Alone

By Smruti Sharma

The dark gloomy storm wasn't helping my mood. It was just eight and I was already done with the pizza I had picked up on my way here. I dug deeper into the bed pulling the duvet over me, staring at the treacherous clock that wouldn't speed up. It was a mistake coming to the flat before any of my roommates, but I was desperate to leave my whining twin siblings behind. I fumbled on the nightstand for my phone which sat there mocking me in the inky haze, its battery long dead. I sank into the hard mattress groaning, loosing myself to the sound of the pelting drops of water on the windowsill.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Started the hammering making my skull ring. A whine left my lips only to be blown away with the pitter-patter of the rain. Turning to my side I pulled the blanket over my head. But alas it continued to pound making my whole world shake. "Stop!" I managed, covering my ears. And then everything went silent just like that.

Thud!

The noise made me come crashing back to reality. Too scared to get out of bed I sat there straining my ears and heard the unmistakable patter footsteps just outside my room. Turning away from the door I snuggled into my rug, wide awake.

"Oh my God. Coming here alone was definitely a bad idea. What if it is an intruder come to steal? Or worse kill me? Or what if there is a ghost in this house?"

I definitely wasn't going to get out of bed to investigate. Curiosity always got the people in the horror movies killed. I lay there as still as a dead man, hoping that my pounding heartbeats were inaudible in this drizzle.

Creak!

I could hear the door to my room slide open. Swallowing the scream that came with it was a impossible task that I somehow mastered. And then the room brightened. I opened my eyes a wink to see a circle light reflected on the glass of the window, accompanied by a shadow. I could see the long sloppy hair of the silhouette, and a long object in its hand. A knife. I closed my eyes praying the Gods above to save me.

"I should have stayed home. I'd choose my baby brothers over this any day."

I almost jumped again when the door was shut with another thud. Everything was quiet again, too quiet if you ask me. I waited a long moment before standing up. Barely making a sound, I opened the zipper of my bag, getting the cricket bat I had smuggled from home, out. The weapon was reassuring, but it did not last long. I heard the unmistakable drip-drip of the showers. It sent another shiver down my back, freezing me mid motion. Shaking myself out of my reverie, I made my way to the door. Carefully opening it, I stood guard outside the bathroom. The person bid their time in the showers, while I was left outside scared out of my mind. I picked the bat up, ready to swing it as soon as I heard the tap turn off. Any moment now. The latch clicked and the bat was thrust out with a strength I never knew I had, hitting its target. The person fell to the floor with a grunt, just as stunned as me. I peered closer to the whimpering figure on the ground who had started cursing out loud.

"Amay? Is that you?" I would recognize the voice anywhere; he was my best friend after all.

"You moron, who else would it be?"

"B..but h..how? Y...you... I..I thought." I stood there gaping like an idiot, short of words.

"What? You thought I was an intruder? Or worse, a ghost? Really!? Father messed up the dates for my ticket and bought today's instead. We realised it a bit too late and had to rush to the station so I couldn't call you before. You would know all this only if you hadn't switched your phone off."

By Smruti Sharma