Shadow.

Eric woke with a jolt. Bolting upright from his slumber, he removed his black velvet eyemask. His night terrors had returned. Rubbing his eyes and sitting on the edge of the bed, he sighed heavily. It was 1.38am.

It had been almost a week since he dreamed the dream.  He slowly rose and walked the ten or so steps to the ensuite bathroom. Splashing cold water on his face, he brought his head back up to see his reflection in the rectangular mirror.

Water dripped from all angles of his face. He made no effort to wipe them away. Staring back at him was a weary looking thirty three year old man. Opening the cabinet to the side of the mirror, he pulled out his stash of sleeping pills. Popping one in his mouth, he cupped a hand and poured water into it. Gulping down the pill, he returned to his side of the bed.

Sitting upright for a moment, he ran through the dream once again. His wife running toward him telling him to beware the shadows and the man in black. Just as he neared her everytime, he would wake.

But this time was somehow different.

Did a noise wake him this time in conjuction with the dream?

He checked the bedside alarm system. It was specifically housed in his bedside locker after the last intrusion.

He froze.

The red light was steady.

He didn’t move initially, fearing what might come next.

Moving slowly, he reached down underneath the console of the alarm system. He wrapped his hand around the Glock handgun.

The wooden floorboard creaked on the landing.

Eric slipped silently down the side of the bed, positioning himself.

He waited for the door to open.

His hands were slippery with sweat. Beads of impending doom creased his forehead.

The door slowly moved open.

The shadow appeared. Led by the flash of a silver gun.

Eric squeezed the trigger.