I sit there - still. Not moving an inch. Still hugging my knees. My mind is a total mess right now.
What was this?
Who was he? And my book? That name? The sudden weather change?
No-no-no… it can't be true. What I am thinking can never be true. He can never come out of a book. It's just my mind playing tricks on me.
Maybe this whole thing is nothing but tricks played by my subconscious mind. This can't be true! Can't be!!!!
I run to the bathroom, almost crashing my nose on the door.
As the motion sensor lights flick on, I see myself in the reflection. Tear marks on my cheeks. My mascara all smudged. And there it was - proof of that man's existence in this room – dark red marks on my neck and shoulder, clearly visible on my fair skin.
I shake my head in disbelief, eyes still stuck on the marks. With shaky hands, I turn the faucet on. I put my hands under the water as it cools my skin. I watch it flowing, wishing it would take the haunting memories of that man. From the bathroom gate, I stare at the spot where he vanished.
Haunting? Was it haunting? Yes, it was – my mind answers, but my body says otherwise. I can still feel the wetness between my thighs. My skin still tingles from his touch. Shame and arousal war inside me.
I splash water on my face, washing away tear stain and smudged makeup.
I wipe my face with a towel nearby. I go near the front door to check for any forced entry. None. Then I check the balcony. But it is too high to jump out. And there is no ladder or rope for support.
I pick up my phone to call Sara. But there is no signal. I switch it off and then on again. But it is of no use. No signal. The phone was working before, but what happened now??
Suddenly the lights flicker. And then it is completely gone. The clouds thunder as rain starts to fall. The weather mimics my inner turmoil.
I run towards the landline to see if its working, but it is all in vain. I don't know what's happening. It's like my mind is fogged. Nothing works.
I am desperate. But there's nothing I can actually do. I must wait till the signal is back. It must be gone because of the heavy downpour.
I grab my laptop and sit in the sunroom. I can't do anything right now, the rain is too heavy. I will work on my book to distract myself.
But as soon as I open the document I was last writing, my jaw drops.
There's a new paragraph. I didn't write it.
"She looked at her reflection and saw not herself, but the wildflower who called the darkness home. Her scent still lingered on his fingers."
I scroll down. Another paragraph appears—right in front of my eyes. Live.
The cursor moves on its own. Typing words.
"Don't run. You asked for me. You prayed for me. And now, I'm here. Chapter by chapter, I'll write myself into your world completely."
I drop it on the sofa, fright taking control of my body. I run out of the room. I slip on water I didn't know was there and crash on the floor. Holding my elbow which now hurts like hell, I try pulling myself up.
Suddenly my phone buzzes, hope gleaming in my eyes as I dashed for it, forgetting every pain. It must be Sara's msg. the signal must be back
I unlock my phone with shaking hands. But as I read through the message, blood drains from my face. I drop the phone on the floor as the message stares back at me from the screen.
See you in your dreams tonight, wildflower. This time, you won't be able to wake up.
I drop to the floor, coiling into a ball.
The mirror across the room fogs up on its own. And on it, written in slow strokes is— "L"