They should've known better than to ask for blood tests.

Nathan had wondered if it would kill them slowly, infecting them and waiting until the right time to strike. But it had been impatient. As soon as the syringe left his body, the blood in it was no longer controlled by his own will. It shattered its useless container, reaching out with long red tendrils and traveling down their throats, joining with the bloodstream until it finally reached their hearts. The doctors collapsed to the floor, their hearts stopped. Nathan almost pitied them. They hadn't lived long enough to see that their deaths were a consequence of their own actions.

But he didn't have time for pity. No one would pity him when they found him surrounded by bodies, the blood in their veins still thrumming through their corpses even after death. He ran from the hospital, careful not to be seen. It wasn't fond of being looked at.

When Nathan reached his home, he locked the doors, barred the windows, and ran to the mirror. He stared in horror at his eyes, which were bright red, covered in blood.

It had already happened.

He was too late.

"No, no no no," he whispered. He tore off his glasses and clawed at his eyes. If he could just get them out, maybe he would be safe. Maybe it would be gone.

His hands stopped in their tracks. Nathan knew instantly that he was no longer in control.

It was angry.

His limbs jerked around like puppets on a string, the blood in his veins pulled the rest of his body along. His heart started and stopped. It wanted him dead.

But maybe death was better than having it reach his brain. Having Nathan become a prisoner in his own body, just a vessel for a parasite that grew stronger every day.

It wanted to leave. It was going to get rid of him. He was no longer a good host.

"No, please!" Nathan whimpered. It ignored him.

"PLEASE!" he screamed again. "I don't want to die."

But it didn't care. It would live on without him. He was a necessary casualty.

"Why me?" he asked. Why had he been chosen, forced to spend the last three weeks with a parasite attatched to his blood? Why was he forced to choose between death and spreading it to another?

It was getting impatient. It was time for it to leave.

Every drop of blood in his body moved at once. Nathan screamed, once, twice, three times as his blood vessels ripped apart, a flood of the dark red liquid bursting out. He was shredded to pieces. His own blood was pulled out of his skin, leaving trenches in his flesh where the vessels used to be.

Nathan's corpse fell to the ground. It reached out the tendrils of blood and flew out of the room. It would need to find a new host. A better one.

It went out to hunt.

sometimes I think I’ve lived too long

when I see my life on paper

a list of accomplishments

not made, risks

not taken.

if life is linear, mine is a downward curve

over almost before it’s begun,

weighed down

by fervent hope

and frustrated expectation

(optimism, my deepest curse).

my dreams are not a thing with feathers

they curdle within me,

unspoken, and

if I opened my window to breathe them free

they would evaporate

like tissue paper

in the humid city air

crumble into dust and

decay.

my future is the mousetrap to my life

do I take the jaws

or the poison?

Sometimes I think I’ve lived too long

Seen too much, done enough

Outlived the life that resides in me

I wait patiently at the parties

Blow out the candle and wish

And wish and wish and wish

Still, I open my eyes,

Continue my life as if

It never had a chance of stopping

Years fly by, patience waning

So close to touching death

I can feel the reaper

Breathing down my neck, asking

“Why are you still here?”

Well, take me!

Turn my bones to dust!

Give me what I ask!

One last chance,

I blow out the candle

My breath leaves me and

I smile

Sometimes I think I’ve lived too long.

The people who have cried over me,

the time people have spent on me,

the money people gave me,

the thoughts that make me sound deranged.

It all makes me think I’ve lived too long.

She says otherwise, but I say so.

Sometimes I think i’ve lived too long.

Way too long.

Sometimes I think

I’ve lived too long -

a thousand years

of turmoil

engraved

on my skin.

Layers of light

rising out of reach,

interlaced thoughts

obscured by fog.

Coldness cleaving

to my soul

in icy daggers.

I look within

and see beginnings

of precious times

still to come -

the future pulses

within my heartbeat

as I feel warmth

of liquid sun

rebounding in waves

of promise.

but for some reason the youth

resent theirs

whining

and clawing at imagined chains

pleading

entreating

that obedience is a curse

when really the alternative

is a state thousands worse

child

be content!

this is the best it will ever get.

don't waste your chance to have

little to none responsibility

don't spend your childhood

considering what you will do instead

but enjoy it while it lasts

innocence

ignorance

are not curses

but blessings in disguise

do not long for tomorrow

while there is so much left to do

TODAY

anger flowing through these shattered veins

spiteful eyes

hurting me no more

my will is strong,

my power building from within

I’m standing on my feet,

honey, your words no longer causing me pain

alterations now nibbling on my soul

making my armor more powerful

than ever before,

I gained the truth

when your lies dissolved into my hammering heart

your actions splashed

against my wounded features,

my always present scowl

disintegrated into a passionate grin

my determination growing,

to make my scars

a silver crest on my chest

my tears shaped into precious gems

that fit for a queen

because starting from now,

I will be a ruler of my kingdom

and no one will ever again

brake my spirit

and conquer my soul

brave yourself my fallen lover

the queen is coming

and she’s ready to finally roar

..........................................................................................................

1. Action ✓ . . . . 2. Reaction ✓ . . . . 3. Process ✓ . . . 4. Decision ✓

Originally inspired by a Proser a very long time ago,

and now “draged out” especially for @willowBending :)

I've been chained in shadows and I'm tryin' to escape,

I'm tired of people walking by and leaving in their wake

The baggage of their life times--lost ideals and old emotions

Shattered dreams and broken souls, all filled with commotion.

They pour into me all their scorn and their hate

Never dreaming someday of the monster they create.

I've been chained in shadows and I'm tired of being lost,

I just wanna be free despite all of the costs.

You can pin me down, you can cover my eyes

But nothing's gonna stop me when it's time to arise.

It's time to stop running, stop blaming all of your woe

On the person in the shadows...it's your fault, you know.

I've been chained in shadows and I've come to realize

I'm to blame for my choices, and so are you for your lies.

It's called personal responsibilty--and so I made my choice

When I act it's with my own will, when I speak it's in my voice;

You can't keep me in the shadows, not without a fight,

I'll keep pressing on forever for my vision and my sight.

#chainedinshadow

#darkness

#poetry