2. Janie
Chapter 2
Janie
A cold tendril wrapped around my left ankle. Another tendril wrapped around my other ankle, throwing off my blanket from my body. One slipped between my body and the bed and pressed my chest, flipping me on my back. I tried to sit up when another tendril grabbed my wrist as the other one kept my body flat on the bed. The tendrils spread my legs wide. I struggled against the bonds holding me down. Another tendril glided up my leg. My heart raced.
“Let me go,” I pleaded.
Another dark tendril slid to my face and covered my mouth. As I struggled, the tendril tightened its grip on my face, making it increasingly difficult to see and breathe. I bucked against them. I reached with my free hand. The tendril wouldn’t budge. Another one shot out from under my bed, pulling my wrist tight against the bed frame. The tendril between my legs was at the edges of my panties, the soft touch ghosting around the edges of the panties. I couldn’t help my body reacting to these touches. My body heated and my pussy got wetter. The tendril brushed against the middle of my panties. I moaned into the tendril that was covering my mouth. Every night, I fought against this invasion. It never changed. Every night, they come for me from under my bed.
More tendrils slipped under my T-shirt. Touches gliding over my stomach and breasts. One wrapped around my breast and I could feel the blood flow being constricted. Another tendril did the same to the other breast. Another tendril ripped my panties off my body. The rip echoed through the room. A tendril slipped over my pussy. I couldn’t resist the faint pressure any longer and bucked, the sensation reverberating through my entire being. I needed more. A moan fell out of my throat. The tendril moved off my mouth and pushed itself into my mouth. I sucked on it hungrily. The tendril between my legs pushed between my lips and another one slipped inside of me. The other one started to rub and twist against my clit. I thrashed against the overwhelming climb of my orgasm. The tendril inside my pussy pulsed in and out. I could feel it growing thicker and changing shape within my pussy. The one tendril wrapped around my breasts released. The flood of blood going back to my breasts made me fall completely over the cliff. I moaned into the tendril. The tendrils slowly slipped out of my orifices. I panted for breath as I could breathe fully again.
My alarm was ringing. My eyes snapped open. I rolled over. My blanket was on the ground and my panties weren’t on my body. On the foot of my bed, their torn remains lay scattered, a gruesome sight. Horror chilled my bones as my eyes widened. I looked around as my heart sped in my chest. No one was here. That was a dream, right? I stood up and grabbed the bat that was behind my door. I took slow, deliberate steps as I carefully surveyed my apartment for any signs of intruders. This wasn’t the only time this had happened. Nothing was out of place. Except for my panties and my blanket. And potentially my sanity? Could I have done that myself? I picked my underwear up and threw them in the trash. With a swift motion, I threw my blanket back onto the neatly made bed. I grabbed an outfit for the day and got dressed.
In a rush, I made my way out of my apartment as quickly as possible. No coffee at home today. As I was passing a column at the stairwell, a shadow shifted. I jumped back. The shadow didn’t move again. As I walked to my car, I could taste the metallic tang of blood from where I had bitten my lip. I tried to remind myself that all of this was my imagination. Shoving my keys into the ignition, I didn’t want to stay in my apartment by myself today. I drove to a coffee shop and walked inside. Even though I didn’t have friends, I still craved being around people.
As I grabbed my coffee, someone touched my arm. I gasped and turned, my hot coffee spilling slightly as I twisted. I bit my lip as I bit back the exclamation at the tip of my tongue. Behind me, a man was standing too close to me. It was Rick from work. I stepped back slightly. I needed space from him. He smiled gently as he locked eyes with me.
“I didn’t know you came to this coffee shop,” he said. He stepped closer again. I itched to move again and smiled awkwardly.
I shrugged. “I didn’t want to be at home by myself,” I said. Or with the ghost in my house. Although ghosts don’t invade dreams. Which led me to the worst possibility: my brain. I shoved the thought out of my head and tried to flash a genuine smile.
“I could help you with that,” he said. He winked, and the smile wavered. A pit in my stomach developed. I didn’t really want him to help. I worried my bottom lip as I brought my coffee up to my mouth.
“Oh, uh,” I said. What should I say? A shadow pulsed from the corner of my eyes. I turned toward the wall as I looked. It didn’t move. Imagination. It’s nothing. My bottom lip quivered as I tried not to let the thought come across my mind. You’re not losing your mind.
“Are you?—”
“Excuse me?” a woman interrupted. I turned away from the wall. A woman with long brown hair with streaks of gray stood in the way. She was wearing a shirt with skulls on it and loose bell bottom jeans. Her green eyes flickered toward the wall. The exact spot I was looking at moments before. Her eyes flickered back to mine and she shoved a business card in my free hand. “I need to talk to you about . . . the shadow on your back.”
I tilted my head as I shoved the business card in my wallet. “What do you mean?”
She shook her head as her eyes flicked toward Rick beside me. “My shop is down the way. You can find me on social media for my hours. Bye.”
She pivoted and rubbed a charm bracelet on her wrist as she walked away. Rick cleared his throat. “That was weird.”
I turned back toward him. “Yeah. Well, I better get to my car. Don’t want to be late,” I said with a fake laugh.
He laughed with me. “Yeah, that would be bad. You know how the front office is,” he said. I turned and walked toward my car. Tana was going to have a cow once I told her about Rick seeing me at the coffee shop. Although I felt very little excitement about it. What was wrong with me?