1 chapter 1: A three am to knock your socks off

I knew something was wrong instantly.

It wasn't the fact that I was the only one awake at that moment or even the fact that I was still fully clothed at this time of night, no those things were, in all aspects, normal for me.

The thing that had me cautiously looking around my pitch-black room, was the fact that I don't remember even being near its usually comforting presence. Less so my bed, before I had woken up in it.

Though I instantly shoved the growing unease into the depths of my stomach.

I knew that if I kept worrying like I was, nothing would end up being done about it. Without looking back I slowly slipped out of bed, shivering as my feet touched my icy cold wooden floor and my body weight shifted to support itself. I sluggishly moved across the room, dragging my feet across the floor and wearily rubbing my eyes before opening the door to my bedroom and walking out into the hallway.

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A sort of gut-wrenching feeling overcame me as I slowly stepped out into the hallway, justifying my belief that something was wrong and that that something wasn't right. The hallway was almost as pitch black as my room, if not for some ambient light I would hardly be able to see anything. Shivers ran along my body as I moved hesitantly down the hallway. I just about forced myself to keep walking, one foot in front of the other and I felt absolutely pathetic. It's like I've been thrown back in time to when I was a little kid, shivering in the corner too afraid of his own shadow to do anything.

Shaking my head to get rid of the self-degrading thoughts I moved closer to the kitchen. Maybe I can just get myself some milo, yeah that'd cheer me up for sure.

Smiling at that thought I quickly moved through the space that was separating me from the kitchen. Like I was a ninja trying not to be seen under the cover of the night and finally, after what seemed like years, I stepped over the threshold to the kitchen.

Quickly looking over my shoulder at the ominous-looking hallway behind me, I could still see the shadows stretching out across the small hallway like they were trying to reach out to grab me, hold on tight, and never let go but were they repelled as soon as they tried to cross the same threshold I had safely crossed only moments before.

Then I bent over my shoulders sagging as I put my hands on my knees to support myself, breathing out a big sigh of relief and releasing a breath I didn't realise I was holding.

'Geez, why am I being such a scaredy-cat tonight I haven't been this scared of the night since I was a little kid' I thought as I crossed the room towards the pantry where I knew my parents had tried and failed to hide the milo. Shaking my head I decided to focus on the task at hand. Stretching up I reached to open the cupboard.

But I never got the chance.

As soon as I touched the handle to the cupboard door a huge sound rang throughout the room 'dong', it reverberated off the walls and made everything slightly shake.

I looked around In confusion trying to find out what the heck made that sound, but before I could do anything more the sound rang out again.

*DONG*

The sound had gotten louder. Pots and pans rattled as the ground shook harder than before.

*DONG* *DONG* *DONG*

The sounds came suddenly in rapid succession. Getting louder and more violent with each that passed. My head spun as I just barely caught myself. My hand grasping at the edge of the island kitchen, trying to steady me as I felt a sharp pain in my head and watched my world spin circles in front of me.

I ended up going cross-eyed as I stared at the small accumulating black blodges that were slowly blocking my vision and I wondered if they were just a figment of my imagination. Until a part of my still rational brain informed me that this is what usually happens when one gets a migraine which was nothing new. But I had no time to take in this new information my brain had supplied me in my hazed state of mind as the noise came back once again.

*DONG*

This time the noise was louder than anything I'd ever heard. My brain felt like it was going to explode as searing pain ran through my body. Finally, I let go of the kitchen island and doubled over in pain screaming out in agony as I clutched my hands to my head hoping to ease the pain.

My eyesight swam, as I tried to focus on something that wasn't the pain. Desperately I looked back in the direction of the dark hallway I had come from and in my delirious state I begged and hoped.

I begged for someone to find me. For my parents to come rushing in and cradle me in their arms for them to ask me what's wrong, for them to take the pain away.

I hoped that this was all just a bad dream and I'd wake up from this hell and be able to creep into my parent's room as I did as a small child when I had nightmares. To be able to tell my parents about my nightmare and be comforted by their soothing words.

Unfortunately, my own personal hell had just started.

In my last moments of consciousness, as my vision got worse and worse I stretched my arm out towards the darkened hallway. With my last bit of strength, I lifted my head to look at the darkened hallway. The shadows that only 5 minutes ago seemed to be the most terrifying thing in the world now seemed like an old friend excitedly welcoming me back after a long trip away. The once threatening way it tried to grab at me now felt like it was desperately trying to get to a friend in danger. And so with such a hazed over mind from the pain, my brain grasped onto the last straws of hope I had.

" h-hel-p-p m-me" I try to say, my throat raw and scratchy from screaming.

My head dropped along with my eyelids as the last ounce of strength left my body, and I finally slump against the kitchen's cold floor my mind catches a glimpse of the shadows.

Before it was like there was a barrier at the entrance to the kitchen. To keep the shadows from harming anyone but now, with little hesitation, the shadows filled the room and I was surrounded in a dark, warm, calm and comforting presence.

As I lay there in the darkness I felt like I was floating underwater. And with no energy left to be confused my consciousness finally gave out.