It's always the same. i fall and something jolts me awake. right before the end, before the masked man twists me a little further. Pain screams up my limbs and i find myself struggling to free my limbs from tangled bed sheets and my mind still foggy with sleep is still running. My heart thuds in my chest and in my head, so loud i can hardly hear anything. eventually i realize i am not breathing and suck in a much needed  breath into starving lungs.

It was nothing i tell myself whilst i try to relax, but my body betrays me by searching vainly in the darkness for the figure. my Memory certain that he was there a moment ago standing there. watching me. waiting for me to lose focus and look away. That's when he strikes.

I lie back down and take deep breaths still too jumpy to close my eyes. i scrunch up my toes and count to ten.

one, two, three, four

my eyes flicker closed against the darkest night.

five, six, seven

something in my minds eye moves.

eight, nine...

i know he is there...

ten...

in the darkness unable to see or hear anything. paralyzed in my bed he walks forward. a wicked grin across his face. and i know.

I know its starting again.

Don't try to say you know how i feel,

Or say you understand.

Go explain it to me,

God knows I cant.

Don't tell me things will get better 

If i only try harder.

Go on its nothing a little effort won't fix

Don't you think I've tried?

You see this smile on my face?

It's painted on nice and thick

To hide the cracked and broken soul

You are too afraid to face.

I laugh along to peoples jokes

To do what they expect

So when i'm struggling or feeling blue

They say that I'm a bitch

I'm used to names like that

I went to secondary school

I was called fat and ugly, dumb and slut

Those words jut added to my vocabulary

To put it into words its impossible

To explain how i feel improbable

It's muddled, screwed up and in a tangle

I don't even try to unravel it anymore

These thoughts go through my head over and over again

They twist and haunt 

They scream and shout

Tut i am here in silent doubt

Of myself

Out of nowhere it starts,

That niggle in the back of your mind.

Have you forgotten something?

Left something behind?

Your hand starts to shake

An uncontrollable shiver,

Like ice down you spine

A never ending quiver.

You second guess yourself

You're sure you must be wrong

Convinced people are starring

They know you don't belong.

Breathe deep you tell yourself

Even though you know you can't

If only there was enough air

Another mantra to chant.

Uncomfortable in your skin

Nothing fits you right

Looking in the mirror

You loathe that unfamiliar sight.

Someone tries to help 

But you cringe away

Although inside

You beg them to stay.

Tears spill over

They silently fall and drop

You have no idea why 

And you just want them to stop.

Lost in a shadow,

Caught in spiral, a wormhole,

A never ending chasm

The constant fight to be NORMAL.

One day you feel stronger

A little better than before

Then something whispers in your ear

That hope cannot restore.

A vicious circle begins again

No matter how hard you reshape

Those thoughts inside your head

You never can escape.

Shadows slumber as the sun goes down and their city wakes. Stars shimmer into existence like the lights of a million fireflies. The moon seemed to seek her out; a spotlight. An easy target. That's how she looked, but there was more to her than meets the eye. wrapping her arms around her she followed her own feet home, ignoring the sweeping headlights of passing cars and the battles being fought by vermin in dustbins down dark alleyways. If she just kept walking she might make it in time. No one would see her. She would be locked away. Safe. 

looking forward she sighed. relief flooding her mind. she could see it; a small house tucked in the corner of the square. if your weren't looking for it, it was easily missed.which was the way she liked it. Subtle. 

Secret. Safe.Safety behind its walls and a warm bed to escape the rigors of her reality. Suddenly the air shifted and she stiffened. Thick cloud covered the waning moon and everything changed. Her heart beat faster and her hair stood on end. Straight cascades of auburn hair seemed to glow in the starlight. Her eyes became unnaturally sharp and she could see the grain in a tree ten feet away. Every scent invaded her nostrils making her want to wretch. Her ears were bombarded with the echoes of creatures and the winds all around her. Painfully her skin seemed to tighten and her bones to ache as electricity coursed its way through her veins electrifying her very existence. Slowly she almost seemed to grow, her usually small unimposing stature of 5"3 reached an elegant and lithe 6". Gasping she blinked furiously trying not to make loud the silent scream that was forming from deep within. Her skin crackled as it stretched to accommodate the sudden change. Her nails thickened and reached  blade like points and as she took a deep breath of night air her ears elongated creating two points hidden by thick locks of glowing fire.

Now they would come and she would be hunted. Now she was the rarest creature in the world one of a kind. Looking at her home she cried a silent tear. She wanted to say goodbye to her husband, her child. But it was too late. They were coming and she was very quickly running out of time.

In the shadows. watching. You wouldn't notice her at first or second glance, but that's the point. 

Eternal sentinel. 

Watcher. 

Witness. 

Overlooked like an innocent bystander. She was the one who screamed first from the crowd. 

Silent, but causing distractions, making guards look the wrong way as heroes sneak past.

The screaming baby in her arms asking for help whilst her light fingers stole your purse. 

The one who, after the death of her friends called them martyrs. Speaking of rekindling hope.

The whisper on the wind, bated breath.

The storyteller...

The truth...

to anyone...

everyone...

can you hear her?

They hadn’t seen each other for almost 5 years and she was a little nervous. Would he have changed? Apart from the few text messages over the years they hadn’t really talked either. He had moved on to a different job and she had moved away. When she returned she messaged him not expecting a reply, but out of the blue she got a reply,

“Yeh, I’m around. When and where?”

Quickly she messaged him back. Smiling to herself she grabbed her bad and headed for the local pub.

After waiting for what seemed like an age, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and was met with the face of her old friend. His clear blue eyes sparkled with warmth. His smile reached the corners of his eyes creating smile lines around his eyes. His strong features had aged well, making his seem more distinguished. He was taller than she remembered but that was a good thing. She smiled up at him and gently mumbled.

“Hey”

He looked down at her and he couldn’t stop smiling. She was just like he remembered, her red hair a little shorter than before but it suited her. He hugged her close and gave her a little squeeze.

“Hey yourself” he replied “drink?”

Slowly she nodded. He ordered her usual and he led her outside. They sat in silence. They never needed to talk much. Each other’s company was comfort enough. Slowly he asked about work and relationships. After revealing that work was going well but relationship sides of things were not so good. He realised his heartbeat was racing and his palms were sweating. All he could think about was trying to catch a kiss. Slowly he leant forward, tucked a lose strand of hair behind her left ear and cupped her face. Swallowing, he gently pressed his lips to hers. He felt her breath becoming shallow and her responding to his tentative kiss. Pulling away he laughed to himself.

“What?” she asked “do I have bad breath?”

“No” he gasped. “I’ve just wanted to do that for a long time. I worried that maybe you might not… you know”

“Don’t worry” she giggled back “I was wondering if you would ever do that. We’ve been dancing around it for so long. I guessed-“

He cut her off with another kiss. This time stronger. He pulled her closer, his hands on her rounded waist. She put her arms tentatively around his neck and pulled him close. After a few minutes he pulled away and took her hand.

“Come on” he said pulling her towards the car.

Hopping in he held her hand again and then after checking the rod he drove off. Winding down country roads Ollie felt his heart start to race again. He didn’t know where they were going but he knew what he wanted to do. Before he knew it he had pulled into his driveways and pulled her from the car. Almost running to the door her fumbled for the keys. Unlocking the door the stumbled inside.

His lips hungrily caught hers and his strong arms embraced her tightly. Peeling off her coat he let it drop to the floor. She lightly kicked off her shoes and stood of tip toes to capture his lips with hers. Lightly she bit his lip making him moan slightly. Before they knew it they were in the living room, falling into the sofa cushions. His hands searching for buttons for her shirt were clumsy. Feeling for his top button, she pulled him closer. He turned her so they were lying on the sofa, him on top of her and her legs entangled in his. Out of breath their lips parted and he looked into her eyes.

“You want to?” he whispered kissing her neck.

Her response was a mere moan which spurred him on. He feverishly kissed her skin making her squirm. She raked her nails across his shirt desperate for the contact of skin on skin. Her fingers found buttons and quickly she undid them. Her fingers skimmed across his chest making his breath catch. He growled low, his voice making her shiver. His hands grabbed the bottom of her shirt and he pulled it off her revealing her pale soft skin underneath. Her breasts held in restraint by her dark purple lace bra. His kisses found their way down and across her collar bone. Distracted by the tingling sensations covering her body she fumbled at his belt. Her fingers traced the now mounting bulge in his tight jeans.

A moan escaped her lips as she kissed his neck.

“Upstairs” was all she manages to gasp as he captured her lips once more.

Leaving their scattered clothing all over the house they made it to the bedroom. Trousers and socks littered the stairs. Gently he placed her on the bed. He kissed her across the jaw line and down her neck. He stopped on each breast slowly releasing it from its laced support. Each nipple round and pink grew hard with each kiss. Gently he took his teeth and nipped them making her shiver. His hands travelled down her rounded and full figure to the matching lace French panties that hugged her buttocks. His fingers slid under the folds and found her sex. Each finger explored her folds until they found the small nub at the apex and he expertly circled it, making her gently buck with pleasure.

From round his neck her hands moved across his strong shoulders and down his back with a slight scratch making him growl, his skin shivering. She snaked her hands down till she reached his fitted briefs. Once again he was restricted by the thin material. Pushing them down she was able to free his hard penis. The skin was unbelievably soft and smooth. She loved the feel of it in her hands. Hard and throbbing she massaged the tip with the palm of her hand as he teased her. His whole body shuddered with pleasurable agony.

Suddenly he grabbed at her underwear and pulled it off with one swift movement. Then stepping out of his briefs he stood looking at her, his member standing to attention at the sight of her womanly figure. His chest was toned but not overly defined. Strong arms from days working outside were slightly tanned at the elbow. His skin glowed with energy and at the sight of all of him her breath came out with a shudder.

His rough hands touched the soft skin of her thighs. Slowly they moved up round her thighs and up her waist, savouring the feel of her skin against his. Slowly he reached her breasts which were straining against the half off bra. Arching her back to his touch, he was easily able to slide his hands under her and release the catch. The round and supple breasts suddenly relaxed then were immediately massaged. Groans now escaped her as he found himself directly above her flushed face. She reached to kiss him and feverishly they consumed each other.

She kissed down his neck and nipped his collarbone playfully. He groaned and squeezed her breast harder than before. With a free hand she reached down and held his stiff organ in her hands. She marvelled at its size. She was not expecting such length or girth. To be honest she was slightly intimidated by the size. Stroking the length she lightly brushed her fingers across the sensitive skin making his catch his breath. Stretching she managed to cup the substantial weight of his balls. Sighing at her touch he kept kissing her, down her neck and once again all over her breasts. His hands searching for her secret places with quick deft fingers. Suddenly she yelped as his teeth bit on her nipple hard and he pushed with his fingers entering deep within her sex. Her hand clamped on his pulsating member and she started to stroke it as he moved his long skilled fingers inside her. Her hips bucked unable to take the sensation surging through her. Suddenly her mouth felt dry, insatiably dry and she needed something. Anything. Looking at him she asked with her eyes. Seeming to know her question he brutally pulled out making her gasp. Taking her hands once again he lifted her off the bed and with shaking knees she knelt before him, her eyes hungry. Without abandon she took the tip of his quivering organ in her mouth and rolled her tongue across the smooth skin. Rolling her tongue around she slowly sucked taking as much as she could. Bracing herself with his legs she began to move in and out, sucking and licking and playing. Her eyes flickered up to his face to make sure he was enjoying the experience. His eyes closed in ecstasy and his knees buckled with waves of pleasure radiating from skin on skin.

For no reason he found his hands making fists in her hair gently tugging at it, pulling her and pushing her as he desired. Slowly he pushed himself deeper and deeper than before making her gag slightly. He stopped making sure she was comfortable then he smiled as he felt her throat relax and her pushing him further in. the muscles contracted around the tip of his erection creating a tight pulsing throughout his body. He could take it no longer. He had to taste her too. Pulling her to her feet he, unable to control his eagerness, pushed he back onto the bed. Kissing her again he started with her breasts then lover to her belly button. He then traced with his tongue a slow line down towards her wet apex. His tongue gently flicked the hard smooth nub of her clitoris and she moaned. He did it again this time agonisingly slow, sucking a little as he went. Unable to control the muscular reaction her hips bucked pushing his face closer to her. With two fingers he gently entered her and whilst kissing, sucking and licking her folds he stroked just inside. He smiled and was encouraged to keep going when he heard whimpers and breathless exclamations to a deity above him.

“No-more-“she panted “too- m-much”

As quickly as he could he withdrew, releasing a growl from her lips. Kissing back to her neck he captured her lips and kissed along her jaw.

“I need to-”

She nodded not needing an explanation. From the bedside table she pulled a condom from its wrapper and with deft, yet shaking hands she rolled it on his rock hard quivering sex. Gently he lowered himself, so he was above her. Their eyes locked and he kissed her eyelids, then her nose, finally he took a long sensual kiss as he pushed himself inside her. Her body arched as she opened herself to him. He pushed in as far as he could revelling in the feeling of her skin against his. He back arched as he pushed as far as he could into her depths. Smiling her slowly pulled out and then pushed in again. This time he looked down to see that surprisingly she was able to take all of him. Her body moved to meet him with every thrust and her back arched with mounting pleasure as his rhythm became steady. She kissed him gently only to have her lips captured again in a feverish, passionate embrace. She ran her fingers over his back and he found his fingers tangled in her hair. Their passion completely taking over their inhibitions. They were totally consumed in each other. From deep within she felt a growing sensation with each thrust. His hips pushed harder and deeper with every breath making her feel light headed. A warmth spread from deep within making her skin feel electric.

“Oh-“she stammered

“Yes” he breathed back

A pleasurable tension was building within him as each stroked brought them together. He could feel the gooseflesh on her skin and he wanted more. Again and again he pushed and pounded till he couldn’t take anymore. His skin felt as if it was on fire and he didn’t want to stop the smouldering passion between them.

She could feel him building from within. His member getting harder and pulsing with his heartbeat. There came a point where neither of them could tell each other’s heartbeat from their own. Their bodies in perfect synchronicity and their minds blank to anything else but each other. Kissing her fervently he pushed as deep as he could releasing his passion inside her. She shuddered all over her body a spasm of ecstasy as waved of excruciating pleasure washed over her.

They lay there, both exhausted, both of their minds blank, relaxed and sated. He rested his head on her breast feeling the pounding of her heartbeat in time with his and smiled. Quietly he laughed to himself and he kissed the slightly tacky skin. Peeling himself from her arms he gingerly pulled out creating another roll of shivers from her ravished body.

He kissed her and lay on the pillows beside her. Pulling her close he turned and together they spooned in sleepy contentment.

“I have no idea” he yawned “why we didn’t do that years ago”

All she could do was hum in response. Gently he kissed her shoulder and neck, pulling her close he sighed and closed his eyes.

They fell asleep with his arms wrapped around her and a small happy smile on her flushed glowing face.

Of course my friend believed it. but come on. someone moved the glass. It's just a trick. No one believes in that crap do they? We had a good laugh and it was a lot of fun with a few bottles of wine and that board game thingy. nothing bad could happen could it?

Stupid worrying. Best to go home and get into bed. i grabbed a taxi as I was too drunk to drive. I tripped inside the door. i flopped into the bed and curled up next to my honey. I woke up a couple of times. nothing different there. only the last time I thought I had heard something...

Someone was inside...

I tried to wake him up but he would wake, so I got out of bed and ignored the pounding headache. I lurched to the door just as it stopped. only then did I realize that the noise wasn't coming from the door but from...

under the bed.

 I opened my mouth to scream but...

I told you ouija boards were silly. I used one once myself. Now I spend my free time moving glasses. hoping this time someone will believe me.