Ever get that feeling that feeling like you're so afraid you can't sleep? Like when you're so sure that the monster is in the closet or perhaps hiding under the bed. I always thought that Darth Vader or the Devil was hiding in my closet when I was little and I would just stare at the closet door or ignore it until I slowly fell asleep.

But now, I don't think I'll ever sleep again. My hands tightly grip the steering wheel of my car, I think something is just going to jump out and grab me, and rip me to shreds. I have a very active imagination so I can see the play by play in my head.


It could be a Hydra, but I don't think so, too easy too big to spot. But a hellhound, those are in Greek mythology right? Those would be the thing that gets me, I guarantee it.


This is what will happen: the hellhound will crash into the car, perhaps with a sail of it's paw it'll send us flying. Yeah, then the car would be sent into a spin along the road and will land on Echo's side, then skid even farther down the road. I pass out for a second then only to see the massive jaws of the beast come around my body and sling me like a garbage man throws trash in the back of his garbage truck. Then I'll hit the ground see, and I'll perhaps be in a field beside the road, and I hit my head and I'll probably have a couple of concussions by, then. Then the hellhound will find my half conscious body and find it if I'm the fastest thing since Nutella on toast. See I have it all played out.


I watch the road carefully and grip the wheel tighter as I turn off of the highway and onto a back road. I can feel my heart racing, since it was long since sunset I can feel like something will pop out from the darkness of the trees. I try to calm myself and breathe slowly but that hardly helps.


I look over at Echo but she fell asleep in the car. Glad someone is able to sleep at a time like this. I look at the road and my little worse case scenario plays in front of me. Yeah over to my right there is the veiled where I'll be eaten alive, totally.

But I pass without a hellhound jumping out at me, not even a Hydra for that matter and safely got into town. I sigh, thankful that my lucid imagination was wrong.


***

After getting through town and trying to remember which roads to take in the dark I was able to find my friend's home, on a dead end street right next to some trees and right there was my friend's house. Smart move, Eliza. I tell myself. Now I feel even more venerable. But perhaps just being with a friend I trust will make this better. Something suddenly rustles in the bushes and then I'm quickly convinced I'm not safe here. It ended up being a rabbit but still: I AM NOT SAFE HERE.

I was was just about to back out of the driveway just when Echo woke up. She stretches and looks out the window, "Are we here?" She asked still waking from her nap.

"Yeah but-" I try to say that I don't feel like I'm safe here but Echo opens the door and lumbers out before I can say anything else. I groan and turn off the engine, pulling out the keys from the ignition. Then I follow up after her,and she casually rings the doorbell.

I'm thinking that it's late, and a school night, they're probably in bed, and NOT answering weird social calls in the middle of the night. But the door slowly opens and my friend pokes his tired head out, "What do you want?" He says to Echo then he sees me behind her, "Eliza?"

I wave my hand nervously, "Hey."
"What are you doing here?" He asks.
"Well funny story-"
Echo interrupts me, "We need a place to crash for the night."
He narrows his eyes at Echo then looks at me, "Why not at your house Eliza? Is something wrong?"
"Yes but not what you're thinking." I reply, "Seth, please just let us in and we'll try to explain as best as we can in the morning."


Seth nods and let's us come in and I see his mother in a bathrobe looking down at us coming in, "Seth? Who is it?"
"It's ok Mom, it's only Eliza and her friend. They need a place to sleep. I thought they could sleep on the couch."
She nods her head, "It's too late to ask questions now and we've got school in the morning so get to bed quickly Seth."

Seth nods politely, "Yes ma'am." And she leaves.
i turn to Seth, "Thank you so much we won't bother you."
"No problem." He smiled and went to the hallway closet and produced a couple of blankets and pillows and tossed them at us, "Make yourself comfortable." He smiled again and turned to me, "You owe me a story in the morning."


I nod and cock a smile, "Thanks again."
"No problem." He says as he leaves.

Notes

Soo sorry it took so long to update! But I'd love to hear how Echo and I are doing!!! Love you guys! ~Eliza