The Silence

Chapter One

I wake up in a cold sweat, goosebumps covering my shaking form as I glance around desperately, panting. Despite my pleas, my mother refuses to get me a nightlight for my room, telling me I just need to harden up.

I squint into the darkness of my room, searching for something that I pray won't be there. Something moves and the breath is stolen from my lungs. I huddle deeper into the blanket, wrapping it tighter around me as I shut my eyes, pretending to still be asleep. This tactic has worked in the past, perhaps it'll work again tonight, and if not... I don't even want to think about it.

I struggle to keep my breathing even, they have to believe that I'm asleep. I hear no footsteps, I never do, just a cold, eerie feeling that I know means it's close. It takes every ounce of my self-control to not just scream and run out of my room, but I know that won't do any good, the things are everywhere.

The feeling gets stronger until it's so strong that I know it's right on top of me, staring deep into me, seeing everything, every flaw, every weakness, every strength. I'm terrified, It's never stayed so close for so long before, does it know? Just as I'm about to give up the charade and run, the feeling recedes, as quickly as it occurred. I allow myself to take a shaky breath, the night isn't over yet.