Beautiful Dream

The body of a woman was discovered earlier today near the Rim in northeast Arizona. Authorities are asking that residents stay in their homes. They believe that it may be the same suspect who killed Lillian Billings in Payson last month.

Tierney rubbed her delicate chin. “I hope Mitch will be safe coming home.”

“Tierney,” a husky female voice snipped from the kitchen, “get away from that T.V. I need more flour.”

The small woman jumped. Who was here? The stranger sounded as if she knew Tierney. Poking her head into the kitchen, she beheld a rough woman kneading dough on the plastic fold-up table. Leaves and pine needles hung in her tangled black hair like bugs in a spider web.

“Um…” Tierney rubbed the collar of her white shirt between a thumb and forefinger. “Wh-who are you?”

The woman stared at the ceiling, as if supplicating for help. “Janice.” She glared at Tierney. “Now get me the flour!”

Tierney’s shoulders inched forward. “O-okay.” She hefted the flour onto the table. Goodness, the strange woman was too bossy for Tierney’s taste. Hopefully Janice didn’t have too many demands; Tierney wasn’t sure if she could carry them all out. It seemed wrong not to obey Janice. What would Mitch say about this? He wouldn’t be home for another hour.

Janice grabbed a handful of dough. “I didn’t think it would be this sticky.” She dumped it onto a wooden cutting board. “But of course, only I think it’s sticky. As soon as I stop believing it’s sticky, it won’t be anymore.”

Tierney sat on a red stool. “Um…s-sorry, but what are you talking about?”

Janice punched the dough. “Beliefs! It’s what you believe!”

“But it’s still sticky. Sh-shouldn’t you add more flour?”

“That’s what you believe.”

Tierney decided she had better change the subject. What could she talk about, though?  Her blue eyes scanned Janice’s filthy form. It wasn’t just leaves in tangled hair, but Janice’s clothes were also torn and stained. Dust stuck to Janice’s ashen arms.

“You’re a mess,” said Tierney, realizing she had sounded too bold. “D-did you even wash your hands b-before you started?” Did she sound too critical?

Janice coughed into the dough. “Of course I washed my hands.” A crunchy brown leaf flitted to the linoleum floor and landed on a faded pink flower. “Nobody will get sick from me. Do you know how I know? Because I believe it to be so!”

“I-I don’t think…” Tierney stuck her fingers in her mouth.

“That’s why you’ll get sick. You believe it. Everybody who believes it will get sick.” Janice flipped the dough over, squelch! “Ms. Hennesy doesn’t believe it. She won’t get sick.”

Tierney yanked her collar. “Ms. Hennesy?” Did Janice think Tierney knew her?

Janice tossed hair out of her face. “Ask her. She’s at the door.”

 No sooner had she said it than rap-rap-rap!

Tierney screamed. “H-how did you…”

Janice stared at the ceiling for help again. “Get the door!” This tiny woman was enough to drive a lunatic insane.

“I-I…okay.” Tierney scrambled off the stool and opened the door. A tall stately woman in a dark blue suit stood on the porch. Her blonde hair was done up in a French bun. Leaves and pine needles stuck in the golden strands.

“Oh!” Tierney could hardly believe it. Janice was right. How did she know?

“I’m Ms. Hennesy,” said the woman. “I’m here to see Janice.” She pushed into the small house and marched to the kitchen. “Janice, who is that girl?”

“Tierney.” Janice sounded annoyed.

“Has she been here long?”

“She was here first.”

“That means she’s the one ruining this disgraceful place.” Tierney peeped into the kitchen as Ms. Hennesy draped her suit coat on a chair. “Tierney, wash the dishes.” She didn’t even look at Tierney. “Why don’t you take care of your house?” Removing her white heels, she lounged in a chair.

Tierney gripped the wall. Ms. Hennesy was bossier than Janice! What was she to do? If only Mitch were home!

“But…I…”

“None of your excuses. This is your house.” Ms. Hennesy indicated the sink with a long glossy nail. “Take care of it. Were you not here first? What kind of an impression are you making?”

Heat ran up Tierney’s neck and reddened her cheeks. “Oh…o-okay. I d-didn’t expect—I mean.”

Janice pounded her fist on the table. “Now, Tierney!”

Tierney fluttered to the sink. If this was her house, then surely she had to make peace in it! What could she say to Ms. Hennesy to settle her down? What did they have in common? She glanced at Janice, who turned the stove on. Good, she wasn’t glaring back at her. It was awful when Janice glared. Daggers could leap from those glittering black eyes. Janice had eyes like the panther Tierney had seen at the zoo last summer.

“M-Ms. Hennesy,” said Tierney, “Janice sneezed in the dough b-before you came. She said you didn’t believe that you would get sick. Why?”

Ms. Hennesy groaned in exasperation. “Janice, please?”

Janice began rolling the dough into balls. “How many times do I have to tell you, it’s what you believe, not what you see. I might not even be here. Ms. Hennesy might not be here. Are you even here? Did I really sneeze in the dough? We may be a dream, for all you know. Therefore, you won’t get sick. Nothing can get sick from nothing.”

Ms. Hennesy smoothed her skirt. “I didn’t see it, therefore it isn’t true.”

“You see?” said Janice. “It only really happened if we all saw it.”

“Therefore, whatever you say is a lie,” said Ms. Hennesy.

Tierney grabbed her head. “You’re confusing me!”

“Dearie, you have the I.Q. of a homunculus.” Ms. Hennesy shined her nails on her blouse. “Imagine that!”

Bam-bam-bam!

“That’ll be Chloe,” said Janice.

Tierney dropped the dishes in the sink. Greasy water drenched her front. “Wh-who’s Chloe?”

“Go find out.”

Tierney fled from the kitchen. What an awful day. How many more people were coming? Hopefully this new person was nicer. It didn’t seem like Ms. Hennesy and Janice knew anyone nice, though.

The woman’s head was shaved and her clothes were missing, although there were no signs of sexual assault on her body.

“Tierney!” Janice shrieked. “I told you to turn it off!”

Bam-bam-bam! Bam-bam-bam!

“Haven’t you got the door yet?” Something crashed in the kitchen.

Tierney squeaked and opened the door. A teenage girl in a mini-skirt and silk shirt popped a blue bubble in her mouth. She twirled a string of sky blue hair on her finger. Four thick pigtails stuck out of her head. More hair veiled her eyes and cupped her pointed chin. Leaves and dirt peppered her frame.

“Um…” Tierney twisted her collar. “W-what can I do for you?”

The girl rolled her purple eyes. “What can you do for me?” She laughed. “Get out of my way and let me in the house.” She shoved past Tierney, swinging her hips. “What’s up, Janice? Hey, Ms. Hennesy.”

“Hi, Chloe,” said Janice, “how are you?”

“Hello, dear,” said Ms. Hennesy.

“I finally got it on with David,” said Chloe.

Janice cooed. “Was it good?”

Tierney skulked back into the kitchen. Chloe had taken her stool. The girl didn’t smell very good. Tierney made a mental note to wipe the stool down later. She returned to the sink. More dishes had accumulated in the water since she had gone to answer the door. She had never detested washing dishes so much. If only everyone would leave!

“What’s the matter, Tierney, never heard a conversation like this before?”

Tierney turned from the sink. Had someone addressed her? Chloe was glaring at her.

“I’m s-sorry,” said Tierney, “I wasn’t listening.”

“Just like Tierney.” Chloe rolled her eyes. “Always off in her own world, doesn’t know what’s going on.”

Tierney gripped the wet spot on her shirt. “I-I know what’s going on.” She glanced at Janice and Ms. Hennesy. This was an opportunity to show them that she wasn’t so airheaded. “D-did you hear about the murders?”

Ms. Hennesy groaned. “You mean what’s been blaring on the T.V. this last half hour?”

Janice slapped out a tortilla. “I told you to turn that stupid thing off twice now! You think we want it to exist?”

Tierney grew desperate. “But it does exist. The murders did happen!”

“Is there any such thing as truth?” said Janice.

Chloe rolled her eyes so far back that it was a wonder that they came back down. “Listen, Tierney.”

Tap-tap!

“Abby’s here,” said Janice. “The door, Tierney. Turn the T.V. off this time.” She slapped the tortilla in the pan.

Tierney scuttled by Chloe, who stared at her as if she had never seen anything so weird.

“That girl gets on my nerves,” Janice said before Tierney had completely left the room. “What’s the matter with her?”

Chloe popped a bubble in response.

“Mitch,” said Ms. Hennesy, “always wanted a clinging, helpless, stupid creature.”

Tierney’s heart seized up. They knew her husband? Were these awful people his friends? She couldn’t believe such a thing. Mitch was the sweetest man that had ever lived. How could she confront them about it? Oh dear, where was Mitch? She glanced at the clock. Only thirty minutes had passed!

Switching off the television, she opened the door. A five-year-old girl stood on the porch. Leaves filled her windswept brown locks. Her cheeks were rosy from cold and running. Smiling, Tierney rested her hands on her knees.

“Hello, what are you doing here? Don’t you know it’s dangerous? There’s a suspect running around.”

The girl scowled. “I don’t want to talk to you! Where’s Janice?”

Tierney stepped back like the girl was toxic. “Sh-she’s in the kitchen.”

“Move!” The girl stomped on her foot and ran inside. Her voice took on a playful note. “Hi, everyone!”

“Hi, Abby!” they cried, as if she were so cute.

Tierney stared at the floor. This was horrible! How could she make these creatures leave? They might rise up and beat her to a pulp! She gazed at her thin little hands. Abby’s wrists were thicker than hers. She had the lurking suspicion that Abby could hurt her. Only thirty seconds had gone by since the child had come. It felt like hours!

“You must be strong, Tierney,” she whispered to herself. “You still have dishes to do. You will do them!” She forced her feet back to the kitchen.

Abby thrust a finger at her. “I don’t like her.”

“Nobody does.” Chloe sniggered. “She’s just washing dishes. Don’t pay attention to her.”

Amazingly, nobody did. Ms. Hennesy fried meat and beans in a pan. Tierney didn’t like that combination, but it diverted the tall woman’s attention. Chloe sliced up lettuce and tomatoes. Tierney wished that she would bring out the cheese and hot sauce, but said nothing. It would call attention to herself. If only Janice had thrown out the dough! Tierney bit her tongue. Janice would just go on with that madness about existence. It gave her the creeps.

“Tierney is so sweet,” said Chloe.

Had Tierney heard correctly? She turned to Chloe, who smiled. How did this happen? Had Tierney’s perseverance paid off?

“Thank you, Chloe,” said Tierney.

Chloe rose to her feet. “I bet if she got cut, sugar would come out.” She turned the knife in her hand. Light winked on the mirror surface.

The blood rushed from Tierney’s cheeks. “What?” She pressed against the sink. “Oh, Chloe, please don’t!”

Seizing Tierney’s fragile arm, Chloe slashed it with the knife. Tierney screamed. Blood spattered the pale pink flowers on the floor. Red rivulets seeped into Tierney’s white shirt. Pale bone peeped through the parted skin. Tierney slid to the floor, clutching her arm.

Chloe chortled. “Her arm feels like it’s made out of cartilage.” Hopping on the stool, she continued chopping lettuce. Dark blood bathed the crispy leaves.

Abby cackled. “That was funny! Do it again!”

Janice tossed a hot tortilla onto a pile of others. “What are you crying about now, Tierney?”

“She cut my arm,” Tierney sobbed. “It hurts!”

“I saw nothing, so nothing happened. You’re lying again.”

“There’s blood on the floor! Look at my arm!” Tierney could feel hysterics rising to her throat.

“Who’s to say there’s blood?” Janice slapped out another tortilla. “We all see it differently. Chloe sees sugar and Abby sees a joke. You can see it as blood if you want, but since you don’t exist, there is no blood.” She dropped the tortilla in the pan. “Whatever you say is a lie. Nothing can say truth if there is nothing. Set the table.”

What could Tierney do? They were so much bigger than her, so much surer of themselves. Perhaps there was no blood. As she set the table, trails of blood dripped across the plastic surface. They seeped into the grainy pattern and spread, scarlet snowflakes on white snow. Red smeared the clean glass plates.

“I don’t want this plate,” said Abby. “I want the blue plate with the bird on it.”

Tierney bit her lip. “How did you know I have a plate like that?” She recalled that Ms. Hennesy and Janice knew Mitch. Was he seeing them? The thought entered her head before she could stop it. She suddenly felt lightheaded.

Chloe rolled her eyes. “Give her the plate already!”

“Oh!” Tierney scuttled to the cupboard and yanked the plate out. The edge clanged against the side of the cupboard. The smooth glass slipped out of her hand, but she caught it with her knees. Janice stared at the ceiling. Tierney carefully kept her eyes off the other three.

“I want pop,” said Abby.

“I don’t have pop,” said Tierney.

The girl kicked the table. “Yes, you do! It’s in the cupboard!”

Ms. Hennesy shook her head. “How could you lie to a child like that? You better get the soda out and give her some.”

“Hurry up,” Janice snipped.

Tierney almost slipped on her own blood as she obeyed. Blood dripped into Abby’s cup as she poured Sprite into it. As if the blood were nothing more than the sugar that Chloe believed it was, Abby drank it down with the Sprite. Tierney stared at her. Was Janice right? Was there no blood? But the pain still throbbed in her sliced arm. It was a wonder she could still use it.

Janice tossed a tortilla on each plate. “Sit down.”

Tierney sat. “Um, c-can I ask you something?”

Chloe spat her gum onto the floor. “Now what?”

“Um…I’m sorry, but…” That gum was awful! “Why are you a-all here?”

“For dinner, stupid! Hurry up and eat, I’m hungry!”

Ms. Hennesy glared at Tierney. “Take the first bite, and don’t be slow about it.”

Tierney gazed at the brown spots on the tortilla. A dried leaf had been cooked into the bread. She can’t make anyone sick. She can’t make anyone sick. She made her burrito and bit.

The others followed suit.

“Didn’t I tell you, you wouldn’t get sick,” said Janice.

“Janice tells the truth,” said Chloe.

Tierney would have burst into tears on the spot, but gravel crunched outside as a car pulled in. Mitch! She knocked the table with her hip as she lunged into the living room. She yanked the door open.

“Oh, Mitch, you’re finally here!”

Mitch smiled. “Hello, my love.” He kissed her on the cheek. “How was your day? You look like a mess. Did the kitchen blow up?” He chuckled and kissed her again. “It smells good in here. What did you make?”

Tierney clung to his blue shirt. “M-Mitch, there are some people here. It’s been awful. I don’t even know if I exist anymore!”

Mitch laughed. “You don’t exist? Are you my dream?” He caressed her cheek. “What a beautiful dream you make. I don’t want to wake up.”

“Oh, please, Mitch, make them go away.”

He kissed her on the mouth. “Okay, I’ll make them leave.” He walked into the kitchen. “What have you been doing, Tierney?” His voice had taken on a note of alarm.

Tierney scuttled into the kitchen. Four dolls sat at the table before the remains of four burritos. The baby doll looked like it had been picked out of the dumpster. The other dolls had been hand-stitched. The ones in the mini-skirt and blue suit had button eyes. The other doll was made of corncobs. It had no face. Hair cascaded from each doll’s head. Dark blood trails congealed in the flour-covered floor.

Tierney clapped her hands to her cheeks. “What is this?”

“Are you crazy?” said Mitch in a low voice.

Tierney began to palpitate. “Th-they’re playing a trick. That’s n-not them!” She ran through the house. “Janice, Ms. Hennesy, Chloe, Abby!” Where were they? Screaming, she sank to her knees.

“Stop it, Tierney!” Mitch pulled her up and shook her. “I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but enough!”

“They were here, they were!” Janice’s words reverberated through her head. Were they really there? Did Tierney exist? What was real and what was not?

“Tierney!” Mitch’s voice rattled her head and she looked into his face. A measure of tranquility returned to her.

“Am I your dream, Mitch?”

He touched her face. “You are.” He kissed her again. “Now clean up that mess. Make something for dinner. Everything will be okay.” He went to the bedroom to remove his work clothes and shoes.

Tierney cleaned up the kitchen, although she couldn’t do anything about the blood dripping from her arm. She gazed at each doll as she picked them up.

“They were so horrid to me.” She flung them into the wall behind the trashcan. Bits of their clothing and hair fluttered to the floor. Tomorrow, she would figure out what to do with the dolls. This was such an awful trick to play on her, though. Not only had those four eaten everything, they had made her look insane. Had they been planning this? Why target her?

The T.V. switched on with the six o’clock news.

“The body of a child was found in the forest between Pinetop and Hondah a few hours ago. Abigail Carter was five years old and playing in her backyard, when she suddenly disappeared two weeks ago. Like the other victims, she had been stripped and shaved. Witnesses say they spotted a Caucasian man in a blue polo shirt and khaki cargo pants heading towards Hondah. He wore a fishing hat low over his face. The police have blocked the roads and are conducting a manhunt…”

Luckily, Janice had made extra bread. She just had to make meat and cut fresh vegetables. As she dropped ground beef into the pan, her blood sizzled on the dark surface. It vanished into the red slop. As long as fresh blood didn’t fall in after the ground beef cooked, it would be all right. By the time the news finished, dinner was ready.

“Mitch, come eat.”

The TV silenced. Mitch walked in, surveying the kitchen for anything out of place.  Everything seemed to his satisfaction. Smiling, he sat at the table and Tierney served him. He bit into the burritos with relish.

“You’re the best cook, my love,” he said. “Now tell me about these people who were tormenting you today.”

For the next hour Tierney went off on a tirade. She tried to stay as honest as possible, but sometimes it was hard. Her dear husband listened intently. His face never changed, though his air grew graver as she went on. Finally, she concluded with, “Chloe cut my arm! That’s why there’s blood all over the place!”

Mitch’s brows knit. “Honey, let me fix that.” Dropping his burrito as if it meant nothing, he dug in the drawers for a needle and thread. He returned to her with the precious items and threaded the needle.

“Don’t worry, my love.” He set her arm on the table. “It’ll hurt a little bit, but you’ll feel much better.”

“I know it, Mitch. As long as you’re here, I know it.”

He pricked her tender flesh and pulled the needle through. Tierney whimpered and looked away. The sharp end of the needle hurt worse than Chloe’s butcher knife. Slowly, the two flaps of raw skin closed. Neat stitches kept the blood inside. Knotting the thread, Mitch broke it off with his teeth. He kissed her gory arm.

“All better.”

“Thank you.”

“Now, to bed.” Lifting her up, he carried her to the bedroom. “Remember how I carried you on our wedding night?”

Tierney rested her head against his muscled shoulder. “I do, Mitch, oh I do. I could never forget. You’re as gentle now as you were then.”

Lying down, he folded Tierney in his arms. “I miss my beautiful dream all day.” His lips rested on her temple.

The small woman closed her eyes. “It was so awful. They made me wonder things that nobody should wonder.”

“It’s all over now, my love,” said Mitch. “Don’t think of it. I’m here for you.”

“I’m glad you are. I’m so, so glad. I love you so much.”

Mitch kissed her head. “And I love you, my beautiful dream.”

***

Morning light crept through a crack in the curtain. Tierney opened one eye. It traveled up Mitch’s powerful arm draped across her middle, and rested on his face. He was so stalwart and steady. She breathed in the strong cologne he always wore. This imbued her with life. She couldn’t live without him. Not until yesterday had she realized that she could love him even more than she did.

Movement caught her eye by the bedroom door. Had Janice and her fiends returned? Tierney’s heart seized up, a scream on her lips. A woman with golden brown hair stared at them. Her hair was the exact shade of Tierney’s.

“What is going on here?” the woman cried.

Mitch jerked awake. “What are you doing in here?” He threw a protective arm across Tierney.

The woman’s face contorted. “What are you doing?”

“What’s it look like?” his voice challenged.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” The woman thrust her finger down the hall. “Why are there dolls sitting around your table?”

“They’re n-not sitting around the table,” Tierney said. How did Janice and the others get inside?

The woman’s eyes landed on Tierney. “Is that real hair?” Her voice was barely audible.

Fearful tears stung Tierney’s eyes. “What’s going on?”

Mitch seized Tierney’s hand. “Be quiet!”

“Are you talking to it?” The woman backed up.

“I’m not an ‘it,’” said Tierney, hands shaking. “How did you get in? Who are you?”

“‘It?’” Mitch’s voice shuddered. “She’s my wife!”

Covering her mouth, the woman sped down the hallway. Mitch tore after her. Their steps thundered into the living room. The woman screamed. Something crashed and Mitch cursed. Tierney had never heard him use such language.

“Mitch!” She stumbled into the living room. One of the lamps lay on the floor. The front door was wide open. Her trembling legs gave out beneath her. “Mitch! Mitch!” She pressed her face to the soft carpet, heart hammering against her chest. A car roared from the drive. Had Mitch been hurt? Screams retched from her throat. He was dead, he was dead!

Suddenly, Mitch’s strong hands grasped her arms. “My darling, why are you crying?”

“Mitch!” Tierney gripped him around the neck. “I thought…I…Wh-who was that? What’s going on?” Her voice sounded small and childish. “You’re s-scaring me!” Janice and her minions wouldn’t approve.

Mitch paled. “Nobody, love.” He cupped her face in his hands. “Please, I couldn’t stand if you were afraid of me. I’m so sorry!”

“Sh-she knew you…she acted l-like you were…” Tierney swallowed and forced herself to say it. “She acted like you were cheating on her w-with me.”

“No, no!” Mitch crushed Tierney against him as if she would vanish. “She’s crazy. Nothing can come between you and me.” He covered her face in kisses. “I love you more than anything! She’s my sister Lisa.”

“Y-you’re not with…her—?”

He shook her by the shoulders like a rag doll. “No! How could you say that? It’s me and you, always, no one else! I promised you that a long time ago, and you know I never break my promises.” He caressed her hair. “I think you better take a bath. You’ll feel better when you come out.”

Tierney gripped his wrists in shaking hands. “The whole world is falling down.”

“Not while I’m here.”

“P-promise?”

“Promise.” He smiled in that calming way of his. “I’ll make breakfast, but first, your bath.”

Tierney kissed the palm of his hand. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

Carrying her into the bathroom, he filled the tub and placed her in it, with all her clothes on. “I’ll come back when breakfast is ready.” He went out.

Dishes clanged in the kitchen. The aroma of bacon wafted into the bathroom. Tierney breathed it in. Bacon was a comforting smell, but not today. Something strange was going on. Janice’s words haunted her. Try as she might, she couldn’t banish them from her head.

To her utter shock, Chloe marched inside. “Little Tierney is getting the special treatment?” She leaned against the wall. “Mitch took off my clothes before he put me in the tub last night.”

Tierney’s heart seized up. “What?”

“He put my clothes through the washer.” She scoffed. “He just threw you in.”

“W-what were you doing with Mitch?”

Chloe popped a blue bubble. “Wouldn’t you like to know!” She sauntered out.

Panic seized Tierney’s breast. Now she knew how Lisa had gotten into the house. Chloe had let her in! Somehow Chloe had hidden in the house. Did Mitch know? It couldn’t be!

Scrambling from the water, she stumbled into the kitchen. “Mitch, what were you doing with Chloe?”

Her husband turned from the sizzling pan. “What are you doing out?”

“Chloe said you were with her l-last night. I thought I was your beautiful d-dream.” Tierney burst into tears.

“I don’t know who Chloe is!”

Tierney clawed at her face. “You promised, you promised!”

Mitch dropped the spatula. “Shut up with the hysteria!” He slapped her cheek, and then his face contorted. “Oh, my love, I’m sorry!”

“No!” Tierney rushed out the back door and into the woods. Mitch’s agonized wail followed her, but she couldn’t turn around. She ran until her legs gave out under her. She crashed into the pine needles. Thorns slid into her flesh. The stitches on her arm snapped. Knitting flesh ripped apart and fresh blood oozed to the ground.

How could Mitch do this to her? How many women was he seeing? She would have to leave him. Pain, worse than the red spot on her cheek, seared her heart. How could she leave him? But she had to! Burrowing her face in her arms, she screeched into the earth. Betrayed! Betrayed! Betrayed!

The storm of her emotions ravaged her aching heart until the sun reached its zenith. Now she lay like a limp doll on the forest floor, golden brown hair splayed around her like sunbeams. The cold ground had soaked in her tears and blood.

Something snapped in the forest. Stealthy movement crunched on dead pine needles. Lifting her head, she came face to face with two intense eyes, eyes like the panther she had seen at the zoo last summer.

It bit into her face. Teeth sank through her cheeks and eyes. Tierney shrieked, but blood flooded her throat. It squeezed from her flesh. Claws raked into her torso. Guts spilled through cracking bone shards. Slabs of the back of her head flapped free, hair dangling and dripping blood. The earth soaked it in. The cougar’s snarls drowned out her weak cries.

“NO!” Mitch screamed. A gunshot shook the air. The cougar tore into the forest. Mitch stumbled beside Tierney with a strangled cry. “No, no, no!” He fell over her mangled body. His heavy cologne couldn’t dispel the stench of carnage.

“Mitch,” Tierney choked out.

He gasped. “You’re still alive!” Lifting her into his arms, he sprinted back to the small house. Tierney stared at the trees. Their gnarled branches dragged across the blue sky. Suddenly, the kitchen ceiling cut them off. They had already reached the small house.

Laying Tierney on the kitchen table, Mitch rushed to the drawer for the thread and needle. “Don’t die on me, my love!”

As he threaded the needle, a breeze whistled in from the living room. Tierney managed to turn her head as Mitch spun around. Lisa stood in the kitchen doorway, a rifle pointed at him. Panic seized Tierney all over again. She struggled to move, but her body wouldn’t respond.

“What are you doing?” said Mitch.

Lisa’s eyes turned to slits. “You killed my sister.” She went livid. “You chopped off her hair and stuck it on that doll!” She pulled the trigger. A bloody hole opened in Mitch’s stomach. He hit the floor. Blood and guts poured through his fingers. Tierney couldn’t hear her own scream.

Lisa sped to her side, snatched her off the table by what was left of her arm.

“Please, please,” Tierney cried.

Lisa ripped the golden brown hair from Tierney’s scalp. Fresh pain coursed through the mangled woman’s frame. Mitch could only stare as Lisa piled paper high on the table.

“You made dolls out of the women you murdered!” Lisa threw Tierney on top of the pile.

“Please, no,” he whispered. “My beautiful dream.”

Lisa glared at him. “Monster. Baby killer!” She set the pile ablaze.

“Mitch!” Tierney screamed. The flames caught her torn hands and ate away the cotton dress. Rushing over her hairless scalp, it raged inside her broken head. She stared at Mitch’s agonized face until the fire melted her blue-embroidered eyes.

The End

“Beautiful Dream” first appeared in HellBound-books’ Graveyard Girls Anthology, June 15, 2018. Reprinted in WIHM Final Girls With 2020 Vision, February 5, 2020.

Copyright © by Julia Benally 2018

All rights reserved

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this work are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

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