The Darkside

Shadow of Fear

I was struggling to wake up while the shadow kept saying "Your soul is mine, witch."

All of a sudden, my alarm started to ring, bringing Melissa to my room. "Octavia, wake up! Don't you hear your alarm ringing?" she said, knocking off the alarm. She then turned around and said, "Seriously, how are you still asleep?"

I tried to answer, but words did not leave my mouth. "Come on, lazy, wake up," she said, tapping on my shoulder. When I didn't move; she said, with fear in her voice; "Octavia, wakeup; this isn't funny." She started shaking me and screaming "Octavia, please, wake up!" I felt so worthless, lying there, unable to move or speak. Not knowing what to do, Melissa started shouting "Brian, we need you."

"You called me?" Brian said as he appeared. "Brian, something's wrong with Octavia," Melissa said. "Why? What's wrong?" he asked, looking at me. "She won't wake up!" Melissa replied. "Let's see," he said, and touched me and turned around towards the shadow, saying "Leave this house before I destroy you, you evil wretch!" The shadow disappeared, saying "I'll be back."

I got up and sat on the bed, still shaking after that ordeal. "Octavia, are you okay?" Melissa asked, hugging me. I shook my head, too overwhelmed to speak. "What just happened?" Melissa asked. "Give me a minute," I said, still feeling disturbed. "OK, I'm sorry," Melissa apologised. "Just give her some time to calm down; being unable to move or speak is the worst nightmare for a witch," Brian said. "Not just for witches, it's the worst nightmare for any living thing," Melissa said. "You're right, of course," I said. Melissa and Brian then let out sighs of relief.

"Are you okay?" Melissa asked again. "Yes, I am," I replied. "I won't go home today," Melissa said. "No, don't do that. Your parents and fiancé are expecting you. You should go, I'll be fine," I said. "No, I can't leave you alone," she replied. "I'll be fine," I insisted. "Then I'll call Aunt Cassie and ask her to come by," Melissa said. "No, there is no need; she just went home. I can take care of myself," I said, though I knew she wouldn't accept that. "No, the only way you get me to leave is if someone is here with you," she replied. "Alright, I'll ask Brian to stay," I said. "OK, I'll stay," Brian said. After Melissa left, I turned to Brian and said, "You don't have to babysit me; I'm sure you've got better things to do."

"No, I am staying, as I promised your friend," he replied. "Fine, but don't expect me to do things differently just because you are here," I said. "What do you mean by different?" he asked. "Well, I walk around the house naked when it's hot," I replied. "You don't, do you?" he asked. "I do, why, didn't Melissa tell you?" I asked, forcing down a chuckle. "No, she failed to mention that piece of news," he replied. "Well, if you change your mind, the door is open," I said, forcing to keep my amusement from showing. "I know what you're doing, but that won't work," Brian said. "Well, can't blame me for trying," I said, smiling.

Melissa had informed Aunt Cassie, even though I asked not to. But she didn't stop at that; she had even called Jared, who turned up with Charlie and Aunt Cassie at my door. I tried making him believe everything was fine, but he wasn't convinced. He and Charlie decided to make camp here, too, which was way too many people in my house. Everyone started asking questions nonstop, without giving me a breather. I went to my room and shut the door, then put my headphones on and lay in my bed, ignoring them. All of a sudden, Brian appeared in my room.

"Seriously, you couldn't give me a few minutes of privacy?" I yelled, putting my hands out and throwing him against the wall. 'What? Why did I do that?' I asked myself, looking at my hands as if I have only just seen them. "What's wrong with you? I'm not your enemy," he said, disappearing. "Brian, wait!" I said, trying to stop him; but he was gone. I stood for a few minutes wondering why I got so mad, and what's wrong with me. When I opened the door, Aunt Cassie, Jared, and Charlie were standing outside of my room.

"What happened?" Aunt Cassie asked. "Where is Brian?" I asked, avoiding her question. Brian left; he seemed upset. What did you do?" Aunt Cassie asked. "I just lost my temper. I feel suffocated with all of you ganging up on me and asking all these questions. The last straw was when Brian appeared all of a sudden in my room when he knew I wanted to be alone," I replied. "Octavia, honey, you do know that everyone here cares about you and want to make sure you are safe, right?" Aunt Cassie asked. "Yes, I do, but sometimes it's overwhelming when all everyone does is make a fuss," I replied. "Is it OK if I stay and send the rest of them back?" Aunt Cassie asked. "That would be great," I replied, going back into my room.

I was lying in bed, wondering if something was wrong with me when there was a tap on my door, which was open. I looked up and noticed Aunt Cassie standing near it. "Come in, Aunt Cassie," I said. She walked in with two cups, saying "Time for tea. I sat on the bed and took a cup from Aunt Cassie, saying "Thanks, and I am sorry for everything."

"It's okay, honey. Sometimes, we witches get overwhelmed, too," she said, sitting next to me. "I'm sorry you had to come back just as soon as you left," I said. "That's not an issue; you're my family too," she replied. "I am afraid that as Christen did, Brian will leave too," I said. "Did you do something to cause him to leave?" Aunt Cassie asked. "I threw him against the wall," I replied. "You did what?" Aunt Cassie asked shocked. "I didn't mean to, it just happened. It was an accident," I replied. "How can you accidentally throw someone against the wall?" Aunt Cassie asked. "I was angry because he appeared in the room when he knew I wanted to be alone, so I shouted at him while throwing my hands out; not meaning to hurt him, but just the way I usually did," I said. "Well, let's call him back and explain," Aunt Cassie said. "OK, but you should call him, just in case he's still furious with me," I said. "Alright, but you have to apologise," Aunt Cassie said, to which I nodded.

Aunt Cassie called out to Brian, but he didn't appear. But she didn't stop; she kept calling until he did. "Did you summon me?" he asked in a foul mood. I tried to explain that I didn't mean to throw him against the wall, to which he said, "There is something wrong with you, you need to check that out before you lose another advisor; and yes, Christen told me what you did."

"He did?" I asked. "Yes, he did, after I told him what you did to me," Brian said, still angry. "You're right, I was wrong. I apologise, I didn't mean to throw you against the wall; just like I didn't mean to send Christen to his horrific past; which I knew nothing about. But I did do it and I'm sorry for everything, but if you feel that you can't forgive me and don't want to work with me, I understand and won't force you to do so; I will try to get by on my own," I said. "I don't know if I can forgive you, but I will work with you on one condition: no more taking your frustrations out on me," he said. "Agreed," I said with a sigh of relief. "But you need to check yourself, because your behaviour is becoming questionable," he said before disappearing. I looked at Aunt Cassie and asked, "Do you think that maybe I've got evil in me?"

"No, I don't think you're evil; just overwhelmed," she replied. Later, I was asleep when I heard that voice again say "Your soul is mine, witch." I opened my eyes and saw the same shadow in front of me. I tried to move, but I felt paralysed as I did before. I tried to call out to Aunt Cassie, but the words wouldn't come out of my mouth. It came towards me and grabbed me. 'Is this end?' I thought as there was nothing I could do but stay frozen stiff.