Homecoming

My teeth click against each other. I wring my hands, tugging hard at the pale flesh.

I see things nestling among the branches of trees. Raven black eyes with white pupils peer out at me.

I shudder and break into a dead sprint.

My heart wants out; it's pounding madly against my ribs as I run. I'm out of shape.

I hear fluttering behind me. I chance a glance over my shoulder and regret it immediately.

Huge birds, larger than life. Their reverse eyes staring at me, saying something I don't hear. Wings as large as I am tall.

I let out a scream and run even faster.

Oh god, I don't want to die. Just another few feet. I remember that bush, it used to be so full of flowers and fragrance...

The flapping of wings gets louder. I resist the urge to peer behind, knowing if I saw it staring lifelessly at me again, I would collapse.

And then we come to a break in the hedge. I hurtle over it. Thorns nestle in my thighs. I ignore the pain, cussing when I see the trees looming over me.

More trees. More birds.

I keep my eyes ahead even as I see shadows materialise from the darkness. Shadows within shadows, if you wish.

And there it is, the large building clad in white paint. How hard to believe that only 24 hours ago, I had wanted to get out so desperately.

Thank god the gates are open. I run up to the building just as a young man dressed in white comes out, smiling broadly.

He clasps the small of my back and leads me in. Behind me the wooden doors shuts.

The birds wait outside the closing iron gates. And there they will stay, waiting beneath the sign that proclaims "Fernview Home for the Troubled".