Short stories

The Lurking Darkness

{"I knew something wasn't right... I had been tapping my pen, trying to figure out the answer to number 9, when I realized that the atmosphere in the room had grown dim... The feeling of a lurking darkness made me grow uncomfortable, and soon, unbearable. I tried to focus myself back onto my work, and tried to carefully read each sentence, but I'd find myself constantly looking behind me. It got to the point where I couldn't take it anymore, so I got up, turned the desk lamp off, and made my way over to the kitchen. As I wandered through out the house, I checked every door and window to make sure they were locked. I then turned on most of the lights. I notice at this point that my heart was pounding, and I felt as if I would heave at any moment. I took a hold of the side of the counter, and told myself to breathe. I checked the time, and it read 2:00Am. I sighed, knowing my parents wouldn't be home until the morning. I grabbed a water bottle, and sat on the couch, turning on the tv as a distraction. My gut churned, and in the back of my mind, I knew something was off. I grabbed my phone, and dialed my friends number. I couldn't stand to be alone any longer. It rang, and rang, until voice mail greeted my dreaded heart. No answer. I tried everyone, but I knew it was too late.. I sat up, leaving the tv on, and made my way up the stairs. I walked into my room, and the atmosphere was eerie. Shadows danced a crossed my walls, playing tricks on my mind. The darkness taunted me as I made my way over to my bed. I tucked myself into my covers, and buried my head underneath them. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling. I was in a deep sweat, but finally I managed to fall asleep, hoping that everything would be fine in the morning. It was around 3:00 AM when I had woken up next. I rushed to the bathroom, and immediately threw up. I was confused, and terrified all at once. The light in the bathroom was flickering, which only added to my growing concern. I stood up, looking in the mirror, and gasped. My eyes were covered in dark bruises, and same with the rest of my body. I touched the bruise on my eye lightly, and winced. I prodded away the sweaty strands of hair, and gulped down some of the faucet water. I felt a dying need for water, so I made my way to the stairs. Around half way down, all of the lights had started to flicker. And then, all at once, they went out. I remember stumbling up the stairs, and hearing the voices tell me to run. I then remember getting into my closet upstairs as everything was starting to calm down. I thought about staying in that spot for the rest of the night, but I would soon be grieved even deeper. I had fallen asleep, but woke up around 4:30AM. The uneasiness had returned, but this time it was different. It wasn't the darkness that lurked, I actually felt as if something was present... I felt a sudden tug on my right shoulder, and I remember seeing ragged nails, and very very pale skin. The touch was eerie, and immediate. I had started to hyperventilate, my body going cold. The hand was playing with my sweaty hair, twirling it between its fingers. I was in shock, rocking back in forth. The hand then took its nails and lightly drug them a cross my cheek. I remember screaming a glass piercing shriek. Before I knew it, another hand whipped around and clamped my mouth shut. A bone tingling laugh arose behind me, and then everything grew quiet, but the grip over my mouth grew tighter. 'Shhh...' It said, and then everything went black."}