The Lifeline

The Lifeline

She stands in front of the mirror, eyes full of pain and rage.
The music pulses a staccato beat around her, filling her head. Wrapping her in a maelstom of energy.
The only working lights flicker overhead, casting long shadows over the slate gray walls.
Illegitimate scribblings on the mirror, garbage strewn as if a hurricane had torn through.
A roach scrabbles for purchase, scurrying across the cracked linoleum floor, hiding from the light.
Transfixed, she stares at her reflection for what seems an eternity. Staring. Waiting.
Swaying to the beating in her head, face blank but for those knowing eyes.
Alone, she struggles to breathe. Chest heaving, fighting for each lungful of breath.
The pounding music rises to an ear shattering cresendo, yanking her back to reality.
The acrid strench of the previous occupants hovering in the air. Their last breath.
Cat eyes glaring back at some unknown level of torment, narrowing with each passing second.
Fingers clutch the stained porcelain sink, knuckles turning white as the memories she shuns flash in front of her.
Silence becomes overwhelming, roaring in her ears.
Fists flying as if propelled by some unseen hand, the mirror crashes from it's place on the wall and falls to the floor.
The glass shatters on the floor, pieces twinkling merrily.
A few shards of glass is all that is left on the frame, jagged and perfect in size.
For what, only one could guess. Not her.
Grabbing the cold, empty shard she holds it up to the blinking light.
Once again the pounding beat lulls her steady hand, the writhing bodies so close but completely unaware of her intentions.
Cold steel and ice part the tender flesh, leaving a crimson trail to which a single tear fell.
Again and again the steel and ice did their thing. Unfeeling yet precise.
As fast as it had come, the fury ended abrubtly.
Shivering on the floor, cold yet numb at the same time.
Pulling herself up to a standing position, she caught a glimpse of herself in the remains of the mirror.
Rage and hurt and isoloation funneled out of her, erupting as if a dam had broken.
Screaming, she grabbed the closest shard che could and unleashed the beast inside.
Piece by piece, a sable halo begun its descent to finally spread around her feet.
Hacking and chopping as fast as she could, she finally was satisfied with what she had.
Fingers bloodied by the onslaught, she stretched out her arm.
Gasping for breath, she picked up the last shard and peered at herself.
No longer were there frightened eyes, shifting as if seeing ghosts from her past.
Her eyes were now a clear green, similar to that of a cat.
Unblinking, a grin spread across her face, a face that no longer looked familiar, almost evil.
She tossed the shard back onto the pile of her once crowning glory, scoffed in the mirror.
Slowly, but with intent purpose, she strode to the door.
Pausing, she looked back at the chaos repressed memories had caused.
Taking it all in she could finally breathe.
Satisfied that she was no longer hiding she left that tiny room and joined the writhing bodies in the middle of the room.
The pulsing beat of the music slowly becoming one with her own heartbeat.
Moving farther away from that tiny hole, the iron chains loosened, farther and farther until it was just a speck.
And she never once looked back.


*ok, what do you think?* Personally, I love this one. It reminds me of me.. *wink*