Into the Shadows

Shadow Scan

0545 AM Wednesday

It was like being held under water. My lungs burned for oxygen that wasn't there. Every attempt at a breath sent me in a fit of coughs. It lasts for a few minutes, sometimes seconds. Each time a bit more brutal than the last. Terrifying all the same. When the fog left, I was left blind, and the darkness was taking over yet again. It's claws crushing my bones, as it ripped into my chest. This thing was relentless and showed no signs of remorse at what it was doing. I begged it to let go, to leave me be.... But when the night came, and sleep seemed so inviting. It's eyes would glow a sickening yellow from the depths of the shadows.

I awoke drenched in sweat, shivering as if though I had been plummeted into the arctic sea. The shadows were gone, but the eyes of someone scared to death was staring back at me, clawing frantically at my hand and whimpering for me to release her.

Damn....

I let her go, as she fell off the bed scurrying towards a chair pushed far into a corner. My heart hurt so much knowing that I caused her pain. But I couldn't speak. The shadows still had me by the throat, holding tightly trying its hardest to crush my windpipe.

She stared at me worried and frightened, never have I hurt someone in such a way. The deep blues and purples of a nasty bruise forming on her arm.

Oh God... Please...

It would seem that he did not hear me at this time. Ironic, because Hoseok once said something to Hin that is close to what I feel now.

Truly alone in this nightmare... or am I? I shifted my eyes back to Amber. She had drawn her knees up to her chest and buried her face in them.

Baby I'm sorry...

The creature gave a guttural laugh that turned my stomach. It's putrid breath drifting across my face and burning my nostrils. I gagged my body starting to seize up again, the flashes of light taking over shooting pain all over my body.

"NAMJOON!"

I heard her scream my name, but I was lost again. The pain taking over, the creature just sitting on my chest watching as the seizure tore through me.

You know... I'm not sure if he is real, or if I'm even awake half the time.

But he feels real...

I almost want to name him. Does he already have a name?

Shit...

Two of my ribs cracked, my body still shaking and thrashing about. Bile rose in my throat, the sounds of Amber's screams could be heard, however she seemed too far away.

Make it stop...

What felt like hours later my body became warm as the medicine shot through my veins, slowly relaxing my tense muscles and distorted frame. The pain dissipated along with the creature into the shadows. Waiting patiently to take over again once the medicine ran its course.

Is this how addiction starts? Or have I truly gone crazy. I let my head lull to the side, facing a pair of now tear stained, red rimmed eyes.

"A... a... mm... ber." I croaked while a tear fell down my cheek. She grasped my hand as if her life depended on it. Or was it mine that depended on hers? I wasn't sure. Her hands were warm, her hair was messy but cute. That word seemed foreign to me now.

Cute...

I closed my eyes briefly, only to be greeted by the yellow ones. So, I'm awake. My eyes wide open no longer looking over at Amber, but at the fluorescent lights above my hospital bed.