Chapter Text
I gasp. Lifting myself up from my bed.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
There it is again. The knocking. I quickly shift out of my bed and walk over to the window, lifting part of the blinds, just enough for me to see out. Through the dark shade of the night, I couldn’t see anything. I sighed, finding my self back at my bed. Surely it was another hallucination. Another bad dream. That’s all. Or at least that’s what I told myself.
I lay my head back down onto my pillow. Glancing at the door, before assuring myself once more and shutting my eyes to fall back asleep.
Cacadoodle doo!
I hate that fucking rooster. I don’t even live on a farm. I’ve never seen a rooster near my home before. But, atleast it wakes me up in the morning.
I shuffled through my chest. “Gosh. I need to get some food before I run out.” I mumbled. Walking outside and breathing in the fresh air. I then began to explore, looking for various animals to kill.
I arrive back home after a few short hours, but as I walk into the garden, I notice something… different about my house. The door. It was open. I didn’t leave it open when I left, did I? I walk closer, but more cautiously, grabbing my sword from my backpack. “Hello?” I ask, wondering, as if anyone or… anything, would even respond, but nothing did.
I live pretty far from the city, a plains, surrounded by a small dark oak forest and a birch forest not terribly far away. It’s rather isolated, but every so often explorers and traders come around, they never stay for long. I had a small feeling it could’ve been one of those who passed by and thought no one lived here because I wasn’t home, but the chances were rather low.
Once I got to the door, I peered inside. It was empty. I checked my chests, they were the same as I had left them. Weird. Clearly something had stopped by and opened the door, but no traces of anyone was here. Odd.
I decided to brush the oddity off my shoulders and get back to doing what is important. I placed the raw meat into the furnaces to cook, sitting beside them and watching as they slowly browned.
As I sat and watched the food cook, I heard a noise. Not any natural sound, but rather the sound of the door knob wiggling. I turned my head to see the door, I could only see parts of it from where I sat, but the door was now open, again. “Hello?” I asked, “Anyone there?” But there was no response.
I stood slowly, grabbing my shield off the shelf above the furnace and walked towards the door. I peered around outside, nothing. I stepped through the door and looked around the horizon, nothing. I was alone, as usual. Or, I thought I was.
The sun began to set. I sat on my bed as I watched the sun lower from one side and the moon rise from the other, darkness slowly taking over the light. Nights like these make me almost miss being around socialization. Knowing that if someone or something unknown had been around, I’d have someone near by to help me.
Once the darkness fully engulfed the sky, I decided to allow myself to sleep.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I turned in my sleep.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I grumbled.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
My eyes began to shift open. “What is that..?” I mumble, looking around my house.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I whip my head towards the door. The knocking. It’s back. Back to haunt me another night. “Excuse me?” I climb out of bed and walk towards the door, peering through the small glass window on the door. I swear I heard knocking. I know I heard knocking. But once again. No body is at the door.
Heavy breaths played in my ear. I gasped, standing still, too afraid to move. Then a voice, a man’s voice, spoke to a whisper in my ear, I could feel his breath, “Too afraid to pay attention to me? Too afraid to look?” I let out a shaken breathe, then he spoke again but quieter and raspier, “I won’t bite… at least, not yet.” I clenched my eyes shut and then whipped my head around to look, but nothing was behind me, nothing was in my house, and when I looked forward again, towards the door, it was open.
~
The chill of the cool night air blowed gently against my face as I stared at the open door. “Who…” I began to speak but cut myself off.
I took a slow step through the door frame and look around but it was empty. I walked back inside, shutting the door behind me. I was alone again.
My mind was running and what used to be confusion was now fear.
I thought maybe I could go to bed, sleep away the fear and worry in the morning, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t fall asleep, my body wouldn’t let me calm down.
I sat down on the edge of my bed and watched the door. The only sound was the soft wind rustling the trees outside and the sound of my heavy, uneasy breath.
My eyes began to dry as I am to afraid to even blink, so focused on watching the door. Once I shut my eyes to finally blink, I kept them shut for a while, feeling the slight burning sensation of my eyes hydrating. Once I opened my eyes, the door… it was still shut. Thank goodness.
Time passed slowly, every so often I checked the clock and the hand barely moved. Maybe I’ll force myself to sleep, even if I’m still not tired. I just can’t take watching the door any longer. It feels like hours have passed, but it’s only barely been one.
I lay down on my sheets and stare at the ceiling. I glance at the door once more before shutting my eyes to rest. Please, let me fall asleep.