Visitation

                                    

                                          
Polly had dreamed blackness for a long time since she had left her Indiana house.
This night her mother came to visit.
Polly looked into a mirror surrounded by butterflies with human heads, she was a small child again.
Her mother took her hand and lead her down onyx steps to what seemed like nowhere.
"Where are we going mommy?"
"You'll find out my pretty little angel." She smiled, it made Polly feel safe.
"Where's daddy?"
"He's waiting for us."
"Yay, will we be a family again?"
"Soon little one, don't fear."
"I'm sorry I let you die mommy."
"Look up." Josephine pointed, Polly noticed her mom had become encapsulated by white light.
She looked up. Staring back at her was a starless sky. It was stripped away to reveal a creature of an indecipherable race looking down at her. It opened its mouth to reveal a sailorless sea, flying seals with the legs of men floated above the sea, dipping in and out catching drowned cherubs in their maws. 
The sea became a desert, a black tent with hooded figures ate from dirty plates. Faces hidden, all Polly could make out was rotten mouthes spooning planets into their chasms before they, like everything around them became dust. The vision rose above the clouds.
"Mommy I'm frightened."
"Don't be, continue to watch, I'm here now."
Polly looked back up to see sexless beings, some winged, some hooven, some slithering, constructing a ladder. She followed the ladder upwards to see glowing souls beckoning them. The macabre play was acted out with the completion of the ladder only for the creatures below to fight over who would go first. The ladder would collapse and they would reconstruct it. Polly looked on in sadness as they reenacted their sorrowful performance. They constructed it a third time, only for Polly to see they were incapable of learning their lesson.
"No more mommy."
Josephine put her hand out and wiped the vision away, it was blackness again.
"Is that better darling?"
"Yes mommy, a lot better."
"We must continue downwards."
"Why did you show me that mommy?"
"This is what awaits us after we die."
"No mommy I don't believe you, it's too sad, too scary."
"I will be waiting for you when it's your time."
"Oh, okay mommy."
"I'll protect you like I should have when you became a woman."
"Will you?"
"Yes, I failed you then you failed me."
"I didn't mean to mommy." Polly wiped her face, a green tear stained her small hand. She quickly turned towards Josephine, she swore she saw a forked tongue lolling from her mother's mouth. Her mother turned away then looked back lovingly.
Polly shook her head, no it couldn't be.
"What's wrong Polly?"
"No, nothing mom, I want to find dad then we will get out of here?"
"Don't worry anymore, we are here. I told you."
"Yes you did mom, sorry."
"That's better. Look."
Polly followed her mother's finger, looking in a mirror she was now a teenager.
"We're nearly there."
"Okay mom, let's just leave this place."
They reached the bottom, a candle was lit in the middle of the room, it stood inside a lion legged plinth.
"Come." Josephine waved her daughter forward.
"What are we doing? I want dad."
"After this you shall see him." She stood beside the flame, Polly stood opposite to her. "Now look into the fire."
"It's scary mom."
"It's the hub of all life."
"Nothing to fear?"
"Do you fear life Polly?"
"I don't think so mom."
"Do you fear death?"
"Not if I have you and dad beside me."
"Do you fear the living? Do you fear killing? Do you fear love? Do you fear your birds?"
"Wha...what do you mean mom?" Polly looked at her mother through the flames, she thought she saw the woman glare angrily at her. Polly looked around the flame, Josephine smiled kindly.
"I am preparing you."
"For what?"
"Look and listen."
Polly obeyed fearfully. Watching she saw the faces of all she had murdered including her mother, her father was there too by design, they flickered and flew away on weathered wings, their spines flapping on a torso-less frame.
"Why?" Polly looked at her mother who blew out the hub.
The room flickered green, humming. She felt two hands grip her face, the flame relit itself. Polly looked up at her mother, the forked tongue lolled dripping a green fluid, her eyes were red slits.
"Mom! No!"
Josephine kissed her daughter then pushed her to the ground.
"Daughter remember you are insanity not humanity." Josephine grabbed Polly around her neck. "Look at me."
Polly awoke but was unable to move, she felt Kayla laying against her chest, she tried to call out to her but failed. A hand was forcing her eyelids open, she was unable to blink.
Polly was scared, she felt her heart race. In her mind she screamed for Kayla to help her.
She felt a fluid dribble down her cheek.
Please, Kayla help me, please!
She felt Kayla shudder then look at her, she shook Polly.
"Wake up Polly, what the hell is happening to you!?" She shook harder.
Polly felt her mother leave her, she sat up in fear, sweat soaking her brow, her heart raced dangerously fast.
Kayla put her hand to Polly's chest. "Fuck, calm down girl, was it a nightmare?" She wiped the sweat from Polly's face. "What happened to you? Your lips have turned green, your cheeks too."
Polly hugged Kayla thankfully.
"Take your time." 
Polly finally pulled away but Kayla wanted her close.
Kayla grabbed Polly's arm putting it around her shoulder. "No, keep that arm around me. Now explain when you're ready, what happened?"
Polly composed herself, controlled her breathing then looked at Kayla.
"I think you just saved my life."