He slouched against the warm, gray cushion of the couch and stared up at the shadow hovering above him. The room was dimly lighted by a single lamp that was positioned on the coffee table in the far corner of the room. The two faces glared at each other. There were so many things he had forgotten to say.
“It... it wasn’t supposed to be.. to be like that,” Kitten stuttered numbly, glancing over to the clock above the fireplace. He squinted to read the roman numerals, almost two o’clock. As a car drove past along the gravel road outside, shadows crept around the room and Kitten could feel the small house vibrate.
“Today... was supposed to be... special?” his eyes questioned the tall figure who stood motionless in front of him. Kitten clasped his hands together, rubbing the dry, peeling skin. “It’s all just in your head...” the voice whispered slyly to Kitten.
The shadow smiled, amused, as he watched Kitten grimace painfully and smack his forehead.
“Shut up,” he muttered, shaking his head, “no... no.. it wasn’t like that.. shut UP!” and squeezed his eyes shut for a moment.
“Hush now,” it was the first time that night that the shadow had spoken, “we must be quiet, she might hear us... we wouldn’t.... it.. that wouldn’t be good...” The soft voice was drowned by the chimes of the clock. Two o’clock.
“Try to smile, for once... Kitten, you look so.. so much better when you smile.. please, just once.. for me?” the voices pleaded, Kitten tried to push the away. “Please Kitten, smile for me.. for her..” they taunted. Kitten frowned, trying not to think about them. He sighed.
“Why are you smiling, Kitten,” the shadow asked, noting the dumb grin pasted on Kitten’s slender face, “what do you find so... funny?”
The face’s eyes lit up and it twisted it’s neck to peer at Kitten, “they were talking to you again.... I told them not to... I told them never to interrupt us.. they tell you things, Kitten... things about me... don’t they?.. don’t they?!... things that aren’t true... don’t listen to them Kitten, listen to me.. only me.......” It crouched on the gray carpet next to the couch, and began to gently stroke Kitten’s knee. Kitten shifted his body to the other side, scowling at the shadow. “Don’t.. don’t try to touch me... don’t ever try touch me like that again..” His voice faded away into the darkness.
Kitten tried to close his eyes, he just wanted to die. The shadow whistled quietly, he knew what annoyed Kitten most. Kitten turned his head and let out a tired sigh. “Please,” he pleaded, “please just let me sleep....”
“No no Kitten... not after what you’ve done... we have to wait....”
“I hate you.. I hate it here.. you did that.. not me... it wasn’t me... really... go away... leave me alone...” Kitten hissed, “I wouldn’t want to be anything like you...”
The shadow smiled, amused, “well, that’s just too bad, Kitten.........”
“no.... I’m not you....” Kitten mumbled to himself, “I’m not.. I’m not.. really.... please....”
The voice still whispered in Kitten’s ear, “we are together, Kitten.. together.. you and me.... you and me... you want to be more like me... I’ll make you more like me, Kitten.... I know what you want....”
Then the shadow became silent, and Kitten could hear her soft slippers padding down the hall. He tried to swallow his discomfort and slouched into a ball on the couch.
“Kitten... Kitten?” her sweet voice warmed his body, but his mouth was numb. He could not answer her, as much as he tried, the shadow was stopping him.
“Kitten! There you are! What are you doing out here all alone in the freezing room,” she frowned and began to close the windows, “really, you know better.. what are you trying to do, freeze yourself to death?”
He shook his head, and she turned to gaze at him unhappily, “here, at least wrap yourself up in these blankets....” she put a large green one around his shoulders.
“Thank you,” he managed to whisper. She shivered and sat down beside him on the couch.
“And where is your sister at this time of night... Kitten... Kitten, do you know?”
by: meredith