It Came With The House

•Chapter Nine• Phantom Bruises

Recap:

One night some weeks later, I was home alone. It was very late when I decided to retire for the night. I'd just crawled into bed and closed my eyes when a noise made my eyes snap open to see a shadow standing in the doorway. "Jason?" I called out but instead of replying, the figure took a step out of the shadows and what stood before me was the figure a grotesque-looking hag.

The hag-like entity had empty sockets for eyes, from which maggots and tiny spiders crawled out. Its gaping mouth had dangerous-looking pointy, sharp teeth with saliva dripping from it. Instead of hair, it had flames that danced around in the same way hair caught by the wind would move.

With a shriek to rival any self-respecting banshee, this entity flung itself at me. Before I could blink, it had me pinned down on the bed with bony hands wrapped around my neck. I could feel its hot, putrid breath on my face, the stench of which caused me to gag and cough. Its hands continued to tighten until I couldn't take a breath and I wondered how long it would take me to die.
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"Wake up, babydoll!" Jason's voice dragged me out of the worst nightmare I'd ever had. I sat up in bed, heart pounding and gasping for oxygen as Jason gathered me to his chest and soothingly rubbed my back as I clung to him desperately. "It's ok. You're ok."

About ten minutes later Jason pulled back to look into my face, worry and concern visible on his. "Better?" He asked gently and I nodded.

"Wanna talk about it?" Jason asked next as he laid back down and cuddled me as close as possible to him, considering I was now five months pregnant.

"No thank you," I replied. "Not while it's still dark out." Nodding understanding, he kept me in his arms and soon I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

"What the hell?" Jason cries out in distress.

Against my better judgment, I slowly crack open my eyes to see Jason staring at me with a look of horror. "What's wrong?" I mumble in a sleep-drenched voice.

"What happened to your neck?" He asked in turn. Though he was concerned, I could see he was starting to get angry. "How the hell did you get those marks?"

"Huh?" I ask, thoroughly confused. "What marks?" I rub the sleep from my eyes as I struggle to sit up.

Jason gently helps me into a sitting position, going so far as to slip my slippers on my feet and then helps me to my feet. "Have a look in the mirror," He instructs, all the while guiding me to the dresser a few steps away.

The minute my eyes fall on my image, a scream was dragged from my throat. My face, neck and arms were coated in fresh bruises. If I didn't know any better, I'd think I had been in an all-out brawl. "What is this?" I cry out in shock. "How did this happen?"

Seeing my distress, Jason turned me toward the bathroom. "Why don't you go take a shower?" He guides me to the door, then quickly turns away. "I'll get you some clothes. Once you're ready, we're going to the hospital."

Still in shock, I did as instructed. I had no idea or explanation for what had happened to me. Nor could I explain how I got that way. The only thing I could think of was that horrible nightmare I'd had but there is no way I could get bruises from being attacked in a dream. Or could I? No, not possible. Did I fall out of bed without waking up? Was I sleepwalking? No way! I'm a light sleeper and pain would have woken me up.

It was after lunchtime when we finally made it back home even more mystified than when we left. Everything had been fine until the doctor began his examination. Right before the astonished eyes of the doctor, a nurse, and my anxious husband, the bruises on my body had faded away. Confused, but determined to figure out what was amiss, the doctor ordered various tests be done.

Hours later, the doctor came back into the exam room scratching his head with a baffled look on his face. "The good news is," The doctor stated as he looked from my chart to my husband and me. "You're as healthy as can be. The bad news is," He went on with a small shrug. "I can't explain why you were covered in bruises nor why they'd just faded away the way they did."

With a huge sigh, the doctor began to scribble in the chart. "You're taking prenatal vitamins, correct?" He asked, directing his gaze at me before looking back down at the chart.

"Yes," I reply.

"Alright," The doctor said with a nod. "I want you to take two once a day. Though I can't be certain, I suspect you might be suffering from a rare case of anemia. Also, I advise you to see your doctor as soon as possible for a follow-up since the results of the bloodwork will be back in two days. Besides that, I suggest you take it easy and don't overdo it."

The doctor was on his way out of the exam room when he stopped and turned around. "Have you had an ultrasound yet?" He asked.

"I had one last month," I tell him.

"Well then, I'm going to recommend you have another one done as soon as possible," He was writing in my chart as he spoke. "We want to make sure the baby is alright and there are no issues that cropped up since the last ultrasound was performed." Having said that, the doctor said I was free to go and he vacated the exam room.

"Home at last!" Jason said as he hops out of his car and raced around to my side of the car just as I swung my legs out, ready to stand. I took his extended hand and allowed him to help me out. We had just stepped into the house via the garage when we were met with unnatural silence.

"That's weird," Jason comments. "By this point, Lady's usually raising a ruckus before we've even stepped foot out of the car!" To which I nod.

"Did she get out of the house again?" I wonder aloud fully worried.

There was still no sign of Lady when we finally exited the hallway leading into the house from the garage and the silence was deafening. With an arm around my waist, Jason steered me to the sofa. "Sit down and rest while I go looking for Lady." He ordered and turned around but the sound of a massive boom which shook the house, stopped him dead in his tracks.

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Chapter nine posted and the final chapter is next. As always, plz vote. Even if u don't comment, I'd appreciate it if u would click the small star symbol at the bottom of the page. Thanx bunches! :)