Deja Vu

Mandy Patinkin's voice woke me up. I was sitting on the couch with the bowl of popcorn spilling onto my lap. I rubbed my eyes, yawning. I guess I fell asleep. I moved the bowl of popcorn, shoving a few kernels into my mouth. The butter melted onto my tongue and I sighed. I grabbed the remote, and powered off the TV. I always hated when mom went on business trips. All I could afford was ramen noodles and popcorn. I began to sleepily stumble towards my room, but suddenly there was a knock on the door. I frowned and looked at the clock. 2:31AM. I went to the door and stood on my tiptoes to peer through the peephole. No one.

"Stupid kids." I turned away, but there was another knock, louder this time. I spun around. Looking through the peephole, I saw once again no one. Frustrated, I opened the door.

"You've freaked me out, good job. Now go home!" I slammed the door shut, and locked the door.

"Knock all you want, I'm going to bed." I started towards my room, but once again knock, knock, KNOCK, louder still. But it wasn't coming from the front door. It wasn't coming from any door. Slowly, I turned to the living room window. The blinds were closed, but the knocking was undeniably coming from outside the window. Fear lodged itself in my throat, and I started to move closer. It was as if I was watching myself stand in front of the window, grasp the blinds, pull. My heart threatened to burst out of me with every step. I pressed my face into the glass. Nothing.

"There's nothing out there!" Bewildered I checked all the locks, the ones on the windows and the front door once more. Still, uneasiness settled inside me. It didn't seem like a prank, and if it was they had just made a huge mistake.

"I took karate you know!" I took it in 5th grade during a free trial.

knock, Knock, KNOCK. I grabbed a knife from the kitchen and leaned against the counter. This is stupid, you're being stupid. It's just some kids or something. You used to prank people, and you'd still do it if mom wouldn't kill you.

I took a deep breath, and started to move towards my bedroom. I reached the door and started to turn the knob, which felt oddly hot to the touch. The air was vibrating, and I could feel the ground pulsing with my heartbeat. I gripped the doorknob for support, the world spinning around me. Then it all stopped. My heart slowed, and I looked at my hands, which were shaking with fear. What is going on? I touched my face and felt hot tears rolling down my cheeks. My breath came out in short gasps. THUNK THUNK THUNK. I froze, and turned towards my mother's empty room. THUMP THUMP THUMP. I whimpered, the hairs on my neck standing straight up. THUNK THUNK THUNK. I moved unconsciously to the door. Fresh tears swam in my eyes, running down my face. The hallway seemed to shrink, and I was there. The peeling door stared back at me, daring me to do it, do it, do it. Open the door. My hand grasped the knob.

"No!" I gasped, but my hand would not obey. Slowly, it turned. THUMP THUMP THUM-. The footsteps stopped.

"Please," I whispered as I pushed open the door. The room was pitch black.

"Please don't make me. " I fought myself, but it was impossible to refuse. I stepped into the room, and the door shut behind me. No way out. The floorboards creaked beneath my feet.

THUMP

"No." THUMP

"No!" THUMP

"NO!" I leaped to the right and then heard a crash right where I had been standing. Controlling my body again, I madly groped for the light switch. The thing behind me snarled, and I heard the floor groan as it leapt for me. I Remembered the knife I had still clutched in my hand, and I swung blindly. The thing shrieked a blood curdling sound. Something warm and sticky spewed onto my arm, burning me. I took my chance, and ran in what I thought was the direction of the door, keeping a hand on the wall to guide me. The thing began to run for me, and I could hear its giant steps slamming into the floor. I reached the door too late, and I screamed as the thing leapt onto me. I was thrown into the door, the knob colliding with my spine. The force of the beast ripped the door off it's hinges and the hall light flooded onto us. When I saw its face something greater than terror filled me. Blood dripped from it's mouth and the putrid smell of rot and death encased it. It's black eyes were filled with...with glee. I screamed, its claws burying into my skin.

"No! Help, someone please help―" The beast clawed through my side, and I saw the edges of the world dimming. The pain was endless, my breath came out raspy. Blood flowed from me, spilling onto the floor. And then...the thing, the beast...it smiled. And it continued to smile as it ripped through my throat.

I startled awake, clutching the bowl of popcorn. Panting, I grabbed the remote and powered off the TV, cutting of Mandy Patinkin as he said his famous lines. I sat there on the couch for a moment, trying to calm my nerves. I could still feel the things claws, and it's face...I shuddered. That would haunt my dreams for awhile. I glanced at the clock: 2:29. Mom wouldn't be home for another day at least. I took a shaky breath, and moved the bowl of popcorn. I shoved a few kernels into my mouth, the butter melting on my tongue. The familiar taste dissolved a little of my fear, and I rolled my eyes at my imagination. I can't believe I thought it was real.

"I'm such an idio― " Then I heard a knock.