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Her eyes snapped open.

Instantly she was awake.

Aware.

"What the hell was that??!!"

A loud banging noise from down stairs ripped her from her peaceful, dozing sleep. She glanced at the clock on the locker beside her bed.

6:21AM it blink, impassionedly. Uncaring.

What was that noise? What was it? Was there someone downstairs? Had someone broken in? Someone must have, what else could make such a racket at this hour of the morning? There must be. There has to be!!!

There is!!

Oh My God. Panic flooded her mind and it screamed ahead – I am going to die. Someone is down stairs. They are going to come up here and kill me. They are going to beat me, rape me and leave me for dead. Oh my god they’re going to rape me!! I don’t want to die.

Oh God!!!

Oh God!!!

Oh God!!!

6:22AM – God isn’t going to help you now, the clock blinked.

It was one minute, just one, but it seemed like an eternity. What would she do? Leap from the bed and run screaming from the house. No, the doors are locked downstairs. She’d need the keys open them. That’s when they get you. When you’re panicking and you can’t find the right key. Then you’re dead. No that won’t work ….think …think …think

6:23AM – the clock blinked.

She stared intently as the two dots blinked on and off. Almost hypnotic. On and off. Death is coming, Death is coming. Blind panic had taken hold. Death was coming, it was real close now the clock seemed to blink in its disinterested, yet knowing manner.

Death.

6:24AM it blinked.

Call out. Shout. See if you get an answer. No – then they’ll know you’re up here, they’ll be up the stairs in an instant and you’ll be dead just as quick.

She could almost hear the numbers change.

6:25AM it blinked.

Cop-on the rational voice in her head said, there’s no one downstairs. If there was you, would have heard them by now. You know you would have.

Calm down.

Relax, it’s ok.

You imagined it. You were dreaming that’s all.

No, it was too real to be a dream.

6:26AM it blinked.

It was real. Wasn’t it?

No, it was just a dream that is all, there’s nothing there. You would have heard something. It’s been five minutes; no one could so qui….

…..Oh ****, what was that???!!! It sounded like someone on the stairs. Oh Jesus there is!!!!

I don’t want to die!!!

Oh please don’t let me die.

Sweet ruptured from every pore on her body.

Pretend you’re asleep. Don’t move, hold your breath. Don’t do anything. Whoever is there isn’t here to kill you, they just want your purse, your car keys. They don’t want to kill anyone do…do they?

6:27 AM

A draft brushed across her naked body, cooling, chilling; the gentle caress reminding her of how vulnerable she was to the man and the death which he now carried in to her home, to her room. She pulled the covers tight around her….you’re asleep. You’re asleep, you’re asleep…..There is nothing there….but there must be, why else would it be draughty? Someone must have opened a door!!!!


6:28

She screwed her eyes tight, clenched her fists.

Oh God……she prayed silently to all the gods and all the saints. The promises she made. How she swore she would become a nun. No more late nights on the piss. No more one night stands. She’d shape up and fly straight from now on. She’d change if she could just have one more chance.

Just one.

Please God don’t let someone be there. Please…please…please she begged in desperation.

6:29

BEEP BEEP BEEP

She sat bolt upright. Nearly falling from her bed.

There was nothing there. Nothing at all.

"What the..."

"See", the voice in her head chuckled nervously, "nothing there at all. I told you."

"Yes" she said, rather sheepishly to the empty room, "...nothing there at all. You were right…thank god".

But what was the noise, she wondered? Was it really just her imagination? It couldn’t have been, it seemed so real. It really did. She pulled on her dressing grown, wrapping it tightly round her body, she slipped her feet in to her warm fluffy slippers.

As she shuffled her way to the top of the stairs she caught a glimpse of reflection in the bedroom mirror. A wry smile reflected back at her:

"Idiot"
"I know" she replied.

I must remember to make an appointment to have my hair done, she thought, I look like something the cat coughed up. Even though she had almost convinced herself it was just a dream, she was still a little hesitant. Cautious. Sure it was a dream, but maybe, just maybe. As she descended the stairs she saw it; thrown on the hall floor at the front door. The local rag.

"Aww for **** sake" she swore to the empty hall. Obviously the stupid paper-boy had been a little over enthusiastic when he rammed the paper through the letter box and caused quite a racket.

"What the hell was he doing delivering it at this ungodly hour for?" she thought.

You’ll have to cut out that swearing when you join the nunnery the sarcastic voice in her head laughed.

"**** the nunnery and **** the goddam paper boy" she answered haughty.

"That’s strange" she thought to herself as she bent to pick up the paper, "where did all that broken gla….."

"Oh.…"

And the floor in the hall rushed up to embrace her.

Copyright 2007 Catherine Kelly
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