Surrender to find serenity. Never fret why the dead don't fly. Now venture into obscurity. Severing sanity.

February of 1954.

I wake up with a gasp. The room I'm in is dimly lit by the muted sunlight through my curtains. I'm home? What was...what was I dreaming about? My pillow is damp with tears, the covers twisted around my body in a constricting way that flickers a memory. Of a dream? No, a nightmare. It comes back to me. Oh, god that was such a nightmare. That monstrous creature that held me captive, the heinous things he did to my family and I. The very thought of it has me wrestling the blankets off before flinging myself out of bed. I adjust my pajamas as I exit my bedroom and head downstairs with the slightest bit of trepidation. I peek around the corner to the kitchen. Dads sitting at the kitchen counter with a glass of orange juice in front of him. Mom is at the stove, fixing breakfast. She glances up at me. "Good morning, sweetheart. Why are you sneaking around? Breakfast'll be ready soon." 
The sound of her voice sets a deep reassurance in me. I catch her off guard when I dash across the linoleum and wrap my arms around her in a bear hug. "Oh, mommy. I'm so glad to see you. I had such an awful dream!" She returns the embrace, placing a warm kiss on my cheek.
Dad pats the stool next to him. "Why don't you tell us about it, Maddie? Maybe it will help." 
I take the spot next to him, sneaking a gulp from his glass before giving a brief, censored explanation of my nightmare. "It was the most horrible..." I shudder. "I just want to forget about it." 
Dad messes up my hair and gives me a concerned look. "Maybe you should nix those horror flicks you always watch." 
"Yeah." I reply. "Or, stop eating sugar before bed." My sister walks into the room with Marisa in her arms and husband in tow. I grin at them, relieved to see them, too. I hold my arms out as my sister dutifully deposits Marisa in my lap. My niece starts babbling in a constant stream and I gaze around the room, reveling in the comforting family scene.

Mom deposits plates in front of everyone. I look down at my own. My brow furrows. It's covered in blood. Thick, spongy clots of it. Marisa giggles in my lap, sounding nothing like the sweet laughter of a child. Her hand reaches out and splashes down on the plate. Her hand! Oh, my god! My niece is now a small, animated corpse. I let out a small yelp and she drops off my lap. I leap from the stool and see my other family members have transformed into similar rotting creatures. The room is thick with the smell of decay. Backing up into the corner, I flinch as they all point accusatory fingers at me. "Your fault! This was all your fault, Maddie!" 
"We're dead because of you!" 
"You deserve everything you get!!" 
They converge on me. Dead hands tearing at my hair. I'm screaming. Screaming as their teeth gnaw on me. Screaming as the room grows dark..

I'm still screaming as the illusion fades, depositing me back into the living nightmare. The beast that abducted me four months ago is feeding from one of the multiple wounds he inflicted on me. I unsuccessfully try to struggle my way out from under him and off the filthy mattress. He extracts his fangs from my flesh, hissing angrily in my face. Foul saliva mixed with my own blood drips from his mouth. I can't. Can't stop screaming. Can't stop until he clutches my throat with inhuman strength. I gasp in one small puff of air before he tightens his grip, blocking my windpipe completely. I claw at the hand holding my throat, desperate to breathe. With his free hand, the beast catches one of mine, bending the fingers back forcibly until they snap. The pain, combined with the lack of air causes black spots to appear before my eyes. I stop struggling. I can end this. I'll just let go. Yes. I can die. Let me die. Consciousness starts to fade. I surrender.

Then, the hand abruptly releases it's grip. Stale air surges into my lungs as I cough and gasp, senses returning in a painful rush. "Nooo. Why won't you...just....let me die?" I gasp out through my swollen throat.
The hand that previously almost choked the life out of me gently touches my face. I'm too weak to try to pull away. "Madelyn. Dear, little monster of mine. I'll never let you go. Shh...you'll be with me forever.." He pulls me into a rough embrace. Instead of feeling the usual terror and disgust, I'm at ease. Almost...comforted. Despite the blood caked on his mouth, I listen to his voice, enraptured. "Mine, forever. My beautiful, monster. I'll hurt you and hurt you and won't ever let you go." The words arouse no panic in me. I just nod, and rest my forehead against his shoulder. My broken fingers still throb, my throat is on fire. Still, I just listen. Patting my back with one hand, he reaches under the bed for something. I feel no fear as I watch him pull on a crudely fashioned glove. The fingers of the glove are tipped with curved, pointed metal nails. He continues rubbing my back, now with the gloved hand. He pauses at the nape of my neck. In one long, unyielding movement, he digs the nails into my skin. Dragging the small blades down my back, parting the flesh. It's agonizing. The blood pours down my flesh, soaking into the mattress under me. I don't react to the pain, but stare into the pleased madness of my captor's face. He pulls the nails from my skin, grasping the back of my head with the glove. It's sticky with my blood. He presses my face to his own and I comply when he thrusts his tongue past my lips. The inside of his mouth tastes sour but I don't spit in distaste when the rotten kiss is broken. I just lean into him. Dazed and smiling lucidly as he whispers sordid threats in my ear. Blood continues to flow from the wounds on my back, my neck...so many other places. Pain courses throughout. No matter. I'm his docile kitten. I'm his, forever. He'll take care of me. Ravage me. Love me. Cut me. Keep me alive. Always. Always.