Chapter 2

But when I looked, there was nothing there. Just a video of the staircase.

How could this be?

Liam comforted me, then went to call the police, while I sat on the bed, my mind a complete mess.

I saw it clearly. How could it just vanish?

"You're just tired. Get some rest. I'll warm up some milk for you."

I barely heard him, completely lost in my own world, until I heard the sound of the lock clicking. My head snapped up, the door already ajar. I shrieked, "Don't open it!"

But it was too late.

The door burst open.

A dark shadow darted out, dragging him into the darkness.

"Ahhhhh!"

A bloodcurdling scream, followed by tearing and gnashing sounds from outside the room, and Liam's weakening voice telling me to run.

Fear, guilt, and terror enveloped and crushed me.

The sounds grew fainter, then disappeared.

The scent of blood filled the air.

I was frozen in place, terrified.

I watched, horrified, as something dark squirmed and slowly moved towards me.

The room's light illuminated its form.

Blood stained its mouth, and it was still chewing something.

It spoke in Liam's voice:

"One more."

As it lunged, I snapped back to reality, slamming the door shut and locking it with incredible speed.

The door was struck with a massive *thud*.

With the danger contained, I collapsed onto the floor, my body limp.

Thinking of my dead husband, I was heartbroken.

I couldn't understand how things had come to this!

The footsteps outside were chaotic and rapid, as if pacing back and forth.

I was still alive; it wouldn't give up.

I silently prayed for the police to arrive quickly. But the next second, a crisp clicking sound of a lock echoed in the room.

To my horror, the lock was being manipulated by an invisible force, twisting and turning. I watched, frozen, as the doorknob turned.

I was like a statue, staring blankly.

The door opened, revealing that terrifying, grotesque face.

My neck was bitten through, blood splattering onto the ceiling. In my last moments, I saw its mouth full of sharp teeth, tearing and devouring my flesh.

It was 11:40 PM.

I gasped, shooting upright in bed.

My hand flew to my neck. The skin was smooth, no trace of a severed throat, yet the agonizing pain of being bitten and torn still lingered in my body.

What happened?

Wasn't I dead?

Was everything that just happened a dream?

"I'm going to take a shower. Are your things packed? Our flight's first thing in the morning, don't want to be scrambling then."

I stared blankly at Liam, standing perfectly fine before me. The image of him dying, telling me to run, flashed in my mind, and my eyes welled up. I rushed forward, hugging him tightly.

"Liam, thank goodness you're alive!"

"What nonsense are you talking about? Am I supposed to be dead?"

He hugged me back, teasing.

I quickly covered his mouth. "Ptooey, ptooey! Don't even say 'dead'!"

"Alright, alright, whatever you say. I know you can't live without me, but I just got home from work, all sweaty. My dearest wife, can you please let me take a shower first?"

I gave him an annoyed look, telling him to go.

Looking at my perfectly fine husband, I could only believe that everything that had just happened was a dream.

I smoothed my frantically beating heart, trying to calm it, and pulled out my phone to scroll through some TikToks and relax.

My gaze suddenly landed on the time displayed: 11:50 PM. But I distinctly remembered it being midnight!

I'd been so caught up in my relief, I hadn't noticed the time was off. If it had been a dream, I should have woken up *after* midnight.

And my conversation with Liam just now had happened *before* 11:50 PM, but in the dream, Liam was *already showering*. That means his words wouldn't have been said at this time!

I touched my neck again. The pain felt too real.

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