Haunted

My last patient of the day

Her eyes were pocketed and harrowed

Thumbs fiddling nervously

“Is there something specific

You want to discuss, Priscilla?”

I asked

Penciling in my observations

She nodded slowly

“Yes Dr. Jacobs…

I haven’t been sleeping well

I

I haven’t closed my eyes

In so long

Because when I do…

It…

It…”

She began to cry

Great heaving sobs

The whites of her eyes

A pinkish hue from strain

I let her have a moment

Waiting

“Two days ago

It started

I was having coffee

I closed my eyes for a moment

Just a blink really

And then crouched

Slavering and bestial

It sat on my table all fangs

And claw

And piercing predatory gaze

I ran

But it did not give chase

I eyed it from behind a corner

As I blinked

It was halfway across the room

Eyes locked on mine

I fled to the bathroom

Locking the door behind me

I shut my eyes

And heard it pacing

Claws scraping the wood flooring

Breath heavy

Excited

Then it hit the door

I heard splintering

Eyes flying open

It stopped

The door was split in the middle

Wood poking out at odd angles…”

She took a deep slow breath

Trying to steady herself

“I managed to get past it

Holding my eyes open the whole time

And left my apartment

I slept in a hotel that evening

But in the middle of the night

The window of the room I was in

Shattered inward with explosive force

I saw it as I sat up

Frozen in air

Claws extended

In mid-pounce

Saliva fell in long ropes from its fangs

It-

It’s been chasing me ever since

I can’t

I can’t sleep

I can’t run

It always finds me…”

She shut her eyes and weeped

Palms pressed to her eyes

I heard a bang from the reception

Valerie screamed

Then the door shattered into hundreds of pieces

Nothing stood there

Priscilla screamed

Suddenly lifted from her chair

Eyes still shut

“Kill me damn you!

Do it!

Fuck you!”

Claw marks appeared over her clothes

Long streaks that quickly bloomed crimson

Her screams became strangled

As punctures pierced her throat

Her body shuddered as the flesh was ripped

Tossed to the side

And soon her body fell limp

Collapsing to the floor

Then silence

A complete

And perfect

Silence