Screaming

I hate it when Pam goes home. Sure, I can listen to music or do literally anything else. But having her nearby is better. I stretched my arms and legs while lying on the floor and started counting tiles above my head. This is a great life we’re leading… Maybe I should take a nap? At least the dreams are still pretty… for a time.

I’ve never been good at lying to myself. I like to put on airs and say everything is fine. But what else am I supposed to do? It’s not like going to a doctor will change anything… And we don’t have enough money to go around. I need to fix this! I raised the volume, letting static screech for a moment before adjusting the settings and finding a song that fits my mood.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and waited for the inevitable…

I used to like the idea of colored flames. I loved sitting in front of a campfire and finding the blues and whites amongst the yellows and oranges. Fire was beautiful—even when I was a part of it. The flames licked my clothes and skin like overly friendly cats and dogs, making me giggle as they turned bright green.

It felt like I was inside a warm emerald, with bursts of sunlight trickling in and making everything warm. I would have been happy if that was how it stayed, but the sunlight slowly grew hotter and hotter until the walls felt like an oven attempting to roast me alive. I banged my fists against them, hoping to form a crack and gain some much-needed air.

But the walls became flames, pushing me back to the center until I fell onto my butt, unable to stand as the world burned green into my eyes…

I sat up, rubbing my face with a shiver, and sighed. “Why am I not surprised to wake up in a dark room?... Did they even come home yet?”

I checked my cell phone and snorted at the lack of notifications. Of course, they didn’t say when they were coming home. Why would they do that? It’s not like they expect to come home to a meal made from scratch… Did Pam eat the last of the pizza? I felt around the wall, flipped the light switch, and cleaned.

Giving them something to complain about when they get back wouldn't do. They’re bound to have plenty of things to say either way. I kept the volume up, going through three tracks before hearing a creak above my head. I looked up and moved the headphones, but the sound wasn’t repeated.

“Hello?” Did they come home and miss me on the floor? It wouldn’t be the first time, but I’m sure I would have heard something or seen another light. I waited a few seconds before slowly finishing off the cleaning. It wouldn’t have made any housekeepers happy, but it was better than when I started, and that’s all that mattered.

The clock said it was eight pm, and Pam knew better than to stick around too long. My parents didn’t know when to stop teasing, and it was easier to avoid all acts of communication… I wish that worked on everybody. Why do some people feel entitled to hurt others? I double-checked the trash before heading upstairs.

It would need to be emptied, but that was a job reserved for the future me. I needed to think, and music alone wasn’t helping as much as I hoped. Maybe I should start bringing my homework home. Pam would love to study together, and that is why it’s called homework… I shook my head and sat in front of my computer, checking emails before quickly dismissing the spam with an amused snort.

Maybe I should get a job as a psychic. There’s some good money to be had, and I could use my dreams to sound all mysterious. The idea made me laugh as I switched to video games. Everyone in class has been going nonstop about a new hybrid story/shooter that just came out, and the screenshots didn’t look bad.

It’s a shame I suck at aiming, but if they have a machine gun, then… A creak sounded above my head again, and I paused. There shouldn’t be anything above my room. Is the building settling? I kept my eyes on the screen as more creaks and groans seemed to echo above me. I didn’t want to look up.

I’ve seen more than my share of horror tropes, and nothing good ever happened by looking up. You’re fine. There’s no one else here. You locked the doors and windows like you always do. There’s nothing going on. You need to get more sleep and maybe ask Pam to crash at her place for a few days.

It couldn’t have hurt. There were a hundred little pointless things I could have done. And Pam has always been there for me. She would have teased me, but that would be better than waking up to find a monster or burglar had broken in while I was asleep. Not that we have much worth stealing. I can’t even remember when we got this computer.

Another creak sounded above my head, and I groaned. “There better not be anything up there,” I muttered as I finally looked up to see nothing out of the ordinary.

“You have got to be kidding me.” I looked at my screen, trying to use it to look behind me but still turning around to check my surroundings. Nothing jumped out at me. “Alright, let’s see if my theory is correct.”

I walked around, going from room to room, and pretended to be absorbed in something until a creak sounded. It wasn’t the best way to spend my evening. And the only thing it proved was that something was following me and letting me know anytime it thought I wasn’t paying attention.

Is this some kind of trick? I know large cats like to stalk, but the only thing close to one is a raccoon. I walked to the living room and sat down with the TV on. About a minute later, the creaks began. Raccoons don’t stalk people. They only freak out if you try to keep them out of the trash, and I know this place isn’t that messy!

I texted Pam, hoping she might have a clue that could help me or, better yet, a place on her couch where I could curl up after setting my home on fire. I wonder if this thing even knows what it’s doing. If it wants my attention, it should have done more by now. Why does it wait until after I’m trying to do something before causing a racket?

Pam texted back a few seconds later, making me grin. [Ali, if you think something is in your house. You don’t need to ask my permission to come over. Don’t do anything stupid, and get your butt over here!]

“Does setting everything on fire count?” I was hoping this would get my unwanted visitor’s attention, but it only caused more groans to happen. “I guess grabbing some clothes might be pushing it.”

And this gives me an excuse to raid Pam’s closet, and fill her fridge! I grinned, feeling more excited than I have in a long time, as I checked my pockets to make sure I had my keys before turning to the door… and stopped to see it wide open. That’s not good! I backed up, phone in hand, and looked around for any signs of an intruder. I was painfully aware that the creaks were all around me as I rested against a wall.

“Hello?” Why did I do that?! A cold breeze wafted against my legs, making me shiver as I tried to resist blinking as much as possible. But the door stayed open, and the creaking didn’t stop. Did Pam forget to close the door when she left? I’m sure I locked it before lying down on the floor.

A new creak happened next to my ear, making me jump away as another breeze swept around me… and carried a voice!

“Please, take me with you!”

“Who said that?” I turned around, but the creaking was getting louder… and the door was still open, empty of any signs of life. It was easily the scariest thing I’d seen, and the voice came again.

“Don’t leave me!”

“I’ll have to if I can’t find you!” I snapped as I stepped closer to the door. That’s it. You’re either having another nightmare, or you’re being haunted. It’s time to run and pray you wake up in bed like any other day and blow this off!

“Please!” The voice sobbed as I took another step. “Please!”

“I don’t know where you are!” Or who or how any of this is happening!

“Look up!”

I did and felt the world break.