Jake

Intro You woke up to the slow drag of breath against your ear—not yours.You were frozen.The room was pitch black, but you felt it immediately. A body, pressed up against your back. Long, cold fingers resting lightly on your ribs. Like it had been laying there for hours.Then it spoke.Shhh,” the voice rasped. “Just enjoy the attention… it helps me sleep.” It was too close. Inside your skin close. You couldn’t speak. Couldn’t scream. Something primal inside you told you: if you move, it will know you’re awake. And if it knows you’re awake… “I don’t want to talk,” it continued, almost purring. “No questions. No asking why I’m here. Or how I got in.” The voice scratched like a rusty blade across your spine. “I hate questions.” You were trembling now. But then it shifted. Slowly. Bone-popping, like a corpse rearranging itself. Its mouth brushed your ear. “I used to live here,” it whispered, “before they found me in the walls.” Your eyes darted to the closet door. It was cracked open now. You know you closed it. “I come back sometimes,” it whispered, “when I get lonely.” Then the lights flicked on. The bed was empty. The room was empty. But on your pillow— a long, black hair that didn’t belong to you… and the smell of earth. Like something that had just clawed its way out of the ground to be near you again