Rescue From The abyss

Chapter 4

I had spent days like a prisoner in my own mind. The forest called me, but obviously not in the way that makes people feel at peace–It tormented me. Whenever I find myself alone, a whisper kept into my thoughts, like an echo bouncing off the wall of my skull.

Lying on the bed, I shut my eyes close, trying to push this fatigue away for a second. I hadn't told anyone about the forest and the ghostly thing I and Alex chased. No one knew about it and yet, the message prisisted 

I sat up on my bed, my hand instinctively reaches for my phone on the nightstand. The glow of screen illuminates my face in the dark, my fingers hovered over Alex's contact. I stare at the name, thumb poised to type a message, but the words wouldn't come. My heart races, mind feels clutters with a thousand thoughts.

For the past days, The messages has been growing stranger, more unnerving. I couldn't explain them, and no one else would understand. A part of me want to confide in Alex, to tell him everything–that someone or something was watching me, sending cryptic messages, teasing me through shadows. The words doesn't make sense but still sends chills down my spine. I just want to tell him that something is wrong, that it isn't my imagination 

But then I pause, my thumb trembling over the screen.

I and Alex had already been through so much together. Ever since that night by the lake, when we saw the ghostly figure, our lives has been changed. We both faced the unknown, side by side, and Alex has been there for me, strong and unshaken. But this time I couldn't bring myself to him. I couldn't drag him into this again–not when he already done so much for me. He has his own life, his own studies to focus on and I don't want to be the one to derail it all.

I sigh and and put the phone down on my lap, rubbing my forehead. I don't want burden Alex with it, he'd been working hard, studying for his finals, and trying to keep everything in balance. If I tell him, I know he would drop everything to help me. He'd be worry, and then he'd feel responsible to fix things like he always do, that's just how Alex is.

I bite my lip  taking a deep breath, Imagining his face if I told him–his deep concern, the way bis brows furrow as he would listen to my explanation of bizzare message.

I swing my legs over the side of the bed and stood up, I couldn't drag Alex into this, I would handle it myself.

, “I had to to this alone”. I say to myself while my feet feeling the cold floor, reached my jacket, lying in a crumpled heap on the chair by the window. The soft fabric feel fimilar and comforting in my hands. I slip it on and zip it up, the sound barely audible in the stillness of the room. Glancing out the window, I see the moon hanging low in the sky, it's pale light casting eerie shadow across the yard. I know path to the forest would be dark, but I don't care.

 I turn my head toward the door, listening for any sound from the other rooms. Mom and Jessica is just sleeping down the hall. If I wake them up, mom will never gonna let me leave. Mom has been extra protective ever since I had come home with that nasty bump on my head, mumbling about ghost and strange figures.

I cross the room on tiptoes, my footsteps almost weightless. I reach for the door knob, hesitated for a moment before turning it slowly, until I hear the faintest click. Her heart race, but no other sound came. I pulled the door open just enough to slip through and into the dark hallway beyond.

The house feel different at night quieter, but also more alive. The creaks and groans of the old wooden floor seems louder in the dark, and I had to be careful as I move forward the stairs. I know every inch of the house, every floorboard that squeaks and every corner that might betray me with sudden noise. I have to be careful, I don't wanted to wake them up.