Dazzling Emeralds

Creeping Shadows

His presence in this dull, lifeless room should've been a blessing. Instead, an unwelcoming dread covered every crack of light that dared to peer and protrude into the room, wrapping me in a cold embrace that resembled the chills before death. On instinct, I shivered and tried to find any other layers I could cover myself with in order to block out this horrible cold.

However, I soon found out that my body refused to move, not even a twitch could be mustered. I could feel myself starting to be swallowed in panic but no sounds could fall from my mouth, no matter how hard I tried. I started to drown in my own cold sweat by this point. That's when I felt him, standing like a silent tree in the corner of my room. Even through my tight eyelids, I could feel his ice-cold stare pierce through me, like he was mimicking the deathly cool air around me.

The whole space was engulfed in an eerie silence, not even the sound of the pouring rain outside could wash away the endless silence, almost like there was a barrier around my room. Suddenly, I heard him quiver and sigh, his footsteps gently dragging and dancing across the carpet as he made his way over to my bedside. I heard him whisper, they were small and incoherent noises but still whispers nonetheless.

The weight I felt to my side soon shifted to resting right on top of me, all the air I once held in my lungs being pushed out in one swift movement. It was at this point that I felt small drops of wetness land on the surface of my face. The man began to breathe erratically as he choked on desperate sobs, his slender and cold hands like a skeleton leaving a ghostly shiver down my face and neck where he dragged them. He begged for help, choking some more as if it was painful to say my name. I would've given anything to embrace him but my mouth remained shut tight like glue.

More splotches of something wet dripped down, soaking through the layers of sheets I had on, probably staining them. It was an odd feeling. It was warm and yet, so cold. Then, with what little strength I had, I cracked open one eye so I could glance at him and see if his face would sparkle like it used to, my own eyes starting to resemble the droplets landing on my body.

Even with his red hair covering his hunched over head, I could see parts of his blurry and shadowy face. My eye then slowly rolled further down until I saw a syrupy mess dripping onto my bed. It looked like the juice from a fresh bowl of cherries you might share with those you love. I could barely make out the rich redness of the syrup leaking from what I could only assume was his chest. However, when I tried to look for the source of this liquid coming from his chest, all I could see was the other side of my room when I peered at that soaking red spot.

His sobbing soon ceased and before I knew it, everything seemed to disappear in a flash, almost like that whole experience wasn't even real. I could finally speak and breathe, my body rattling as I forced in large gulps of desperate air. The coldness in my room disappeared, just like a storm, but the cold never left my bed that yearned for another's company once more. He was gone again, I remember now though that he was always gone to begin with. I knew he'd be back though, he always comes back, no matter what I do. I guess it'll only be over once death do us apart.