Skin deep

It was late at night and all the lights were off. Nawra was sleeping and didn't hear him coming in. He took of his shoes and left them by the front door, blindly, he headed to their room, brushing the furniture in the living room but not stumbling on it. They had built all of it themselves after a lengthy trip to IKEA, it had been fun to chose which dinning table would witness the start of their life together. He had insisted for better furniture, but Nawra convinced him that it was only temporary. It took them several days to put it all together, mainly because he couldn't keep his hands away from her. He smiled at the memory, he had had a sore back for a week after the furniture-building streak and not from the actual building. His left pinkie toe got caught on the corner of the coffee table. He cursed, Nawra must have moved it. The light from the lightlamp across the street illuminated the room. Nawra was sleeping on the sheets, naked as she always did despite it being winter and the house being cold, she didn't feel the cold, she never did. He shuddered when he took out his jacket and placed it on the chair next to his side of the bed. He would sleep on his clothes, he had decided, he was too tired and didn't want to wake Nawra up. He slid under the sheets, kissed Nawra on her forehead who moved in her sleep, and fell asleep almost instantly. 

Nawra woke up with the sun and sat by the window in the kitchen to have breakfast and check her email. When he got to the kitchen a half-empty bowl of cereal lay by her computer as she went from spreadsheet to spreadsheet. He rubbed her shoulders and she jumped as his hands touched her skin. 

-Ouch.-she said ignoring him. 

-Want some French toast, honey?-he asked. 

-No, thanks.- she said glancing at him for a second before returning to her spreadsheets.  

-Will you work all the weekend?- he reached for the cinnamon, his back on her. 

-Mike, you know I've work to do. 

He sighed and kept cooking. Nawra didn't talk to him during the whole time, focused on her work, only breaking her silence to talk to herself about her work. 

-Don't you want to get out of home, honey?- he suggested when he finished his breakfast. 

-I told you I need to work. 

Mike looked at the floor, disappointed. Nawra had been busy for a long time, as long as she had been distant with him. He didn't dare to ask whether she still loved him, it hurt too much to think otherwise. He changed his clothes and went out on the sunshine. He walked down the street to the park, enjoying the game the sun played with the leaves. Kids ran everywhere, shouting and laughing. The park was full of life. Mike walked around for a long time. So long that the smell of freshly cut grass and wet dirt had become part of him. He stayed out until it was lunch time, when he thought that maybe Nawra would want to have lunch with him. She was still at her seat by the window, working. 

-Stop working, Nawra. It's Saturday.- he softly placed his hand on her arm, she yanked it away from him. 

-Don't touch me. You're hurting me. 

Mike looked startled at his hand. 

-I only brushed you.- he said. 

-It hurts, Mike. It hurts every time you touch me. You can't imagine how much it hurts. 

-Maybe you should see a doctor. 

-You don't understand.- she said exasperated. 

-Then tell me, why are you avoiding me? What have I done?- he could feel the tears piling on his eyes.-Don't you love me? 

Nawra shook her head. Some short curls flew free from the messy bun she had constructed on top of her head. 

-I love you. I do love you. But it hurts. It hurts every time you touch me. 

-Why? Why does it hurt if you love me? If I love you?- he didn't understand. 

-Sometimes love hurts.- Nawra explained. 

Mike sat across the table and looked at her in the eye. 

-What can I do? 

-Leave.- she whispered, her hands clenched in fists. 

-Where? I have nowhere to go. 

Nawra started crying silently. Tears fell down her olive cheeks onto the laptop keyboard. 

-They are waiting for you. They've been waiting for you for a long time. 

-Who are they? You know I have no one.- what was she talking about? She knew his parents had died a long time ago. 

-Yes, you do.- she paused for a moment, her hand reached for his but stopped an inch before touching him.- You're dead, Mike, you have been dead for months. 

Worse things happen at sea

We set sail from Barcelona. The boat was Morgan's, I had never sailed before. It wasn't a big boat, I don't know much about ships, but he could take care of everything on his own. It was August and the weather was fantastic, we planned to spend the whole month sailing through the Mediterranean. I'd spend the day sunbathing while he took us from bay to bay, from one fishing hamlet to the other. We fished and we bought food from the locals, avoiding the crowds and the big cities. We saw Cannes from afar, and Monaco. We sailed to Corsica, to Sardignia, to Capri. We spent more time on the boat that on the land, surrounded by the blue sea. I can still feel the smell, the salt on the air. Have you ever made love on a rocking boat? 

We had a couple of weeks of good weather, yet we were prepared for the summer storms. And they came. One day we woke up and the skies were grey, the sea was calmer than I had ever seen it, not a gust of wind. 

-It's going to be a strong one.- said Morgan, before getting the boat ready to survive the storm. 

We hid inside the cabin, outside the waves crashed against the hull and the wind blew looking for the sails Morgan had pulled down before. It started raining heavily, so heavily we could not hear each other. Morgan wrapped his arms around me and told me it was okay, that he had been on worse ones. We fell asleep on each other's arms. It was late at night when a knock woke us up. It sounded as if something had crashed on board. 

-It's probably only a fish.- he whispered.- Go back to sleep. 

Few seconds later the knocking returned, louder. And another time, on the door. And twice more. Something was knocking on the door in the middle of the Sea. Morgan got out of bed and picked a bat before opening the door. 

There was nothing. He closed the door behind him and came back to bed. He was just climbing next to me when we heard the knocking again. It was insistent this time, as if someone was really outside. Except it was impossible. 

-Maybe it's the wind.- I said, Morgan pulled me closer. 

The door opened with a bang. It was stark dark outside, with only the lighting shinning through the blackness. A silhouette dark against the dark blue sky showed through the door. It smelled like seaweed and didn't have a definite form, it was more like whisps of sea condensed into a bundle. Her voice was like waves washing on the shore, but I couldn't understand what she said. 

-Back off.- Morgan told me, facing the figure. 

-Morgan,...- I complained. 

-Listen to me, she has come for me and nothing is going to stop her. She only need one sacrifice and she has no interest in you. Stay in bed. Tomorrow morning, when the storm has finished, call the coast guards, they will know what to do. 

He walked up to the figure, while I resisted the urge to scream crying silently. He turned around one more time. 

-Good bye my love. The sea goddess is taking me, as she should, to craddle my corpse under the sea. I love you, and I always will. 

The mist swallowed him and returned to the sea. I ran outside just in time to see him being pulled under the sea by an invisible force. I saw his eyes as he sank and he saw mine, and as he died the storm stopped. The clouds cleared and a million stars twinkled overhead, reflecting on the waters. And I was alone as Morgan had been swallowed by the sea forevermore. 

I have never told anyone what really happened that night, I have never been strong enough. I did tell the coast guards, but I was still in shock. They shook their heads, pitting me, pitting Morgan for his bad luck. They told me that the sea was a cruel lover and that she needed sacrifices from time to time. They also told me to tell everyone that Morgan was taken by a wave, that no one would believe me if I did otherwise. I'm only telling you because that's the sea goddess knocking on our door, and she has come for me tonight. 

In dreams

The smell of pancakes and bacon woke her up. Ray was staring at her carrying a breakfast tray. 

-You're spoiling me.- Sophie said, kissing him while running her fingers through his messy hair. 

-The best for the best.- he replied biting her ear.- But first, breakfast. 

Sophie ate her breakfast while Ray showered. He got out of the shower covered only with a towel and leaned to kiss her. She grabbed him and begged for him to stay. 

-I'm sorry babe, you know I'd love to stay here with you, but I have work to do.- Sophie looked at him like a puppy who has lost her favorite toy.- And you have to write. I don't want to have your editor come around again because you were supposed to send her a book that you hadn't yet finished. 

-Okay, Dr. Important Professor at the University. Why haven't you invented something that makes undergrads wlrk for both of us so we can have more time alone?- Sophie teased him. 

-I think I'll have to give you some extra homework.- he winked as he put on his jacket and got ready to leave. 

-One more kiss?- she pouted. 

-Okay,...- Ray replied rolling his eyes. 

Sophie watched him leave. She couldn't imagine what she would do without him, even if there had been one time when she hadn't been as enthusiastic about their relationship as she was then. One never knows where life takes you, she thought as she got out of bed. 

Ray stared at Sophie's calm face before monitoring all the equipment that kept her alive and living that dream that he had constructed for her. He had fallen in love with her the first time he saw her, she had to be his, Sophie was perfect for him. However, Sophie didn't seem to see it and was much more reluctant about it. It had been a desperate measure, but he knew she would only be happy if he was the one who took care of her. So, one day he drugged her and connected her to a machine of his invention. A machine that would show her how life would be with him. A machine that would put her in his dream life while he cared for her in the real life. And, maybe, someday he would wake her up and live that life for real. Maybe. 

Metro

Darkness and silence surrounded him. He had just woken up and didn't know where he was; he had taken the metro earlier that day and he was clearly still sitting on the hard seat. He must had fallen asleep, but how come no one woke him up? He reached for his mobile phone inside his backpack, to have a source of light. After some fumbling, he found it, the screen lit up showing the time. It was almost 3 am. He turned on the flashlight but it was pitch-dark both inside the wagon and outside. He walked up to the front wagon, hoping to find an open door. It soon became clear that he was locked in and his phone had no signal. He dialled 911, but no even that worked. He was trapped. 

He forced himself to calm down. The service would resume in a couple of hours and then someone would let him out. It was only a matter of time. He made himself comfortable laying on the metro seats and fell back to sleep. 

A noise woke him up, how long had he been asleep? It was still dark, therefore it could not have been too long. He checked his phone, and was surprised to see that it was still the same time as when he had last checked it. It couldn't be. Maybe it was broken, he thought as he stared at it waiting for the number to change to no avail. It didn't matter, anyway, soon someone would go rescue him. He heard the noise again. It sounded as if someone were trying to open one of the doors. 

-Here! I'm here!- he shouted. 

No one replied, but one of the doors opened. Thousands of tiny paws scratched the floor of the wagon. He turned on the flashlight again just in time to see a wave of rats fall on him. 

Breaking bones

"Crack" the bone of one of Isolde's fingers cracked as it slipt. She screamed in pain.

-Tell me what did you do to Tristan.- the other girl stared at her full of hate. 

-I don't know. I don't even know who is Tristan. 

-DON'T. LIE. TO. ME.- the other girl shouted as she smashed a baseball bat on Isolde's left leg. 

Isolde screamed in pain again, all her limbs pulling to get free from the ropes. Tears piled up on her eyes and she couldn't wip them off. She heaved trying to forget the intense pain of all her broken bones. 

-Are you fucking crazy?- Isolde whispered with a coarse voice. 

"Clack" her left pinkie toe had been cut with a pair of garden shears. 

-Answer my question.- the other girl replied. 

At that point Isolde was unable to think about anything that wasn't the pain that flooded her body. And all the other bones that were not yet broken. 

"Clack" there were another toe. Isolde didn't scream at that moment, she was in such pain that nothing could make it worse. 

-I don't know any Tristan. I have never met anyone by that name in my life. You can chop off all my foes and fingers and I still won't have met any Tristan.- Isolde replied calmly. 

-I know you're a liar. I know you took him away from me. That he left me to go with you. I know that Tristan thought you loved him and you threw him off a cliff. Or into a well. Or you dissolved his corpse with acid. I know you did. 

Isolde saw the crazyness inside the other girl's eyes and she knew she wouldn't get out of there alive. She knew that they would find pieces of her scattered across the room and there was nothing she could do to stop it. 

Loveless

"This book has to be somewhere in here." Amadeu thought as he searched through the bookshelves in the shop. "Where is it?" He moved to his left and stumbled on someone who seemed to be as focused as he was. He turned around to apologize and met face to face with the loveliest girl he had ever seen. She smiled at him, putting her blond braid over her right shoulder. Her eyes were big and green behind her rimmed glasses. 

-Excuse me, I wasn't paying attention.- she apologized with her musical voice. 

Amadeu stuttered a reply before turning completely red. 

-Mai.- she announced, he looked at her without understanding.- My name, it's Mai. Yours? 

-Amadeu.- what was happening to him? He was acting like a teenager. He thought as he shook her hand. 

-So, are you looking for a specific book?- Mai asked. 

It turned out that they both were looking for the same book and there was only a copy. Amadeu let her have it and she promised him to lend it to him when she was done. After that book there were more, and after those meetings to read at any of their places. Before they even realized it they were dating. Amadeu was deeply in love, his stomach turned into a knot every time he saw Mai, yet she was so easy to be around. She was carefree, extremely intelligent, and had a wicked sense of humor that almost seemed out of place in a person who looked so fragile. 

One night they were laying on the sofa at Mai's place, reading while cuddling, when Amadeu felt the need to tell her how he felt. He set his book aside and kissed Mai on the brow. She turned around and kissed him softly, his cracked lips feeling the tenderness of hers. He looked into her eyes, it was the right moment. 

-Mai, I love you. 

A flash of something crossed her eyes, a spark, a shadow. She grinned and all her teeth were pointy, but Amadeu couldn't see it as she was kissing him again. Mai bit his lip until blood came out, but it didn't matter as he was totally under her control. She stood up, took him by the hand, and led him down to the basement. 

-Now you'll stay here with all the other fools.- she said, her pointy teeth still dripping blood. 

Amadeu found himself a spot to sit on and joined the crowd of blank-faced men that waited for their fate down there. Mai smiled at herself proudly, it was so easy to fool them. 

Make you perfect

The glass in front of him reflected the yellow glow of the lights overhead as he stared intently. Rhea was talking to her parents and her sister about how they were already planning to have children, Eugene wanted to interrupt her, tell everyone they had never talked about it, but he was meeting her parents for the first time and didn't want to cause a bad impression.

He had actually talked about it with Rhea as they drove there. He was a bit anxious over it. 

-You're going to be perfect.- Rhea had told him. 

-I don't know, babe. They are your parents after all. 

-Gene, you are perfect, just be yourself.- she had assured him.- And I love you. 

-I love you too. 

And there he was, sitting on the table with his in-laws listening to his girlfriend elaborate on plans they had never talked about. He took his glass and sipped on the wine, hoping no one wanted him to participate on the conversation. He focused on the filet mignon on his plate, he had just taken a bite when Rhea's mother decided it was the perfect time to pose him a question. 

-So, Eugene, Rhea told me you're a doctor, how's work? 

He almost choked, a doctor? What was that woman talking about? He was an architect, not a doctor. Rhea chimed in. 

-Mom, Eugene is very humble and doesn't like to talk about his job, saving people is not easy, but he does it because that's what he loves doing, not to get praise from other people. 

Eugene swallowed as he could and was about to deny that piece of information when Rhea squeezed his hand under the table. He decided to let it slip for that moment and talk about it as soon as they got home. The rest of the evening went smoothly and they finally bid goodnight before setting off. As soon as they got on the car, Eugene confronted Rhea. 

-What was that?- he asked. 

-That what? 

-You told your parents I'm a doctor. I'm not. You know I'm not. 

-But babe.- Rhea replied softly as she drove.- You're. You're my perfect doctor. 

-You're mental. 

Rhea simply shook her head and continued driving, ignoring Eugene's attempts of retaking the subject. When they arrived home Rhea made some tea, he gave Eugene a mug. 

-Here, take this, we can talk about this tomorrow morning. 

Eugene glared at her, was she crazy? 

-I'll sleep on the sofa tonight. 

-Good night.- Rhea replied gingerly. 

Eugene didn't reply, but he drank the tea as he wondered if Rhea was really a pathological liar. He fell asleep without even realizing it. The bright light woke him up. He tried to move, but his hands were tied, as were his legs. The light was hurting his eyes, and, when he grunted, his voice sounded much deeper than usual. Something was beeping rhythmically behind him.  

-Oh, you're awake, finally.- Rhea said.- How are you feeling? Shhh, don't talk much, your vocal chords need to heal. 

Eugene's eyes started to water. 

-Close your eyes, darling. They also need to heal, changing eye color is a harsh process.- she ran her fingers over his head, and he discovered all his hair was gone.- I also implanted you with a chip that will give you all the medical knowledge your job as a doctor needs. 

Eugene shifted and pain ran throughout his body. 

-Yeah, you don't want to move much, either. Growing a couple of inches is not an easy feat on an adult body. But be happy, I'm making you perfect.

Panic

I recheck everything one thousand times before getting out of the house. I know the stove is off and I am carrying everything I could potentially need with me, I always get it right the first time, I'm just looking for an excuse to delay getting out altogether. But there is no point, I need to get out or I would be late, and if there is one thing that I dread more than getting out of the house it is not being on time. I take a deep breath and open the door of my apartment, I still have some time to get used to the idea of abandoning my nest as I walk down the stairs. 

I check my reflection on the mirror of the entry hall and I barely recognize the girl on the other side. I'm wearing a short tight leather dress with high-heel ankle boots, my long black hair is up in a sleek ponytail making my cheekbones pop up, I'm wearing heavy black eye make up and a bold red lip. The girl on the mirror is confident and sure of herself, someone you would expect to stand her ground. I take one last breath and open the outside door. 

There's barely anyone on the street, I didn't expect it to, it's a small quiet street, so I'll be good for some time. I avoid getting into crowded streets for as long as I can, but there's a point when I can't delay it anymore; I have to set foot on the main street. The street is crowded, people are walking up and down the street, alone, in groups, some are running, some are just strolling, there are also some groups that have stopped to look at something. I have to walk around dodging them, my eyes set on the floor, pretending that no one else is around. But they're close, too close. I can feel the panic creeping inside my mind. I start shivering, cold sweat tickling down my spine, I'm holding back tears as I fight against my body's instinct to wrap my arms around my chest. I can feel stares, people judging me for my outfit, guys ogling me, but in my mind they are only threats. 

I walk faster, if I can get to the metro it may get better, I may be able to sit down and forget about the world. The metro is even more crowded than the street, even if I never thought that was possible. I came seeking release and I only find more piercing looks, I start regretting my outfit choices, and even the decision of actually getting out of home. I find a free seat and close my eyes looking for some inner peace, however the person next to me shifts and I can feel the fabric of their shirt against the bare skin of my foreamrs, it makes me want to cry and scream of fear. I feel trapped, people are too close to me and I don't have room to breathe. I still have two more stops to go. I cross my arms and hold my elbows creating some space for myself where no one else can get in. I can make it. One more stop. The speakers announce my stop and I finally take my eyes off my shoes, an old lady sitting in front of me looks at me disapprovingly, or so I think, a young man, almost a boy, makes a lewdy comment as I walk past him. I walk faster as my breath grows swallow, I can't have a panic attack on the metro, I won't have it. 

As I emerge back on the street I am completely paranoid, every shadow is someone hiding from me, every person who walks the street is trying to chase me. I'm scared of everything and everyone. I make wrong turns because I think someone is following me, even if there's no one, and I get to the restaurant with time to spare and on the verge of tears. My friends are running late, as usual, and Istart thinking how they actually don't really want to see me, how they barely tolerate me, when they arrive, five minutes later, I'm already on the verge of fleeing back home to avoid being a nuisance. They ask me how I am and I lie and say that I'm doing perfectly. Some compliment me on my outfit and I just laugh it off saying I felt fancy. We sit on the table and everyone starts talking about their weeks. I sit and listen, or try to, overwhelmed with the amount of noise there is. I don't speak at all and no one asks me anything. I feel awkward and overwhelmed. And scared, always scared. No one seems to see how scared I am, why would they, I told them I was okay. 

I can't take it anymore and I excuse myself, saying I need to go to the restroom. It is a small modern restroom, with black tiles everywhere. I lock myself inside it and sit on the toilet. I wonder if my friends will even notice my absence or if they wilk take profit of it to say all the horrible things I probably deserve to be said of me. Holding myself close I start crying, tears smudging my make-up. I'm no longer me, there's only fear. 

The dark side

The bed was warm and cozy on that Sunday morning, the autumn sunshine entered through the large windows overlooking the park and lazily reflected on Deirdre red curls. She shifted on the bed, wanting to sleep a bit more, maybe Fionn would even bring her breakfast in bed. He was out of bed already, although he was probably working. 

Deirdre had just moved into his house, they had been dating for some months and everyone thought they were perfect for each other. Sometimes Deirdre joked with her mother about how she was more in love with Fionn than herself; but the truth was that she loved him a lot, and he loved her back. But again, what wasn't there to love? Fionn was gente and sensible, he was also very dedicated and driven, and he always made time for her, which was a miracle because his job as a lawyer and his philanthropy activities kept him fairly busy. He was the one, she knew it, with him it was simple when it had always been complicated. 

With that warm thought in her heart, Deirdre decided to get out of bed and find him. The room they shared was on the second floor oposite from his office, so she first looked there, but Fionn was not there working. She climbed down the stairs expecting him to be in the kitchen cooking breakfast. But he was not there either. She looked around the ground floor and was about to go back to bed when she heard a muffled sound coming from the basement; maybe Fionn was down there. 

The stairs were dark, but she couldn't find any light switch so she descended keeping a hand on the wall and carefully finding each step with her bare feet. There was some light at the bottom of the stairs and she used it as reference. What she saw inside that room left her petrified. 

The room was painted white and full of shiny metallic instruments with sinister aspect, and in the middle of the room there was a large artifact halfway between a cage and an electric chair where a boy, not older than 7 years, was being held captive. He had been gagged, but his eyes said everything that had to be said, they pleaded for mercy, for release, as his skull had been cut open and metallic rods had been inserted into his brain. The rods buzzed and pulsated, and every now and then the boy twitched and moaned. Deirdre kneeled in front of him. 

-Don't worry, I'll go get help. Be strong, I know you are a strong boy.- she trembled of fear, of realization that she loved a monster. 

-Oh, I don't think any of you is going to get any help.- Fionn's voice said from behind her before the world went black. 

-

Locked in

No matter how hard she tried, the door wouldn't open. They always left the door opem, even at night, how come it was locked, then? She looked around, trying to find either her keys or her cellphone, but they were nowhere to be seen. She wasn't the most organized person in the world, but she always knew where she had left her cellphone; maybe Luke had put it away. She regretted not having a landline, it hadn't seemed necessary when they first bought the apartment. She cursed outloud her bad luck, the apartment was on the twentieth floor, so she couldn't climb down the window. Maybe the neighbors would hear her if she pounded on the door. She shouted for hours but no one replied, she also opened the window to call someone from the street, but no one seemed to pass by, and the few passerby never heard her. In the end she resigned herself and lay on the couch, waiting for Luke to return home. 

The noise of the water boiler woke her up, Luke had arrived, it seemed. 

-Luke!- she called- Did you take my keys and my phone? 

He didn't reply, maybe he still had his earplugs on, playing loud music. She stood up and walked to the kitchen. 

-Luke! 

He didn't even finch. 

-Babe, what happens? 

He turned around and looked through her at the watch on the wall. 

-LUKE! 

He looked her way again, but shook his head. 

-What have I done?- she asked, pleadingly. 

She chased him down the corridor to the living room. Luke fished his phone from the front pocket of his jeans and made a call, tears rolling down his cheeks. 

-Yes, officer, I'd like to confess a crime.- he stopped and swallowed.- I murdered my girlfriend this morning. 

Voices in the walls

I started hearing my neighbors after a month or so of moving in my new apartment. They seemed to have the TV on at all times, but other than that I could not make ppout what they were saying. I never spent much time home, anyway, busy as I was with work, a relationship I had just started, and a thousand different things I did to keep myself busy, so the noise didn't annoy me much. As winter came, thinks changed. It was cold, so cold that sometimes I worked from home, that was when, from the silence of my home, I really started hearing what my neighbors were saying. 

At first, I thought they were speaking to each other. Until one day, when I was really focused on my work, I distinctively heard my name. 

-Lynn, we know you're there and you can hear us.- said a deep male voice. 

-Yes, we know you're alone.- added a high-pitched woman's voice. The two voices crashed and gave me a headache. 

-Of course Lynn is alone, silly. No one ever wants to be with Lynn. Isn't that right? You are always alone. All your life. 

I was frozen on the spot. How could they know it? How could they know the fears that were haunting me? The woman's voice continued. 

-No one wants to be with you because they all hate you. They think you're insufferable and they want to kill you. 

-But they won't kill you, don't worry. They would need to get close to you, to kill you. No. They are actually hoping you do the deed yourself.- the man's voice took it up from where the woman's had left it. 

-Even your mother. Your father would to if he hadn't stopped caring about you when he ran away. Do you ever wonder why he ran away, Lynn? He ran away because of you. 

I stopped listening at that moment. I covered my ears with my hands and started singing outloud to block them out. I sat on the floor crying until I fell asleep. P

The following day I went to talk to the landlady to tell her the neighbors were bothering me. She gave me a puzzled look. 

-There's no one living on the appartment next to yours.- she said. 

-Are you sure?- chills creeped down my spine. 

-Yes, let me show you. 

She opened the door and a dusty living room welcomed us, it was empty except for an old armchair. No one had been in there for some time, that was clear. I thanked her and went back to my apartment, wondering if I had imagined all of it. 

I hadn't. The voices kept talking to me, taking me down. No one else seemed to hear them, though. In the end I decided that the only thing I could do was move out. I had packed everything when they talked to me again. 

-Oh, you think you're leaving us behind, don't you, Lynn?- the man's voice asked mockingly. 

-Well, guess what,... You're never leaving us behind because we live inside your head.- the high-pitched voice echoed inside my head as I crumbled. 

Fear

The window panes rattled with the thunderstorm. Phoebe backed away from the window, shacking. The city was dark, the only light the flashes of the lightning and the headlights of the cars. She had lit a candle and the smell of beeswax lingered in the air. She sat on the sofa clinging to a blanket, she would have petted Mer, her cat, but he was hiding under the bed scared of the storm. She was scared too, of the storm, of loneliness, of everything. She was tired of being afraid, but she couldn't see a way out. 

Rain kept falling down outside. Phobe stared at the candle as it burnt off, the dancing flame dying off. Then, darkness engulfed her house as it had done with her soul. It was an appropriate analogy for her hope. She pulled the blanket closer. Tears started rolling down her cheeks. Mer jumped on the couch and rubbed his head on her leg. It had stopped raining. Phoebe took Mer on her arms as he purred. He licked her face. 

-You're the only one I'm not afraid of, Mer.- she whispered into the cat's ear.- The only one. 

The cat made himself comfortable on her lap and fell asleep. Phoebe looked down at him, it was very dark and she could hardly make out his shape, but she saw that he wasn't afraid anymore. She wished she could be like him, she wished she could lose her fears, but there were too many and she was too afraid to confront them. If she had been braver maybe she would have ended with all her suffering once and for all, but she was too afraid of death.