1

Blood. There was blood everywhere.

“Mum..?” A mangled, choked sound reverberated from somewhere within the room, so unbearably close to me.

My vision was blurry. Around the room, there was red everywhere. And the stench of rusted metal. I attempted to call my sister’s name, but a sickening gurgle drowned out my cries. I stumbled towards the stairs. My legs seemed to refute my mental orders, but I managed to reach the railings and drag myself upwards. The house was silent, except for what I could slightly make out of the panting of a little girl within one of the rooms up ahead. Upon reaching the top, the surroundings offered no light, leaving the corridor enshrouded in darkness. I fumbled my way towards any opening close to me, my hands gliding across the walls, leaving a trail of red. Eventually, I reached an aperture. A little girl stood, her expression full of terror and helplessness. I take a step towards her. She was so soft and tender, as if she were someone who needed to be protected. But my hands held no mercy and reached directly for her neck. She falls backwards into a mirror that shatters in the process, the noise jerking my attention upwards, only to be met with dead eyes that reflected my own face, blood splattered across my cheeks.