Story 1 - Identidem

Author note 1: Hi everyone! I've also decided to upload (mainly short) stories onto my blog. The genres I'll mainly be focussing on are dystopian, psychological, and romance (haha odd one out). This is just for fun and to practice my writing skills, but please do not rip off or plagiarise my stories (and poetry!) Thanks~

Title: Identidem

Summary: Sometimes, even in the strangest of situations, one feels a peculiar sense of déjà vu.

Genre: Gothic, one-shot, original story, third person story

Rating: 13+

Warnings: Mildly suggestive

A/N: I wrote this story as preparation for an English Extension 1 exam. It’s been modified a tiny bit though. This is completely my own work so please don’t steal <3 Not that you’d want to lol. I’m not 100% happy with this story, actually, but practice, eh? Also, let me know what you think. ^_^

 

She scrambled to the cabin door, slotted in the key and turned it, leaning heavily against the door to push it open. Once in, she slammed it shut and flung the key aside. She dragged a suitcase to barricade herself in. Everything started to swirl. The damned drug was starting to take effect.

“Let us in!” they cried, knocks insistent against the wood. “Our king wants to taste your sweet flesh, oh pretty one.”

She hoped the door wouldn’t give in.

Everything faded to black.

***

The cheap carpet, scratchy on her skin, was the first thing Adrastea noticed as she was roused from her sleep. The nerves in her body felt as vague as the semi dream-like state she was in.

She stood up unsteadily and glanced around. Neat beds lay untouched around her, a thin layer of dust settled on top. Suitcases were propped against the sides of the room. The cabin key was parallel to a note on the wooden desk in the side of the room. Curious.

She picked it up, the yellowed parchment crackling in light protest. The neat, cursive writing was undoubtedly her own. When had she written it?

“A letter to myself: The cabin is cursed. If you go out, run. Run as fast as you can and never come back. Do not feed upon – do not – try – burn”

The rest of the writing was badly smudged. Adrastea pocketed the key and headed towards the bathroom, the slightly ripped burgundy taffeta of her dress rustling. 

The mirror was framed with gold leafed twisted branches and garishly painted wooden fruits. She leaned closer. Her reflection was unnatural and pale. Something flickered in the mirror and she whipped her head around… nothing was there. She turned back. She could still see it. A silhouette moving in the corner of the Other-room.

“No!” she gave a soft harsh cry, reaching out to touch the mirror as if to warn her Other-self of the imminent danger. Yet as soon as the tips of her finger were to make contact with mirror-Adrastea’s, her reflection distorted. It grinned and reached out to grab her wrist. Adrastea gave a short scream as she was dragged in. She landed with a soft thump onto a luxurious rug that felt suspiciously like human hair. It was jet black, but appeared to be in the process of being completed. Why would such a rug be displayed?

Mirror-Adrastea faded into a petite, rose skinned… female of sorts. Her hair was lilac and cropped to frame her face, and had cool almond eyes. Soft chiffon draped over her armour clad body, the fabric drifting lightly on its own.

“Who are you?” implored Adrastea.

“Lilith.” Her voice was gently melodious. She continued walking, and Adrastea had no choice but to follow her down the richly carpeted hallway. Glittering chandeliers hung from high, arched ceilings, throwing light onto antiquated furnishings. 

They arrived at a set of grand, carved doors and Lilith threw open the doors effortlessly despite her delicate frame. Adrastea followed after her into a colossal dining room. A long mahogany table was lined with bowls of fruits and sweetmeats. Plates of cooked fowls, tender veal and roasted pork glistened oily in the candlelight. Gem encrusted goblets filled with wine were placed intermittently between the tantalising dishes.

“Come and feast with me.” A baritone voice, husky and soft, purred from the figure at the other end of the table, an alien pitch that seemed to resonate. Adrastea numbly walked towards him. Could a room last for eternity? Perhaps.

“Sit,” he gestured. A golden crown studded with huge jewels rested upon his long, silver hair, a contrast to his handsome, smooth face. He wore his heavy robes lazily, the embroidered brocade open just enough to peek at his robust chest, scattered with scars of past fights.

Adrastea obeyed, lowering herself into a chair.

“Who are you?” she asked him hoarsely, though she had an inkling of what he and they were. He gave a small chuckle and plucked an ornate bowl from the table.

“Names, Adrastea, are very quaint. You always ask about the names. But you already know mine, don’t you?”

She shivered. Just as she opened her mouth to question him further, he leaned over and popped a marzipan cherry between her lips.

“Eat up, my sweet,” he purred. Adrastea let him feed her from endless plates that towered with decadent foods. It was all a blur, really, the velvet touch and sweet taste of meat and fruits she could not really remember… and when she could eat no more, he commanded Lilith to lead her to the chambers.

As they headed off back in the direction they came from, Lilith gently plucked a long, dark hair from Adrastea’s head.

“Go in and prepare yourself. There is a dress on your bed.”

Adrastea nodded, taking in the rich embroidery of luscious materials, but as soon as the demoness’ footsteps receded, she fled. Her vision was starting to become faint at the edges, contracting and expanding and warping lightly. She had to run – to escape this terrible, ungodly place – because if she walked, she might not make it…

A bell tolled, the echoes of its rings chasing after her. The game had begun.

Movement came from her left, the soft swishing of thick fabric against strong muscles and the carpeted floor.

“Again, today, my sweetling?” He golden eyes shone with amusement, yet he made no move to retrieve her.

She gave a small scream and continued running.

“My children. Make it a good chase, and do not forget to prepare for her coming on the morrow.” He smiled as his familiars moved to follow his orders.

Now the wretched demons were running after her! Adrastea sobbed desperately as she pushed open the unlocked metal gate, its sharp spires stabbing the silken grey sky.

The terrain back to her cabin was unforgiving. Sharp rocks on the ground dug against the soles of her shoes and branches sought to pull her back.

“Lady Adrastea!”

“Mother!”

She paid them no attention, their soft cries for her brushing her back longingly.

The cabin was up ahead, and with that in mind she pulled out her key.

“You must accept your fate someday!”

Then not today, she thought angrily, clenching her fists.

She scrambled to the cabin door, slotted in the key and turned it, leaning heavily against the door to push it open. Once in, she slammed it shut and flung the key aside. She dragged a suitcase to barricade herself in. Everything started to swirl. The damned drug was starting to take effect.

“Let us in!” they cried, knocks insistent against the wood. “Our king wants to taste your sweet flesh, oh pretty one.”

She hoped the door wouldn’t give in.

Everything faded to black. 

Word count: 1136