TO LIE WITH MIDNIGHT ROSES

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RENESSA

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Nightime had always been a time of comfort for me, a time where I can relax my mind.

It's not long after dinner, I sit, lighting a few candles to read some chapters of a new book I picked up before leaving work. Then shortly after I make my way up the wooden staircase to the second floor.

In the bathroom, I turn the shower knob. Letting the water heat, reaching my desired temperature as the mirror starts to fog over. I step in. Closing my eyes I begin to hum, focusing now on the sound of my voice and the rushing of the water instead of the branches brushing along my windows and the whooshing sounds of a growing storm.

If not later tonight, certainly tomorrow the rain would come.

My humming comes to a halt as I  suck in a sharp breath, one that nearly catches in my throat as I jump back. Startled, I drop the bar of soap I had been holding when I hear a loud banging sound coming from outside.

It was not the trees, it was not the wind.

I stand, silent as the water continues washing over me. My chest rose up and down fast but oddly felt like I was in slow motion. I steady my breathing, wondering if once again I was overreacting. I'm sure I am but anxiety consumes me anyways, with a shaky hand I reach around behind me and begin slowly turning the knob to the shower all the way to the right.

The water shuts off with a small squeak and everything is quiet again. Reaching down I pick up the soap, gently placing it back on the ledge of the tub. My breaths slowing, still remaining as quiet as possible, I focused on the noises from outside.

No one lived around here for miles, I was forty minutes out from town and the nearest house was another twenty minutes or more up the road.

It's most likely an animal, I think, a fox maybe or a raccoon.

Opening the shower curtain I force myself to get out as quickly as possible. Soap drips down my cold legs, tangled hair that is soaked with water drips its way down my spine. I did not finish washing off the soap, instead, I grab my towel, wrapping it around my body before hurrying to my room.

I throw on a white shirt and a loose pair of joggers before I tip-toe over toward the staircase.

Leaning now over the railing, I look hard into the darkness, shadows bouncing off the walls from the remaining candles I had yet to blow out. It's quiet again but I standstill.

A few or more heartbeats pass, the noises I thought I heard before seeming now like a figment of my imagination. I steady myself,  making my way down the stairs as my breathing begins to slow once more. I blow out a few candles, leaving one dancing around on the table in the living room, not yet wanting it to be dark.

Leaning over the end table, I peek through the crack in the curtains, reaching to close them when I notice some movement from the front porch. Peering through the small open,  careful not to move the curtains I notice the silhouettes of three men outside my door.

I gasp, a sound I wasn't expecting to make as I stumble back. 

My hand comes up quickly to cover my mouth, as I continue backing away from the window slowly, trying not to move the curtains anymore than I just did as I take my other hand away.    

Without thinking, I crouch down beside the end table and take out my cell phone, my brain seems to fog over when I remember I have no cell service here. My hands shake as I place my cell on the wooden floor beside me. Stupid. I try to settle my hands as I  reach up to grab the landline instead. I grasp it in my hand, bringing it down beside me slowly.

There's a bang against the door, then another and another. The sudden thump against the wood startled me once more causing me to lose my grip and the phone. It falls,  loudly thumping against the floor, sliding a couple of feet away from me. A muffled groan escapes my lips, angry at myself. A mumbled spew of curses makes its way off my tongue as I inch forwards, leaning onto my knees I reach for the phone.

My chest grows heavy, my breathing suddenly more apparent than before and it felt like even that was too loud.

There are three more knocks. I suck in a breath. A whimper-like sound escaped me and I wasn't sure why but something felt wrong. Really, really wrong.

Energy seeped in from outside, from beneath the doorframe and through the keyhole I could feel it, all too consuming. It was anger. I cover my mouth with my hand and try not to make another sound as fear overcomes me; my chest clenching tightly. Shaking and damp with wet hair, my body is still not able to calm down as I grip the phone in my hand.

Staying in a low crouched position, my lips tremble and I find myself wondering why there would be three men here at this hour; twelve-thirty am on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere.

The worst part was it was blatantly clear that somebody was home because once you stepped foot in my driveway you could see my Volkswagon and I'm sure the flickering flame of the candle perched on top of the coffee table created just enough light for them to see inside through the slightly opened curtain.

I sit, body still trembling as the shirt I had thrown on was now damp with water and leftover soap suds, hair still dripping down my spine. I shiver.

For a brief moment, it's silent and I try to catch my breath. I begin to type in the number nine on the phone when three more heavy knocks banged upon my door but this time followed by a deep voice of a man.

"Hello... We know you're home!"