October Flash Fiction #6

by

A.R. Von

Twas the night before…

Duh, wrong holiday! Halloween, that’s the ticket!

What does one think of when the holiday approaches it’s time? I’ll tell you! Witches, ghosts, goblins, vampires, werewolves, trolls, fairies, zombies and so many others thought of throughout time. Some go straight to thinking of the carving of pumpkins, candy corn, trick or treating, parties, dressing up and so much more and all of it is fun!

            Me? I personally think about something that happened and has haunted my mind for some years now, every day and night. A dream or apparition that came to me one Halloween eve at 3:13 a.m., has continued to do so ever since. Soon to be 6 years ago, actually in two weeks exactly from today it will make the full 6 year count.

What I remember from the first and each occurrence since is…

            I was trapped, could not move, breathe or speak. Inside the house was quiet. The dog was asleep at my feet as always. This time she was on top of the blanket instead of burrowing beneath it. I heard the neighbor’s car doors close, three doors to be exact. The neighbor at the left side of my house had the floodlight on; it’s so bright shining through my window. I felt like squinting as I would for the sun.

I glanced down the length of my body and took into account I had my left hand placed on the lower part of my stomach; my right hand rested on my upper chest. I felt as if someone was holding me down. My arms were stuck in place. I could not scratch the itch on my nose, ugh! I believed I was awake because I was fully aware of my surroundings, each and every one of them. I tried to focus more in front of me and that’s when I saw a shape of sorts.

 It seemed as if it was a person, yet not. I could not be sure. Slowly it came into better focus, as if it was solidifying right before my eyes. I continued to just stare at it, trying to determine the gender or species. Is it a man or a woman and WHY COULDN’T I MOVE?

Suddenly I was able to make out that it was wearing a shirt. It was a button down shirt with small shapes all over it, flowers. Yes, small flowers decorated the shirt in its entirety. My heart was pounding like I’ve never felt before. The blood was rushing to my head and I heard the pounding of my heart as if my ear was against my chest. I was in such a panic; I wanted to scream “NO!” But I could not move my mouth, could not even blink. I tried so hard to say it, to make any type of sound from my mouth, but it refused to come out. My eyes are burning from the strain. Tears are pours down the sides of my face in a study stream.

 My breath was wheezing out of my lungs. I was screaming in my mind at the top of my lungs “Please, help! Stop! Get off of me!” As all of this was going through my mind the pressure was growing on my chest, a weight that was immovable. Like an iron grasp or some type of force was holding my body its captive. I was panting breathes just then. No longer able to take a complete breath to satisfy my lungs its requirement of oxygen needed to live.

 “What the hell is going on?” Still my words were nothing but a thought. I was unable to speak to this entity or thing that was just staring at me with empty eyes, soul less eyes, void of all emotions. It did not speak, it just stared. I did not see a mouth, nose or any other orifice except those eyes. It made no sense, what was happening!

 I noticed the pressure was very slowly letting off me as I continued to stare into its dark depths. I was finally able to open my mouth; I made sure to take advantage, take a breath and try to scream “NO!” It came out as if I was whimpering. I began to thrash and flail with all of my might. I finally was able to move, but it was still there, staring almost as if it’s measuring me, judging me. What did it want from me? It looked as if it was fading away, disappearing before my eyes just as it had appeared.

 “You’re not real!” I screamed and closed my eyes only to open them again and its eyes were as close as possible to my face. I closed my eyes again and chanted my very own mantra over and over in my head “not real… I’m dreaming… It’s just a dream...” I’m not sure how long I stood that way but I finally felt brave enough to reopen my eyes and took a peek. It was gone. I glanced all around; my dog still lay in the same exact spot as before. As if nothing at all has happened. Flustered I sat up and scanned the room slowly with my eyes finding nothing, no one… My clothing moist from sweat; a lingering feeling of pressure, suffocation and fear of something I’ll never be able to name.

What a memory to have for what use to be my favorite holiday of the year. It’s always the same. Not one detail differs in any way shape or form. Fear still holds me back from actually living the way one with a life actually should. The questions still linger in my mind. Who was it? What was it? Will it continue come back? Is it a dream or is it real? My only Halloween tradition since that date is to stay awake. No more sleep on Halloween Eve, ever!

****

My name is Ava. I'm a 39 year old mother of two entertaining teen boys (as well as a lovely fawn Chihuahua whom I consider my furry daughter) and a wife to a delightfully handsome and amazingly funny man beast. I'm an avid reader of many genres I also love to exercise, hike, listen to music, cook, write (tidbits nothing published), dance and write reviews. I’m currently a reviewer at Romance Book Junkies, Satin Sheets Romance and BTS emag. I also beta read for various authors when needed. Oh how I love books!

http://www.facebook.com/ava.vongiebelsantagada

Twitter: @AVonGiebel