Devotion: A new take on an old fable (Scary)

Hello! I’m back with another springtime installation. A creepy one just in time for Easter, if you celebrate. There’s a lot of beautiful imagery in this one, but it’s also a bit unsettling. In my work, no matter what I’m making, I find myself constantly checking for the balance of light and dark. Something so fairytale/dream come true/frothy feels inauthentic. Too far over the line with Junji Ito-isms and I’m giving myself nightmares. I hope you’re enjoying the ride; the push and pull of a creative mind at work. With that, please enjoy a new take on an old fable.

TW: eerie themes, stalking

You were made for this purpose.

Find the one who is pure of heart and take it. Bring it to me. 

This is who you are. 

Mothers tell their little ones tales of disobedient children that didn’t come home after dark. That were having too much fun splashing in the water, frolicking in the field. Surely, Mother would not mind just this once. 

They were never seen again. 

When the sun goes down, eyesight alone cannot be trusted. 

Under the cover of darkness, you rule the night. 

You are a legend. You are folklore. 

And they are your energy for the taking. 

Because I want you to be strong.

Because if you’re strong, you can please me and you do want to please me. 

In fact, that’s all you want. All you ever wanted.

And I am ravenous. 

Bask in the sun, feel its warmth on your skin.

The sensation itself makes you smile, you feel at peace. 

Your heart rate slows, you listen to the soft thrum in your ears. 

You think about what it might be like to live the life of a snake. 

To lay around lazily on hot stones all day, saving your strength until

you strike silently. 

Or an owl, with feathers to quiet the air so as not to startle their prey. 

They will never know what hit them. 

You’ve never met these predators, but you deeply respect them. 

Are they cruel and vicious? Or misunderstood. 

The sky is a watercolor painting: magenta and violet intermingling with a deep fissure of lava red straight down the center.

But rather than erupting, this volcano is concaved. 

The fire extinguished by inky shades of indigo. 

Twinkling stars accent the glowing moon, casting an eerie aqua light along the trees. 

It’s your time. 

Little girl, what are you doing out in the wood. 

You stalk 

slowly.

Watching every move. 

You are so very good at going unnoticed. 

Shrouded in black, one knows not where you end and the earth begins. 

Tell me, darling, how do you manage to disappear when you are so extraordinary at making others do just that? 

Darting 

Back and forth and

Back and forth.

You love the chase. 

You can hear her pulse quicken and

You grin.

A single beam of light from the moon lands on a single fuchsia tulip and she can’t help but stop. 

She is too curious. 

But the tulip has gone into hiding, hidden its face from the world because it knows what she does not. 

and if it could it would scream 

“Run for your life.” 

But flowers don’t talk, 

Not to people at least. 

And the ritual must continue.

For me. 

You descend upon her and 

With one swift motion you take

A heart in your hands. 

It beats and it slows and

You know I prefer when it is still beating so you come quickly. 

I am so proud of you.