How long have I been in this gully? I can't see anything through this fucking snow.
I thought I'd made it. I could see freedom ahead. All I had to do was make it across the river. I didn't even see the drop coming.
Neither could the cops, apparently. I'd heard them and the dogs come and go hours ago. I didn't scream for help. I thought I'd be able to escape once they left. I didn't realize both my ankles were hopelessly fractured.
Once the tingling and the shakes began, I started lighting matches from that lousy bar's matchbook. If only I'd never set foot there, if only I'd never gotten into that stupid, stupid fight, if only my friends had stuck around to help, then maybe that bastard would still be alive, and I wouldn't be slowly freezing to death.
I studied the match flame. It was getting hard to feel the warmth. My fingertips had gone from red and swollen to slightly blue.
I saw his face in the flame. It reminded me of that old story about the little match girl and her happy visions.
My visions weren't so happy. As the flame burned down, I saw blood dripping down a broken bottle. The next match revealed an ambulance, lights ablaze.
The little girl's last match brought a welcoming spirit to take her away to heaven. My last match showed me exactly what I expected to see: a dark demon sent to drag me to hell.
About the Creator
Catsidhe
Pronounced Cat-she: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat-s%C3%ACth
What can I say about myself?
A mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a walking coffin
Enjoyed the story? Support the Creator.
Subscribe for free to receive all their stories in your feed. You could also pledge your support or give them a one-off tip, letting them know you appreciate their work.
The Spring
The sun was high when Lance pulled off the road and into the dusty lot of the service station. The sign back at the hairpin--the first sign in a long time--said they just rolled into Hatter’s Creek, Population 63. It was small enough it didn’t appear on the handmap in Shelby’s lap, yet here it stood, the first backwater township on the fringes of the National Park. The plan was to gas up, restock the snack bag, and press on into the wilderness.
By Zack Graham6 days ago in Fiction
Discoveries That Could Change History
"7 Ancient Enigmas That Continue to Baffle Scientists 1. The Klerksdorp Spheres: 3 billion-year-old spheres discovered in South Africa, resembling ancient cricket balls, with seams and lines etched into their surface. Geologists attribute their formation to natural processes, while others propose advanced pre-flood civilizations.
By ajakaye adeshina3 days ago in Fiction
About Writing
Most people talk about things that bother them as a way to vent their emotions, another way is through writing. As I sit writing in my car, I ponder how much writing, in itself, has helped me become the person I am today. I have endless amounts of pages filled with poems, stories, and sometimes random blurbs. Writing is a window into your soul. The simple action of writing has benefited me; by helping me to achieve a better memory, helping me to learn and grow intellectually, and helping me to communicate my emotions.
By Sarah Wilcox4 days ago in Journal
Comments (1)
Warm spirits & hot tempers lead to cold ends. Aptly told, Cat.