He’s deceived you.

A silver tongue persuaded those hesitant thoughts that lingered deep down inside your cautious heart – you’re part of him now; his caretaker, his protector, his slave.

A thin hand around your throat drained your willpower, leaving an invisible burn with a pain you’ll forget as you’re mesmerized by those dark, sunken eyes.

A sly grin, baring rotten teeth, as he claims his new toy.

The burden of his life now weighs you down with immense pressure, leaving you to slowly follow his feathered steps and proud posture.  You’ll never fall behind, as a chain strangles your chest, your breath, with the slack in his clenched hand, never to let go of his prize.  Dragging you through thorns, razors, and jagged rocks, he floats above, pitying your weakness.  Your head grows heavy, and with eyes now downward, you notice your feet have blistered, worn through the shoes, and spots of blood follow.

You feel no pain – he has taken everything.  You are nothing.

Your steps stumble as the knuckles of your toes swell with bruises – a misstep and they snap.  Fallen to your knees you continue, wearing down the thin layer of skin to expose the bone.  He tugs the chain causing you to fall flat on your chest and the trail of blood starts to thicken – your strength disappears.

His stride is stronger, his head held higher, his grip tightens around the stiff chain which pulls along a bloody mess with festered wounds on your once beautiful body.  What’s left of you is a small light inside your head, a candle whose wax has melted short – minutes to live.  A final flicker means your death, as he will let go of your corpse, drained of all virtue and hope, and set his gaze on to the next victim, his crutch, his desire, which will fall for those lies out of naivety and pity, and suffer as you have.

Oh, if only you could speak.  If only you had not lost your tongue along the concrete, torn away from the last bits of muscle and bone.

Oh, if only you could have known.  If only you avoided the iron grip of greed that latched onto your heart.

But now all is lost as the candle has gone with the exposed brain, now smeared across the street.

 

Haunted Memories