Nightmares
By: Faith Adeline

It was a typical October night. A chilled wind blew from the East. Netta stepped outside of the bar, glad to be out of work. She ran a hand through her short black hair, wishing she could quit her horrible job-but knowing she couldn't. She did have to pay bills, after all. The glories of adult life, she mused.

With a sigh, she walked down the street, heading towards her apartment. She thought of her small home, with its rusting bathtub and peeling ceiling. Yet, none of those things mattered to her, because it was hers. She didn't have to deal with other people telling her how to live her life. She decided things by herself, her own way. She was finally free of the past that haunted her.

Since she was thirteen, she had looked forward to moving out on her own. Sure, the apartment wasn't what she had dreamt it would be, but it was good enough. She had her own roof over her head.

She crossed her arms over her chest, shivering slightly. It was colder than she had thought it would be. "Should've brought a jacket," she muttered.

The street was quiet, as it usually was this time at night. Not a soul stirred, save for the people in the bar on the opposite side of the road. The sounds of old time country flowed from underneath its door to her ears. It was a song she recognized from her youth. "I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die."

She shuddered, hating the images the old song brought forth. Memories of the off white room, the screams, the thrashing, and trying so hard to escape sprang to the center of her mind. (She had to get away, had to run, or it would capture her in its jaws and crunchcrunchcrunch.)

She shook her head, pressing her hands to her hair and whispering, "Don't think about it. It'll only drive you mad." She took a deep breath, exhaled, and pushed the memories back into their hidden corner. Then, she smiled, feeling much better.

She came to her apartment building, reaching for her keys in her purse, when she heard a sound reverberate from the alley beside the complex. She frowned, wondering what it could be. Probably just a stray getting into the dumpster. Nothing to worry about.

She turned to the entrance, ready to step inside, her toes begging to be warmed. In her mind, she was already huddled on the couch underneath a blanket. A cup of coffee was in her hands as the chilling music of Straylight Run played.

Before she could fully step inside, she heard a grunt from the alleyway, followed by an all too human shriek. She ran, her purse falling to the ground as she went to see what was wrong.

What she saw chilled her to her bones.

A figure dressed in a ratty white dress, was holding a man against the brick wall, her fingers wrapped against his throat. Blood dripped from the man's neck as her claws dug in. She growled, her jaw hinged open wide, rows of sharp teeth glinting in the moonlight. She cocked her head to the side and looked at Netta, a strange smile growing on her face.

Netta's mouth opened wide, and tears sprang forth from her eyes. She swallowed her fear, putting a hand to her head. "You're not real," she whispered.

"Play with me, Netta." The figure said. Then, she turned back to the man, cackling as she plunged a fisted hand into his chest. He screamed, his eyes rolling back into his head. Netta screamed along with him as the woman pulled out his still beating heart, biting into it, blood pouring down her chin and neck-staining the torn dress. After the heart was gone, she plucked out the eyes, seemingly for dessert. She smacked her lips together, dropping the limp body. "All full now, Netta. We play now?"

Netta turned to run, but tripped over her own feet. She whimpered, trying to scoot backwards as the creature walked towards her. "Go-go away! Leave me alone! You're not-you're not real! They t-t-told me you weren't real!"

The woman dropped to her knees, her eyes a blood red, flesh dangling between her shark-like teeth. "I very real, Netta." She put a hand-as cold as the grave-to Netta's cheek, stroking it lovingly. "As real as you."

Netta cried, the tears hot against her chilled skin. "No..." All the times the doctors had sedated her, telling her it was her imagination...all in her mind...her parents screaming at her to, "Just be normal, for the love of God!"

"You can't be real..." she whispered.

The creature frowned. "I find you, all by myself. You mine, Netta. Always be mine." She grabbed Netta's hand, squeezing it hard enough to snap a bone. "Play with me, Netta," she demanded.

Netta shook her head once again, trying to make the figure disappear. "Not real, you're not real..." she repeated, closing her eyes.

The woman growled and picked her up, smashing her against the wall. "Play with me!"

Netta's tears turned to sobs. "Please, leave me alone!" She replied, begging the being in front of her. All the memories she had locked up escaped, pouring out.

Netta screamed for her mother, looking at the woman who was standing in the middle of her room, dripping blood. "Play with me, Netta." The woman said, holding out her hand.

"Mom!" Netta yelled.

Her mother came rushing up the stairs, her eyes opened wide. "What? What's wrong?"

Netta pointed towards the woman, her body trembling. "She-she...make her go away, mommy!" Ten-year old Netta cried.

Her mother's look of fear disappeared, only to be followed by a look disappointment. "There's no one there, Netta."

"Yes, can't you see her! She's right there!"

"Netta, stop this! There is no one there!" She grabbed Netta's arm, practically dragging her from her room. "I think it's time you go see Mr. Jones again."

Netta shook her head. "I'm not crazy, mom! She's there, she's right there!"

"Netta, play with me." The creature said quietly.

Netta opened her eyes, only to meet the bright crimson irises of the woman who'd haunted her dreams, plagued her life. "Why me?" She demanded to know. "Why won't you leave me the fuck alone!"

The creature simply sat there, blinking dully. "I hungry, Netta."

Netta gasped, kicking her legs out, trying to escape its hold. "No, no!"

The woman glanced at the man next to them. "He didn't fill me."

"Let me go, please!"

The being shook its head regretfully, its teeth salivating. "So hungry, Netta."

Netta screamed as it bit into her neck, its teeth as sharp as daggers. She bucked against it, trying to free herself. I should've walked in the apartment, I shouldn't have come over here, I shouldn't have-...

The creature threw Netta's lifeless body aside. She looked up at the apartment building, into the windows on the third floor...at a little girl, watching from a distant. She latched onto the wall, scaling it with her claws, stopping once outside of the window. "Play with me," she said to the little girl.

Crunchcrunchcrunch.

A/N: Alright, first horror ficlet I've written in a long time. I like the way it turned out. Hopefully y'all do too. Let me know what you think :)
Faith