I've Been Waiting For You

Chapter 4

  Mitchell jerked awake, gasping for air as the images from his dream faded away. He took deep mouthful of air trying to control his breathing. 

  Ten minutes passed before he could inhale without struggling, or feeling as though his lungs were being constricted. He threw the covers off his body, allowing the cool air to soothe his heated body.

Raven rubbed herself against him as though she was giving him comfort from the dream.

"It's alright. I'm good."

  This dream has been plaguing him for a while now, but this was the first time it had reached to that extent. He got up and went into the bathroom to wash his face. 

  It was good thing he had his own bathroom because his mom would definitely worry if she knew about this. He switched on the lights, blinking until his eyes adjusted to the brightness.

  Mitchell stared at his reflection in the mirror, his eyes looked sluggish and his body felt tired. He turned on the faucet and washed his face with the cold water.

  Sighing, he went back to his room and sat at the edge of the bed, his mind drifting back to his dream. The images were still in his head but for some reason he wasn't able to remember the faces of the people in his dream except for the man named Thomas.

  He decided not to linger too long at trying to remember, since he could feel a headache forming. He laid on his back, pulling the covers over him.

  Midnight had come and gone but found it impossible to go back to sleep as his mind recalled the dream. He closed his eyes and listened to the thud of his pulse in his ears, steady and just a little rapid, still pumped up with adrenaline from his dream.

  Behind his eyelids, the sight of Malachi being burned at the stake played in strobing slow motion like a silent movie. 

  A scratching sound at his door jerked his eyes open. He turned his head towards the door as he slowly sat up in bed. Staring at the door, he held his breath, wondering if he'd imagined it.

  Then he heard it again. It was a scratching sound.

  It was faint but unmistakable, a discordant sound, as if someone was scraping fingernails down the outside of the door. Releasing a shaky breath, Mitchell got out of bed, Raven's yellow eyes following his movements towards the door.

  When he neared the door, he put his face against it, pressing his ears closely to see if he would hear the sound again. He could hear nothing outside the bedroom door.

  He waited several minutes before deciding to slightly open the door. Making sure not to make any noise, he cracked the door open. 

  It took everything in him not to scream out loud. He jerked back from the door with a gasp.

  The door swung opened revealing Malachi Winthrop's scarred face staring at him from the other side.

  The light from the hallway showing he was dressed in burned clothes, the only visible part of him were his grey eyes, wide and scared. 

   Malachi's lips moved slowly, a soft rattle rising from his ruined throat. "Too... late..."

"Too late for what?"

"They're going to pay."

  Mitchell watched as he slowly walked into his room.

"Why are you here, Malachi?"

"Too...late..." 

  With every step he took forward, Mitchell took two steps backwards, trying to keep as much space between them.

  Malachi opened his mouth with choked laugh. 

"Don't come any closer."

  Mitchell watched him come closer and closer. That choked laughter resounding in his room.

  He turned to run when hands grabbed his shoulders, halting his escape.

"They're going to pay."

  Mitchell jerked awake, his heart in his throat. He sat up in bed, his breath coming in gasps. His pulse thundered in his ears, beating out an uneasy cadence.

  He glanced at his phone. It was after two in the morning. He looked around his room, trying to see if Malachi was still here but he was alone.

  The dream had felt so real. He could actually still feel those hands touching him as those words echoed in his mind.