Sighing, I make small steps closer to the doorway. Grasping onto the cold handle, I twist and pull it open. The same sight as before bequeathed me. A ridiculously large ball pit stretches from the tips of my sneakers and to the very end of the room. I cringe, feeling sickly uneasy. Looking down, I gently kick one of the shiny plastic balls. It bounces softly, then lands with a tap. Slowly, I dip my right foot into the pit, my legs slowly being swallowed by the colorful spheres. I slide into the pit; the globes spreading around my legs. To my surprise and relief. They only reached up to the middle of my thighs. The air becoming chilly; I slide my hands into the pockets of my jacket.
Slowly pushing my legs forward, I gingerly push onward. Balls cascaded around in rippling waves with each step, defying expectations of what a "normal'' play space would contain. Is this further evidence that the rules here obeyed their own logic? Whatever it may be, I want no part in it. Lost in thought, a deep rhythmic rumble from beneath shattered reflections. at first subtle, growing steadily, disturbing the balls' balance in flowing ripples. Glancing behind me, heart lunching, I stumble forward. Searching through the rainbow sea, glimpses of sleek olive skin broke the banality before sinking from sight once more. Whatever lurked was sizeable, fast–and closing in. Primitive panic seized my mind, throttling curiosity. Though only flight remained as my instinct.
Kicking frantically, I launched myself through the epitome of the pit, balls parting, then crashing behind like tidal waves. Heavy pants echoed endlessly as the pulsing quickened, hungry. Adrenaline spurred me on, lungs searing. It was difficult to maneuver through the colorful bullets. Finally, a hazy rectangle lay up ahead. Though I know not what lay beyond it, anything is better than finding out what is in store for me here. That relentless pulsing grew closer, more defined–no longer mere ripples but undulating mounds parting to reveal glistening flesh. I scramble forward, yet each kick only stirred the churning sea and hastened its pace. Glimpses of the creature become more prolonged as the orbs parted, unmasking inch by inch, its features more distorted than any carnival mirror could conceive. Sick undulations of waxy muscle tensed just beneath the sheen, ready to erupt. Final veils fell away. I choked on a guttural cry at sightless sockets oozing decay as its maw yawned unnaturally wide. Pure instinct bleeds through me, thrashing balls aside as I thrust myself through them. Somehow still forging ahead through sheer panic, its gurgling moan erupting from behind me. Gasping, I spared a final glance over my shoulder to find the mounds mere feet behind and creating, ready to overwhelm its prey in an oozing macabre embrace. Wilder, I thrash. Abandoning all strategy to that dark primeval compulsion; escape it, or perish in screaming madness. Pivoting forward, withing reach–salvation only inches from my scraping fingers! With final reserves I lunge, closing around cold metal in a vice hold. Pure rapture flooded me as momentum swung the portal wide.
Only to be brought crashing back to the hot searing pain of its talons shearing through my leg muscle, arresting my escape with a wet crunch. I howled, feeling my torn tissues spilling over my crimson gore. Its putrid mass lunged once more, cleaving tendons as I howled. It's dangling folds of dermis from lifeless sockets where eyes had rotted once before. Within those weeping craters festered bubbling voids rimmed with sepsis oozing pus down molted cheeks. Like a cornered beast, fueled by crimson rage. Recoiling my leg, I launched forward with wrath bred vigor. Connecting with a sickening crunch. Its features imploded under the blow with a visceral pop, fluids vomiting from pulped cavities. Jagged shards protrude where eyes once festered, dribbling putrid ooze down its melting snarl. It recoiled with a howling cry, its talons ripping from my flesh. While it spasmed in agony in a pool of its innards and ichor, sinking back into the pit. I seized the opportunity, trembling as I pulled myself through the doorway.
Slumping down the hard, sturdy door, I release my pent up fury and pain. Sharp breaths escape through my gritted teeth. Pulling my injured leg close to my chest, the warm red crimson seeps through my jeans. The salty taste of my tears only heightens my pain. I shakily bring my hands to my shirt before ripping the hem of its fabric. Sighing, I carefully slide up my pant leg, revealing an ugly gash, the soft pink flesh peeking through. Gently, I wrap the torn fabric around the abrasion before pulling it tight, knotting it. A guttural groan escapes my lips. I've dealt with pain before. I can handle this. Glimpsing back at my slender hands as they softly tremble beneath me. My fingertips soaked with blood, I watch as it trickles down my palm. What the hell even was that? It looked like a person, but…wrong. Glancing up, I take notice of where I am now. A long hallway, walls red, and the floor decorated with black-and-white tiles. One lone, dark red door lay at the end of the hallway. At least there's no ugly ass monster in here. I snicker to myself. Slowly, I press my weight against the door, rising to my feet. Strands of my now messy hair fall to my face, taking a sharp breath as I put slight weight onto my foot. The wrap definitely stopped the blood flow, but not for long I'm sure. Staggering, I slowly make my way through the hallway. My hand against its cold wall for support. An uneasy feeling rising in my stomach, but I have to push it aside, because there's no way in hell I'm turning back. I've already ruined my good sneakers, well, I found them in a dumpster so I can't be that angry. Come to think of it, I found almost everything I own either on the streets…or stole. I didn't exactly have the prettiest life. Unlike most people, I didn't have the luxury of a roof over my head. At least not for long. They kicked me out at 15. Both of my parents were drunks, bastards. They left me with nothing but the clothes on my back. Every day was a battle, just to scrounge up some scraps to not to freeze to death in just rags. I spent my nights scared shitless under some musty overpass, shaking so hard I thought my teeth would crack. Every sniffle had me worried it was death rattling in my chest. I spent my time begging and thieving just to see tomorrow, always ended up more busted and bruised each time they caught my scrawny ass. Bloodied knuckles and black eyes, busted ribs and loose teeth-fuckers didn't care that I was a kid. I was nothing but a chew toy for sick fucks with something to prove, like I was nothing. My days dragged into nightmares. The streets have a way of hardening even the tenderest souls. As miserable years dragged on, I transformed from prey to predator. Muscles took shape from grit alone. I learned to fight like a cornered creature unleashed. Giving pain to those who deserved it, and those who did not. By my late teens, I earned my respect. None dared cross my path after the sun descended. Eyes smolder with memories scarring deeper than flesh. daring anyone to reinvigorate nights best left behind. My crooked smile reveals bent steel joists filed to razor precision. No light within me survives, just the predatory instinct to keep my jaws perpetually hungry. I never wanted to be this way, though. I was bred from evil. No one ever touched me without it leading to hurt. Even as a stray dog learns only kicks and hunger, not kindness. The world showed its teeth from day one, so I had to learn how to bare mine right back. Ain't no point expecting good from people when every hands been a fist. Learned real fast tenderness is just a pretty little word to get your guard down before the knife goes in. Now, even when it's over. The memory of pain's all I know how to feel. Don't remember how it feels to have someone stroke your fur instead of pulling it out. Makes my skin crawl at the very thought. I know thats not what I deserve. The last thing I remember my mother saying to me. Carved into my heart. Forever.
What a fucking waste. I wish I would've aborted you.
My thoughts were disrupted as I noticed the door mere feet from me, choking back the knot in my throat-reaching wearily for the handle. Before twisting it softly, a gentle click fills the air as I slowly push it open.