The DEVIL in My House

Mom, Dad and I were the picture perfect family. Our small happy world was filled with little surprises, non-stop laughter, harmless madness and loads of love. But life has its uncanny mood swings, which can be worse than my Mom’s at times! And my beautiful world suffered a heartless attack when HE walked into it.One look at HIM and I knew I was looking at the DEVIL.

HE was a charmer I am telling you, from the moment HE stepped into my house; HE had my parents dancing to HIS tunes. Everything about us and our life was changing, we hardly stepped out of the house, never invited anyone home, didn't answer calls or return messages, we or rather my parents seemed to ignore the outside world. The only thing that fascinated them was HIM and HIS surreal stories.

It had been a month since HIS arrival. And I was as good as invisible to my parents. No matter how much I tried to get them out of their trance, I always failed. They just sat there with their pale, impassive faces and bloodshot eyes….the DEVIL’s eyes, staring right ahead of me, there was only an occasional blink of the eyelid but otherwise they were pretty much like the wax figurines at Madame Tussaud with lifeless frozen-in-time expressions.

The phone rang, I looked at them expecting one of them to answer it, but they didn't seem to care, they were busy with HIM. Whoever was calling was persistent, without the slightest hesitation my mom reached over and pulled out the phone’s plug, disconnecting the phone once and for all. I saw their mobile phones doing a silent dance on the dining table; they obviously were unaware, finally the desperate caller seemed to give up.  

It must have been midnight, a horrifying laugh pulled me out of the dream conversation I was having with my parents. Damn! HE wouldn't let me talk to them even in my dreams. Wide awake now I thought I heard someone at the door. I braved a hesitant walk and put my ear to it. “Whatever you do, don’t fall asleep.” whispered a voice. I froze! No matter how much I tried to ask who it was, my voice failed. I was sweating and shaking involuntarily  I tried to move but I was glued to the place, my ear still stuck to the door, I had to tell my parents what was happening. As I forced my mind to help me turn the door knob, the floor rumbled, a flash of light seeped in through the gap below the door and a horrific laugh filled my ears again. My legs seemed to think before my mind and ran to the safety of my bed.

I woke up and didn't bother getting out of bed. It was a bright Sunday morning which usually had Dad and I take a walk in the park. But, Dad seemed to enjoy HIS companionship more these days. And HE would just sit there in one corner of the room waiting for Mom or Dad to join him. I just realized, I had never seen HIM out of HIS seat, never seen HIM walk, maybe HE was immobile, maybe that was HIS weakness, people had to go near HIM, HE couldn't get to them by HIMSELF. That’s it! That is what I had to do. I had to keep Mom and Dad away from HIM. There was no way HE would control them then!

I ran to find my Mom careful not to catch Dad’s or the DEVIL’s attention. Didn't find her in the kitchen, must be in the bedroom. Ran to her bedroom and found the door shut, which was quiet unusual for her, her door was always open, at least during the day. It wasn't latched, so I let myself in, almost. I stopped halfway when I saw what I saw.

There in my mother’s room stood another lady! A lady who looked like my mother sat in front of the mirror combing her hair, she was humming a song, a song I had heard HIM sing to her. Her eyes were lost in some distant dream, she had a nonchalant smile, and that is when I noticed her lips were blood red like she had sucked on blood, her eyes were swallowed in dark circles but what scared me was the color of her eyes they were GREEN! She kept her comb down and her pale hands with over grown black nails reach out for something I couldn't see. I gasped when I saw what they were; she was holding a pair of scissors. Her hair was all over her face, without any second thought she put the scissors to it and went CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! I cupped my mouth to stifle a scream and ran out. HE made my mother do this I knew it; it was all because of HIM. She loved her hair; she would never do this to herself. She was possessed!

I scampered out of the bedroom, and ran straight into his arms! “Gotcha! I was coming for you; I want you to meet someone!” Dad said. I tried my best to wriggle out but he was stronger than me. Mom came from behind and took me from him, she looked different and it scared me. I tried my best to get away from them and run to the safety of my room, but I had a sinking feeling that HE was about to get me too!

It was too late for me to run away, my Mom sat on the couch with me on her lap as Dad joined us; he took that thing they used to speak to the DEVIL and pressed it. I covered my ears and shut my eyes tight; I didn't want HIM to hypnotize me. I was not going to let HIM take over me too. I made up my mind, but what was the DEVIL up to?  The room was completely silent. Did HE decide to spare me? I opened one eye, just one, to see what was happening after all. And HE caught me! HE was looking at me straight in the eye, and my other eye immediately flew open. I couldn't resist HIS power, no matter how much I tried. My jaws dropped and eyes popped out of my socket, I knew HE was hypnotizing me now. A tiny part of my mind screamed for me to block it and save myself, but most part of mind was already giving in. And that tiny part of mind eventually died.

The more I looked at the DEVIL’s eye the further I went away from reality, there in HIS eye I saw the most cheerful character sing “M-I-C-K-E-Y  M-O-U-S-E…..It’s the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! Come inside its fun inside”. I felt my Mom loosen her grip on me, I got off the couch and ran towards the DEVIL, I didn't want to run away now, all I wanted was for this to never stop.

Oh! By the way did I ever mention the One-eyed DEVIL’s real name? Guess not. I think my Dad said it was CV, nah wait I think it was DV, no no no TB I think…. Ah never mind, you will figure it out yourselves later, I am too busy now. Goodbye.

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“Guess he likes it.” said the man softly to the woman with Green eyes.

“I knew it! Nobody can resist it. Every kid loves cartoons” replied the woman.

“Hey, Are those the new contact lens???” the man asked.

“Yeah, Emerald Green. And did you notice anything else??” teased the wife.

“Of course, the fringe. Is it inspired from that character in “The New Girl”????”

The woman blushes and nods a yes

“But when? You didn’t go out, or did you?” he enquires.

“I did it myself! Just now” she replies sheepishly.

“As far as you didn’t spend any money its fine!” murmurs the man. And quickly adds “How about another Horror movie tonight?”

“I am game!”

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