Last night was weird. I can't even adequately describe what the hell happened. It was like a fever dream. It felt so real, but I know that the voice I heard had to have been remnants of a dream. I couldn't have conjured that on my own. But I can't clearly remember evenhavinga dream.
Good morning…
I shoot up in bed, coming fully awake. I know what this is. I've experiences it before. It's a very specific delusion that comes with not having been held or kissed or touched by someone of the opposite sex in too long. I've had dreams before where I was in love with a stranger and then woke up with a chasm of loss in my stomach because that person wasn't real. That's all this is. Dream fragments. My mind has been so thoroughly convinced that someone existed in the depths of my dreams last night that I've dragged those fictional emotions into the light of day.
Pathetic, really.
I take a quick shower, scrubbing away the evidence of my indiscretions, and then head into the kitchen for my breakfast.
My skin still tingles from everything I felt in the middle of the night, an intense sexual experience even if it was entirely fantastical.
I hum as I move into the kitchen to start my coffee for the day. I slept later than I meant to so I consider skipping breakfast altogether. I go to the cabinet to grab a coffee mug and my eye catches sight of the dining room table, just on the other side of the counter.
There's a bouquet of flowers in the center of the table that wasn’t there before.
I gasp. The mug slips from my hand, but before it can fall to the ground, darkness sweeps across the floor and envelopes it.
I scream and race for the front door, feeling the presence of whatever that thing was at my back as I run through the house. I throw open the door and rush down the steps to my car.
Wait!
I scream again, my steps stuttering on the cobblestone path. I know that wasn’t my subconscious. There was a voiceinsidemy head, as loud as my own thoughts.
Please, don’t go!
My vision goes blurry as I scramble to get my car door open. I’m so scared that I’m actuallycrying. I’ve got one leg hitched up into my SUV when that voice in my head speaks again.
Please, I swear I won’t hurt you. Please.
It’s the way it seems to be pleading with me that finally stops me. I’ve got my steering wheel in my grip and one foot on the ground, my chest heaving in fear and exertion. I look around, but it’s not as if anyone is there. Not anyone I canseeanyway. If that voice is inside my head…
“Where are you?” I finally manage to choke out, my voice tiny with fear.
I’m here.
And in the late morning light, I watch as a shadow attached to absolutely nothing slithers along the ground in front of me. It raises itself from the ground, becoming something more than a shadow. It’s like it’s black smoke and shadow mixed together, not solid but notnotsolid either. Once it’s raised to its full height, I can almost make out its face, the slope of cheekbones and the shape of eyes, there but not really there, all at the same time.
My breath trembles as the shadow finally stops moving, clearly waiting for me to react, but I can’t bring myself to speak, now that I’m looking at it.
My name is Gabriel,the shadow says, but the curve of his mouth doesn’t move. He’s definitely speaking directly into my mind. How the hell is he doing that?What is your name?
“Calista,” I say.
The shadow’s eyes widen.That is beautiful. Calista, I’m so very sorry that I’ve frightened you. It wasn’t my intention. I know I shouldn’t have spoken to you at all, but you’re the first really beautiful thing I’ve seen in so long. I couldn’t help myself.
I have no idea how to respond to that. For a long moment, we just stare at each other, until finally, he says,please, come inside. I’d like to speak with you.
“We’re already talking,” I say. My pulse hasn’t slowed yet, my breathing still ragged. Sure, he seems to be kind. He seems like he doesn’t want to hurt me. But how can I know for sure? What if he lures me back into the house and kills me? Or possess me or something? Is he a demon? A monster?
I know you’re still frightened. But may I point out that if I wanted to kill you, I could have done it already? We have been alone in these woods for two days.
I clench and unclench my hands. “So…you’ve just beenwatchingme?”
His arm drops to his side.I have no choice. I am tied to this house. Where we stand now is as far away from it as I can go. Yes, I could have retreated as far into the woods as possible while you were here, but you came in the night, shining bright like the sun, and I couldn’t tear myself away.
There’s too much to process. I have so many questions, but I don’t even know where to begin. I steady my breathing and shut the car door behind me. A strange shimmer goes through Gabriel, like a sprinkle of joy. I guess he’s satisfied with the fact that I’m not leaving.
“I need to understandeverythingby the end of this conversation, or I’m leaving.”
