A Collection of Short Stories

The Monster

It was there as I walked down the street, lurking just within my line of sight, careful to keep to the shadows. It follows me even as I walk through the isles of the well lit supermarket, trailing along behind me as I select items and drop them in my cart. The shadow creature does not leave me as I make my way back to the residence, nor does it leave once I am inside. It is there as I stand over the counter chopping the vegetables, just standing in the darkest corner of the room, staring at me with its glinting black eyes. I try my best to ignore it, but I can feel its presence in the back of my mind, and sense its eyes on me from across the room. I haven't seen this creature in years, I'm unsure of what has brought it back. I noticed it this morning, when I was in class. I had glanced out the window when I lost focus on the lecture, and saw it standing outside. It was quite a distance away, so it took me a moment before I recognized it as the monster that had tormented me years ago. Its tall, dark figure stood out against the bright colours outside the window, a stark contrast that sent a pang of fear through my chest. Seeing the demon once again, the same one that had been plaguing me for so many years, brought back the memories of it making my life a living hell. I was instantly transported to the nights I spent begging for it to leave me alone, crying for it to have mercy on me, and pleading for it to just hurry up and end it all.

I stare up at it now, my gaze meeting its own dark one. With our gazes locked, I can feel the malignancy wafting from it. The feeling works its way into me, feeding me with fear and distress. The demon always brings with it a feeling of depression, clouding the air in the room with its misery. With each passing minute the creature gets closer. It started off far away, but as the day continued I started to notice it closing the gap between us. Creeping closer and closer every minute, silently slinking up on me. I can only assume that it's closing in for the kill, planning to finish off what it started years ago.

I continue to cook my dinner, trying to ignore it lurking in the corner. Once my dinner is cooked, the feeling of sadness and fear have thickened the air to the point where I feel nauseated after each breath. I glance up at the beast to see it is less than two feet away from me, and I hurry off to my bedroom, slamming the door behind me. I don't have to look around to know it has followed me in here. The room suddenly becomes thick with sorrow as I fling myself onto my bed and hide under the covers. Tears start to fall from my eyes as a heavy weight presses down on my shaking body. I know this weight can only belong to the monster, as it presses its heavy weight of nothing down on me, forcing the air from my lungs in broken sobs. I beg and cry for it to leave me alone. I pray and weep, asking for someone to have mercy. I know, from my previous battle with the monster, that I don't have the strength needed to fight it again. I had used up every ounce of strength I had in my body to banish it the first time, and I haven't had enough time to rebuild myself after it destroyed me. I know I won't be able to face it again, I know I won't win round two.

I feel its breath on my neck. The thing breathes sorrow, and I inhale it. The weight of it is unbearable now, my body is being crushed beneath the horror on top of me. I feel the demon wrap its arms around my beaten body, just as my vision begins to darken. I let out one last scream, begging for it to just go, asking why me, why again. Its presence seeps into me as everything fades to black. I know the beast has won, that it has finally taken my soul for its own and I know it will not let me go this time.