Page 121 of Demonic Cage
I flee as if shot from a gun.
I don’t understand what’s moving my legs because it’s certainly not me. Every part of me whispers that I deserve to stay with the skeleton. To switch places with it.
Switch places with me.
Murderer.
I stumble into a corridor; gray mist spreads, and blood-red doors line either side. When I feel a bony hand on my shoulder, I burst through the first door.
“Happy birthday, Lotte!” my mom greets as I enter, the whole family by her side. Her mouth stretches into a wide smile. The air smells of sugar. This place is familiar. The door closes, and the room’s warm air envelops me in safety.
I sniff as I try to hold back my stinging tears.
“Mom…” I whisper, and she looks at me in confusion.
“What’s wrong, sweetie?” she asks, and Maya, sitting in the background, snorts.
“She’s probably just throwing a fit again.” She looks at me disdainfully. “Did you take your medication today?”
I want to say no, I haven’t taken them for a while, that I haven’t even thought about them for a while, but the memory treats me like a puppet, and I just nod.
“Then she’s just plain stupid.” My sister shrugs and resumes looking at her phone.
Something is wrong because she’s an adult, and so am I, but the cake only has the number ten on it.
I don’t care that this is a memory. Everything feels so real. The room, my family, the blue cake on the table with candles burning yellow flames. Their fire dries my tears. I run into my mom’s embrace and inhale her peppermint scent. She hugs me back, smiling. My dad stays by the cake. He hiccups, perhaps an indication he’s over his daily alcohol limit. He looks so good! He never helped much at family gatherings, but at least he didn’t forget this one. Maya watches quietly beside him. Everyone is so calm, their faces smooth. Their blonde hair shines, their blue eyes reflecting the sea, just like mine. When the door opens, I know why they’re so happy.
Bengt steps in, his smile bringing sunlight into the room. New tears gather in my eyes, and I let them roll down my cheeks.
“Happy birthday, sis!” He laughs, nudging me and pulling me into a hug.
I feel him. The warmth of his body, his salty breath, and his sudden embarrassment at hugging his sister for too long. But I don’t let go yet, even though he wants to pull away. I can’t. I haven’t been happy for a single moment since…
Now I feel whole. Everything is fine again.
Bengt is here, he’s alive. I’m never leaving. This is my happiness; this is my life. Here, with them.
“If you don’t let go, I can’t give you your present.” My brother laughs again, and I reluctantly pull away from him, but leave an arm on his shoulder.
Bengt reaches into his back pocket, and I hear a soft jingling, then he pulls out his keychain. I grimace.
“Wonderful gift, Bengt, but I’d be happier if you kept it yourself. That way, you wouldn’t have to wait hours for me to come home and let you in.”
My brother mimics my words mockingly, and I punch him on the shoulder. Meanwhile, he pulls his keys off the metal ring and hands me the clip that hangs on the chain.
“Did you seriously just give her an empty keychain?” Maya snaps.
“Without a key,” Bengt adds, as if it weren’t obvious.
“Hah! At least I bought her makeup.”
“That’s why we don’t choose gifts together. Yours is never original!” my brother says, then turns to me.
“It suits you!” He smiles as I put the chain around my neck. I’m much happier with it than with anything else. Maya could buy me a car and it wouldn’t mean as much.
The necklace suits me, and I immediately know that, from now on, I’ll feel incomplete without it. It’s become a part of me, and I’ll never be without it.
“I have another gift!” My brother grins, but I frown. Something isn’t right, as if the picture suddenly broke. I almost heard the crack.
