6 Hours

Edwin awoke to crisp air flowing through his window, a familiar feeling to him. He groggily uncovers himself and arises from the bed, feeling unsteady and sore. His head throbs with an insistent pounding, causing him to wince and lean against his dresser while trying to catch his breath. His back, shoulders and knees ache, causing him to wobble on unsteady feet.

“Babe, are you ok?” A worried, angelic voice calls to him from somewhere behind. He goes to reply, but winces again with a strained whimper. “My darling, let me get your medicine!” The voice continues, seeming more scared, before footsteps leave the room. Shortly after, the steps return, followed by a bottle of water and a small cup holding three little green pills in it. “Take them quickly before you get even more sick my love.” The voice softly urges, to which he nods and swiftly does so, only thinking of relief from his current state. After catching his breath for a moment, he feels numbness wash over him, with the added instance of exhaustion. He almost loses his footing before tiny arms wrap around him. “Steady love, let’s get you back to sleep.” The voice says into his ear, lolling him back to his bed. “You’ll feel better when you awake again.” It promises, him nodding as he’s guided back to his bed.

Looking up from the bed, he finds himself being tucked in by a beautiful woman, one he’s certain he knows. He remembers her… But from where? She’s important to him, but how? He starts to ask, but she presses her fingers to his lips, smiling sadly at him. “Shhh… My dear, rest now and you’ll have a clearer mind when you awaken.” Her full lips promises before she leans forward and kisses him. She leaves as his eyelids droop on their own accord, his world enveloped in darkness soon enough. In the edges of the darkness, he can see a dancing angel with twinkling ember eyes, red luscious curls, and a body that calls to him like no other. His nameless angel…

Edwin awakens again, feeling much more comfortable and relaxed. He stands and finds himself in his room. Dark mahogany with red and gold accents throughout his large room. He stretches and yawns as he makes his way to the ensuite restroom. As he exits, he catches the attention of his angel, her turning to greet him with a smile. He returns a lopsided one as he greets her. “Hello Ammarah, thanks for taking care of me again.” He quietly says, feeling a tinge of guilt as he wraps his wife in a hug. His episodes put quite the toll on them both, he can only count his blessings and hope that their love would keep it worth it for her. “I’m sorry, I love you so much Arah!” He whispers before kissing her.

Ammarah giggles as the kiss breaks, leaning into his arms. “There’s nothing to apologize for, I know that I’ll always be in your heart. Our love is deeper than the oceans and more endless than space!” She replies, resting her head on his chest to listen to his heartbeat. Each fall silent, savoring the moment until his stomach makes itself heard. With another giggle, she leans back and beams up at him. “I just finished making brunch, shall we?”

He finds himself counting his many blessings again as he nods with his own illuminating smile. “Yes, your meals are always to die for, my darling angel!” He enthusiastically replies as he leads her from the room. She hums happily as they make their way to the dining room, a tune he’s heard forever it seems.

As they finish their meal, he hears tinkling, followed by a muted woof. He turns, lighting up at the trotting great dane coming to greet him. “Hey there buddy! How’re you doing today Ivan?” He coos as he pets his beloved pet.

“That beast, please don’t let him lick your face!” Ammarah exclaims, her face scrunched in disgust as the dog leans on him and licks him all over. She sighs and rolls her eyes at them. “Here’s your next dose.” She murmurs as she places the pills on the table, then grabs Ivan’s collar and starts to lead him away. “Come on Ivan, you can’t smother him.” Ivan whimpers and glances back at him before they both disappear out of the door.

He takes his pills just as his timer alerts him to the task. His lovely Arah always stayed a step ahead of him, something he appreciated. With a chuckle, he stands and heads to his office. Turning the lights on, he checks to make sure he has an alert for every six hours still. He must take it every six hours to avoid the pain and memory loss. He looks around the cluttered painting room, seeing a number of works covered with tarps. Sadly, he couldn’t remember fully what each painting was, but his eyes focuses on a medium painting closest to the window. He moves slowly towards it, his fingers twitching with anticipation as he recalls what was held underneath the tarp. He clutches, then slowly pulls the tarp off to reveal the chaotic and synergistic painting beneath. It was a raw show of reds, slightly highlighted with yellows and blues. A mixture of oil and acrylic paints were used to work on this piece, him immediately picking up a clean pallet and placing paints on it. His brushes and pallets were all clean and ready, waiting for his return. He reminds himself to treat Arah to something nice after he finished this painting for the show. Edwin remembers starting this particular painting a couple of weeks before, working and fine tuning it almost daily.He knew his frustrations and anger with his current ailments were what is driving this painting, but he couldn’t help himself from continuing on with it.

Hours later, he sighs and stares at the painting, still not able to shake the feeling of it not being finished. His alarm sounds, ringing out as a clear bell sound within the room. He hear Ammarah get up quietly and go to leave with a quick “I’ll get your medicine love!” She returns rather timely with water and the tiny pills. “Dinner will be ready soon, so perhaps this is good timing.” She tells him with a grin and a wink, causing his to shake his head with a chuckle.

“Arah my love, you are a blessing!” He states before downing the pills. His chaotic vortex now held a feminine figure in the center of it, her pose as if she was enticing you into a flaming embrace as the reds swirled around her. “What’s for dinner?” He enquires offhandedly as he starts to get ready to leave the studio.

“I thought a lovely pork roast would be nice. We have some pie for dessert.” Ammarah chirps back, quite proudly as she takes his pallets and brushes to the sink for him. “You may want to wash up though, you’re a mess and your manager is visiting tonight!” She reminds him playfully.

Manager…? He nods and blankly goes to shower as he tries to recall such a person. His mind races, but he holds no memory of them! Whom was this person? Why couldn’t he remember them? Should he mention it to her? He attempts to quell his panic of forgetting a person that was part of his life. He takes slow, deep breaths as he exits his room, hearing laughing and pleasantries as he gets closer to his greeting room. He fakes a smile to the group, eying a man that seems maybe in his fifties. The man beams at him as Ammarah comes to his side, giving him a hug and kiss.

“He’s the man of the hour!” The older man booms as he comes over, taking Edwin by surprise when he pulls him into a hug. “You remember my daughter Sasha, right?” He asks as he motions to the girl after releasing him from his hug. He dazedly nods as uncertainty runs through him. Glancing between the two, he marks the resemblance there.

“Of course he doesn’t dad, we haven’t seen one another in years!” She quips as she steps forward with her hand outstretched. “Sorry, he sometimes forgets himself, I’m Sasha Kassidy. I’ll be interning under my father working with you.” She introduces herself in a much more professional way, causing her father to huff.

“Dinner is set, if you would like to eat.” Ammarah cuts in just as Edwin finishes shaking Sasha’s hand. She grins and motions for them to follow her to the immaculately set dining room, the seating being one pair across from the other. She beams at him as he scoots her chair for her. “Thanks, my beloved!” She softly says before pressing a kiss to the back of his hand. He kisses her forehead before seating himself beside her, feeling his tension ease.

“I hope you forgive me, but I don’t remember you, Mr. Kassidy, I presume?” He finally admits as he looks over at the other two. Sasha has a half smile as she looks at the couple, but her father’s grin falls at the admission.

“I uh, I apologize… I should have taken into account your… your umm, situation…” He mutters, before clearing his throat and meeting his gaze. “I am Thomas Kassidy, your manager at the prestigious Unicorn Artists International. I have been working with you for five years now, helping you to anonymously sell and donate your works throughout the world. Please feel free to ask any questions you have to help you feel more comfortable.”

Edwin nods his head slowly, trying to grasp things that were just on the fringes of his mind. He glances and catches the eye of Sasha, her giving him an encouraging and comforting smile. He slides his gaze to Arah, her turning her attention from Sasha to him, giving him a gentle grin and easing his nerves once more. “Let’s enjoy our wonderful meal that my angelic wife has made for us.” He says as he turns his attention back to Thomas. “How about we talk after?”

Thomas nods his head with much gusto. “Gladly! This smells delicious and I haven’t been able to eat much today!”

Sasha rolls her eyes and sighs. “Please remember to pace yourself dad.”

Ammarah laughs and intercepts. “No, please feel free to indulge yourselves! We couldn’t possibly eat this all ourselves after all.” She says with a bright smile.

Hours later, he finds himself awaking to the beeping of his alarm. Edwin stands, looking for his medicine and water bottle. He hears a sharp noise under his continuous alarm, his head starting to pound. He hears what sounds like a whine, then a whimper, pulling him to the window. He peers out of the window, seeing the inky black night and the few lights illuminating the outside. He hears what he’s sure is Ivan whimper again, him being behind a tall wooden gate as a sharp yelp, then growl feels the air. He starts to feel dizzy as his heartbeat starts to pound in his ears. The scene outside the window flickers between the inkinesss of black, and the haziness of blood red as his alarm sounds louder and louder. He suddenly sees Ammarah come into view in the lights, her wearing a disposable suit for painting, which seemed splattered with thick, dark liquid. He finds his consciousness leaving him as she turns and seemingly looks right at him.

Edwin is shaken awake by Ammarah the next day, just as the rays of the sun starts coming in. “Just because you’re so handsome as you sleep doesn’t mean you get to skip your medicine!” She jestes, causing him to smile as he takes his medicine. Shortly after he swallows them he remembers flashes of the scene last night.

“Arah…” He starts, then pauses as he looks into her questioning eyes. “No, nevermind.” He murmurs as he shakes his head.

“What is it? You seem upset…” She gently urges as she takes a seat beside him.

“It’s nothing, just a strange dream.” He assures her with a shake of his head. He kisses her, trying to erase any and everything else but them in that moment.

“This one is going to be loved!” Thomas exclaims as he looks at one of the smaller paintings that was a flow of greens, and blacks. “How many would you like for me to take this time to the auction?” He inquires as he looks over some of the others.

Edwin motions towards a stack he had in an area marked for auction. “I believe ten would be plenty?” He questions as he eyes the pile longingly, but willing to part with these ones.

“They will live, though moan about it as usual.” Thomas replies with a chuckle. “They could never get enough of your works.”

“That’s good to know.” Edwin says distractedly as he removes the tarp once more. The shades of red are more familiar and reminding him of his disturbing dream.

Thomas releases a loud whistle as he eyes the large and foreboding painting. “Will you be releasing this beauty?”

“I’m not sure…” Edwin replies as he lifts the brush with a very particular shade of red.

“I don’t think you should, it’s so full of emotion!” Sasha suddenly says from the door, startling both men. She comes closer, her young eyes wide with awe as she stares at the painting. “I really need to look into more of your works!” She breathily quips.

Thomas laughs and pats his daughter on her back. “That’s why I count my blessings he picked me as his manager!”

“And we have cookies.” Ammarah says playfully as she enters with a tray of cookies and some milk in non spillable cups.

The two dive into their treats as Edwin feels himself being drawn from reality. His hands moved as though possessed, expertly flowing and forming textures and layers to this painting of pure angst. You stared at the painting while it screamed it’s rage back at you.

Edwin sighs as he moves through the halls of his home. He supposed some would call it a mansion, but he wasn’t sure as it didn’t feel so grand to him. However, he was sure he didn’t recall this area… He stops at a portrait of him with his family. His family… he had one… They were on vacation he was told. Arah was reassuring about it, promising that they would be returning at the start of the next month when Sasha questioned it. The eighteen year old asked a question he hadn’t even thought of, but he only held slight memories of his family. His stern parents, his adoring younger sisters, his charming older brother and their studious brother being the youngest. Just snippets from his life with them, making him question what the “accident” they all refer to had done to him. However, he always finds himself shying from asking about it.

CLANG!!!

He pauses, hearing such a peculiar sound suddenly. He starts to follow it, leading him to a strange door. He slowly reaches to open it, hearing the clear clanging from the other side. He twist the knob, and tugs, being met with much resistance and a dull thud telling him it was locked. The clanging stops, him carefully releasing the handle as he takes a step back.

“What are you doing here?” Amarah suddenly says from behind him, causing Edwin to jolt with surprise. He turns towards her, her looking at him with concerned eyes.

“I was just going for a walk about the house. What’s this door?” He replies, turning to eye the door once more. However, silence now greets them.

“That door has been stuck for a long time. Some of the older maids used to whisper about the old cellar there being haunted though. Many a strange sounds come from here.” Amarah stats jokingly as she comes up beside him. She hooks his arm and pats it as she starts to lead them away, humming softly as she does.

“I admit, I did hear some odd sounds coming from there.” Edwin admits sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck as the beginning twinges of a headache starts.

Amarah laughs lightly and shakes her head. “Maybe it really is haunted then!”

It’s been three days since he had wandered into that odd area, the old kitchen no one uses with a locked cellar door. He finds his mind drifting back to it frequently though. The door being locked, simply means find the key and you may enter. He sighs as he places his brush down, staring at the small painting of the door, surrounded by a blurry grey fading to black.

“Here’s your medicine my love!” Amarah announces as she comes in with a tray, holding his medicine and a drink.

“Thank you my heart.” He replies, though slightly distractly as he turns back to the painting.

“Another beautiful painting. I feel like the buyers will go crazy for this one.” Amarah states as she too eyes the painting. She never seemed to care much about the door whenever he brought it up since that day.

“Well, I figured painting it may help me to let it go.” He murmurs before placing down his brush and stretching. They start to head out of the room. “Let’s have lunch in the solarium! Today feels great.” He adds as they intertwin their hands. Ivan appears from around the corner, him immediately crouching to give him some love. “How’s our boy?” He says in baby talk, slight memories of the dream a few nights ago coming to mind.

“I’ll bring Ivan some lunch too then, meet you there!” Amarah says amicable before trotting off.

He couldn’t bring himself to ask any questions about what may have been real that night. So instead, he nods and leads Ivan to a white outdoor seating area in the solarium. “Ivan, I’m not sure what to think buddy… I’m really not…”

Edwin finds himself in dark halls. Screams echoes all around him from so many, roaring in his ears. He’s walking, ignoring the blood splattered everywhere as it seeps into his clothing. He feels dizzy, unstable as he makes his way. But he had to get there! He needed to stop this! He couldn’t quite remember what was happening, or why, but he had to get to them!

The door…

He saw the door…

The screams…

Voices… He remembered these voices...Right?

He bursts through the door, pounding down the stairs…

“Why are you doing this?!” A raw cry is pried from him as all fades to black…

“You don’t look well!” Amarah exclaims as she leans over him, concern etching into every feature of her face. “I’ll call the doctor to come for a visit.” She states after she feels his forehead. He mumbles a bit of agreement before his eyes flutter close once again as he’s drug back to slumber.

“He doesn’t have a fever… change dose.... fluids…” He barely hears broken conversations as he slightly awakens from being maneuvered and prodded. He feels sick, throwing up at one point he believes. He wished he could hear the whole convo, but couldn’t for the life of him.

“Doctor Light says you should be in top shape soon!” Amarah tells him reassuringly as she hands him more medicine to take. Two days have passed and he had been visited by the doctor each day so far. While he does feel better, he still found himself sleeping more than normal. “I’ll bring up some soup soon, so just rest my love.” Amarah says as she places a gentle kiss to his forehead, then exits out of the room.

He was sick, always sick… Not even the doctor would tell him what the “incident” was either. He keeps dreaming of flashes of carnage and despair, but he could never fully see what was on the other side of the door. The supposedly haunted area was either dreamt by coincidence, or truth.

Edwin contemplates what he should do. He was sitting at his desk, just finishing handling finances, and his eyes are yet again drawn to the small unassuming but ornate box. Inside it, was a key. The key was the mansion’s skeleton key…

He couldn’t help himself, not with the discovery and curiosity. Not with the recurring dreams. He walks down the hall, clutching the key. “She’s getting groceries, so I’ll be quick…” He mutters to himself as he stares at the door. “Really quick, just a look.” He reassures himself as he unlocks it, sliding it open with apprehension. His head starts pounding and ears ringing as he takes his first step inside. Lightless stairs lead down to a dank landing. He can spot a light shining from further along the only hall.

Another door stood before him, looming with the sounds of slight whimpers and murmurs. Flashes from his too real dream comes to mind, remembering seeing the walls covered in blood and gore. His feels his chest tighten and his breaths turn shallow, panic rising and making every inch of him want to run as fast and hard away as possible. But, a bigger and deeper part of him knew he couldn’t. He had to open that door and face what was inside. What he couldn’t remember…

And so, he opens the door…

Inside, two surgical tables with straps took up the space in the center. Cells of thick insulated glass and iron bars lined the walls, each holding one occupant as he stands there frozen in place. His mind groggily recalling memories of these people he can barely recall seeing in a portrait. His family portrait, the members of which were each chained to a wall in their cells, staring at him in dazed horror and hope.

“Wh-wha-” He stutters as searing pain lashes through him, making him cry out and double over.

“Edwin, you shouldn’t be here my love.” The calming voice of Amarah rings out through the place, causing him to look up in time to see her at the other end of the room. The door closes behind her, reflecting lights and causing her figure to be blatantly shown. It perfectly aligned with the massive painting of screaming reds and blacks he’s been working on. She looks at him with disappointment and worry. “It’s about time for your medicine, but we have to start the treatment over once again…” She mutters as she lowers a tub with trays of food on them.

“Keep your filthy hands off of him you deranged bitch!” He hears a hallow croaking scream come from his mother as she attempts to run to the cell’s door. She appears not right, her movements being sluggish and clumsy.

Amarah looks at her with a deepening frown. “If it weren’t for your meddling, this wouldn’t have had to of happen!” She hisses at her, pulling out and uncapping a needle with expertise as she nears him. “And you, my beloved… Why must you keep doing this? Why must you test me?!” She pleads as she injects him, cradling him as he falls. “The treatment was almost over… Why can’t you just let all of this go?!” She asks as tears start to roll down her face.

“Why are they here?” Edwin huffs out, feeling himself being pulled into unconsciousness.

“You love them, so I can’t kill them like the others.” She giggles at this and rolls her eyes. “I’m not a monster. But if I let them go, they’ll keep coming between us! We can’t have that!” She darts a look around them, seeming exasperated by them. “Plus, the treatment is slowly making you sterile, so we need back ups for children…” She continues speaking, but his already pulled away into the quiet darkness of nothing…

Edwin awoke to crisp air flowing through his window, a familiar feeling to him. He groggily uncovers himself and arises from the bed, feeling unsteady and sore. His head throbs with an insistent pounding, causing him to wince and lean against his dresser while trying to catch his breath. His back, shoulders and knees ache, causing him to wobble on unsteady feet.

“Here my love, take your medicine and you’ll feel better.” A beautiful woman says with the sweetest and kindest of all voices to sooth him. Before he fully falls back to sleep, she whispers to him “I love you. I’ll always love you…”