Don't Look!

The cat said meow. Don't look down, I said to Devil, you crazy cat face. It's only a cut from here to my toes, really, it doesn't hurt that knife is cold can't you feel it? I licked the knife, it doesn't taste of iron, no, not the knife but my blood that is seeping down my leg. I told you I would make an extra mark on my thigh next to the cut I made as a souvenir of the tramp. I didn't see her anymore, and the bag of food is empty I only have a bag of tea of ​​a brand I don't know. Lipton. Never heard of it. Devil? He doesn't meow and stares outside and makes a kek kek sound at a shitting thrush that is sitting in front of the window and tapping rudely on the glass. I have cramps in my legs, it feels like the table is slowly sinking on my head. Lie down, Devil, we'll go outside soon, and I'll have to throw a bottle into the water. Do you know where the shoe we found is? You turned your nose up at it but I think it's important, a souvenir. I'll cut off a piece later and put it in the bottle together with my diary. My hands hurt from writing and that stupid chain is still around my ankle.

I dozed off and was in dreamland, at least I would have been if I hadn't vaguely heard a bell ringing. Was that that stupid phone again? Hadn't I put it in a bottle? It kept ringing and I struggled to get up. There was someone at the door. A voice called: Hello, are you there? We're having a party tonight, you're invited. If you don't come over, I hope the music won't bother you.

I held my breath, dear Diary, because the house is a mess and I didn't expect any visitors.

The letterbox rattled and it sounded like something had landed on the mat, but I'm not crazy and pretend I'm not home. I know those creepy people who peek through letterboxes and gossip to the neighbours. Everything? They never bothered to ask about me, I thought bitterly. I had a bad taste in my mouth and wanted that person to go away so I could finally make a cup of tea. A day of wandering the streets is not good for me, I said to the cat, who yawned for a long time and then went to clean his fur.

Suddenly it was quiet and I waited, counted to ten, to twenty and twice to a hundred until I crawled out from under the table and halfway down the hall like a thief in his own house. There was a package on the mat, not an invitation to a party but something that moved. What was that?

Devil, I hissed, and within a second the cat was standing in front of me and was hitting the envelope with its paw, something was crawling out of it... it looked like fingers. Yuck, what was that? Devil blew and hit at it, and then I saw what was crawling out, out of nowhere, creepers were growing out of the envelope and under the door, and they were chasing us. One was snaking around the shoe, the souvenir I had taken from the river.

With bated breath I stood pressed against the wall, and there was that voice again, slurring: Honey, are you okay, did you hear me? There's a party tonight and you're invited, and feel free to bring your little friend Devil.
Devil? How did that person who had appeared in my life not so long ago know about Devil?
Hello, we brought some tasty snacks!
Did I smell the smell of hutspot and warm apple pie now? How many years ago was it that I had smelled that, let alone eaten it? How come the person at the door knew this about me but had never come by before?
I didn't answer, in all those years I had learned that people can't be trusted and besides, the knife was still in the kitchen. Without making a sound, I walked backwards, keeping an eye on the door first I had to get my knife,e and I wanted to get back under the table. Safely out of sight.
Devil yowled.
The plants were winding through the hallway, it seemed like I was Alice in Wonderland. What if those stupid plants were growing through the roof? I wondered if the cellar door was open and the wild gang would go there to look for their kind,

The piece of chain irritates. I wake up. It turns out to be just a dream, at least I think so. My leg hurts and Devil stares at the door.
The music starts around midnight, the one behind the front door said, make sure you are present.

I woke up with a start; my heart was racing. Once I calmed down, I went to the river and posted the next bottle. I think I'm going crazy.

_{30.3.25
Prompt: don't look down - @freewritehouse
Original text in Dutch / translator used
Picture}

_{cc @almaguer
#story #miner-wewrite #wewrite #freewrite #diary}