Tainted Crimson (25 page)

Mindy's P.O.V.

Everything is dark and quiet. The silence is both terrifying and agonizing. The only sound I get to hear is the sound of a plate of food being slid under my cell door once a day.

I don't know why I'm here in this dark hell hole on this freezing concrete floor without clothes or even a toilet. I can hardly think anymore. The silence is quickly driving me mad. How long have I been here? Days? Weeks? Months? Years? I don't know. I don't have a clue.

My hair is greasy and matted. I smell. I'm hungry. They don't feed me enough. The only water I have is crunchy with dirt from a puddle on the floor that I'm sure urine runs into.

Who put me here? Why? What kind of a sicko does this? I pray the cops will find me soon. Pray that I'll make it out alive. My mother is probably worried sick. God, Ariella is probably worried sick. I wonder how she's doing with her father gone now. I hope she's alright.

"Human...human...human..." A raspy, creepier than hell voice calls. It's the first time I've heard anyone speak since...well, since I've been here. "Human...human..." it continues calling.

"Yes! Over here! Help!" I say, in an equally loud voice. I almost don't recognize my own voice when I speak. It's been so long since I've spoken. So long since I've given up the screaming and crying and trying to talk to the food bringer.

"Human...I know where you are, I can see you. You must escape before he comes for you," the voice grunts. This person can see me? How? It's pitch black! For a moment I wonder if maybe the reason I can't see is because I'm blind.

"Who are you? Who will come and get me?" I question.

"The one who killed me in this very cell only just before you arrived, dear," the voice whines, while seeming closer.

"Killed you? Then how are you talking?" I ask dubiously.

"I exist in your mind, young one. Ghosts exist, but only can appear to those who've lost their mind."

"But if that's so then how do I know you're real and I'm not just crazy? Only a crazy person would see or hear a ghost and only a crazy person would claim they seen or heard a ghost," I reply.

"You're crazy, human. If you weren't you wouldn't hear me speak whether or not I was in fact real." The voice chuckles with an eerie tone. "What is your name, child?"

"Mindy. Yours?" I ask sounding crazy. Could I really be speaking to a ghost? I
am
crazy. I'm aware of that much but being in this cell with company, real or imaginary, is far better than being in this cell alone.

About Me, the Author

I was born and raised in a small town in east central Alberta, Canada. I first discovered my love for writing at the young age of 13 when I wrote my first novel, it was a fan fiction and it was absolutely terrible. During my high school and post-secondary years I found it very tough to find time to write but after graduating college, I got back into writing and found myself spending hours of the day thinking up stories and characters and scenes and titles and plot twists and the whole bit. My dream is that one day I won’t have to have a day job and I can just write and write and write all day long. Yeah right, eh?

I’d never survive without my family, amazing friends, laptop, sea monkeys, cellphone, tacos, or my boyfriend. When I’m not writing I enjoy the sport of curling and spending time with loved ones. I’m also a mean scrabble player if any of you would like to challenge me.

I’d love to stay in touch with you all so feel free to reach me at my fan email address –
[email protected]
. I respond to every email when I get the chance. Thank you for reading “Tainted Crimson” and be sure to check out the next novel in the series “Tainted Heart”.