Don't Stop Running (revised)

I couldn't believe it had come up so fast. What was I supposed to do? The day was coming, like all the others before, and there was nothing I could do. While all my friends got hyped for the holiday, making their costumes, buying candy, and getting ready for parties, I was becoming more and more afraid. I couldn't sleep, that's when it happens, it's been when it happens since I can remember. I bet you want to know what I'm talking about, huh? Well, I guess I brought it up, so I better tell you, it would be rude if I didn't, now wouldn't it?1

It all started happening 13 years ago. I was 4. My brother, Allen, and I had just gotten back from trick-or-treating. I loved my brother, he was 8 years older than me, a huge age gap, but we still did everything together. He had been a Power Ranger, I was a fairy. We always put our candy together in a big bowl when we got home, so that no fights came up about the candy. Anyway, I'm rambling, sorry, back to the story. We had gotten home and were sitting in the living room, looking through our "loot", that was what we called it, "loot", we were strange, when he started acting weird. 2

"Allen, stop it!! Allen, you're scaring me!!! Mommy!!" I yelled.3

"What is it, Baby? What's wrong?"4

"Allen's acting wierd!"5

He was starting to scream, convulse and swear. His eyes were wide and his hair was turning white. Suddenly, everything stopped, he turned to me and stared with big, blank eyes.6

"They're coming for you, Holly," he whispered, "don't go to sleep. They're going to get you! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA"7

Then, all of a sudden, he was normal, before my mother entered the room. He smiled at her, and she just shook her head, not listening to me when I told her what just happened. I went to bed that night sweating, I didn't stay asleep long. I was plagued with terrible visions that night, of creatures I had never seen. I woke up, crying and screaming, and no one believed me when I told them that they were going to get me. My brother and I were never in the same room alone together ever again, in fact, we were never in the same room ever again; I refused to go near him. 8

It only got worse over the years. Each Halloween it was the same, Allen would freak out on me and tell me they were coming for me, and each Halloween the dreams got worse. Maybe I should tell you about the dream I keep talking about. It's always the same, I'm walking through the park, just walking, when I run into a group of friends, people I know and all. We start talking, when all of a sudden, they start to change. Their skin peels off, theres blood everywhere, and screaming.. oh the screaming! Terrible, inhuman sounds that ring in my ears to this day. They turn on me, with their vicious grins of pointed teeth and grab at me with razor claws. I run, and run, and run. A voice in the back of my head tells me to keep going, even though I can't go on. 'Don't stop running,' it whispers to me, "they'll get you if you do.' And I listen. I run and run, until I come to a turn, and at the end of that turn is a wall, a wall I don't remember ever being there before. I go to get out, but they're already there, blocking of the exit. I can't run anymore, I'm trapped, and the demons advance slowly, until I can feel their rancid breath on my face, then, just as they start to go after me, I wake up. It happens every year, and every year they get a little closer, one actually touched me last year, he left a scratch across my back and stomach. I know it's really... I KNOW I"M NOT JUST DREAMING!!!9

The demons, for that's what I learned they really were, got closer and closer. Each October I would become a shivering mess, I screamed when the word Halloween was even uttered near me. Eventually, my parents became aware of my worsening condidtion, and instead of helping me, they sent me away. I've spent 3 years in this hellhole they call a mental hospital, sorry PSCHYATRIC hospital. The place sucks. There's never anything to do, except play checkers with actual psychos. I don't understand why I'm here, and why I have to talk to a shrink every Tuesday, I'm not crazy I told her that. She keeps asking me why I think I'm here and I keep telling her I shouldn't be, I should be at home. But I know everyone thinks I'm crazy, especially when I threw a chair at her for mentioning the word HALLOWEEN to me. At least, she says I threw it at her, I don't remember ever doing anything like that. I think she just hates me, because she knows I'm not crazy and there's nothing for her to do with me, but she has do do it anyway because everyone tells her I'm crazy. They say I also beat some guy up last week for making fun of me and my samheinophobia. I remember telling him it wasn't a phobia, because a phobia is being scared of something with no reason, but I have a reason, yes I have a reason, but I don't remember beating him into a near coma. 10

My family comes to visit me now and then, my parents and Allen. They're visiting me then too, on that day. The doctors told them that it would be the best for me if the people I felt safe with were there on that day. I told them if that was the case then they shouldn't bring Allen with them, but they're doing it anyway. 11

They showed up that day, happy and all that bullshit, I didn't notice. I was too afraid to see Allen. The doctors were watching me closely, I think they wanted to see my reactions to them. I took no notice, I kept hearing this little voice in my head, telling me that this was it, that they would finally get me-- and Allen backed up my theory later that night. 12

We had all been sitting in my room, staring at each other basically, when the doctors came into the room. 13

"Excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Diona, but may we speak with you both for a moment- outside if you don't mind?"14

I started. "Mom, don't. Papa, please."15

"We'll be right back..."16

"DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE WITH HIM!!!" I cried. 17

Allen merely looked at me and smiled as my parents left the room. I didn't look at him, didn't acknowledge him, but soon, he said something, somethingI couldn't quite here, that made me glance at him. He was acting the way he had that first night. I couldn't scream, I could only listen. 18

"Tonight, 13 years later, 13 years... a most unlucky number. Goodbye, Holly, they're getting you tonight, tonight is your last Halloween!!!"19

"NOOOOOOOO!!"20

The doctors came running in, followed by my parents. Allen was normal. 21

"What's going on Holly?"22

"Allen...he was..."23

"He was normal, we were watching you the whole time. He didn't even speak, Holly."24

"That is not possible!! He... he..."25

"I think it's time for bed, Holly."26

"No, they'll get me! I can't sleep! They're going to kill me!" 27

They tranquilized me, I couldn't stop them, but the dream didnt come, it usually comes later. That's why I dedcided to write this down for you. I wanted someone to know the truth, my truth, my story. Even if, like the doctors say, it was only delusions and hallucinations. I wanted you to know what I saw, why Halloween scared me so, because I don't think I'm going to make it thorugh the night. I know that they're coming for me, I don't know why, I don't know who they are, but they're coming to get me. So, I bid my final farewll to he who finds this, thank you for being the only one to listen to the "delusions" of a psycho, as they call me. Thank you. 28