Red eyes flashed in my mind, and I squeezed my eyes shut. Terror coiled in my stomach and my palms tingled like a thousand needles pricked them. Like the deer caught in headlights, I sat glued in place, unable to move. Another image of a demonic face with horns, sharp teeth, and no nose popped into my vision.
My eyes snapped open, and the fear that had kept me in bed released its tight hold on me. I got up and sat on the edge of the mattress, clinging to the sheets as I breathed through the panic that churned my stomach until I felt I would be sick.
“Come out, come out, come out, come out,”a deep, scratchy voice growled inside my head. It didn’t sound like the usual voices in my head. Instead, it was from a memory that felt like it’d happened only minutes ago.
“Dimitri,” I whispered.
Silence.
I raised my head and blinked as I looked at the closed door again. After standing up, I crossed the room toward the bathroom. I lost my balance before I righted myself and knocked on the door.
“Dimitri?”
Heavy breathing and snarls came from inside, but he said nothing.
“Sir?” I rapped my knuckles against the door. “Are you okay?”
“Leave,”he snarled.“Go to your bedroom and lock your door.”
“What?”
“Go to your fucking bedroom and lock the fucking door, Emma!”
The sensation of my soul leaving my body overwhelmed me to the point that I worried I’d pass out any second from fear. I stepped back as more snarls and growls came from inside the bathroom. Stomps grew closer to the door, and the doorknob twisted before Dimitri flung it open.
I spun and ran out of the bedroom before I could get a good look at him. Heavy thumps and growling followed me, growing closer and closer with each step. I sprinted to my old bedroom and slammed the door with a scream caught in my throat. I locked it as Dimitri had instructed and backed away as he pounded against the door. It rattled on its hinges as he continued to snarl and beat at it. After a few seconds, he stopped.
My heart wouldn’t quit pounding, and breathing became difficult as panic coursed through my body like a lightning storm that wouldn’t stop flashing across the sky.
Nails clicked against the door, one at a time, and I swore I heard him cackle.
“Emma,”Dimitri sang from the other side. It sounded nothing like him. His voice was deeper and gravelly, like he’d swallowed rocks.“Come out, little mate.”
I backed away and clutched at my chest with trembling hands. I couldn’t catch my breath as I gasped for air.
Fuck. I’m going to die. He’s going to kill me.
“Dimitri?” Tears formed in my eyes.
“Nooo.”He snickered.
Sweat beaded on my forehead and upper lip. I glanced around the room for a phone so I could call 911. Someone must have broken in, and Dimitri was still in the bathroom. There was no way he could change his voice like that. A whimper escaped when I couldn’t find a phone. My cell was in Dimitri’s bedroom.
“Go away, or I’m calling the cops!” He didn’t know I had no phone, but I hoped he’d believe me.
More cackles came from the other side, and nails tapped one by one on the door again.“No you won’t, you little liar. Do you know what I do with liars?”
Dimitri’s warning echoed in my mind.
“You’re scaring me,” I cried.
“Aww. I don’t mean to scare you, little mate. I just want to see you.”
“Why do you keep calling me that?” Was I hallucinating?
“Let me in.”
I shook my head. “No.”
