowly. I really needed to take a shower because I was pretty sure I stunk. Reaching the white door, I knocked on it. I knew it was opened but I still didn't want any trouble. After a few seconds, a muscled dark guard opened it partly.