People are used to having to live without fear. We have a safe home, always something to eat, family, a warm place to sleep and live with far more than we actually need. Humans are creatures of habit. Something new is usually scary for us. But what if all this security disappeared all at once? He took that from me. It was like falling into a dark hole. Everything I owned slipped through my hands, like trying to catch water with nothing but your bare hands.
~~~
The lights from the streetlamps turn dark, as his big shadow fills the small alley. I didn’t have to be able to see his face to sense his presence. He is breathing quietly, yet so loud, it turned the peaceful night into a horror movie. The stare that comes from his eyes feels like an unbearable weight on my shoulders. I knew who it was immediately. It was him. The mysterious shadow who stalked me for months, who haunted my dreams. I never saw his face, but I know this man is dangerous. No. He is the danger. He is the predator, and I’m his prey.
I felt he would come for me- but I never knew when. The sound of a slow, deep rhythmic breathing fills the air, followed by a gentle chuckle emanating from the dark night. “Oh, mio amore,” the man pours. “You are so stubborn.” I know better than to speak or acknowledge his existence. I ignore him, hoping he would just go away. However, my intuition was unfortunately right on the money. I hear the sound of slow, steady footsteps as the shadow makes his way towards me. The fear is practically eating me out, and I want to run, but it’s like in every nightmare. I’m completely frozen. A cold, uncomfortable shiver runs down my spine and leaves goosebumps all over my skin. He steps into one of the weak lights from the streetlamps. To my surprise, his face was hidden by a dark hood, pulled over his face. All I can see is a smug smile forming on his lips, showing a bit of his pearl white teeth. His skin is a bit darker, and a slight stubble covers his striking face. “Sleep now, Cara mia.” He closes the gap between us, and before I can react, he presses a handkerchief in my face.
~~~
Darkness. Often feared by humans, but yet, so calm and peaceful. My eyelids softly blink open, the warm morning sun shining directly on me. My eyes flutter. I look around the large, lavishly detailed room, I woke up in. The first thing I noticed was the massive windows, looking out the beautiful ocean. I am lying in a- to my surprise, extremely comfortable and silky soft bed. Everything was decorated in a beautiful, elegant dark style. Suddenly, I feel a sense of dread overwhelm me, before I caught the man sitting on a chair across the room, staring at me. Yet, his face is hidden by the same dark hood. But his hands are visible, colored with the same, slight brown skin on his face. A beautiful tattoo covers the back of his hand, disappearing under the sleeve of his dark hoodie. I can feel my heart rate increase the moment I saw that man, whose face is still hidden by the shadows of his hood. I start to hyperventilate, but the man stands up slowly, filling the room with a soft sound of footsteps as he walks towards me. The smell of cologne mixed with the fresh smell of the ocean outside, hit me as he approached.
© Maya Paashaus 2024-08-11