Short Stories of Suffering

Mother

 It was night, once again. All lights and glimmer of hope were eradicated, and covered with darkness. The decrepit void sang its song of misery, whilst I tried to survive. Most people sleep during the night, and are protected, by some sort of invisible boundary, but not me though. Night is when the monsters come out, rabid and insane. I had to learn how to protect myself, and to be honest it wasn't easy. Every night when midnight strikes I carry all of my fears and scars with me.

Suddenly, without warning, my bedroom door came flying open. The monster had long black hair, two glowing yellow eyes. Her arms stretched high, with a barbed whip in her left and, and her fist clenched for her right(hand). Swiftly, the beast cracked its whip, but I rolled over and dodged, but came loose once tumbling from my bed. I see a pair of scissors, and grab them. Trying to eliminate the monster once and for all, I slashed its face with my scissors. "GGGAAAAAAHHHH!" It wailed, crying in pain. The beast cowered and returned to whatever hell from whence it came. I was safe, but needed to be on guard. I set up a small trap by the door, and embrace myself into a haunting sleep.

Morning came, and the calm welcoming sun shined through my window. It filled me with happiness, it burnt left over fears from the night away. I was about to exit my room, but then I had to remember to de-bunk the trap, which proved to be more tedious than setting it up. When halfway down the hall, I bumped into a rail and felt a sharp pain. I looked at my left leg, to see it bruised from my fall, but better bruises that blood. Being more careful, I made my way downstairs to see my mother making pancakes and bacon.

"Good morning mom!" I sing-songed to her. She greeted me back with a charming smile, but I noticed something. "Mother..." I spoke softly, "Why is there a cut on your face?" I questioned with great concern. Quick to answer, she gave me the same reply whenever I asked her about strange injuries "Just my bad luck.". I then went into the living room, sat down, and watching some delightful morning cartoons.

This was everyday though. Mom makes breakfast, I watch T.V., she goes to work, then I play alone, and near the day right before bedtime she drinks a lot of these strange smelling fluids. I wonder if that's what she uses to keep the monsters away. I mindlessly finished the episode I was on, and walked into the kitchen to see how done breakfast was. "You came right in the nick of time! Go set the table for the two of us then we'll eat!" She cheered. I gave her a friendly smile, and began doing as she said.

The rest of the day rushed past me though. The days feel so short, but the nights are so long. I wish that the happy times could go on forever, because every hour that passed puts more fear into me. The clock ticks ever so aggressively in the later episodes, and once it strikes 8 I am commanded to sleep. I enter my room, quivering with fear. I set up and prepare myself for the monsters to invade. In the matter of fact, I took the flashlight in mom's room. In all of the cartoons I watch, they shine the light on the monster to reveal what's really there, so I wanted to try it out for myself. Just one time.

The clock seemed even more eager to pass the time, tick tock tick, it struck midnight again. I was hardly even done preparing. I put on the only armor I had, being of a Pikachu themed fluffy blanket. It was the best thing I had. Just as every other night, the demon veered it's way in once again. Also as I predicted though, the trap set off, cold water showed her head, confusing her, but also making her more angry. The demon came equipped with the barbed whip, but also a large knife. Strikingly similar to the one that mother uses to cut her vegetables, for her salads.

Doing what the shows have taught me, I whip out my flashlight, and reveal it not to be a demon at all. "M-m...m..mother...?" I whimpered in fear and conclusion. Her dazzling yellow eyes reflected the light, and her gentle hazelnut colored hair ripped my heart in two. I didn't know what to do. This HAD to be fake. Mother loved me. Didn't she? My shock caused me to drop the flashlight, making it flicker then shut off. The demon rose once again, and raised her left arm, the barbed whip then struck and burned my body. The pain was overflowing, but all I could do is lay on the ground and mutter. "M-m-m-mother....please help me, I'm scared...mother...mother.."

Nothing changed though, the pain kept on biting with every swing. I was merely a maggot on the ground, living my parasitic life, and now the doctor has come to kill it. I was lying before death. I looked pitifully at the woman known as mom. She raised up the knife in her right arm, the non dominant one. With one singular blow, she stabbed my chest. The heated vermillion gushed out, like the gooey innings of a soft candy. What was once a place of love and happiness was stained a disgusting crimson, and it was all my fault. My vision blurred, and my eyes began to flutter shut. In my dying moments, I muttered the last words that would ever escape my shriveling throat, and they were "Mother...I'm...sorry..." Strangely, the flashlight turned on, revealing the beautiful and perfect woman, that I knew as mother.