Running From No-One

Chapter One: Paranormal Nightmares

What would you do if someone you cared about went mad? Off their head? Started seeing and hearing things that weren't there? Would you run and hide? Help them? Or ignore it like it were normal? What if they can't be hidden from, helped or ignored? What if they've lost their minds completely? Makayla never thought of these options. She just did what came naturally to her. Go along with it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I ran until I was out of breath, my hands resting on my knees. I tip my head back and squint forward at the shadow which was outlined by a setting sun. The silhouette didn't move, not even to breathe. A slight breeze picked up, causing it's hair and dress to flow to the left. I shout to it, try and draw its attention, but no noise comes out. I desperately try again until I'm ripping my vocal chords with effort.
I try running forward again, but the silhouette just keeps going further, and further away. I stop and look behind me. Thousands of black, faceless bodies moving towards me in a slow, synchronized motion, as though they were hunting me. I turn back around and scream to the silhouette again. This time, it turned around. Its mouth turned up into a twisted smile. Blood pours from its fanged, razored mouth and I woke up screaming.
Sweat dripped down my face and criss-crossed on my neck. My breaths came in gasps, as if my lungs thought they were claiming the last few remenants of oxygen. I look around in the pitch black. The only thing I can see properly is my curtain blowing in a howling wind. My door creaks open and I look up to see my mum looking at me through squinting, brown eyes, "What are you screaming about so late at night? I thought you were being murdered or something," She mumbles sleepily.
That's because I was. "No, just a nightmare is all," I shrug despite the feeling of sick and dread that was knotting in my stomach. "Everyone gets them, it's only natural."
She nods and turns to leave. I sit bolt up right, "Wait a minute!" She turns and looks at me with her hand on in the door frame, "What is it?"
I open my mouth to answer then lean back down, sigh and shake my head, "Nothing, never mind. Just remember to shut the door properly when you leave." She looks at me strangely then turns and shuts the door with a click sound.
My eyes dance around the pitch black room once again and I freeze when they land on the window once more. The curtains had stopped blowing but a faceless silhouette was stood there, seeming to look in although I was struggling to find something that resembles a face. It seemed to move left so it can peer deeper in, then it turned and walked away into the murky night.
It's just your mind playing tricks on you after the nightmare, calm down you stupid girl, my brain hisses at me. I feel stupid and swing my legs out from the blankets and slowly walk across the creaking floorboards until I was stood before my window. I grip the edges of the curtains as I wait for the shadowy figure to return. I give up several minutes later and draw the curtains and sigh in relief, the feeling of being watched wavering slightly but not disappearing completely. I crawl back into bed, pick up a book from my nightstand and stare at the cover. Paranormal Mysteries. I bite my lip and place my hand on the cover. I reach out and grab a torch then pull a thick blanket over my head. This made me feel safe. Safer than I ever did. I held the torch in my mouth and flick it on with my free hand. The light illuminated the hardback and I open it to page one.
That one action. That one, tiny, selfish, little relief. That's what started the madness. That's what caused my friend to start Running From No-One.