"Can You See Me?" by Nysiah L

I run through the field with her. We both laugh and play. Stacey wants to play hide and seek. Before anyone can say a word I'm gone. The wind flowing through my hair and legs charging through the tall yellow flowers. I look for my special spot.

“Stay away from that place.” She says.

My small tiered legs carry my body through the tall weeds, around the old abandoned car, to my special spot…..

With eyes as black as the night, intentions as evil as the devil…. He lurks. His blood stained, heavy boots help him through a road often traveled. A plan clear as day replays over and over and over an-

Finally! My special spot! They will never find me here. I reach my hand out to the rust covered handle and open the door. It looks the same, just as I've left it! My favorite things in one spot, a special one. The small, broken down, wooden table showcases the objects I love most. A small yellow ribbon catches my eye first. As always, I take it between my fingers and feel the smooth silk brush against my skin.

“Feels the same.”

I bring the fabric up the my face and inhale the familiar cinnamon smell.

I sigh, “Smells the same…”

Huffing and puffing He breathes. His heart beats a million miles a millisecond just at the thought of it. It's been a few weeks since the last time and He already misses it. His tools are at bay, ready to be used once again. Ready for their usual blood thirsty job. They still have reminders of the last. A little dent here and a stain there, all just small trophies to represent the real victory.

My eyes shift and a yellow photo album sits tall with a thin layer of dust. My lips pierce as I blow air to brush the dust off. My fingers slowly open the book full of pictures. Pictures of the most beautiful woman in the world. Her hair long and flowing. Her dress as golden as the sun and then the ribbon that wrapped proudly around her narrow neck.                                      

“I miss you.” I say. “I'm going to be just as beautiful as you one day.”

My lips curl into a smile. My eyes begin to water.

“I miss you… mommy” I whisper.

His eyes widen as He nears the old abandoned house.

 “Here it goes.” He thinks. His hands began to sweat, just a little nervous moisture. His footsteps are light. Wouldn't want our pray to hear us coming would we? His old wrinkled hands curl around the ledge under the window. Slowly his head rises as his eyes peek through the window and He sees it.

The yellow dress.

The yellow hair.

In between her fingers a yellow book.

His breathing hitches as she begins to speak.

“I miss you…. mommy.” She says.

He grasps his first tool of “fun”.... Maybe He can reunite them.

I hear footsteps.

“She found me! How? Not in my special spot!” My feet hurriedly carry me into a small closet. She'll never find me here.

The steps get louder and now she's here. Inside my special spot! She'll never find me! My heart begins to pound as I can hear her walking throughout the room. I laugh quietly to myself. I taunt her in my head. “Can you see me, can you see me, can you see me?” A small giggle escapes. “No-” 

The door swings open wide with a slam. There's a man. He's not Stacey.

We stare at each other.

“Who are you?” I ask the tall dark man in front of me. He doesn't answer. “Is this your special spot too?” Again silence. “Are you too hiding?”  He holds up a hook. I think. It's big and scary with some kind of mystery stain on it that isn't really a mystery at all. He walks forward and holds the hook up to my neck.

“Pretty girl with a pretty dress and pretty necklace.” His breath smells and his voice is dark.

“A girl as pretty as her mother deserves the same fate as she, yes?” His crusty lips smile. “A slice here” The hook brakes skin. “A slice there” He glides it across my tummy and I can see the thick red gushing from it. “Maybe even a twist..” The hook, it curls and the pain is too much for my mind to handle.

Over and over it's jabbed into me. My screams and cries of pain are loud, but never reach his ears. I cry and all I want is my mommy. Why isn't she here to protect me? Why does she have to be in heaven? Can she see me now? Does she see what's happening to me?

I try to fight, but my weak arms are no match for his. He holds me down and my vision is blurred. Once again the hook is held to my neck. “This finale shall be grand. It will end with a reunion. If she can't see you now, she will see you then.”

Those words will be the last I hear.

With my last thought I think, “Mommy, can you see me? I hope to see you.”

“At last another victory.” He thinks. Her necklace, He keeps. Her hand he counsels in his own. “Maybe I will wrap you in a yellow blanket and decorate you a yellow box.” 

“They can't see you now, but soon they'll see you all.”