Creepy Tales

Who's There?

When I saw him standing outside, I thought I was still dreaming. Only, I was wide awake this time. I recognized that piercing gaze. The gaze that made my blood run cold. I blinked a few times, hoping he'd disappear, like he was a part of my imagination. But still he stood. Staring. Grinning.

I even smacked myself in the face a couple of times, trying to wake up, which only made him laugh. You can't wake up when you're already awake. I stepped back from the window and toward my bed when I saw him walk out of sight. Closer to my house. Then..

KNOCK KNOCK

  I flinched and covered my mouth to stifle a gasp. I just wouldn't answer the door. Right? It's that simple. I wouldn't go downstairs.

KNOCK KNOCK

I closed my eyes and tried to calm my breathing. Not working. I opened my eyes and I turned on my laptop that was placed on my desk, opening my security camera. Just because I can see him on the camera doesn't mean he's real. I took my phone out of my pocket and took a picture of the screen. Maybe I'd send it to someone. Maybe my therapist. Maybe my neighbor.

KNOCK KNOCK

He stared at the camera the whole time, his sunken eyes never leaving mine. I thought about speaking to him, but decided against it.

"Lyla...let me in. It's been so long..."

His gravelly voice made a shiver go down my spine and I looked away from the screen, needing to break the eye contact.

It was unmistakably, impossibly...him.

"You remember me, angel. I know you do."

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

I definitely remembered. No matter how many times I've rubbed my eyes, no matter how many therapy sessions I've had. I remembered. Never left my head. Not a day since. I needed to call Amber for an emergency session. I went to my contacts on my phone and called her without hesitation.

"Hello?" she answered.

"Amber...he's here. He's at my door. He won't stop knocking."

"What do you mean 'he's here'? Lyla, are you sure it's him?"

"Yes! I'm looking at him through my camera. He even said my name! I told you this was going to happen. I told you I was dreaming about him and that he warned me!"

Amber was silent for a moment. Then..

"...Can you send me a picture of him?"

I froze before hurriedly sending her the picture I took of my screen. Silence.

"Did you get it? Hello?"

"Lyla...there's no one there."

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

"But he's still knocking. You heard that, right?"

"I didn't hear anything."

A notification popped up on my screen. I looked up at it and my breath hitched. A text from Amber, reading: "Are we still on for this week's appointment?"

"Lyla?" Amber asked from the phone.

I began to sob as I hung up, throwing my phone down. I never actually called her.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

I didn't know what to believe anymore, what to trust, what to think. I glanced up at the camera on my laptop. My eyes widened. He's gone. Relief washed over my face. I wiped my tears away and almost laughed, running a hand through my hair.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

I gasped, my head turning to look at my bedroom door. My eyes travelled down to the doorknob as it turned.