Blurb

When you are wrapped under sheets with cool breeze wafting over you from open windows, and the moon’s beam is your spotlight; you think this makes for a perfect night’s sleep until an eerie presence decides to keep you company. Find out in this thrilling tale.

Story

Something roused me from sleep.

I listened with my breath held and fear balled in my throat.

One, Two, Three seconds… There was nothing. Absolute silence except for the rustling of leaves outside and the whistling of the soft evening breeze.

I let out the breath I had been subconsciously holding. Being alone at home made me paranoid. Mum and Dad were miles away celebrating their anniversary. I willed myself to relax and tried to ease my nerves. I took slow deep breaths, and listened to the calming harmony of the evening breeze, accompanied by the rustling leaves.

I closed my eyes again…and there it was!

Soft shuffling in my room. My heart lurched in my chest and a chill ran up my spine. There was no way I was imagining this…but I remained still, hoping I was.

One, two, three seconds later. The serenity had been restored but my senses were heightened…I could feel heat…body heat… hovering just over me. I curled my toes under the sheets in an effort to remain calm, suppressing the urge to press my eyelids shut tightly or else HE would know.

How did I know it was a He?

Quickly, I dismissed the trivial thought remaining completely still.

And then, I could feel it. Sharp low breaths against the nape of my neck! Bumps raised on my skin and I pressed my toes into the bed, willing myself not to scream!

The breaths trailed, from my neck, down and over my bare back living a hot trail, making my muscles ripple with fear and something else I could not describe!

Then it stopped.

I couldn’t feel his presence any longer. I couldn’t feel his heat or hear his shuffling but I dared not move! My thoughts raced!

What should I do?

My cellphone was on the bedside drawer just a meter from reach but if I moved…he would see me.

Quickly, I remembered. I had a baseball bat in my closet. Could I leap off the bed and make it halfway across the room before he could react?

Then a dark mass loomed before me blocking out the moonlight from the window. He was standing right in front of me! My breath caught in my throat, my body tensed and urine pooled in my groin.

I clamped my teeth, willing myself to not move or give in to the agonizing urge to pee.

I shut my eyes tight.

It was something I had been willing myself NOT TO DO.

“Hehehehe” It was a low sinister laugh. A mocking undertone that was almost a whisper.

He had seen me! He knew I was Awake!

My heart skipped a moment.

The cosmos slowed in those few seconds as I leaped from the bed, in a dash for the door…

But then my head yanked backwards with a painful force that almost severed my head as something grabbed me by the hair.

I fell back down into the bed, dazed by excruciating pain but I only had a few seconds to recover as he loomed over me, his weight pressing me into the mattress as I felt steel-like fingers clasp around my neck, shutting off the air circulation to my head!

His other hand trailed down my body: over my stomach and further down with nothing but my thin nightgown as a barrier between my skin and those scrawny fingers!

My senses screamed in realization of what he was about to do!

Fear and Flight kicked in and I began to thrash wildly, writhing, kicking and punching in a fury with all the energy I could muster, disrupting him.

I felt my knee connect with something soft and for a second he flinched, letting out a loud incomprehensible curse as he lifted himself off me!

I seized the opportunity!

I rolled off the bed, landing hard on my back but I couldn’t feel the pain. I sprung to my feet and hurtled for the door!

I hurtled out of the room and down the corridor! Feeling my way along the walls, legs wobbling under me, my heart thumping hard against my chest.

The lights were out but moonlight filtered in through the drawn shutters illuminating snippets of the corridor ahead of me! I could hear him stumble after me, his rasping and heavy footfalls just inches after me! I risked a glance over my shoulder, hoping to catch a glimpse of his face…

His pale sagging skin on a scarred chiseled face glowed an eerie white in the moonlight…My heart stopped. I knew who he was.

I had seen his mugshot had been on the news.

The realization made me weak in the knees. I misplaced a step and began to fall, frantically grabbing for support, dislodging a portrait on the wall as I fell.

I landed hard on my face and the portrait shattered next to me, glass shards flew in all directionsI grimaced in pain, writhing as his hiking boots came into view. He was standing right over me.

“Hehehehee” he snickered again as I heard him unzip his fly.

My heart lurched and I screamed. Willing myself to get away, I scrambled on all fours, clawing to get away…and then I felt it. A hard kick to in my side that knocked the air out of my lungs. My body stilled in shock and I wheezed for breath! He rammed two more into my side and I heard a bone crack!

My limbs went numb.

“Bitch, don’t move! Why do they always struggle, hehehehe,” he whispered, his voice sounding muffled as my senses struggled to recover from the assault. Then I felt his strong hands turn me over and begin to reach for the folds of my nightgown!

For a moment, his eyes locked with mine. They were two beady holes into a dark abyss shrouded with hate. His sneering crooked smile played on his lips expressing his satisfaction as I laid there subdued. He scorned as he parted my legs.

“You look like a virgin,” he sneered. “I like virgins,” he added with a grin.

The hideous scar across his cheek stretched wider every time he smiled. I could feel his scrawny finger under the lining of my pant. He ran his finger along it, his lips quirked with joy.

My stomach knotted in disgust and my whole being voicelessly screamed!

Trembling and keeping my eyes on his, I cautiously felt around in the dark for something… anything!

And I found it. A sizeable glass shard from the portrait I had taken down with me.

“I’m going to take my time with you!” he beamed excitedly, leaning closer. His breath a stench of alcohol and cigarettes. I could feel his finger trail from under my panties and up my navel.

“Please,” I managed to whimper, cautiously retracting my splayed arm, inch by inch, firmly wielding the shard, never letting my eyes leave his.

“Hehehe. If you don’t struggle. I promise I won’t kill you when I’m done,” he snickered, slowly parting my legs. His face was inches away from mine. He was grinning down into my eyes. I shuddered.

“Monster,” I whimpered and slammed my legs shut.

He laughed in my face, spraying saliva over me.

“I should warn you. I don’t have any condoms so you might get pregnant! Wouldn’t that be beautiful? Carrying a baby monster?” he snickered and grabbed my thighs again. He took his eyes off mine as he began to take his organ out.

I seized the opportunity! With all the strength I could muster, I launched my hand, aiming for his neck…

And he caught my wrist mid-motion! His eyes locked with mine again and he curled his lips mockingly as he twisted. The pain lanced up my arm and escaped from my lips in a scream. I blinked tears and squirmed to free myself, seeing nothing but his seedy dark eyes, mocking and relishing.

“Bitch, I will fuck you and kill you!” he snapped, his eyes reduced to malevolent slits, his mocking countenance quickly distorted into a scowl.

“No!” I screamed.

The pain birthed a vigour that filled me. I lashed out with my other free hand, thrusting my fingers into his eyes, feeling his eyeballs push back into its sockets as he screamed! He jerked his head up and clasped his face, trembling in pain. Everything slowed in those few seconds! I grabbed another shard and jammed it into his neck!

I felt everything…I felt the sharp jagged edge slice through thick flesh and lodge deep into tissue. I felt his body jolt in shock and heard him gurgle. I felt his weight lighten as he jerked away from me in horror, gagging and trying to apply pressure to his neck, trying to keep the blood from oozing and seeping through his fingers!

I crawled away from him, gaping at him in fear, watching the man struggle to stay alive…

A few seconds later, it was over. His hands dropped to his side. His head slouched forward and he remained limp against the wall…

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Author’s note on ‘Goosebumps’

This was just a flash writing challenge for your entertainment. Did you enjoy Goosebumps? Could you predict the ending? Leave a comment for the book and share with your friends.

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