Tenebris Somnia |Dark Dreams Halloween Anthology (featured)

Smile by Gaby Cabezut

Smile by gabycabezut

I'm not alone.

I sit up, pulling my knees to my chest, letting the blanket fall on the bed. A shiver runs down my back as I stare at my room. Nothing is out of place, but I feel it, down to the pit of my stomach, I'm not alone.

Someone is watching me.

My heart is pumping too fast, too loud, but I heart it.

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It's as if a dog is walking across the wooden floor.

I don't have a dog.

My chest tightens. I pull my knees even closer.

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It's closer. Much closer.

I don't want to look to the side, but I feel it.

It's here.

I can smell it too, the stench of rotten meat.

The bed dips.

I can't breathe.

I can't move.

Cold sears my veins, and I jump out of bed.

I run to my bathroom, turn on the light. It's warm.

I swallow hard and grip the sides of the sink. I take a deep breath, closing my eyes.
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I open them and stare into the mirror.

I'm alone.

There's nothing here.

My reflection looks back at me.

It actually looks back at me!

There's a mischievous glint in its eyes, my eyes, as the lips move.

I'm not moving them.

My heart skips a beat.

The reflection taunts me with a wide smile. The teeth are pointier and the eyes seem darker.

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I feel it.

Inside me.

I'm not alone.