Page 42 of Creep

Nothing.

Tears welled in my eyes as my frustration grew.

What was happening to me?

My breathing became erratic, and I looked around for the hidden monster.

Why was my apartment so dark?

A scratching sound came from my left, in the hallway that led to my bedroom. I looked toward it, but it was too dark to see anything. I shook my head as the sound got louder, indicating that what, or who,was making that noise was getting closer.

I tried to scream out for him to leave me alone.

Just leave me alone.

Don’t come any closer.

God, no.

Please.

A shadow moved in my line of vision. I moved my head from side to side, wondering where he would come from. I didn’t want to not see him coming.

My stomach hollowed, and it was taking everything in me to stay standing. I wanted to curl up into a ball and make myself as small as possible.

I wanted…

A growl came out.

What was going on?

My voice seemed to come back to me then. “Please, just leave me alone.”

“I can’t,” a masculine voice whispered just as the shadow came at me.

I screamed.

* * *

I wokeup with a startled gasp, my scream dying in my throat.

Sweat coated my forehead, and I looked around my dark room. I was alone.

I shivered, feeling both hot and cold at the same time.

I pulled the blanket tighter over me.

It was just a dream.

Nothing more than a dream, even if it had felt real.

So real.

I closed my eyes and tried to go back to sleep, trying to convince myself I was safe. All the while, I attempted to ignore the fact that the whispered “I can’t”from my dream sounded just like Mael.

15

MAEL

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