Psoriatic

In "Psoriatic," Marie's worsening psoriasis takes a terrifying turn when strange markings begin to appear on her skin, forming mysterious messages. As she uncovers a supernatural connection to a trapped spirit named Jonas, she embarks on a chilling journey to a forgotten place known as The Hollow. A blend of horror and mystery, this gripping tale explores the haunting link between the body and the unknown.

She scratched the patch on her arm absentmindedly, the familiar red irritation flaring up once again. But this time, it was different. Marie had lived with psoriasis for years—countless creams, appointments, and polite yet judgmental stares. None of it phased her anymore. Yet, today felt wrong. The patch had spread overnight in jagged, fiery shapes that crawled like veins over her skin. 

She brushed it off at first—just another flare-up. But as the days passed, it wasn’t just her arms. Her back, legs, and even her face started to show signs. Each morning, new intricate patterns appeared. Her dermatologist, baffled, could only prescribe stronger steroids. 

One evening, after a particularly exhausting day, she stood before her bathroom mirror, staring at the web of inflamed skin now covering half her body. As her eyes traced the patterns, she noticed something startling. The shapes weren’t random at all. They were letters.

Marie blinked, her breath catching in her throat. Squinting, she leaned in closer, her heart pounding. There it was, unmistakable: "HELP ME".

She couldn’t sleep that night. Every time she closed her eyes, her skin prickled, as though alive with tiny whispers. Was she hallucinating? Stress? She was no stranger to anxiety. But as the rash spread further, it became undeniable. The letters multiplied. 

By the end of the week, she could see full words—sentences even—etched into her skin. They told of a place: "The Hollow." A name: "Jonas." And a chilling request: "Find me before it’s too late."

Marie became obsessed. Every waking hour was spent researching this mysterious Hollow and Jonas, but no results ever came up. Desperation gnawed at her, and as the rash spread to her face, she started wearing long sleeves and scarves to hide the strange markings. 

But no one else seemed to notice.

One night, as she lay in bed, the itching became unbearable. Her skin felt like it was burning from the inside. She threw off her covers and stumbled to the mirror, tears stinging her eyes. Her body was now almost completely covered in words, a living book.

And then, as she stared at her reflection, something even more horrifying happened.

The words "moved".

Her skin seemed to ripple, the letters shifting and rearranging themselves before her eyes. In moments, they formed a single, terrifying phrase: "COME NOW."

Without thinking, she grabbed her keys and left the apartment.

The night air was thick with an eerie stillness as Marie drove through the deserted streets. Her hands trembled on the wheel, but something deep within her compelled her forward. She didn’t know where she was going, but she trusted the instinct pushing her.

An hour later, she found herself at the edge of a dense, fog-covered forest she’d never seen before. There was no sign or map indicating this place existed—"The Hollow", she realized. 

Heart racing, she stepped out of the car. As she walked deeper into the woods, the markings on her skin tingled, guiding her like a compass. The path was twisted, overgrown, and unnerving, but she pressed on. The further she went, the more her skin reacted, growing hotter, tighter. The words practically screamed now.

Then she saw him.

A figure stood in the clearing, his skin glowing faintly in the moonlight, covered in the same markings she bore. It was Jonas. His eyes locked onto hers, and in that moment, she understood everything. 

Jonas had been trapped in this place for years, his spirit imprisoned in the hollow between worlds. He had tried to reach out to anyone who would listen, anyone who might understand the messages. But only someone with "psoriatic" skin—like Marie—could decipher his desperate pleas. 

Without a word, they reached out to each other, their hands connecting as the markings flared bright, casting a blinding light over the forest. The ground rumbled, the air split with a crackle, and then, everything went silent.

When Marie woke up, she was back in her bed. The words were gone. Her skin was smooth, unblemished for the first time in years. But she remembered it all—the forest, Jonas, the connection. She wasn’t sure if it had been a dream, a hallucination, or something more.

But deep down, she knew: she wasn’t alone anymore. And somewhere, out there, Jonas was free.

Author’s Note

Psoriasis is a condition that affects millions of people, often causing not just physical but emotional pain. This story was inspired by the mysterious and often misunderstood nature of the disease. Though fictional, I hope it shines a light on the strength and resilience of those who live with psoriasis every day.

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