I made sure to lock the door today.

I locked it twice, in fact. I locked it then tried to turn the knob a couple of times just to make sure. Then I walked to my bed and got under the covers. I lay there sleepless for a couple of hours before I heard the creaking of wood outside my bedroom door.

My eyes moved to the door immediately. I was comforted for a few seconds from the fact that the knob remained stable. It wasn’t long, however, before the door slowly opened up. I should have known, of course, that locking the door wouldn’t help. He waited until the door was completely open before he decided to make an appearance. I saw him standing at the door and I got goosebumps all over my body. He made a point by standing still for a few minutes. He was obviously taunting me.

He moved as slow as honey and settled in his favourite spot, standing right beside me next to my bed. I felt my hands shake and my lips quiver. This wasn’t the first time to see him, but he still gets me every time. Frustration got the best of me and I started to cry.

And this was when he frowned.

Again, this wasn’t a normal frown. It came from a non-existent face, on a non-existent body. It was a frown that seemed to shake me from the inside. Somehow, it made me stop crying.

I looked up at him in desperation. “Who are you?” I hissed, and I felt his breathing grow heavier as he brought his head closer to mine and I looked away and – in fear – closed my eyes. Again, he put his hand in mine and I gasped. He pressed harder. “Stop!” I begged. And he did.

He started to walk away. He reached the door, then stood still for a while. He turned around at me, smiled, and disappeared.

I could have sworn I felt him wink at me.

© Copyright 7ala Abdullah

I was right! This blog did break my block! I’ve had this idea for a story for months now, but I never got around to writing it because I was too busy with another story I’m working on. It came to my mind today, so I decided to write it down. And here it is.

Finally!

I saw him again today.

He looked just the same; black, tall, heavy… faceless. And again, he just stood there. There were no features on his face, but I could almost swear he was smiling. It was as though I could… smell his smile. He, on the other hand, didn’t need to “smell” my fear. He could see it from the way my eyes grew wide and from how fast I clutched to my bed sheets and tried to move away from that side of the bed.

I tried to speak. “What do you want??” I whispered, my voice shaky and my tiny lips quivering. He moved his head closer and I let out a quiet squeal. I felt hot tears stinging my eyes. I almost expected him to answer, but of course he just stood quietly. He moved closer so that he nearly touched my face.

Then he smiled again. A smile without a face, a smile without lips. A smile I have no clue how I detected, or if I was even right about. This isn’t happening. Ghosts don’t exist. Faceless, expressionless creatures don’t exist.

I couldn’t take it any more. I closed my eyes and opened them again, wishing he would disappear, but when I opened them, he was still there. Standing – almost towering – over me, shadowing me with fear, erasing every inch of courage I was ever proud of, plucking every last bit of self-control. I felt my knees go weak and breath go short. I whispered, “Please…” through my teeth, and he put his hands on mine. He pushed them down with such strength that I thought my fingers would not only break, but get completely crushed.

I sobbed in pain, “Please… please let me go.” And he immediately pulled them away. “Please go away, please, please!” I cried. And he did.

I tried to wake myself up, even though I was breaking down. This was all a dream, of course! I have to wake up. I have to wake up.

Why can’t I wake up?

© Copyright 7ala Abdullah