Him

Chapter 3

Days, maybe even weeks, pass. Though not everyday, you do unmistakingly hear the footsteps and feel the breathing. 

Stomp. 

Stomp. 

Stomp. 

The heavy breath tickles you cheek. Pure icy fear surges through your body and you cannot move. 

"Hello?" You call out. No answer. You try again, just for good measure. Once again, no answer. Phew. You're just imagining, silly girl. But you're not convinced. Oh, no, your heart is set on this malicious stalker being real. So, seeking proof of his or her existence, you turn around and see no one! See? You turn around again just as a dark cackling rings out. You gasp, nearly screaming. There IS someone there! You compose yourself, then take off running like a bat out of Hell itself. Which makes you wonder, how does one get put of Hell; is it guarded? You remind yourself sternly that you must concentrate on escaping. Your little feet beat the concrete footpath and take you across the road, narrowly avoiding a car. The horn blares at you, but you ignore it. This is NO time to worrying about that. They can just keep right on driving, for all you care. Meanwhile you just keep running. Running from the stalker who may or may not actually exist. The sleepy red gate yawns open and lets you into your front yard. Home is no longer the haven it once was. It has become home to an array of silly lies designed to let you do something you hate. That first encounter with Him changed you, and you have since become withdrawn from your family. Is it even a family anymore? Just people. Your mother has since fallen pregnant with your little brother Cooper, or little sister Melissa. You are excited about that, but you've become almost robotic, avoiding conversation with everyone except Hannah for fear of discovery. In solitude you'd hoped to find solace, but you're still looking. 

"Marnie, we need to talk to you." Mummy tells men, calling Daddy in.  

"We're worried about you, sweetheart," Daddy says kindly. "Is there something going on at school? Are you being bullied? You can tell us. We need to know because there is no other reason for someone your age to suddenly begin avoiding her family." 

Hannah sits on the stairs, listening. Your parents are oblivious to her presence but you are not. 

"Maybe I just don't like you!" you suddenly shout, releasing all the pent up stress no eight year old  

should ever experience or own. 

You're parents are shocked, as you expected them to be. 

"Marnie!" Mum shouts. 

"How dare you talk to us like this?" Dad seethes and Mum puts a gentle, restraining hand on his shoulder. 

"Please go to your room, Marnie." She says. 

You don't object because in your room there is no one you need to explain yourself to, so you nod 

silently and trudge up the stairs to Hannah's room for comfort. Then you remember, she's out with her boyfriend. He's taking her away from you.

In your room you lie on your bed with the white blinds closed. Once upon a time you kept them open slightly so you could fall asleep looking a the stars, but He has made you shut yourself in. Frustrated, you begin to cry. 

"There, there," a gentle voice says. You look up and it talks again. "You're safe now, Marnie." 

The voice is coming from your favourite doll - a pale rag doll with black buttons for eyes, a red silk dress and yellow wool that constitutes its hair. Its mouth is not moving but you know it spoke, so you grab it off its shelf and hug it till you fall asleep. 

 ~ 

What did u guys think? The first few chapters are kind of similar but I promise you find out what He looks like in the next chapter and something happens at the end of chapter 5! Comment & vote please! For any of you readers who are American, what are you guys doing for Thanksgiving? I think that's coming up or if it's already passed then what did you do? XO