Page 44 of Drench My Halls

I hang up the phone, tossing it to the side.

“I fucking love you, Julia.”

JULIA

LOVE THE HELL OUT OF YOU BY LEWIS CAPALDI

For the past week I have been in a constant state of orgasmic bliss. Caleb and I fuck all the time, exploring each others bodies, drenching in sweat and tears. I was covered in cum when he came three times in one session. I was amazed that he didn’t need to recharge. He just kept pounding into me. I have never been so full in my life. It was like he was trying to recreate all of my novel scenes and surpassed them. I am so sore I can barely sit down without hissing.

The snow has been falling around us piling up at least four feet and the snowplow continues to drive past pushing the snow to the outer banks of the street. Christmas season is in full bloom. Downtown is strung with lights and Christmas wreaths hanging from the shop doors.

As I walk into the Tavern, the smell of fresh brewed coffee hits my nostrils as I inhale. Sydney smiles as she hands me my regular large Latte. I hand her my $3 dollars and look around the bar.

“He is in the office.” She nods her head towards the back.

“That’s okay, I have to head back home. I am almost done with a novel.”

She squeals with excitement, “Can’t wait.”

I wave goodbye as I head out the door. The wind is blowing, and the snow flurries fill the air. I walk past the antique shop, looking in the window at the displays of Christmas ornaments. A figure is staring at me from across the street. My breath catches as I clutch my chest. It looks just like Daniel but when I turn around the plow is blocking my view. Once the road is clear, the spot where I saw the figure is empty. No one is there. I look around but I don’t see him. I shake my head and proceed to walk up the hill.

It was just in my head,I try to tell myself but something feels strange. I get inside and I add a log to the fire, the embers flicker as the flame consumes the fresh log. I sit on the couch, getting back to writing my final chapter. The wind whistles through the door sweep, sounding like a creepy ghost screaming. Chills run down my spine as I take in the blizzard outside. The lights flicker as the electricity tries to hold on.

Power is out at the bar, shutting down. Want dinner?

I read Caleb’s text and smile.

Yes please.

The lights shut off and the whole house is consumed in darkness. The only light I have is from the fireplace. I set my laptop down and step up to the sliding door, peering out at the forest beyond. The snow is covering the tree tops and the white mist makes it hard to see beyond a couple feet. But what is not hard to see is the figure staring right back at me. I step back slightly, my heart pounding in my chest. I can’t see his face; he is dressed in an all-black hoodie and pants. He doesn’t move, he just observes tilting his head slightly.

I step back again, reaching down to grab my phone off the cushion, my eyes never drifting off the stranger peering at my house. I dial Caleb’s number, its rings but I am startled by the banging noise coming from the front porch. I jump from the sudden noise and scream. I hate scary movies, so this shit isn’t funny. When my eyes snap back to the yard, the figure is gone. I immediately run to the front door ensuring it is locked, then make my way to the garage door, it’s locked as well.

“Julia, what’s wrong?” Caleb yells into the phone as I didn’t hear him answer the call.

“Someone is watching me. I don’t know where they went.”

There is banging on the front door, and I scream again.

“Baby it’s me, open up.”

I hang up the phone and run over to the door, unlocking it as I swing it open. I run into Caleb’s arms. He holds me tight walking back into the house before slamming it shut.

“Show me.”

I walk over to the sliding door and point to where the person was standing.

“Okay, lock the door behind me. I’ll go look.”

I grip onto his arms, not wanting him to go but he opens the door anyways. I watch as the snow flurries make his image fade away the deeper he goes down the yard. My eyes flicker left and right trying to see where he went. The storm is getting worse by the second. A few minutes later I find Caleb walking up the patio stairs and I open the door. He quickly comes in, his lips shivering as he rubs his hands together.

“I saw footprints, but there is no one out there now. Did you see his face?”

I shake my head. His mouth scrunches up, worry setting in.

“I’m sure it was just meant to scare me. Maybe a prank or something.”

He places his phone to his ear, “Hey Sheriff, Julia just had someone in her backyard looking into her house. Can you send a squad car out to check it out?”

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