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Jason Colbertson always enjoyed his privacy. That's why he lived in the middle of nowhere - a small one-story house off the beaten path on the outskirts of Ashwood Forest.
He lived a simple life, following a dull but pleasing routine. His nine to five job at the office put food on his table and paid the bills with a little money to spare. He wasn't a rich man, but life's simple pleasures couldn't be bought.
On a cool November evening, half past six, Jason returned home from his day at work. The day had been like any other- except the awful crank call he received.
"I've been watching you. I wonder how it would feel to touch you? To feel your flesh on my finger tips. To smell your scent. To taste-"
The raspy voice lingered in his mind as he exited his small car. A cool breeze sent shivers down his spine. Underneath his jacket he could feel goosebumps forming on his arms.
The branches of the barren trees tangled with one another. The wind carrying the ominous creaks whichever way it blew.
Pulling his keys out of his pocket, he started towards the front door. He reached the porch when he heard a distant click. A flash, like that of lightning, lit up the night.
He furrowed his brows, peering out from underneath the gutters to look at the night sky. The sky seemed clear, with only a stray cloud or two covering the bright stars. The moon a small sliver of a crescent.
He turned his gaze to the woods surrounding his house. He saw nothing. Only trees dancing back and forth, casting claw-like shadows in the shred of moonlight provided by the crescent.
A car passing by from the road? He thought. Couldn't be... to far from the road. It's too cold for lighting.
A feeling of discomfort settled in as the scratchy voice from earlier resurfaced.
"I've been watching you..."
Giving the woods once last glance, he fumbled with his keys. He wasted no time unlocking the door. Within seconds, he was inside in the heat of his home. He made sure to lock both the deadbolt and the doorknob.
The lights flickered to life as he hung his coat up on the rack. Goosebumps still lingered on his skin as he journeyed towards the kitchen.
He didn't feel like cooking tonight. He just wanted to grab a quick bite and head to bed. He had a presentation at the office tomorrow and needed to be there early.
So, he grabbed a frozen TV dinner out of the freezer and tossed it into the microwave. Turning on the television, he watched a few game shows as he ate. The food wasn't the best, but it satisfied his hunger for the night.
Quarter past eight, he got ready for bed. He tossed and turned for a few moments as his thoughts replayed that phone call again and again.
It's just a stupid prank. Some teenagers making good on a dare. Yeah, that's it. A stupid truth or dare prank call.
This thought seemed to please his paranoia. He soon found himself drifting off to sleep.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Jason's eyes opened slowly. His room was still shrouded in darkness. A quick glance at the clock told him that it was three in the morning. Shifting his position on the bed, he closed his eyes once again.
Click.
His eyes shot open, seeing a trail of white light being overtaken by black. His heart thundered in his ears as a pit opened in his stomach
Click.
The light blinded him temporarily, leading him to squint. Purple spots danced across his vision as the white faded to black.
Looking towards the end of his bed, he made out a dark figure. It was holding something in its hands, shaking it back and forth. As his vision adjusted to the dark, the features became more evident.
A man- late forties at least- stood at the foot of his bed. An old Polaroid camera lay clutched in one hand, as a developing picture sat in the other. A hood sat on top of his head. White paint was plastered on his face with black paint around his eyes, giving his face the appearance of a skull. The man licked his lips as he stared at the picture, nibbling on the bottom lip.
"That's a nice one," the man chuckled in the same raspy voice Jason had heard earlier on the phone.
Jason felt like a deer caught in the headlights. He had no weapon. No means to defend himself. He was scared what this man planned to do with him.
Click.
The sound took him off guard. He flinched slightly at the surprise. The purple dots returning again.
The sound of the man shaking the picture filled the silence. Jason waited, trying to think of a plan. There had to be a way out of here. A way out of this nightmare. Surely he would wake up from this bad dream at any moment to the sound of his alarm. This couldn't be real.
"Oh good, you're awake," the mans gruff voice announced in a pleased tone.
Jason felt his heart fall into his stomach. Sweat collected on his palms.
"I like to hear them scream."
A/N
Well, did you get spooked?
Did you enjoy?
Are you going to sleep with the lights on tonight?
Loosely based off of prompt below.
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