Disclaimer: 7seeds not mine.
Natsu opened her eyes, but her room was almost as dark as the inside of her eyelids. It was night still. Why was she awake?
She became aware that Nuts was growling next to her. Natsu slept on her side, and normally her cat would curl up against her stomach and purr until they both fell asleep. Now, though, Nuts was crouched at right angles between the pillow and her collarbone. His fur was puffed up, and he was growling. Natsu had never heard him make a sound like that before.
She meant to ask him what was wrong, to lift her hand and pet him, but she couldn't. Wha . . . She couldn't move.
It was then that she realized there was something standing behind her.
There was something in her room behind her, and she couldn't move.
She knew the presence was responsible for her inability to move. She knew it deep in her bones, in the frozen pit that was her heart, the same way she knew the sky was blue and that Nuts loved her. It wasn't a realization, just a fact.
She knew it because, if the presence behind her wasn't paralyzing her, she would be panicking, but her breath came just as steadily as if she were still asleep. Her heartbeat was so slow that it almost felt like it wasn't beating at all. That terrified her more than anything.
The hair on the back of her neck prickled, and she knew it was reaching for her. Nuts crouched lower and hissed, swatting a sharp-clawed paw over her shoulder. The feeling of dread receded slightly.
Nuts, Natsu thought gratefully. But the fear didn't go far, because she still couldn't move. And there was still something right behind her.
Natsu struggled. She didn't know what she wanted to do – run away? Look at the thing? Certainly not fight back, not Natsu. She was too scared even to think what she was doing.
Her struggling was useless. She managed a few jerky twitches, and managed to roll – flop, really – onto her stomach. The movement startled Nuts, who retreated several steps.
The cat's motion meant Natsu was no longer in his range. When the thing reached out again, she knew Nuts wouldn't be able to save her. Her back clenched with fearful anticipation of the inevitable contact. It felt like ice where she expected the touch to land.
Nuts, beside her, continued to growl.
The touch came, slight pressure on her back through her blankets and pajamas. Natsu's breath stopped. Everything stopped.
Nuts spat and lashed out uselessly. He wasn't close enough.
Natsu's back ached. She couldn't move at all now. No breath, no blood to pump. Her eyes were warm, and it took her a moment to realize those were tears pricking up. Part of her was working, but not enough to save her.
Her throat hurt, and her chest, from the lack of breath. Icy ripples spread across her body from the point of slight pressure where the thing touched, drawing the ache after them.
She couldn't escape. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't even feel her back anymore. It had disappeared. She was disappearing. Nuts, she thought desperately. Help me.
Her cat spat at the presence and pounced, but it was too late. Natsu had already melted away.
A/N: I found out last year that it's cathartic, when i'm faced with an uncomfortable situation, to write fanfic putting characters in the same situation but worse. So here's me, trying to deal with my hagging experience, even though i really couldn't capture the fear properly. I don't know why i chose to write about Natsu – she just seemed to fit best.