Am I Beautiful? - Am I Beautiful? by ♫Squishyblue♫ (Sara)

I am standing in a busy hospital. I don’t know why, I don’t know how. Tentatively taking a step forward, I expect nothing and yet my heart pounds all the same. As my mind rests and fists unclench, I begin to relax. I notice people, many people, hustling, bustling, and doing their jobs. I feel lost and out of place, for all around me adults who wear doctors’ masks and gloves and a few people carrying full stretchers neither see me nor care to.

I shiver and stop. A man wheels a wounded woman out from a room. She is not breathing; she is dead. With merely a glance, I see the reason: bite marks pierce her fragile and now cauliflower white neck. Blotches of red line her robe, and as I watch, one single last drop glides down and marks yet another spot upon her already blood-stained clothing.

A woman comes up from behind me. “What are you staring at?” I turn. She, too, wears the mask of a doctor, and so I cannot see her face. She seems to be staring right at me, yet it is impossible, as no one else has seen me. “What are you staring at?” She repeats, so I clear my throat and answer.
“T…that woman…” I start, wondering if she hears me. Her cool gaze meets mine.
“Yes?” she asks, so softly I can barely hear her.
“That woman,” I begin again, “What happened to her?”
“Ahh…” The woman says, and her eyes seem to change. “I will tell you, but first you must answer my question…” I cock my head, curious. “Am I beautiful?” I search her over, and she pulls her hair net off her head. I gasp. Her glistening, flowing black hair drops down to the middle of her back. The sun’s rays make tiny sparkles that weave in and out, in and out.

“Yes,” I decide, “Yes, you are beautiful.” She looks away and I fear she is offended. “I’m sorry, did I…” before I can finish, she looks back and rips off her face mask.
“EVEN NOW?” She demands, her previous soft tone lost in the unpredictable storm that she now puts forth. I cannot move; all I can do is stare. I realize now why she uses a mask. Her mouth, big and wide, stretches all the way to her ears. Her tongue tastes the stale air, and she grins. That’s when I see her teeth. Such horrible, pointed things, with many rows like a shark. Her canines are shimmery and red. She licks her thin, pale lips. “Surprised, are you?” she asks.
“You…the woman…” I can see the dry brown blood around her mouth. It is obvious.

“That’s right,” She hisses, “I killed her…but she wasn’t sweet enough to my liking, so I disposed of her vile-tasting body.” She cackles evilly and watches me intently. When I do not reply, she laughs. “I can smell you from here, little girl. You’ll be the perfect snack…” The woman is hungry. I whimper, not wanting to become her tasty little treat. My legs unlock and I run. A look of surprise crosses the woman’s face, but soon she is chasing me, mouth agape. Suddenly, she stops and yells at a man nearby. My head is swirling and I cannot comprehend what she is saying. The man nods, and suddenly I feel an arm around my neck. His hands burn my flesh, but that is not why I yelp. I yelp because I feel a sharp pain stabbing into my back. Before blacking out completely, I see a man holding a needle containing a blue oily substance.

I fall unconscious, but only for a moment, as the woman jumps on me, teeth bared. I know it is the end. I pray it will not hurt too much.

I hear screaming in the background. Opening my eyes and looking around, I realize I am safe and sound. I am the one who screamed. It was but a dream…or was it?