Free Forbidden Fruit by Anna Lee Page A

shuttered at the thought of sending him out there with the serial killer, in case he wasn’t a figment of my imagination. "Okay, you can stay,” I conceded, “But I am going to bed."
    A smile stretched across his face. I ignored him and began to walk upstairs. He followed. I got to the second floor and heard Bailey laughing from outside one of the guest bedrooms. I shook my head and continued to the next room. I opened the door and said, "You can stay in here." I refused to meet his eye and engage him further. I turned and walked back toward the stairs and up to my third floor room.
    I didn’t notice he had followed me until I tried to shut my bedroom door and felt a hand in the way. "What are you doing?" I accused, becoming increasingly irritated.
    "What? I thought you could use some company?" he shrugged, feigning innocence.
    "No! Go back to your room Jason," I pushed him out and closed my door. Arms crossed, I stood there waiting, daring him to try coming inside again. I heard a dull thud of what sounded like his forehead on the door, "If I get scared can I sleep with you?" he whined.
    I opened my mouth to retort but thought better of it. Instead, I locked the old antique door handle, which slid with a loud, concluding sound. I could hear him chuckle on the other side of the door. "If you change your mind, you know where to find me," he added. The audacity of this guy!
    I waited a minute until I heard nothing more. When I decided he had finally left, I changed into my pajamas and tried to fall asleep.
     
    I was deep in a dream about wild gardens and impossible paintings when I was rudely awaked. My eyes yanked open as fear assaulted me, racing through my body. I was laying in my bed, held down by something I could not see. An invisible assailant held my body in a death grip. I panicked. Thrashing around in my sheets, I tried to break free from whatever had me, without success. With each effort, I felt razor sharp blades cutting into my skin where the attacker held me. Or was it attackers? There were at least eight hands, holding me down. I tried to scream but something was over my mouth.
    Suddenly, the French doors to my third floor porch flew open, curtains flapping wildly in the wind, a low guttural growl came from the balcony. Suddenly, I was released.
    I watched several dark, shadowy creatures scurrying out of my bedroom and onto the porch. Painful howls and unearthly screeches speared my ears. Then a series of sickening tears and gurgling sounds followed.
    I jumped out of my bed, and ran to the corner of the room. Sinking to the floor, I assumed the fetal position, hoping I would go unnoticed by the monsters. My heart pounded in my ears and hot tears streaked my cheeks. I could hear and feel the feral wind whipping through my room. I clamped my eyes shut and tried to pretend none of it was real. It had to be just a dream. I waited for an eternity it seemed to wake up.
    I never did.
    Finally, I heard the French doors close, the wind immediately ceased. There was nothing but a shroud of eerie quietness surrounding me. I was more afraid than I had ever been in my entire life.
    It took me a moment before I opened my eyes. When I did, I found my room was completely normal, no doors open, no dark figures, not a single picture frame turned over. My razor sliced arms had no marks or pain. The only reminder of the terrifying event was the moon shining through the window where the curtains had opened.
    I cautiously got up and walked over to the window on shaky legs. I saw exactly what I was afraid I would see, the cloaked man. Only this time, he was walking away.
    I watched him retreat until I couldn't see him anymore. With a still pounding heart, I climbed back into bed, knowing it would be another sleepless sunrise.

Chapter 9
     
    I was out of the shower and getting dressed before I normally even wake, a result of having not slept the night before. I had long since calmed down but felt like there was a dark cloud above