I

Pavor Nocturnus

Awakened by a sound of my own creation, exactly as the night before, and the night before that. 3:21 AM once again, but why have I awakened at this precise moment, like clockwork, from yet another slumber? There must be an answer better than no reason at all, perhaps the wonder of unconscious nocturnal musings? Pity that, I reject the thought, there could only be more. Something is the matter, for better or worse, a topic worthy of exploration.

Mentally dancing, questioning my circumstances, the gestation of fate has already begun. I scan the room for anomalies to find nothing amiss, all is as should be except for that visitor, there. He looms in the corner, tall and blinding in his darkness, long and pointed hands stretched out at his sides.

“You, there, why have you come to wake me yet again at this hour?” The figure remains steadfast. Did I do something wrong? I would rather think him friend, yet now I ponder if he has come to bring me harm? What an atrocious thought.

“I say for the final time, why do you linger, dark figure? If you have nothing to say, I would assume return to my slumber.” The figure holds still, yet again, standing tall and thin. The crescent moon bleeds through the window pane, yet is unable to permeate deep enough to illuminate this being. I must resolve this at once, so that I may finally rest peacefully.

“My humor has left me, dark figure, I do not care any longer. You may stay or you may go, it is of no matter to me. I only ask you to please keep quiet so I may sleep.”

Yet he did not stay quiet. Just now and before, asking him for information, this shadow in the corner of my room was mockingly silent as a corpse. Now, with my eyes closed and in much need of sleep after several nights interrupted, there grows a whisper in my ear, awful whisperings, indeed. This could only be the jagged voice of this shape in the corner of my room, yes? Yet, I know this voice, I have heard it before, but where? It murmurs thoughts of doubt in my ear, telling me things I instantly recognize to be of a false nature, although how can I be sure? No, I suppose I cannot.

The voice builds into a cacophonous symphony, until I bolt upright in bed once again to scold this creature, yet the corner is empty. Empty of