'Doppelganger'

Doppelganger

I fell asleep and soon
Found myself walking
Down a path through
A forest.
It got darker
And more oppressive
As did the air.

I stumbled, trying to breathe
As hideous faces
Began appearing.
They were taunting
Someone ahead
Of me, whom
I couldn’t see.

The feeling of hatred
And anger
Grew as we kept
Walking down the path.
Voices snarled curses
At me, trying to make
Me leave.

I neared an entrance
To a cave.
A black dog, not unlike Cerberus,
Addressed the person in front
Of me.
And they entered the cave.

I followed quietly, passing
Doors upon doors,
Hearing moans, screams
And curses
Flowing from them.

I felt severe hatred
Directed at me,
Claws reaching towards
Me without touching.
The dog snarled angrily
As I stopped by
The door.
“Stay out!” the dog growled,
Rising up.

Go in…
I heard my Master’s gentle whisper.
I put my hand on the knob,
Staring straight at the dog.
He backed down,
Snarling in fury.
The door swung open.
I froze, my blood going
Cold at the scene in the room.

I saw myself in the room
With two others.
One disappeared within a
Second,
Leaving me with
…myself…?

Our eyes met and
I recoiled in horror
At the pure delight
In evil gleaming
Forth from her eyes.
Death shone the
Brightest, fire flickering,
Her soul gone.

I saw in her everything
That was tempting:
Beauty, power, love…

Ugly, repulsive, unnatural.
The words echoed in my mind.

“Doppelganger!”
The name flew off my lips,
“God save me…
I will not lose my soul.”

“You should.”
I heard my own voice saying,
“It’s not painful, and it feels
Wonderful.
You’ll always know you’re alive.
You’ll have pleasure, and
People will love you.”

She moved closer to me,
A gleam of pure delight in evil
In her eyes,
“It’s worth it. You won’t be truly
Alive unless you become me.”

“You’re dead.” I said quietly,
My eyes narrowing,
“You have no happiness.
It’s not painful
Because you don’t
Feel anymore.”

My eyes darted from her to the man,
Who roughly and possessively
Ran his hand down her arm,
His eyes meeting mine with a
Look of pure lust for me.
My doppelganger wasn’t enough…
He wanted me.

“You’re a vampire.
You have no soul,”
I backed towards the door,
“Why would I ever consider
Becoming you?”
My eyes snapped angrily,
“I know what truly living
Is.
Why would I give that up
To live a Life of
Death?”

The man shoved the doppelganger
Away, lunging at me,
His eyes full of hatred and
Anger.
“You!” his voice full of fury,
“You belong to me!”

“No, I don’t!” I shouted back, pointing at
My doppelganger, “She does.
But she is not me!
I won’t accept your offer.
I will not become her.”

I woke with a gasp,
Sweating and trembling.
I sat up, running a hand
Through my hair.
“God, give me strength,”
I whispered,
“God, help me.”