I reach into the drawer, slowly but carefully, and grab a kitchen knife from my nightstand. I started sleeping with one ever since I was taken. I hold the handle tight until my skin burns. I rise out of bed and creep closer to my door, waiting for more footsteps, but nothing.
I turn the knob, ready to defend myself.
If I’m going to die, I’m going to die fighting.
The hallway is empty.
Every hair on my body rises like static. Why is an empty hallway scarier? My muscles tighten, and I hold my arms close to my body while the blade sticks out in front of me.
I look left and right, but…nothing. Nothing but the pulse throbbing in my ears. I close the door and retreat into my bedroom, putting a barrier between me and the unknown origin.
“Hello? Dad?” I call out, licking my plump lips.
I’m about to head back to my bed when I hear footsteps again.
Fuck it.
I swing it open, lunge forward, and swing the blade, ready to stab the intruder. My eyes narrow as I try to force my eyesight to rummage through the darkness.
It’s Cooper.
His ears perk up when he sees me innocently, and his head tilts to the side in a cute, curious gesture.
Of course. It’s just my dog.
It’s just Cooper walking around. A high-pitched, short whimper falls from his mouth, studying me. I let out a deep breath and laugh softly. I swipe the small bead of sweat that forms on my forehead quickly.
I’m paranoid.
“I’m sorry, boy.” I tuck the knife into my back pocket, walk deeper into the hallway, and rush to give him pets, scruffing his big ears and scratching him gently around his neck. He loves it when I do that. At first, he falls into my massage, letting his head nestle in my hand so I can get the angles he wants, but then his behavior shifts into something defensive.
He backs away from me, not letting me pet him further. The fur on his back stands up, his nose contouring, and he’s flashing his teeth at me, growling ferociously like he wants to kill me.
What’s gotten into him?
He’s never behaved this way with me. I back away from him, taking three steps back as he continues to bark and arch his back. His tail points up like he’s going to pounce, warning me to get away from him. His eyes lock onto me like I’m a target and not the person he’s gotten to know over the past few years.
“Cooper, stop it. What’s wrong?” I place my hands in front of me in a surrendering way.
His bark grows louder as I slowly step even further away from him. He then takes two steps closer to me, tempting me to flee.
“Cooper! It’s me! Stop, please,” I murmur softly.
He steps closer to me, barking like he's going to lunge at me any second. I keep walking backward until I reach my bedroom door on my right side.
But something stops me from walking further back, and Cooper’s growls grow even louder. He looks rabid now that I've bumped into something hard.
What the…?
I slowly start turning, silently praying it’s anything but a vampire. But my prayers don’t make it to God in time because I’m staring into glowing, bright red eyes.
Hayden.
Hyperventilating and paralyzed with fear, my nightmares come alive. With tears leaking down my face, the mysterious man smiles with devious intentions, and Cooper closes the distance more.
Cooper has been trying to warn me this entire time.
I reach for the knife in my back pocket slowly as my chest heaves up and down wildly.