In my hysterical state I didn't notice it right away, but I landed on something that broke my fall just a few short moments ago. It felt cold to the touch... and rigid… very rigid. Before I could check what it was I finally saw-
"Hello my darling." Those daunting words traveled to me through the darkness in front of me. When my eyes adjusted to the darkness, like a ghost, she appeared, completely undaunted by the skewered head on the chair.
I opened my mouth, but in the petrified state I was presently in, I couldn't let out a single peep. It felt like my heart was being ripped apart. The pain was equivalent to a stampede of horses trampling over my body.
"W-w I?"
No matter how I struggled to voice my words, only a weak whisper like sound escaped from between dry lips.
"Are you wondering why it came to this darling?"
I nodded my head weakly as the excruciating pain in my heart gradually grew stronger.
She smiled a smile, reminiscent to that of a grim reaper collecting on owed debts. As I stared at her face, I could sense the sheer insanity embedded deep within her unblinking eyes when she casually said, "it's because I love you darling."
When I heard her answer, my grip reflexively increased around the cold rigid object in my right hand. It was only now that I vaguely understood what it was I'd grabbed onto. I turned to my side and found Val's headless body beside me. My hand had been squeezing her upper thigh from the moment I broke my fall and landed on her body.
"To think that bitch would have designs to tempt you even when she's already dead."
"M-m-mom-m-m-my? D-d-dad-d-d-dy? Why? M-mommy is okay, right?"
When I looked in the direction of the voice which originated from the entrance to the room, it was none other than the girl I'd presumed was Val's daughter.
"R- n"
Run! Please turn away and never look back! Just escape! Don't come closer! Please escape! Don't come in here!
No matter how badly I wanted to scream out, I couldn't. Instead, the little girl, with a blank traumatized look stumbled towards the skewered head secured to the back of the chair. All I could hear from her was her repeated mumbles of 'mommy' over and over again like a broken record on repeat.
Each step she took closer stabbed deep into my heart. Every step forward resounded in my head like a heavy gong that echoed throughout every corner of the room as it overlapped into a grand crescendo. I felt a heavy sense of guilt and dread that I allowed myself to get close to Val. It was my fault. If I had been more resolute to keep my distance from her, none of this would have happened. Why was I so stupid? Why did I allow myself to become fond of her? Why did I let myself grow even the slightest bit attached? I should have kept our relationship strictly business as I originally intended. Everything was my fault!
When I looked up at Adele, a jubilant, merry smile creeped onto her face. She could only be described as a sinister devil who knew no limits to her madness. The little girl fell to her knees in front of Val's decapitated head while she feebly held onto the seat while looking up with vacant soulless eyes.
Adele casually walked out from behind the side of the bookcase she'd been hidden behind. She moved behind the little girl, who'd collapsed to her knees on the ground; then with a knife in hand, like a snake coiling around its prey, she gently positioned the knife right below the little girl's neck.
With all my strength, I tried to stand up and run towards her to try and do something. Anything. I didn't want to see this. I wanted to push her out of the way, anything would do, but my body felt like lead. It was a feeling I was all too familiar with, the type of feeling where I was in quicksand, unable to move an inch. Damn it move! Shit! Fuck! Fuck! FUCK! Why can I never run when I know I can?!
She didn't hesitate for an instant when she saw my actions and she nonchalantly gouged the knife deep into the little girl's throat. She muffled her screams by covering the child's mouth with her free hand while delightedly observing as the child's struggles grew weaker and weaker. She looked exuberant when she tore into her neck as she jerked the knife back and forth until the little girl's body slumped to the floor.
Adele turned the decapitated head towards her and examined it closely before giving a nod of approval.
"Darling, your daughter was a little cutie, but fear not, our daughter will be even cuter."
…
My eyes shot open wide and the first thing I felt was a warm streak of liquid flow down the side of my cheek. I also immediately noticed the stinging sensation that originated from my jaw and realized my teeth were clenched down firmly to the point that it actually ached from pain. In my peripheral vision I saw fine black strands. When I lowered my eyes I found a circular black mass on top of my chest. When I finally came to my senses, I realized it was all just another sick and twisted nightmare.
My arms were wrapped around her upper back and her hands were pressed against my chest. I heard steady breaths from her and felt her heartbeat through our connected bodies which provided confirmation she was alive and well. Unconsciously my arms that were wrapped around her tightened up a bit. I was relieved when I discovered she was perfectly fine and still in one piece.
"How many times did you plan to grope me while you were asleep, Mr. Genovese?"
"Grope you? When did I do such a thing?"
"When you were having another nightmare."
"If you knew I was having a nightmare, why didn't you wake me up?"
"I didn't dislike being groped? Was that what you were hoping I'd say? It was actually just to increase the amount of dirt I have on you, Mr. Genovese."
"Wake me up next time! The nightmare this time was seriously messed up!"
"Oh? What was this one about?"
"..."
"You can't tell?"
"Well, I can tell it was related to me by how you reacted when you woke up, but I don't know the specifics. I assume I probably died or was killed by someone, is that correct, Mr. Genovese?"
"Correct, you did die, but I didn't witness your death first hand. Adele killed you and then proceeded to kill your daughter."