The Gate

I am in my backyard on a rock pathway located in the center, weeds are all that grew on both sides of me. The foul stench coming from beyond, it smelled like a odd combination of smoke and perfume. I inhale the poison and exhale with a cough; and the moment was ruined as people start beating against my gate. I couldn't see them well because a fog had veiled them into dark figures but I make my way to the rusty old gate. A raven flies by and perches on the top of the gate, I swear a grin slowly grew across its bloody beak. I continue closer to the riot that made its way to my gate as the noise grew even louder. The walk to the gate seemed forever until finally I placed my hand on a worn metal bar and called out to the mysterious people, "What is the problem?!" then the noise stopped into silence, I look around and the figures get swallowed up the deep fog. Then suddenly I hear a slightly whisper in my ear, "You are." the voice was hoarse from a lady almost sounding familiar. Did I know her? I thought to myself. The words seemed to echo infinitely in the silence then run off somewhere unknown. "You are... you sick freak." The ladies thin pale hand lands on my should and I jump in hesitation in a one eighty. Her face had wrinkles on every part of her face, I looked into her eyes but the pupils were gone. Was she blind? The skin seemed to just wrap her bones, that even malnutrition seemed like a poor choice of words to describe. "You look at me disgusted but the truth is your even more hideous than anything the mind could fathom." I argued "You don't even know me and--" She interrupted "That's what you think. Recognize my voice?" I opened my mouth as she disintegrated into a vapor with a chuckling. The name was on the tip of my tongue and on the front of my mind but the words seemed to slip out of my hand like a wet bar of soap. Trying again and again to grasp them but the words fell from my mouth like the rain, the angels in heaven were crying. Their tears made a big puddle in front of me as the rain slowly melted away my skin, and what I saw was the real me... The lady was right I'm one sick freak. Instead of hands I see claws piercing through my fingernails, and my eyes are burning a crazed bloodshot red. My skin has formed into rows of scales that are molting from my back and face. Fangs uproot my teeth as they fall into the puddle with a waterfall of blood behind it. I scream from the pain and that scream turns into a fierce high-pitched call, it sounds like a demon possessed child screaming in agony from exposure to light. I look so gross I couldn't even recognize myself; this has to be a nightmare... Trying to wake myself in vain... But its not a nightmare. I lean closer to the puddle, it's real and it's staring me in the face, I'm staring myself in the face.