Please review. There's more where this came from. Have a few things planned!
That was definitely the last straw. When Beth's bedroom flung open, she launched herself out of bed without a second thought and out the front door or her apartment in nothing but her bra and a pair of shorts.
She'd told Maggie lots of times that the place was haunted- and Shawn- but no one believed her. They said she was just nervous to be starting college and it would go away soon. No way was she spending another night in there.
She contemplated knocking on Ms. Ashby's door but the poor lady would be fast asleep and was such a heavy sleeper, she would never hear Beth's desperate knocking.
She knew the man that lived a few doors down because she'd seen him around. They usually left for work- atleast she did, there was no telling what he did- at the same time and got back home within the same five minute time span.
Nervously, she cleared her throat and knocked, listening to inaudible words and heavy footfalls.
"Merle, shut the f-" he immediately stopped once he took in the sight in front of him before he met her eyes, his own squinting.
"My apartment is haunted," she squeaked, eyes wide as she looked at him in fear. "I swear I'm not a loony."
"Ya realise it's three in the morning?" he groaned, biting at the loose skin on his finger nail.
Beth shook her head quickly. "I know it's early-"
"This ain't early, it should be illegal to be up right now."
"Three in the morning is the witching hour and my door- which was locked- opened by itself," she hissed, leaning in closer so he could hear her. "Plus, I'm afraid of the dark and my power is out."
"I'm not an electrician," he grumbled. "Or an exorcist."
She inhaled deeply through her nose, meeting his eyes again. "I know but you must have a couch I can crash on, right?" she asked, crossing her arms over her exposed bra.
"Ya sure someone isn't messing with ya?" he asked. "Boyfriend, maybe."
"I don't have a boyfriend," she replied, her mouth in a tight line. "Look, are you going to let me in? It's cold and I feel exposed, you know, with the way my butt is hanging out of these shorts."
"I'll get you a blanket," he said with a sigh, stepping aside to let her in.
Beth thanked him nervously, a shiver running through her body at the thought of being alone with this man in his apartment.
When he appeared with folded mound of fabric in his hand, she accepted it.
"I gotta know, okay? Are you a murderer or a serial killer? Anything like that. Not that I'm saying you look like one but I'm a buck fifteen soaking wet and I doubt I could take you."
He stared at her curiously before shaking his head slowly. "Are you a murderer?" he asked with a smile playing on his lips.
She laughed, sitting down on his couch. "Not yet," she joked. "But if I see my ex-boyfriend I might be."
He just nodded.
"I'm Beth by the way," she introduced, offering him a confident hand. "You can shake it, I don' bite."
"Daryl," he introduced and Daryl then shook her hand.
"Well, I should probably let you sleep, huh?" she said softly. "Sorry I woke you up but I can't promise it won't happen again."
He retired to his bed, leaving her alone on the couch with the silence of the stranger's- No, Daryl's- apartment.
She definitely didn't want to promise it wouldn't happen again.