My Neighbor

Being the Bad Guy

I wake up in a bed. My head is throbbing like crazy. I slowly prop myself up on my elbows and take in my surroundings. There are two windows, dark green colored walls, a hardwood floor, and a few lights. I'm in a bed with dark green blankets. To the left of the bed there's a closet. On the right side is a nightstand.

I lift myself off the bed and walk to the only door. My feet feel cold on the floor. Where are my shoes? I inspect my body. I have the same shirt and shorts. The only thing missing are my shoes. There is something new though. I have a bandage around the hand I cut. That was nice of him.

I crack the door and peer around the hallway. It's empty. I sneak down into the kitchen. There's a plate of food on the table, and a note. I sit down and read the note.

Maya, here's some breakfast. I'm out working. Don't leave the house. We need to talk.

P.S. Your hand will be fine, but you might be a little light headed for a few hours.

-Dustin

I tear up the note. What the hell? Why is he acting like this is so normal? Why am I still even here? I'm surprised he hasn't killed me yet. I walk up to the glass door in the kitchen. Should I go? I know my phone is still in the basement. If I could just get there, I could call 911 and get out of here.

I try the knob. Unlocked. No, he wouldn't just leave me a way to get out this easily. He must be watching. I close the door and sit down. Once I'm done eating my omelet and toast, I walk to what I suppose is the living room. I plop down onto the couch and begin watching TV. As I zone out, I swore I saw someone looking in from the hallway. I look. No one... Oh no. I'm not sure, but my paranoia may be acting up. With all the stress, I was starting to get surprised that I wasn't having any hallucinations. I can tell by the tingle in my spine that my visions are about to start.

Without hesitation, I run for the door. As soon as I'm outside, I turn to my house and run like my life is on the line. It may very well be if Dustin sees me. I suddenly hear the back door swing open, footsteps rushing off the porch, and screaming. Speak of the devil. Dustin is shouting something at me. I'm too focused to make out his words. Just as I make it to my lot, I am tackled to the ground. I put my hands forward to break the fall. Dustin has me by the waist.

I continue to drag myself, struggling away. But Dustin doesn't

lose his grip. I am suddenly surrounded by bugs. There crawling all over my body. They even start crawling up Dustin, but he doesn't even seem phased. I let out a scream, and start desperately trying to get away from both Dustin and the bugs. I start clawing in the dirt, breaking all of my fingernails. Dustin flips me on my back. He pins my hands with bleeding fingers to the ground to stop me from hurting myself.

"Let me go! Please! They are going to kill me!!!" I shout feeling the bugs crawl on me. I now have tears on my face, and I know I must look terrified. Dustin loosens his grip a little, but doesn't let me go.

"What? Who?" he asks, looking around.

I take advantage of the position we were him and jam my knee into his gut. He let's out an "Oof" and lets go of me. I get up and rush to my house. Once inside, I lock the door to slow him down and run to the medicine cabinet. I knock down most of the bottles to get to mine. I take out two pills and swallow them dry. I pour the rest out into a plastic bag and put them in my pocket. I hear Dustin banging on the door. All I have to do is wait for the pills to work. Might as well let him in so he won't be as hard on me.