1

I was dreaming of something when that dream was interrupted by a chilly breeze blowing in through my window. There was no other sound when suddenly, I heard a continuous tapping from somewhere.

It sounded so near yet so far. But I couldn't tell where it was coming from, if it was in my dreams or in reality. At that time I was fully aware of my surroundings, but I couldn't open my eyes no matter how hard I tried, and yet, I was strangely aware that I was still asleep. Sleep paralyzed.

I could tell my room was untouched. The cup was still placed on the desk, my clothes were lying messily on the chair, the door was still locked. And yet, I couldn't help but vaguely feel that something wasn't correct. It felt like something or rather someone was in the room with me. Watching me sleep.

I don't know how long I sat in that eerie silence of my surroundings except for the continuous tapping coming from somewhere. It was weird that I wasn't scared of the strange situation I found myself in. It was like.....

It was like I have been in this situation before.

I shocked myself when I thought of that because I have never had sleep paralysis before. I was sure of it and yet here I was. Calm like I have experienced this before. Once? Twice? Or maybe a hundred times? I have no clue why I felt like that and yet I felt like I was correct.

I was calm like the calm before the storm.

Then finally after God knows how long, the tapping stops.

Then about a minute after, I hear something. I heard it clearly and yet I was unable to remember it afterwards.

I don't remember the words.

I don't remember if the voice was masculine or feminine.

I don't even remember if I was able to understand it as well.

I only remember getting a chill down my spine.

I was scared. I was scared at this moment when I heard this voice.

Not when I lay flat with no sound other than that tapping for a long long time. But now.

Was this voice of whoever or whatever that was staring at me?

Before I could think back to what I heard I was jolted awake by my alarm. I can't tell if I felt relieved or scared to face the reality when I felt my body unfreezing. Back in my control.

The moment was so brief but I instinctively know that I should remember it no matter what.

No matter what.

But it was too late. My consciousness was here. And like every single time, I'm bound to forget like my dreams.

"Ughh" I stirred awake to some sound, unable to recognise it right away. Trying to find the source of the sound I fumble around my pillow and finally found my vibrating phone that is getting louder and louder. Finally I was able to turn off my alarm. Albeit irritably.

My head was pounding.

I checked the clock on my phone and realized it was 7 am already. I was going to be late for my class.

How many times have I been late again? I don't really remember. Well I guess I'm late for nth time this month for school again.

I heaved a long sigh. It was worrying that I don't remember it clearly but I guess I was still groggy from having just woken up.

"Screw it. I'm late anyways. I don't care", said I as I sunk back to bed. Covering myself with my blanket.

As the warmth of the blanket lulled me back to sleep I was glad to not be awake and worry about my school.

But it seemed the universe had other plans.

Because there was an earthquake.

Yes. An earthquake.

"Aaaah!"

I was startled awake from my drowsiness by an earthquake.

I was dozing off for about a minute or two when I was woken up for the second time in the same morning. In the span of less than 15 minutes.

Why is everything so screwed today morning?

I'm having an amazing start to my day clearly. As they say morning shows the day, my day is screwed.

First I'm late, and now an earthquake. Guess there is no helping it then. I can't be bothered to find out what is happening. I'm already tired.

But something seems off.

I feel like I seem to be forgetting something but I don't know. Other than how many times I haven't gone to school, I don't think I have forgotten anything else.

So why does it still feel weird?

I feel like everything till now is my daily routine, minus the earthquake. So why does it still feel like this isn't my normal routine.

This day feels like something….. I don't know how to explain it but something seems wrong.

Very wrong.

Like it shouldn't exist. Like it is put in a wrong place.

Like this day shouldn't exist.

Whatever it's none of my concern.

My head hurts like crazy so I'll just go back to bed.

Thinking about this makes my head hurt.

- - -

Unbeknownst to me or everyone else, something was indeed happening and I was in the eye of the storm.

Where I believed it was none of my concern, it WAS my concern and I should've been more careful about it. But as tragedy was bound to happen, I couldn't go against the wheel of fate.

I was trapped.

But I didn't know that.

So who knew?

Good question. Remember when I said I felt something or rather someone was watching me sleep? Yeah. Them. They knew. And maybe more but all of these aren't aware to me.

I was subconsciously aware of what was happening but it was forced out of my consciousness by a mysterious higher power. Higher than me. Higher than you. Higher than us.

Unless you belong to THAT camp.

But I was still subconsciously aware that a creature entered my room bringing a chilly breeze and started tapping it's fingers on the wall.

Hidden away in the darkness of the ceiling wall and my closet, it sat there staring at me, tapping away. Laughing at the helpless situation of the mankind. Laughing at my helplessness, despite being an anomaly.

"hehehe"

"stupid mortals"

"what did the lord even see in these foolish creatures?"

"aah at least they can rid me of my boredom for a while. that's all these ants are capable of either way"

And with a final chuckle it went away. And so did my memories of it. Along with the chilly breeze it created when leaving went everything i was aware of. We can't go against it or it's kind.