Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-25597960-20141030011817

The beat begins, twisting and grinding away at the corner of your mind.

It's dark.

... Of course it's dark, you've got your eyes closed.

Get up, go wash your face. The bathroom door hangs open, burning light marking the path you follow, tiptoeing across the filthy carpet. Cold water splashes your face, your stinging eyes, as you blink into the mirror. In the reflection lies yourself, of course... and behind you, in the darkness of your room-

It's a smear of grease on the glass, you realize as you smear it further with your sleeve.

For the purpose of this little exercise, you are mine. Play along and see where this adventure takes you. Don't, and see how it ends.

Any objections? No?

Good. Let's carry on.

You return to sit on the edge of your bed, all lights extinguished. Sigh. Lying back, closing your eyes, you realize there's a strange sound at the edge of your hearing.

A slow thumping, an odd choral quality to it, like exotic music. It writhes and twists like an eel, hard to pin down. Every time you try, it slips out of your grasp.

Maybe you left the TV on? That must be it. Except the TV isn't in the room behind you.

Go have a look, why don't you?

Get out of bed. Lurching out of bed, pawing at the lamp beside you, the place seems friendly in the warm lamp-lights glow. Creeping to the door, you slowly open it, relishing the slow groan of the hinges. Walking into the dingy hall, your heart races and you shake your head - this is your place, and you know it well. Press the door shut and walk, around piles of washing and books you never finished, every comfortable creak of the tired floorboards bolstering your courage. Hum that little tune as you go.

'''Follow the hall around. Open the door.''' In the spare room, the "guest bedroom" which has been used once, the fan lazily twirls on the roof. Flicking the light on, you see--

Nothing. Pretty much what you expected, right? Still, the seeds of unease have been planted and they grow in your troubled mind.

Step inside, close the door behind you. Down on your knees, you peer under the bed, long-ago stripped and still awaiting fresh sheets. Movement catches your eyes and throws your heart into a frantic sprint.

The cat looks at you as if you were an idiot, its eyes practically glowing with mischievous feline amusement.

That doesn't explain the sound. or-- how did the cat get in here? Rubbing your eyes, you'd attribute it to waking at such an odd hour. Reaching out to grab the ball of fur, you swear at it for being such a pain in the ass as you turn, stepping out the open door and flicking the light off.

'''Close the door. Go back to your room.''' You let the cat go as it hisses and spits, narrowly avoiding injury at its wicked claws. Meandering back to your room, you yawn, tripping over a basket of dirty clothes and falling through your doorway with a muffled curse. The light's off, and you just don't care anymore, falling into bed. Sleep rears its head, that strange beat pounding in your own, and the roiling darkness overcomes you in seconds as my hands wrap around your neck and squeeze.

The music goes on in my mind as it goes out in yours. 