Short Stories Requested By Readers

Short Story 5: A Shadowy Night

Shadowy Night Requested By Megan Furter

The ground pounds away under my feet. I run and run, but I am just not fast enough. I want to run from my memories, from the hooded figure, but I can’t. I am always just too slow. The knife makes contact with me and that’s when I wake up screaming.

Years ago, my adoptive family would rush in and calm me down, but I was on my own now. The nightmares seem to know this because they get worse with every bit of sleep I get. I get my phone and dial the number that has become my life line. “Doctor Greene, it’s happened again.” “It’s alright, take a deep breath and repeat after me. It’s just a dream, it doesn’t mean anything. Take two of your pills and go back to sleep. Everything will be fine.” “Right, thanks Doc.” I end the call and do as he says. Dr. Greene has been my psychiatrist for ten years now.

The nightmare didn’t return again that night and I was able to get some sleep before work. “Good Morning Sarah, how are you,” Catherine, my colleague asked concerned. “I’m alright, thanks and you, Cathy?” “I can’t complain. You’re nightmare worsening?” “A bit but Doctor Greene has me on stronger meds.” “Don’t you think you should go for a second opinion?” I bark out a laugh before answering her. “He’s the fifth psychiatrist, I’ve seen. They all say pretty much the same; it’s just the meds that change.” “Why don’t you try speaking to a psychologist?” “They’re just going to refer me back to a psychiatrist.” “Well, I have a number for a hypnotherapist,” Janet chips in as she enters the small break room. “Haven’t they been discredited?” Cathy asks. “Sure but it’s not like she’s hunting down a serial killer in a court case, is it?” “I’m willing to try it. Can you please forward me the number?” “Sure, two seconds.” While she sends the number, Cathy looks at me confused before sighing. My phone beeps and I thank Janet before I leave.

The day goes by in a blur and soon I am home. There’s a knock on my door and to my surprise it’s Cathy. She is a kind-hearted person but she usually hides it behind her cool exterior. Her red hair and green eyes make her almost irresistible to most men, but as far as I can tell, she hasn’t met the one. We’ve known each other for five years now and yet neither of us really knows the other. She knows about my nightmares but that’s never been a secret. My past and sexuality, on the other hand, are still firmly sealed away. “Cathy, what are you doing here?” “I couldn’t leave you alone after today. You looked terrible. May I come in?” “Umm, sure, sorry about the mess beforehand,” I invite her into my tiny apartment. “Please, if this is what you call a mess you shouldn’t see my place,” She says giggling, “I brought some wine. Where do you keep your glasses?” “Third cupboard from the left,” I say as I lock up. I walk to the kitchen, which is literally attached to the bedroom, living room and bathroom. My pay only went so far and I didn’t need much space. She smiles while she pours the wine. “Have you spoken to the hypnotherapist that Janet recommended,” she asks, her tone changing subtly on Janet’s name. “Yup, I have an appointment with her tomorrow afternoon.” “Oh, so a hypnotherapist you can see but not a psychologist?” “Where is this coming from,” I ask confused at her sudden outburst. “I’m just worried about you, Sar.” “I’m fine, Cathy. It’s just the sleepless nights I can do without.” “Can I come with you to your first session?” “If that’s what you want, sure. It shouldn’t be a problem.” “Thanks, now would you please take your wine so that we can chill in front of the television?” I smile and take my wine. I take a sip and watch Cathy as I do. She smiles before walking to the single couch. I follow her and we spend the night talking and drinking.

The next morning comes too soon and I groan at the massive headache that’s making itself known. A groan next to me almost has me jumping out of my bed. “Cathy,” I ask, my voice a harsh whisper. “Don’t scream. Also note to self don’t drink on a work night.” “What happened last night,” I ask, an icy feeling crawling up my spine. What have I done? What did I give away? “We got drunk and then we came to sleep,” she says, biting back laughter. “Are you laughing at me,” I ask smiling. “You bet I am. You’re kind of cute when you freak out.” “And you’re still drunk. I’ll make us some coffee.” I quickly slip out of the room, hoping she won’t see my blush. Goodness, why does she have to be so teasing when she’s drunk?

Soon we’re both ready for work, Cathy having borrowed some of my clothes. She gets into her car and I get into mine, then we’re off to work. The hours quickly pass and soon it’s lunch time. Cathy meets me by my car and we get in. “What do you remember about your past?” “Not much really. I was just told that my parents died in an accident when I was three and that’s when I was placed in child services. When I was five, Nick and Jill adopted me and even those memories are foggy.” “That’s odd.” “It’s actually not uncommon for children who suffered trauma to have foggy memories. It’s the brain’s way of blocking out the pain and keeping the trauma at bay.” “So, couldn’t your nightmares be fragments of those memories?” “I honestly don’t know, that’s why I want to see the hypnotherapist.”

The drive soon turns silent and then looming in front of us is the practice. I pull into a parking space and get out. Cathy is hot on my heels as we walk up to the door. I open them and a receptionist greets us. “Good morning, how can I help?” “Good morning, my name is Sarah Brown. I have an appointment with Doctor Miller.” “You can make your way through to her office; she’ll be with you shortly.” “Thank you.” Cathy and I make our way to the office and we sit across from the table. The room is painted in light colours and not at all what I had expected. I had pictured a chair and chaise longue in a pale white room. Instead there was a chair behind a desk and two chairs facing the opposite chair with dove grey walls and shelves filled with books, almost a typical doctor’s room.

A tall blonde woman makes her way into the room and she greets us warmly. “Good afternoon, ladies. I am Doctor Miller. Which one of you is my new patient?” “Good afternoon, Dr. that’ll be me.” “I understand you’ve been having nightmares for quite some time. What made you decide to come to me?” “A friend suggested it. I have been suffering for a while now and the psychiatrist I have been seeing just keeps telling me to drink my medication. It helps but only for a certain amount of time.” “Have you experienced any early childhood trauma?” “My parents passed away in an accident when I was three but I don’t really remember much.” “As would be expected, please follow me through to the consultation room.” We enter the room and then she has me lying down on the chaise longue. She leads me through a controlled hypnosis, but it doesn’t take long for the man to come chasing after me. I wake up shuddering and cold.

Cathy runs to my side and places her arms around me, mumbling soothing words into my hair. Doctor Miller regards me with concern but then asks to schedule more sessions with me. I still but nod. If I wanted to get better, I’d have to stop running and face my fears.

The sessions went on and on until we had a breakthrough. I recognised the man chasing me and not only was he a familiar face from my childhood, but also someone from my adulthood. Soon I knew the truth about what happened to my parents, but the person who murdered them still remains a mystery.

Cathy was with me every step of the way and soon our friendship blossomed into something more. My nightmares were at bay once more. Whether it was Cathy holding me at night or the hypnosis I would never know. My life seemed to be fine until the calls started coming from an unknown number.

Soon the puzzle pieces clicked into place. The voice belonged to Doctor Greene, the Doctor that fed me more meds to keep my memories at bay. The man guilty of killing my parents, the man I used to know as Uncle. The police tried to help but he fled days before I contacted them. He must have realised I had stopped taking my meds and the fact that Doctor Miller was contacting him about me didn’t help the situation.

I stand looking out of the single window in my apartment, somewhere out in the world is my psycho uncle and he hasn’t finished what he started. Could I live with myself if something happened to Cathy? Before I can dwell any further on the situation, arms wrap around me and pull me close. “I know what you’re thinking and I want you to stop it right now. You are not going to lose me.” She turns me around and plants a kiss on my lips before leading me to the room…

“That’s right, girlie keep believing you’re safe. I’ll come for you when you least expect it.” I throw my cigarette down and kill it before walking away from the single windowed apartment as its lights switch off. Just as her parents had died on a shadowy night, so would she, I promised myself.