The Visitor in the Dark

“There’s a very specific kind of horror in realising the intruder in your bedroom is someone you know.”

The sky was a void, an abyss of inky blackness. Yet there was Cody, his face a beacon in the dark, shining bright and clear. He smiled at me, a comforting, familiar smile. I returned it, a sense of warmth spreading through me.

I waved at him, eager for a response, but Cody remained still, his smile unwavering. Confusion crept in. Did he not see me? I was right there, in front of him, yet he seemed oblivious to my presence.

As Cody's face began to drift away into the distance, I reached out desperately, trying to bridge the gap between us. But he slipped away like a shadow, eluding my grasp. Lightning cracked the sky open, revealing more faces in the brief flashes of light, faces that seemed both familiar and foreign.

Panic constricted my throat as I realised Cody was in danger. I tried to shout a warning, but all that emerged was a feeble, hoarse whisper. "Cody!" I strained to call out louder, but my voice failed me.

Another burst of lightning, another fleeting glimpse of faces. "Cody!" I screamed with all the strength I could muster. "They're coming!"

Suddenly, a jolt coursed through my body, wrenching me from the nightmare. I woke up, my heart pounding, sweat drenching my skin. My breath came in short, laboured gasps. Thunder rumbled ominously, shaking the room, while lightning illuminated the space with a ghostly glow. Terror gripped me as I saw a face in the doorway, staring back at me.

The man's face approached swiftly, determination etched in every feature. I sat up, my instincts kicking in, a primal urge to defend myself. But as I tried to scream, a strong hand clamped over my mouth, stifling my cries. My arms flailed weakly, hindered by the intoxication and entangled in the blankets.

The attacker pushed me back, his weight pinning me down. I thrashed in panic, my mind racing with fear. But then I felt the weight shift onto my waist, and in a desperate bid for escape, I bit down hard on the hand over my mouth.

The man yelped in pain, and in that moment of confusion, I opened my mouth to scream again. But he was quick to react, his other hand moving to smother my cries.

"Gladys," he whispered sharply. "Stop!"

In the midst of my terror, recognition dawned. It was Cody's voice. I ceased my struggles, looking into his eyes, a plea for safety unspoken but clear.

"Don't scream," Cody said, his voice calmer now. "You were having a nightmare and thrashing about in your bed. I was worried you'd hurt yourself." And then he removed his hand from my mouth.

"What the fuck are you doing here? How did you get in my house?" I demanded, my voice a mixture of confusion and anger. Instinctively, I shoved him hard in the chest, trying to regain some sense of control over the situation.

"I can't stay long," Cody replied in a hushed tone, his urgency evident. "You have to trust Luke. Clivilius is real. Do whatever he asks you to do." His words were rushed, almost desperate.

I glared at him, my mind racing. Trust Luke? Clivilius? Cody's cryptic message only added to my confusion. "Trust me, Gladys. The lives of a thousand people are at stake. We need Luke," he insisted.

"We? How do you know about Clivilius?" I questioned, my suspicion growing.

"I have to go," Cody said. And then he ran out of the room.

I jumped out of bed, my head spinning slightly from the wine and the abruptness of the encounter. As I made my way to the bedroom door, a chilling sensation crept up my spine. "Cody," I whispered, my voice barely audible as I dashed into the hallway.

I entered the lounge room, heart racing, but Cody was nowhere to be seen. The room was empty, as if he had vanished into thin air.

"What the hell are you doing Gladys?" a voice called out from behind, startling me. I spun around to see Beatrix standing there, annoyance etched on her face. "Who's Cody?" she asked, her brows furrowed in confusion.

I struggled to catch my breath, my mind racing to concoct a plausible explanation. "Umm… nobody… I just had a nightmare. Must have had too much wine," I lied, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. It was a convincing excuse, one that seemed to fit the scenario perfectly.