Masquerade - The Complete First Novel

- 8 -

(Dakota)

March 2017

Something weird is happening in my neighborhood. Mae moved, and Mallory went missing. But it wasn't a big deal to everyone else, except Mallory's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton. My mom says their crazy, that they lost reality. Whatever that means. Other parents on my street say it too. I was talking to Mrs. Webb yesterday, and she said that I should stay away from the Hamilton's, and if I see Mallory, I can't talk, or play, or anything with her. She said that the Hamilton's are crazy, and not to be trusted. I don't really know if I should trust her.

March 2017

I met a man today. I was swinging on the bench swing when mom was at work and dad was praying, he prays for a long time, and the man came with a dog. It was a nice and fluffy dog, and he was big. He even let me pet him! He told me that his name was Biscuit, and that Biscuit loved kids. He asked if I wanted to see the rest of his dogs, but I was too busy swinging. He asked why I liked it so much and I said that it was my favorite thing at my house. I'm writing this on my swing right now. I told him that I had to go back inside before my dad stops praying because I was not supposed to be outside, and he said that he would see me soon. I think I found a new friend.

The words this mysterious man spoke started to disturb me, knowing that this man probably took Clem. And the thought that Clem was his 'friend', scares me even more. I couldn't sleep reading that entry. I know I would meet the kidnapper soon but like this? This stayed in my dreams, and in my deepest, darkest nightmares.

A shadow of a man appeared, walking down the sidewalk with a big, fluffy dog. I looked down, seeing that I was hovering over the white swing bench. The man stopped, and the dog turned to see me. I could almost feel the nonexistent eyes fall on me. It felt like a dark presence, caging my confidence, making me freeze. He never spoke, he just stared at me. As did his dog. The dream around me started to fade to black, as my fear grew larger.

I awoke to see my darkroom around me. I took a breath from my nightmare, attempting to sit up and turn the lights on. My attempts stayed as they were, never turning into action. Instead, I stayed at my place in bed, in the darkness. Wishing I could be released from the paralyzation I endured. My confusion started to turn into panic, widening my eyes and moving them rapidly, but not letting my head move an inch. Something came, something darker than the darkness around me. The shadow man appeared in the corner of my room, making me try to scream, to call for help. But it only came out as a small sound, anyone in the next room would never hear.

It started to come closer, pulling at my foot that lay lifelessly at the edge of the bed. It flickered, leaving me. I let my eyes close, thankful that it left me. Opening them, I expect to let the jail of paralysis to release me. Instead, I saw and felt something much worse. My freedom of movement was still not given, but the shadow figure has returned. It was sitting on my chest, not allowing the oxygen to run into my lungs. The shadow started to lean forward, showing me the dark void that is his face. It started to stare, almost into my soul, shooting fear through my body. I felt the tear start to trace down my cheek and lay on the pillow next to me.

It lets it's head cock to the side, as it seemed to examine my face, every single feature, and flaw. It then plunging into my chest, descending into my heart. The bars broke and I sat up, letting the air forcefully shove itself down into my lungs. I stared into the darkness, too scared to move, too scared to speak, too scared if the thing was still there watching me. I finally gained enough courage to turn on my lap, examining every corner and hiding places in the room. But there was nothing. I let my feet cautiously dangle off the side of the bed, trying to comprehend this odd chain of events.

I didn't sleep the rest of the night, letting my mind trying to piece what just happened. "Dakota, food!" I looked towards the door, slowly pushing myself off the bed and walking down the hallway, whipping my tears in the process. I turned the corner, seeing Ana with her glasses and a blue ponytail. She turned, letting her rectangle glasses slip again, "I made waffles, your favorite!" I flashed a fake smile, sliding into the chair at the table. She slid the plate across the table, oblivious to my nightmares, to my internal screaming, to the shadow kidnapper. We ate in silence, not knowing if I could socialize at this point.

- - -

I started to have these paralyzed episodes more frequently. So much that I started to question my sanity. Am I crazy? Have I gone mad? I started to research, starting a live chat with a male psychologist. Apparently, I have been experiencing sleep paralysis, a state where your conscious is still awake, just your brain isn't. The man on the other side of the computer told me that it is caused by anxiety, which I have; this can cause hallucinations, which was what that shadow man was. But was it? Was he just a figment of my imagination, or was it some sort of sign? I let my mind ponder this, as I fall asleep, waiting for the paralysis to take me in its prison once more.