Present

I got a present in the mail today. No address or anything--just my name scribbled on the box, wrapped up right with twine and dull pink ribbons. I didn't want to open it, lest it contain something evil, so I just left it there by the street. That would have been that, had the box not suddenly appeared in my room. It was still closed, but now the twine and ribbons were undone. I took the box and threw it out the window.


I went into the bathroom to wash up, and upon me descending the staircase the box was there, under out decorated Christmas tree, with the top wide open.


Nestled in the old, yellow newspaper was a well crafted, very dignified nutcracker. There was a note, too, which read:


Dearest Princess,
Accept this gift as a token of our hopes for you. Throw it away again and you will regret it.


Merry  Early Christmas,
Viceroy Almaric Drosselmeyer


Whoever this person was, he was an amazingly good stalker. I could have called the police, but what could I have told them? Instead I called Naomi to vent. She answered after two rings, and I talked about what happened.


"Holy crap, girl. Call the cops and report this dude. And who is this 'we' they are talking about?"


"No clue. But I'm not happy about this. I'm not going to throw it away or anything--the note told me I'd regret it. I can't keep it here, either. What if it comes alive and slits everyone's throats with its little sabre?"


"I suppose you can just put it in a container. We'll be at your house for the party, so maybe we'll take a look at it."


"I guess. He's handsome, I'll give him that. The Swarovski crystals are a nice touch, too."


"Love the look already. I have to get back to making these cookies for Christmas, but if anything chances, call me."


"I will. Love you."


We hung up together and I stared at my gift. It didn't move or blink...but I hated what it could bring. Who is this Viceroy, and what doe he want?

Midnight part 2

I was panicking. The clocked ticked steady closer to midnight and my stomach was in knots. If anyone noticed my flight from room to room, door to door, they didn't say or do anything. My hands clenched into fists to tight they trembled.

Here I was, trying to have a good time free from the madness that was chasing me, and they decided to play these goddamn games. I was furious at them.

But it was my choice to come here; perhaps if I stayed home everyone would be safe. I was furious at myself.

Anger, sadness, helplessness, they all swam in me like a school of fish in a shallow bucket of water. I looked to my left and saw a pretty antique mirror hanging near the living room wall.

I saw the black ballerina smirking at me. I wanted to spit at her so bad, but I worried that I might invoke their wrath further. So I glared back at her, not as a challenge, but just to let this mysterious figure know that her bullshit was not needed. She laughed and disappeared, leaving my own reflection to stare at me. I grabbed a handful of sea salt caramel popcorn and shoved it into my face.

It was 10:55 when the lights started to flicker. No one gave it any mind, which made it even more agonizing. Again I went to the front door and wrestled with the doorknob, praying to God to please, please, let me out. I couldn't help myself--I started to sob.

"Liz? You alright?" Naomi laid a hand on my shoulder and gently pulled me away from the door. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"I need to go home. I just...I need to go home. Now. Right now." I blubbered pathetically. "Naomi, please. Please open the door for me."

Poor Naomi, she had no idea and I struggled with whether or not I should even tell her. She put down her drink and dapped my eyes with her tie-dye handkerchief. Rebecca griped my hand, "Calm down, what's the matter?"

And just like that the lights went out completely. People moaned and cursed their terrible luck, and I almost fainted.

Mike said, "Weird. It's not windy outside or anything. I'm going to check."

"No! No, don't! Don't go outside, please!!" I begged, sounding like total lunatic in the process. My ears rang with a heavy pain and I saw, from the bright screen of someone's cellphone, the time go to 11:03.

No one was going to die tonight. No one. If I had to grab the ceramic lemons and oranges from their fanciful bowls and throw it at them, so be it.

"Lizzie, chill. I'm just going to be out and then in before you know it." He opened the backyard door effortlessly and I threw off the comforting arms of my friends, racing right through the threshold and in to the cold autumn air.

I tripped over the giant pumpkin on the walkway which sent me careening to the hard ground. Pain shot through my limbs and chest like lightning--for a moment all I could do was lay there in pain. I heard the voices of my girls and several others wondering what the hell was going on with me, but I paid them no mind.

I got up and ran like a bat out of hell. I ignored the wind, the branches that caught my slippers and tights, I only focused on getting to my car. I was out of the house, so I was halfway there.

Just when I, something grabbed my leg. It felt like a mix between human skin and tar. I screamed, clawed at the thing until it let go and kept running. That is, until I felt people behind me. It wasn't anyone from the party--it was something worse.

I had it. I was done.

I tore off my silver ballerina slipper and threw it as hard as physically possible at the nearest figure. I saw it make contact and I dashed to my car. I must have blanked from the panic, because the next thing I remember I was on the highway, driving towards my destination and paying little mind to anything else.

It was 11:56 when I came into the foyer like a hysterical hurricane. I collapsed onto the floor and inhaled as much air as I possibly could.

When the Grandfather clock struck midnight I relaxed...and then panicked one again. I whipped out my phone and texted my girls, asking them if everything and everyone was alright.

Seconds later I got four messages all confirming that yes, all was well, followed by them all attempting to call my poor phone.

But I couldn't answer, not when I was so exhausted. I would answer them in the morning and explain everything.

I dragged myself to the couch where I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep, only waking up when the sun was just starting to rise. As I rubbed my eyes to get the sleep out of the corners, something before me made my heart nearly stop.

On a pillow was my slipper with a note attached. It read:

Princess,

You have done well this night. We look forward seeing more of you.

Much regards,
Viceroy Amalric Drosselmeyer

Midnight part 1

I went to a Halloween party held by one of Vivian's associates. I debated about going, but I decided to anyway.

Vivian dressed as a raver butterfly, Florence was Iron Man, Naomi was a hippie and Rebecca was Albert Einstein.  As for me, I went as Odette from Swan Lake. We were gorgeous, all five of us, and when we pulled up in our respective cars at four in the afternoon we took the opportunity to take as many pictures as possible.

Mike (that was his name) opened the door and let us in. He was dressed as a stereotypical Frenchman, cigarette and all. He did a pretty good accent and made us laugh. Soon more people arrived in their marvelous costumes, some homemade, some store bought, but all in good fun. Our host did a head-count and breathed a sight of relief when all twenty-two of his guests had come to his house safely. Now the party could truly begin.

The table was lined with all sorts of snack foods and candies as well as pizza and Taco Bell. Spooky themed drinks were made, much to everyone's delight. I sipped a bit of the Witch's Brew and mingled with the guests. Florence, possibly channeling her character, had started to drink another cup of Laudanum (thankfully not the one with opium) and she went on about how she could beat everyone in any video game ever.

I grabbed a plate and piled it with foodstuffs, heartily eating it while being careful to not drop it on my costume. It was when I reached over to grab another handful of black and orange napkins that I looked up.

In the mirror just across from the food table I saw a woman in a black ballerina outfit picking at raw, bloody meat. She stared me with her golden-red eyes, never once breaking contact. Wreathed around her body like a chic accessory was the corpse of a black swan, its feathers glimmering with white dust.

You would think it was my reflection. But it wasn't--the shape of the face, the eyes, the snarl. None of that was me. My throat became bone dry and I felt my breathing slow to a crawl. I closed my eyes tightly and then opened them; she was gone.

I turned away and sat myself down to watch a few people play round after round of Smash Brothers. I made the fatal mistake of looking down, and from the glass of the table the woman appeared again and bared her fangs. When she opened her mouth to speak I was the only one to hear her.

Leave before midnight or everyone dies.

I looked around and saw nothing but joy. No one knew about my hallucination (or was it?) and were oblivious of their doom.

In that instant I felt panic, anger, sadness and a desire to get the hell away from this place. I looked at the clock; it was 6:03 at night. I needed to go. Now.

Keys in my hand I made a rush for the door, only to find that it had been locket so tightly I couldn't open it. I asked a partygoer to help me, but she too had problems. I went to the back door, where I encountered the same problem. Every door and window leading outside might as well have been welded shut. I was trapped there.

My Catherine

I dreamed of her on her birthday, the 20th. She and I held hands in a field of spring flowers, the sunbeams dancing in her hair and her smile overflowing with love. On her head was a beautiful wreath of lavender and lilac, the combined perfumes filling my nostrils. In each blossom was a tiny bird that sang the sweetest of songs. I kissed her, held her, promised to never let her go as she spoke to me. I can't remember what she said, not in the slightest, but I do remember the agonizing feeling of waking up. I cried for a long time.

The good news is that it has strengthened my already iron resolve to find out what really happened. Don't worry, Catherine...I'm on the case.

Anticipation

Life is surprisingly normal after what I've been through. I still have no idea who Sophia Blanchard is, or what she has to do with my situation. Maybe another DVD will appear in a cookie jar; that wouldn't be out of place right now.

But I guess that's just how things work. Something insane happens, a stretch of eerie silence, and then another insane thing. Rise, lather, repeat.

I'm just on edge for what's next. What will it be? Will I come out alive?

I'll schedule an appointment with Dr. Frey. He won't believe me, but I have to tell someone. I don't want to drag my girls into this...

The DVD

I finally got up the nerve to play it. Honestly I was expecting something like The Ring video tape: lots of symbolic yet incoherent images and disturbing sounds followed by a phone call that foreshadows my untimely death. None of that happened. Instead of disturbing figures there was just a grainy, constantly moving snowy texture. I could barely make out two figures sitting at a table. The following is what I could transcribe from the DVD:

Dr. Gordon South: This is Doctor Gordon South of Highwind Mental Institution. With me is one Miss Sophia Evelyn Blanchard, age twenty-nine. The subject arrived here on July seventh of this year, 1994.  Okay, Miss Blanchard, we are starting now. Miss Blanchard?

Sophia Blanchard: I…I have no idea what happened. It just…happened, Doctor. That's all I know, I promise.

GS: I know, I know…but tell me, what happened on June 27, 1994?

SB: (silence)

GS: Sophia?

SB: Robbie and I were taking the boys down to our cabin. It was summer vacation, and it was a family tradition. When we were in college we used go there and just…do anything and everything.

GS: Robert Hensher was your husband, correct?

SB: No…no, we never got married. We didn’t need a piece of paper of a big, fancy party to prove that we were in love. We just decided that it was for the best. Save up the money for something else, like a house.

GS: Uh huh. And who were your boys?

SB: James and Nolan. James was seven and Nolan was four. They were the best little boys anyone could ask for. Not always well-behaved but…(she chuckles).

GS: And when were they born?

SB: James was born 1987 and Nolan was born 1990.

 

GS: And, for the record, please tell me how you and Mr. Hensher met.

SB: Me and Robbie…we were together for a long, long time. We met in middle school and could not be separated. Barely after graduating college I found out that I was pregnant with James. He was actually really happy about it. A part of me worried that he would up and leave.

GS: But he didn’t.

SB: No. No, he didn’t. He was thrilled. He comforted me and told me that he wanted this, wanted me and the baby. I was so happy I cried.

GS: Well, he is one of a kind; I can’t think of any man who would be excited about an unplanned pregnancy, if you don’t mind me saying.

SB: You aren’t the first to say that, Doctor.

GS: Anyway, continue on to what happened on that day, Miss Blanchard. On the day of the incident, how long had you already stayed?

SB: We were getting closer to the end. The boys didn’t want to leave, neither did Robbie or I, but we had to. A bunch of odd things had happened before that, though…I remember the smell of something dirty and burning. I can’t even describe it properly. I checked the stoves, checked the heater, checked everything in the house. It was all fine. But...

GS: But?

SB: Nobody could smell it but me. I asked James if he smelled anything strange but he didn't. I thought I was going crazy.

GS: How long was it before it happened? Before the cabin--

SB: Stop. Please...Doctor, please stop.

GS: Miss Blanchard, we need for you to tell us, in your own words, what happened that day. I understand that it was traumatic for you and that you still have issues stemming from it, but please just, tell me. Tell us.

(For a while there is nothing but the sound of the static becoming almost deafening. For a split second I thought I saw words in the grainy images, but they didn't make anything I could read.)

SB: No. Not today, I'm sorry. Not today.

GS (sighing): Alright. Next time we'll talk further. The nurse will take you back to your room.

(A woman walked in and gently took Sophia by the shoulder and led her out of the sterile room. The DVD ends there. I'm going to keep it somewhere safe in case I need it later. Sophia Blanchard...who is she and what happened to her?)

Happy Birthday, Rebecca!

Even though it rained and was really dreary, I'm glad we all found a way to enjoy it. Thanks for humoring Florence with the laser tag and putting in 100% of your skill. You were great! I'm also really happy you loved the gardening books we got you. Plant something nice while it's still autumn, girlie.

I'm still working on the DVD. It's not a trippy excursion through hell...but it is disturbing.

Unlocking Part 2

I stared dumbfounded, the pieces of the DVD still in my shaking hand. I wondered if I should run, but where could I go? Just turn and bolt and hope for the best? I swallowed heavily and began to slowly step backwards.

The woman with the fish scale veil scoffed haughtily, "Just look at her. She's filthy."

I was suddenly brought to my knees, as if someone had kicked my legs out from under me and. I looked up and saw that they were now mere inches in front of me and my heart could have stopped from fear. Their scent...it was not in the least unpleasant, but it was so heady and rich my nose began to burn. I couldn't describe to you how elegant their dresses or how detailed their masks--they were beautiful in an unnerving, terrifying way.

In all of three of their right hands they clutched large, plain jugs. Simultaneously they all tipped them sideways, directly above me, and I was drenched in a seemingly unending downpour of water.

I blinked and they were gone. The trees, the dirt, the sky above me, too, all melted away and was replaced with a dark basement. I was soaked to the bone, so confused and frightened I thought I was going to

As I found my footing, I turned around to see a set of stairs and an opened basement door. One final time I looked around at what was once a vast forest and--

I saw it.

Standing there, in the corner, head cocked to the side slightly. Its piercing, eyeless gaze cut through me like nothing ever has and ever will again. I did not scream.

I ran. I ran and it followed. I felt it upon my spine and in the wind that blew my hair. I threw open the door and raced out of the house in a mindless panic.

This proved to be foolish. I made it about five steps before I slipped...and when I hit the ground I was in the grove of trees near my house.

My shoes were now gone, only the socks remained. Nothing else was missing, for which I was thankful for. But in what could only be described as bizarre, the three pieces of the DVD fused into a single, immaculate disk.

I walked out of the grove in a daze, still wet, still shaken, but I had gotten what I needed to get. I suppose. My poor mother wondered what happened and I made up a story about falling into a pool. The shoes I was honest about: someone stole them right off of my own feet. I threw my clothes off in the bathroom and took a long hot shower. My car was most likely still near the house and I would have had to go back and get it. Eventually I did, and I was proud of myself for not fainting when I saw a face in one of the top floor windows. Since then I've been reluctant to go places, even with my girls.

The DVD sits on my desk and I wonder when I'm going to find the courage to play it.

Unlocking Part 1

I've been hiding in my room like a coward, though I know that at any time it can pass through the locked doors. I don't regret going to the house...but I know now that things are only going to escalate

On the 15th I grabbed the keys (just in case), filled up my car with gas, and drove all the way to the ends of town to see the place overrun with ivy, but still intact. I took one final sip of my Coke before going right up to the door. Unlike the dream it wasn't open, but a quick turn of the handle fixed that.

The place could not have been more quiet. The only sounds were of my feet stepping carefully on the old floors. I turned to the left and beheld a somewhat clean living room scattered with relics of the late fifties and early sixties. I know nothing about that place, not even rumors, but in my gut I knew something went very, very wrong here.

The grandfather clock in the corner chimed, and that's when the floor gave out beneath me.

I screamed as gravity fulfilled its purpose, sending me careening to the basement. instead of plumes of dust and cobwebs, I was confronted with the unbelievable.

A forest. There was a goddamn forest in the basement. Trees that should been poking through the above floors stood with thick trunks and bare branches, their paradoxical existence only frightening me more. The floor was now dirt, partially wet and bereft of any insects, and the hole that I fell through was now the sky.

My heart caught in my throat and my stomach felt like it was filled with lead. But even with this, I pursued. It was not as claustrophobic as one would think, but even then I looked behind me to be aware of where I was going.

I saw a large tree with a bronze chain encircling it. No lock, though, but I pulled out the bronze key. A hole near the roots grew wider and wider until it became easy for me to go into.

Right in the center there was a dog so big it was like a small horse, staring at me with eyes as big as teacups and sitting calmly in the center. It didn't lunge at me or bark, but it did pant heavily as if it was thirsty. I slowly walked closer to it, mumbling platitudes as I willed my feet to move. Suddenly, when I was just close enough, the dog stood and closed the distance between us, nudging my hand with the key open. My finger shakily exposed my item, and in the blink of an eye the dog gobbled it up.

I yelled at it to drop the key, or rather, I would have had the dog not melted away into a large, unlocked chest. My jaw could have fallen from my skull. It took a while for me to collect myself, but when I did I opened the chest and found one third of a DVD.

I fond another large tree with a silver chain around it. I took out the matching key, went through the hole, and what did I find? Another dog, just as big as the last one, also staring at me with eyes as big as pinwheels. It ate the key like the one before it and turned into an chest. I took another third of a DVD within it and quickly left.

Not far along there was the final tree. There was one last dog, also big with eyes as big as a human head, that swallowed my final key and it, too, turned into a chest. I grabbed the final piece and made it out of the tree.

I thought that maybe, just maybe, that would be it and I could figure out a way to get out of the forest-basement. Little did I know that they weren't done with me.

At least fifteen feet away I saw three figures, dressed all in black, wearing Venetian masks that concealed their faces. One wore large goat horns upon her head, another with cardinal feathers that made up her earrings, and the last had a multitude of fish scales entwined in the veil she wore.

They were watching me, and I realized then that they had been doing so this entire time.

An Old House

A lead. I have a lead.

A usual it came in my dreams. An old peach colored house with a slightly cracked open door. Inside there was blackness and the sound of creaking moans. I reached out to touch the rusted handle, only to have it crumble under the slightest touch.

I remember see a place like that near the edge of town. It's been boarded up for years and it's plastered with KEEP OUT signs. Going to jail for trespassing would definitely hinder any progress I'd hope to make, but I'm desperate. I'll go there as soon as possible, but I know I'm in for something that might be the death of me. If I let it.

Still Here

I still have the keys. They're out of their pouches and lined up neatly on my vanity. They are normal, every day keys; at least I hope they are. The last thing I need are these three things summoning demons from the ninths circle of hell.

My dreams have been quiet. I can't remember most of them, and those that stay lodged are so mundane that they're useless.

As much as I want to,  I don't want to show my girls. They want answers just as much as I do, but I don't want them to get hurt in the process. Losing Catherine destroyed me, and even after so long I still can't get over her death.

Losing them would destroy me even further.

I almost wish for a nightmare--it would bring be closer to finding her killer. I want to know where these keys go to.

These Three Keys

On July 7 I went to the park I saw, bracing myself for. I remembered the last time I went in the woods and I almost felt like turning back. But I didn't--I parked my car, got out and went directly to the path.

I looked around me and wondered if everyone was going to disappear like last time, or worse, I was the one to disappear.

Even with this in mind I kept on trekking, I walked slowly, looking around me. I didn't feel watched; I felt horrendously alone. I kept walking, kept looking, and it seemed like I was on the fast track to nothing.

Until I heard the singing.

"Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for a living,
But the child who is born on the Sabbath Day
Is bonny and blithe and good and gay"

It was sung slowly and softly like a hymn. I spun every which way to find the mysterious voices to no avail. I jogged faster and the voices followed me. I ran deeper into the woods and didn't stop until I couldn't hear it anymore.

But I was lost. In my panic I mindlessly went along any small paths that took me away from them, and in the process left me worse off.

The birds were silent and the wind blew no leaves. My cellphone got no service and no one could hear me cry out. Yes, I was alone. But I didn't stop.

I remember thinking about how stupid I was for going here and falling into what seemed to be an obvious trap. I was scared that fate would leave me here to rot.

But as I cursed myself and wondered what I should do, I came upon a large, noble alder tree, and on one of the lower branches hung a purple pouch. Curiously I untied the strings holding it together and found a key.

It was small and coppery with no sort of markings on it. I pocketed it and continued my journey out of here. Not even halfway I saw another alder tree with yet another purple pouch. Again I opened it and found a medium-sized, silvery key. This I pocketed also and kept going.

Finally I found one last alder tree, one last purple pouch, and one last key. This time it was large and gold colored.

It was beyond strange and let me a but unnerve. By the grace of God I managed to navigate my way out of the woods and back into the park. Everyone was still there, albeit a little less people. I drove home with the radio blasting to get the sound of silence out of my head.

I still have the keys and I don't know what they're for. But I'll keep them just in case.

Possible

I'm sorry that June got away from me. Nothing has been happening, really, despite me trying and failing to get somewhere. The police are no help--they think I'm nuts, so they're out. I don't want to involve my girls in this at all; I'm terrified that thing will follow them.

I've tried and failed to connect with the Moores, but each time I get nothing. Are they that busy, or do they not want anything to do with me? I think it would be for the best if I not call them again for a while and see if it's still like this.

The only clue I have is this: I spent what would have been the second wedding anniversary of Catherine and I in bed, strangely weak. My head pounded and I couldn't move, but I do remember snippets of dreams.

Woods. Lots of woods. Trees so thick you couldn't help but feel claustrophobic. I remember what they look like...it's in a park near me. I'll go and try there.

But I hope I won't regret what I find.

Happy Birthday, Vivian!

And you are twenty-four this fine day. That Tex-Mex place you found was delicious! I'm glad you liked the CDs we gave you.

I'm feeling better now. The cough has gone away and I can talk without my throat hurting. I had my time off, now it's back on schedule.

I'm going to start looking again.

Happy Birthday to Me

So today I am 24, and still sick. I'm coughing up bloody mucus and my poor mother had to listen to me hack away all night. Due to me being sick we had to cancel the reservation to this nice restaurant. I feel so bad, but I'm even more mad at the fact that thing has something to do with my illness.

As soon as I'm better I'm going to keep up with my search.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms out there; you do so much for us little ones and we're eternally grateful. Keep on being awesome, moms.

Sick Dreams

I haven't been feeling so good. It started last Friday and even a week later I don't think I'll be well for my birthday. My coughs are wet and ragged, my body is weak, my head feels heavier than bricks. Doctors called it a cold, but I'm not so sure.

The other night I had another dream. I was in a field, located somewhere in the middle of a forest. Before me was the most flawless pomegranate I've ever seen. I picked it up, and from it I heard the unmistakable sound of a human heartbeat. I carried the fruit closer to the middle of the meadow and, with my nail, pried it open effortlessly. Whether it was juice or blood that flowed from it, I didn't know, but I ate the tiny seeds regardless.

I can't remember the taste, only that I ate them like my life depended on it. It finished it in seconds, the rinds withering and decaying in that same time.

Catherine stood in front of me, wearing the clothes that her body was found in: worn denim jeans, a light purple top with a floral design on the front. Suddenly her neck opened wide as did her stomach.

Her guts spilled from the wound and she mouthed words I could not decipher. Blood pooled around her and drenched her clothes like an ancient dye.

And behind her were lines of people sized Venetian dolls, staring at me emotionlessly...so why do I get the feeling that they were smiling?

I woke up feeling nauseous and so full of sadness. The rain falls on my window, mocking me.

I need to find answers. I don't care if I'm the only one who will do it.

Happy Birthday, Florence

Hey, I hope you had a wonderful day! Did you like the manga we got for you? We all pitched in and got it for you special.

I do want to let you know that I've been feeling better since the last time it rained. How many days ago was it, again? Can't remember, but I do recall the feeling of dread mixed with the smell of damp earth.

I had been running errands for my mom and I was on the phone with Florence at the time. She gushed over how much she loved the new Captain America move, how she had seen it three times already and wanted us to see it, too.

I shuffled the bags into the backseat of my car when I saw it again. Like the times before, it didn't move but stood at a reasonable distance away from me. I hastily ended the call, but not before telling Florence to keep her phone nearby just in case. It was then that the rain became a downpour, the raindrops drenching my hair and running into my face, forming a constellation on my long lashes.

Could this thing control weather?

Like a child I snuck into my car and waited until the heavy rain lightened. The radio had been reduced to static; no matter which channel I tuned to it was all  the same white noise. I flipped to channel 004 when I heard something...something I can't describe.

What I can formulate was it sounded like a chant--no, it was a chant. Through the static I swore I heard voices crying out eye-ah, eye-ah and then more things I couldn't decipher. I listened closer, and this is what I got:

Eye-ah ???, hear our voice

???, soul and voice of darkness

??? alal, hear our voice

Take our ??? we may hear you

Take our ??? so we may se you

I was chilled to the bone. I turned the car off and for a few blissful minutes all was silent except for the rain.

But that was ruined when I looked through windshield...it was standing only nine feet away from me. I could do nothing but stare in horror. I did not scream; I couldn't scream. The fear had silenced me.

I shut my eyes tight and cried, my heart beating like a drum in my chest and the sickening feeling that it was leering at me. Please go away, please go away, please go away...!!

The rain stopped completely; the only evidence of it was the dark clouds and the wet surfaces. I hesitated to start the car, but through the anxiety I found it in me to do so. The radio was back to normal and I drove home with the alternative rock station blaring.

I called Florence when I pulled into the driveway, hands still shaking.

"Flo...?"

"Ellie? Holy shit, are you alright?"

"I...Flo, listen. I don't--I think that I...something almost jumped me."

"What did he look like?" she snarled out protectively, "Who tried to hurt you? Did he have a knife or anything?"

"No! He--it didn't have anything." Just the possible power over nature. "He was just really scary looking and I didn't feel safe. I hid in my car and he...lost interest, I suppose. I'm home now, though! And feeling much better now that I'm talking to you." That wasn't a lie. The sun had started to peek through the clouds and Florence's voice eased my nerves.

She sighed, "All right then. If anyone tries to fuck with you, just call me and I'll burn them alive."

"I love you too, Florence."

"I'm serious."

"I know, I know," it felt good to laugh out the words, and after some minor small talk the call ended.

I really am feeling so much better...I just don't want it to rain anytime soon.

The Test

Eight days later I sat back in Dr. Frey's office. Instead of my usual, comfy seat I was led to a plain wooden chair, old and worn, which audibly creaked when I sat. He had me place my hands palm down on the small desk before me and walked away, pulling out a small sheet of paper.

"Now, Elizabeth, I want you to clear your mind completely. If you like you can close your eyes. I'm going to read you a list of words and you will tell me what you associate them with. Is this alright?"

I nodded, "Yeah, it is."

He leaned back into his chair, stopwatch in hand and paper in the other. "Good. Alright, first word: apple."

I said, "Pie."

"Doll," he murmured.

"Porcelain."

"Wolf."

"Wild."

"King."

"Crown."

"Darkness."

"Light."

"Baby."

"Family."

"Sex."

"...family..." my fingers curled against the cool desk. Suddenly I had a rush of memories of Catherine with me, bare breasted in the moonlight as we spoke of our hopes and dreams. "Yeah, family."


Dr. Frey 'hmmed'  and wrote something down. "I see, Elizabeth." He was silent for a moment, and I looked up from my pale hands to the diploma adorned wall before me. "You're anxious...you haven't gotten over Catherine, have you? This just shows me that you're hanging on to your beloved with an iron grip. You're not giving up on her or on finding her supposed killer."

I broke down inside. I evened out my voice as best I could, "I never will give up, Dr. Frey. I never will. I understand that, I accept that. I will go the rest of my life with my four best friends, but never another girlfriend."

I turned to look at him, and he gazed back at me with a heartbroken expression, "It can always get better, you know. You seem to not be giving it a chance."

He stood up and I followed suit. He scheduled me in for another three weeks. "Let me know if you see this black figure again."

Naomi's birthday came on the 10th of March, and on that day, at her house, while we laughed and joked and enjoyed ourselves, I saw it standing in the calmly in the twilight, right on the backyard lawn.

My throat tightened and I felt every vein in my body freeze. I chugged my decently sized glass of sangria to get moisture back into my mouth, and in the moment my eyes were averted, it seemed to come closer.

"Elizabeth?" Rebecca nudged me slightly, "You alright?"

I made the mistake of turning my head towards her, "I'm...sorry, I'm just out of it." I looked back to the window and it came just a few feet closer. My heart began to beat faster.

"No, you're not 'just out of it,'" Florence placed her glass on the coffee table. "What's the matter?
You're whiter than a ghost right now. You're not like that"

I blinked. It came closer. What could I say...?

"Don't look behind you," I whimpered, "Please, please don't."

"What?" Vivian's brow furrowed and she made the move to look at the window behind us. I grabbed her shoulders too roughly. "Ow! Elizabeth, what the fuck?"

Naomi turned around. She turned around as I held Vivian, went outside to check it out. I screamed at her to come back inside...she did, "Elizabeth, there's nothing out there. What's going on? Why did you freak out?"

What could I tell them? What could I say? "Please stay inside, girls. I don't want to lose you..." I broke down right on the floral couch, my tears landing on my glasses. My poor girls, they were so confused and worried. This was Naomi's special day and it ruined it. I ruined it.

For now it disappeared...but how long until it comes back?

Dr. Frey's Opinion

I didn't feel comfortable letting Lunagirl out of my sight after that incident, so against her wishes I kept her inside. She begged me with her adorable meows to let her back, but I knew, just knew, that the second time that thing wouldn't be lenient.

I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Frey and asked for a meeting as soon as possible. He had an opening on the following Wednesday, and so I went. In place of a bowl of cherries there was a small tray of cute colored macarons. I helped myself to, well, all of them (much to my shame; other people would have wanted those) as I waited.

The door to his office gently opened and he beckoned me inside. I practically bowled him over to get to the chair. Dr. Frey said, "Elizabeth, good Lord...what's the matter?"

I settled into the chair, gripping the smooth arms as I worded myself as best I could. Would he, too, think that I was nuts? I had to give it a shot, and I did.

He let me speak, listening intently the entire time and wrote down notes. When I had finished, he took off his glasses, folded them neatly and looked at me, "Elizabeth, listen to me. When you saw this Fear Dubh in that blizzard, you were cold, shaking, the snow obstructing your vision."

"But I know what I saw, Doctor," I pleaded, "it tried to go after my Luna! It's real. Please, please believe me. This thing is real and it killed Catherine."

Dr. Frey frowned, then sat back in his chair and nodded, "I don't know what to say, Elizabeth. Either her illness is spreading or, most unlikely, this creature is real. But let's go back further. Before the blizzard, did you see it then?"

"No, I haven't. But I did get...listen to this. I woke up one morning in December to find that someone had ripped a page out of Catherine's diary and taped it to the front door."

That caught his attention. He leaned forward, "Come again?"

I, too, leaned in, "Someone found Catherine's diary, something she took with her, ripped out the page that detailed her proposing to me, and left it on the front door. I still have it."

"Then tell the police as soon as possible. Why didn't you tell them then?"

That was a good question, but a part of me had a reason: it was a piece of Catherine that I held near and dear to my heart, and by giving it to the police, I would have to give it up. Later that day I did tell the police about my finding, much to their displeasure. They admonished me about not telling them sooner, but days later came back to me and said they could find nothing of use from it. No fingerprints, no markings, nothing. It was as if it just teleported there from nothing.

The rest of the session was unremarkable. He penciled me in for another session soon, and this time he would do a simple test, a similar one he did with Catherine.

Gelid

The other day, when yet another snowstorm began to cover the ground, I heard Lunagirl shriek and hiss at something unseen. I've never heard her react that way, not even with other cats. I looked outside and saw her, with a white dusting on her black coat and ear in her little eyes. She meowed and ran off. I followed her immediately to try and calm her down.

The snow became heavier as I followed her and suddenly the fear I felt weeks ago returned. Even though I wanted to get back in the house, I knew I couldn't leave my cat behind, not in this weather, not when she needed help.

I suddenly felt a hot heaviness in my ribs and throat that knocked me to the ground. My head bowed and my hair falling around my face, three drops of blood fell from my nose onto the snow. Seconds later I coughed up more of the sticky substance.

My anxiety was choking me more than the blood was. I scrambled to my feet and called out for her, begging her to come back. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw it again.

Standing there. Watching me struggle against nature.

Fear Dubh was as real as the sky was blue. Catherine wasn't crazy.

I couldn't run, not in this cold and the snow preventing me. I sobbed a bit, looking over my shoulder once or twice to see it still there, still watching. As if it were waiting for something.

I found Lunagirl under a tree, shaking with cold and fear. I grabbed and held her tightly to my chest as more blood flowed from my nose.

"Leave her be," I hissed out. Lunagirl cried into my arm and I snarled at the thing. I must have been crazy, with the snow and the blood and everything happening. I just wanted to protect my little girl more than anything.

It kept standing there, and I coughed up more blood.

I walked back as fast as I could, more scared than I've ever been as I begged Catherine to guide me back to the house safely. She must have heard me, my darling, because I did indeed get back there. Lunagirl wriggled from my arms and ran to my room as I went to the nearest mirror.

The blood coated my mouth in a sick parody of lipstick. I washed it off, threw away my nightshirt and cried long and hard. Lunagirl was safe with me and she made a nest for herself on my bed.

I took a nap then, but even still I felt it watching.

Blinding

On January 21st, as most of you know, was the first true snowstorm of the year. It was also the day my girls and I returned to school. At first the snow came down slowly, then it became so thick you couldn't see anything. The college was let out early and we quickly headed to our cars.

I, unfortunately, had parked too far from the building and had to brave walking through the icy winds. Also unfortunately, I forgot my gloves.

I walked slowly, though the soft mounds of snow that covered the sidewalks and streets, tripping more than once and getting my knees wet. I put my hand out to cat myself if I fell again, and when I looked up I saw a strange, tall figure in the distance.

Whatever it was, I could not see it clearly; the snow in my teary eyes and in the howling wind made in almost impossible. Though I now felt watched and vulnerable, I kept walking towards my car. The figure did not move an inch.

The closer I got the more the dread increased. I slipped on a patch of ice and was cushioned by a large pile of snow that had accumulated. I looked at my hands and much to my horror, the flakes did not melt when they landed on my trembling flesh. The figure seemed to get closer.

I didn't wait for another second. I grabbed my backpack and ran as fast as I possibly could to my car. The whole way the snow got thicker, the winds got more vicious and I could have sworn the temperature dropped even more. I thought I was going to freeze to death.

I made it to my car, threw open the doors and turned the heat way, way up. Slowly but surly, my hands began to feel again and the snow that stuck to them so eagerly morphed back into cold water. I felt surrounded by something dark and deep, something that observed me.

It took me almost three hours to get back home, and all the while I knew I was being followed. I didn't need to look in my mirrors to know that it was there. Pulling into my driveway and exiting my car was difficult--I shuffled through the snow and looked all around for the thing. Nothing. Nothing at all.

Catherine wasn't insane.

The Diary Entry

May 20, 2010

I finally did it! I proposed to Elizabeth and she said yes! Florence can't call me a wuss anymore. I can't wait to see the look on her face. But she'll be so happy I proposed, everyone will be. Mom and Dad are thrilled. Dad nearly fainted! I'll let the fact sink in for a bit. I'm so happy that I saved up all that money for the ring, cheap as it was. I plan on taking on another shift; I want to give Elizabeth the best of everything. This is the start of a brand new life for us and I can't wait to live it.

New Year and a Gift

2014 is upon us, sooner than I thought. Every new year seems like it comes quicker than the last one. It's freaky how every future becomes the present, and how every present becomes the past. In a way it's almost maddening. I wore  purple in honor of Catherine and the year she would never see. I tried calling her parents to wish them a happy new year, but they didn't pick up. I feel bad for them and I miss them terribly. I hope 2014 is kind to them.

On Christmas day I found a folded up piece of paper with my name on it taped to the front door. I already got a sense of dread before I even opened it. I nearly choked on my own air when I saw what it was.

[edit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kILY6ZFFkk the video.]