The Shadowed Canvas (Short Story.)
#1 of Short Stories
Something I wrote for a contest here. Enjoy
The Shadowed Canvas.
Plowing through the snow, his mind focused into the black asphalt ahead of him. Looking to his left, he stared into the sleeping body of a dog.
'She's already asleep.'
Having the longing want to rest, his mind spun from the lack of it.
'Come on Donovan, we're almost there.'
His thoughts positive, the lights of the city bewildered his mind; much like the stars above them that night. Looking at a sign ahead of the car, he stopped next to a gas pump.
'Coffee, that could help.'
Rubbing his eyes, his attention went to the back window of the car. Proud of the sight, he studied the paintings he did for the night. Walking for a door, lights stung Donovan's eyes. Empty and warm, the wind howled as it was wisped to the cold world behind him.
"Hello?"
Calling out, he stepped further into the station. Hearing the sound of footsteps, a large figure came barely visible in the shadows.
"Hi there. How are you?"
Hearing his old, yet strong voice; Donovan went towards the desk.
"A little tired, just wondering if you have any coffee."
Giving a smile, he came further into the light. Finally able to see the cat's eyes, to the fur on his back, he gave a chuckle.
"Tying yourself over eh? I always heard it was bad to drive tired."
Looking into his green eyes, Donovan stared at him oddly.
"Well, we are almost home."
"We?"
Looking past the window behind Donovan, he stared at his car.
"She's yours eh?"
"Well yes."
Giving an unsure tone, Donovan looked back to his car. Hearing a shuffle, the cat presented a small capped cup.
"Sorry if I concerned you, I just don't like the idea of people driving at night, especially on these roads."
His voice was starting to sound paranoid, and the way he scanned the station started to concern Donovan.
"Why?"
"Oh, it seems like I've spoken out of term. You must leave, I have to close the station down."
His voice scared and shaken was enough to get him out. Getting back in his car, The wind howled from behind him, as if reaching, trying to grasp and choke him.
Starting the engine, Donovan started back to his route.
'That's odd. What's with him?'
Taking the cap off the drink, he brought the black liquid to his lips. Feeling an odd vibration, he stared at the cup. Rings formed towards it's centre, as if something was coming towards them.
'What the he-'
A flash struck Donovans eyes, and he saw the fractions of shadows as a semi struck his car. All then was darkness, and a drivin pain through his mind and heart.
Awakening towards sounds, Donovan could barely focus on the lights moving above him, or the coated shadows running next to him.
"What do we got?"
"Multiple lacerations across the chest and neck, and what appears to be burns across his face."
Donovan's mind went into darkness, he could barely feel the cuts digging into his body. Unable to think, he could barely remembered what happened to him. Her name burned into his heart though, enough to drive Donovan into a panic.
"Melodie?"
Bringing his body upwards, He felt a hand and himself being pushed back.
"Stay down."
"Melodie?"
He whispered again, able to sense them moving closer, he caught onto a strong scent.
"Who are you talking about?"
The words sunk his heart, unable to see or feel for that matter, he only dug into memories.
"She was with me, in the car."
Trying to focus, Donovan's mind was still within shadows.
"Y- you were the only person in that car."
She stuttered out, as if the fear they could've missed someone was possible. Going quiet, Donovan went into more thought.
"Why can't I see?"
"What?"
"Why can't I see?"
A slam admitted from his front, and he felt frigid air from inside. Shuffles and voices filled the air, scents came to him, yet none as strong and frightening of his first.
'Blood?'
His body cold, he felt everything fading, until he reached the shadows of his mind. Coughing out, he awoke once more. Feeling horrible, Donovan stood up, and into a silent room. His stomach in flames, he felt along the walls for anything; and touched a heated wall. Retching his hand back, he felt the sun, blazing on his fur.
'A window?'
Turning away, he walked back slowly, reaching out for a door. Touching something wooden, he guided his hand around. Grasping a frozen handle, he held his hand to the sudden coldness that drove through it. Turning it, he felt the wind, ripping all warmth away.
"Hello!?"
Calling out in confusion, he turned to the sudden crash of something falling.
"He- hello?"
A shuffle, driving next to him and on the ceiling above. the rambles of the insane filled the rooms around him, bouncing of walls and entering his mind. Breathing slowly, a scent drove into him; blood, and a lot of it. Donovan walked forward, his footsteps echoing throughout the building; until he felt warmth, the warmth of the sun. Hearing footfalls from behind him, calls and unnatural howls rang from behind him. At that moment, he dared to turn; until he the wind, shattering the windows around him, drove him forward.
Crashing into glass, his mind flashed, and he slightly saw shadows of shapes.
'What?'
The image burned, showing the buildings outside a familier place.
'I'm at the cities hospitial. What the hell is going on?'
Stepping cautiously, everything was quiet; no scents filled the air. Donovan felt his foot give way, and he lowered it slowly; hitting a cold platform below.
'stairs.'
Putting his next foot on the step, he went down, and into the open. Rumbling, and vibrations rang through his legs. Locking himself in place, he sniffed around. Explosions rang throughout this place, and the suns warmth was suddenly ripped away.
"HELLO DONOVAN!"
The sound shot upwards, sounding louder then the explosions prior. Clasping his ears, Donovan was almost driven to his knees. It casued a cry of pain, and then again everything was silent.
"Hi?"
Laughter filled his ears, and he felt a prescence closing in.
"Hey there."
It sounded like scampering from a stray, the footsteps small, and the voice matching it.
"Who are you?"
"What, no proper greeting?"
Wretching around, everything was canceled out. Scents were too strong to focus, rarely any sounds went into the skies; and no walls contained him.
"Well, Donovan, lets say I'm a friend."
'Friend?'
Donovan thought.
"Yes, a friend."
Bouncing back, Donovan looked towards darkness; still unable to see, he cursed this new problem.
"Yo- you can here my thoughts?"
"Yes."
It's voice bright and young, Donovan walked forward.
"Where am I?"
"Wherever you want to be, it is your mind afterall."
'My mind?'
Again, he thought out loud.
"Yes, your mind."
Stumbling around, Donovan started thinking.
"So if I think about a place, I could be there?"
"Of course."
Driving into thought, Donovan felt a change heat. The blaze of open skies above him, and the sounds of water nearby. Sand surrounded his feet, and the images of a memory came to him.
"You see, this is how you play."
It was standing next to him. Donovan felt around, a familiar spot breached his thoughts.
"Do you know where you are?"
It asked, voice bright and kind.
"This is where I proposed to Melodie."
Feeling something grasp his hand, Donovan was being pulled onto a wooden plank. The scent of the sea filled his thoughts, and the sounds of laughter near them dug into his mind.
"Donovan?"
Donovan's heart sunk, as he turned towards her voice.
"Melodie?"
Walking forward, the heat was driven away, and Donovan only felt the cold wisp of rain and wind.
"Where am I?"
Laughter came from nearby, turning to it's insanity, he backed away.
"How sweet."
"Did you do this?"
"Maybe, I do get bored watching love stories don't you?"
"What are you talking about?"
More laughter, surrounding him and stinging his mind.
"There are rules, and you tried to break them."
It's voice changed, into some teasing tone.
Going into thought, Donovan tried to change where he was.
"Nope, you should rest."
Donovan turned from the voice, and began walking away from it.
"What are you talking about?"
With it following him, it started teasing.
"You have to play by the rules to win the game."
An insane ramble, then some laughter came as Donovan stumbled further into his locked mind.
"I said rest."
Upon his words, Donovan was slammed down to the earth, hard enough to bring him into darkness; a darkness that forever has drivin his mind.
Author's note.
A. If the text appears Italic, I have no friggin clue why.
B. Cliffhanger, writing all of it would make it too long.
C. I seem to enjoy writing thrillers, but I hate reading them.
D. Hope you enjoyed it. E. If it's double posted, I had some previous trouble with it.