It's cold. The air around me...is cold. Where am I? Oh...a bed. Is it mine? I'm not sure. It's too...hazy. What time is it? My alarm says 3am. Who is that out the window? The window...wait, how did you get in? Who are you? Who are you? Get out. Get out! Don't touch me! He's leaving the room...he didn't touch me. But where is he going? 'Wrong girl...' he mumbles. 'Stay here or I'll kill you,' he threatens. He's going to the guest room where she is sleeping. Aliza. My best friend. In a moment, my brain screams through the haze. The adrenaline courses through me, but contrastingly I slip out of the room in silence. I hear struggling, but through closed doors it's muffled and sleeping ears are deaf to the sound. I grab the heaviest thing I could find-the stone paperweight from the hallway table. Step...Step...Step. I catch a glimpse; he's pulling down her trousers. Step. Step. Step. Creeeaaak. Shit. He turns. Suddenly, I slam the stone as hard as I could against his skull, and the beast slumps to the ground in a dark heap. But he's still conscious and livid. I slam the stone again. This time he falls out cold. I grab her wrist and run, pulling the stunned girl behind me. 'Help!' She shouts finally. 'Help us!' I chorus. I hope that does the trick. We're out the door. Down the block. The thumps of our bare feet begin to match the furious beating of our hearts. Run. Footsteps behind us. Run faster. She yells out. I trip. It goes black.
I wake up. I'm sweating heavily and the room is pitch dark. I begin to panic. A body rolls over beside me and it jolts my body into a silent scream; no sound escapes. The bedside lamp flicks on and I'm met with the dimly lit face of my partner-wide eyed and worried. A hug envelopes me, and the warmth surrounds my body. Only then am I finally able to hear my heart slowing down again. 'Lana?' the body holding me whispers. 'Yeah?' I hoarsely utter, feeling my body begin to tremble.
Typical.
'It's that nightmare again, isn't it?' the body hums.
'Yes.'
'How many times has it been now?'
'I'm beginning to lose count....but about four times a week since it happened.'
'Shouldn't you-'
'Get checked out? No. I can handle it.'
'There's no shame in-'
'I can handle it.'
'Ok. As long as you're sure.'
This is becoming routine now. I'm always questioned like this. In a way, it helps calm me down.
'Riley?'
'Yeah?'
'Do you...ever get sick of me?'
'Why would you think that?'
'I...I know PTSD can get in the way...'
'That doesn't define you, don't be silly.' Riley paused. 'I suppose you won't be able to sleep now?'
'No, not really.'
'How about we go downstairs? Get some tea and a late night film? My Friday night treat, haha.'
'Perfect.'
YOU ARE READING
Terror
Mystery / ThrillerPlagued by events in her past, Lana struggles to hold on to her sanity. Held together only by the love from her partner and her own will power, she tries to move on. But suddenly, her past is reopened and she must face her fears once again. But will...
