I lurch up from my strained and light sleep, the smashing of the mug against the wooden floor ripping me from a dream already fading from my mind. The footfalls quicken in pace in the living room down the hall, the soft steps soon disappearing out the window before the sound of bells begin to pull away and into the distance.
Despite the freezing temperature I leap from my bed, pulling open the draw of my bedside table as I grab out the heavy metal torch sitting within. Armed to the best of my ability and with a stream of harsh light in hand I begin to tentatively pace towards the bedroom door.
Hunched low I slowly open the door with a painfully long creak, my bleary sleep filled eyes straining to see in the darkened rooms despite the harsh stream of light pouring from the powerful torch. Creeping down the hallway I careful step into the combined living room and kitchen. The window sits up, snowflakes slowly falling in as a harsh and painfully cold breeze billows inside.
Whipping my head around I soon find my torchlight pointed towards the shattered pale green coffee mug, my attention soon turning to the coffee table on which it once sat. My eyebrow cocks in confusion as I aim the torchlight at the object sitting in the center of the old low wooden table, my eyes squinting as I stare at the bright white and red striped present.
The scent of peppermint and sugar cookies hangs heavily in the air, an undertone of gingerbread wafting up to me as I inch towards the box. I swear that in the harsh light of the torch and the striking shadows of the dim apartment around me the box appears to shift, the pristine cardboard sides bulging and almost breathing like the thing is alive.
"What the..." I huff, rubbing at my sleep filled eyes as I peer down at the present. I certainly hadn't left this here, though my groggy and sleep deprived brain struggled to comprehend how it could have appeared out of nowhere. As I reach down towards the lid it almost appears to rumple, quivering with anticipation like a parent watching their child move closer and closer to opening a prized present.
Reaching down I barely even graze the lid with my finger before the whole thing pops open with the jingle of chimes and a flurry of powder snow. I stagger back, my heart rate spiking as I dodge the lid and find myself standing in a small shower of seemingly levitating snowflakes.
I snap the torch back to the box, a collection of biscuits and candy canes acting as filler and a stand for the items taking center stage. Resting in the middle of the sugary confections sits a large and seemingly expensive camera, the lens rising out of the sweets and pointing to the sky. Behind it sits a copy of the Abode creative suite, the sealed box acting as a container for the license key within. Folded up into a tight bundle rest a series of outfits, my eyes catching the frill of Princess Peaches dress and what seems like part of D.Va's bodysuit amongst the pile.
I take a step closer as I notice an open ring box nestled into the top of the costume pile, a small platinum band stuck inside with a tiny engraving inscribed on the inside of the shimmering metal. Shinning my torch on it I lean in, squinting almost painfully as I try to read the cursive text.
"To our new... life? And... and..." I mutter, croaking out the words as I pause to try and sound out the remainder of the engraving. "Fuck it" I sigh, extending out my hand to grab the ring for a closer look. As my fingers inch closer to the ring it too begins to shake, shivering and shaking much like the present had mere moments ago.
Suddenly, the ring shoots up from the box, twisting in the air and slamming down onto my finger with no small amount of force. The band, not being sized for my large fingers, begins to strain and force its way down my finger, my knuckle popping loudly as the ring quickly dislocates and snaps the bone beneath it.
I howl in pain, the breaking of the bones in my finger sending searing agony radiating up my arm. As if following some unheard command the clothing quickly lurches towards me, a green tunic cramming itself into my mouth as it muffles my screams. Dresses, bodysuits, and all manner of eclectic clothing swarms me like a pack of hungry animals, each trying to either restrain me or force their way onto my far too large form.
Finally, with a loud crunch the heavy camera pulls itself free from the box. I barely notice the bulky device before it impacts squarely against my forehead, the force of which sends me toppling to the floor and my world to go blank.
I wake with a sharp gasp, the memory of last night seared into my mind along with the pain of both the ring on my hand and the camera cracking my skull. A low beeping comes from nearby, a fairly basic alarm clock demanding my attention as its volume slowly but sure increases and the pitch grows more and more painful to listen to.
Something covers my vision, a messy tangle of light brown strands that act as a curtain and obscures the dark room room beyond. Reaching up to remove the obstruction I practically slap myself, a soft and sweet yelp and groan escaping my lips as I feel something metal bounce off my temple.
"Whaaa..." I wheeze dreamily, my body reacting and waking far slower than my panicked mind. Reaching once more for the curtain I snatch at it, pulling hard as I try to clear my vision only to let out another yelp. My scalp aches as I tug at the strands, the gears slowly grinding through the early morning malaise as the fact I was pulling on my own hair dawns on me.
Blinking rapidly, clearing hair and sleep from my eyes I begin to take in the room around me. With my gaze darting around I find myself laying in a...
No comments:
Post a Comment