by A.G. Porter
I don't think it's Rayna's "Shadow" that's been following me. This being is a part of what's been going on, but it's not the one that she dreams of. I can't say how I know this, but there is just something, some voice inside that's telling me this is just a small battle in a much bigger war.
This thing that's following me around is now haunting my dreams. I wondered if this is what Rayna has been going through. There is no peace in sleep or in being awake. He's always there, watching, waiting to catch me off guard. It's like he is sucking all hope and life out of me. That's what I told Nick.
I could hear him moving in the closet as I slept. His long fingernails, though I had never seen his nails or him for that matter, scraped across the door. I pulled the pillow tighter over my ears, trying to block him out. Squeezing my eyes tightly, I prayed that he would leave.
The more I prayed the more I could feel him. He was trying his best to hold on before I could rebuke him away. My stomach turned as the smell of rotten eggs filled my nose and tried to seep into my head, clouding my mind. I prayed harder, falling out of the bed and onto my knees.
Finally, the smell left and the scratching stopped. Nick came rushing into the room, looking from me to the closet. He helped me up and put me back in the bed.
"Did you hear him?" I asked, tears running down my face.
"He's gone," he told me. "Don't worry."
"Don't worry?" I balked at his words as he helped me into bed. "I've never been haunted before so how am I not supposed to worry, Nick? How can I not worry? I know what he wants, you know? He wants me to be like him. He's told me in my dreams. He said that I have a choice to be with the light or with the dark. He's promised me things if I give in to him. He said he'll protect my family and save Logan."
"Don't listen to him," Nick pulled the covers up to my chin as if I were a child. "They're lies, all of it. You don't want to be like him. You know that."
"I don't know how much more I can take," I confessed. "Instead of getting stronger I feel like I'm falling apart. I just?I don't know."
"It's time we head back," he finally looked in my eyes. "I thought that keeping you away would save you, but it's only making it worse."
"No!" I grabbed onto his arm. "I can't take this back to them. Rayna?she has too much to deal with. I need to stay here and get this sorted out before I go back."
"C.J.," Nick spoke his next words softly, but with conviction. "I know I'm not the best one to try and explain this to you. I have been mending, inside, for years. It's hard for me to work with anyone because of my?condition, I know this. My words come and go, but?you need them, your friends, and they need you. It's time to go back. Sleep, he's gone for the night. We'll leave in the morning."
Nick gently pulled my hands from his arms and tucked them under the covers. I stared after him for a long while before I felt content enough to go to sleep. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that I wanted to be with my family and friends. I missed them to the point my heart was broken. Still, taking all my baggage back with me just seemed selfish.
What if I couldn't resist anymore? What if I did give in and choose the dark? I didn't know how strong I was so maybe Nick was right, I guess I needed them; I just hope they needed me.
Chapter 3
Rayna