Bailey cracked her eyes open. Another particularly loud snore grated on her sensitive ear. She blinked a few times before finding the will to get up. Everything ached in new ways. The bed was too firm, but not lumpy at least. Bailey noticed with a start that it was dark. Her heart sped up. She noticed the silhouette of a lamp by the alarm clock. It was too far away to reach safely. She began to cry in frustration.

Bailey took a few deep breaths before quickly reaching over and turning it on. Pain blossomed in chest and shoulder. She hissed and held her wound, writhing there. Bill placed an arm over her waist and scooted closer. She grit her teeth and craned her neck to see he was already back to sleep, of course.

She tried to block out the intrusive images of tall deformed, malicious entities lurking in every dim corner. This is why she slept on the floor, nothing could hide beneath her and stab its dagger claws up through the bed and into her. She couldn't just wake him? She didn't want to be rude, but she might have to.

Bailey steeled herself and got up as quietly as possible. It was so creepy at night. She moved away from the bed quickly, out of reach from what could be lurking below in the darkness there.

Her heart hammered in her chest, adrenaline forcing her wide awake. She became all the more aware that the rest of the house was just as dark. Glancing back at the clock told her it was only 3: 50 a.m. She surpressed a groan.

She found it in herself to continue. It was strange being in this house. She shuffled to the bathroom, sliding her hands along the wall looking for light switches. She was annoyed he had turned them all off. Didn't he know bad things happened in the dark? There was something lurking in the living room. She ducked into the bathroom, slamming the light on and slamming the door. She ducked out of view from the mirror. She was safe for now.

Bill woke with a start when his alarm clock went off. He turned it off and rolled back over. He blinked a few times the light waking him up. He rubbed the sleep out of his eye and squinted out the door where the hall light and bathroom were on. He groaned and made the decision to get up, more like his bladder did anyway.

He shambled to the bathroom, farting along the way. He was too tired to care. Bill hoped Bailey wouldn't make him go outside like Lenore used to. He went to grab the doorknob but missed by a few inches, he tried a few more times before finally getting. He heard a muffled scream from inside, waking him up from his groggy stupor.

Bill threw open the door which earned another scream. "What? What's wrong?" He asked, looking around. His gaze settled on Bailey, huddled on the toilet seat. She placed a hand over her chest and breathed in relief. "Its just you." She sighed.

"Who else would it be?" He asked, his brow creased. Bailey struggled for words and just shrugged sheepishly. "Are you okay?" He asked, wrapping his arms around her. "Y-yeah." She choked out, hoping the thing in the living room stayed there.

"You done in here?" Bill grunted.

"Oh...yeah...sorry." Bailey mumbled as she stood. She stopped at the threshold of the door. "Are you sure you're okay?" Bill asked again, concern evident in his voice. Bailey nodded before dashing back to the bedroom. Bill went about his morning business, wondering what that was all about.

Bailey dove under the heavy blanket, regretting her quick rough movements. She made a small breathing hole, but made sure to stay hidden under the musty blanket. Why couldn't the sun rise sooner? She missed her apartment. The lights always stayed on and there wasn't anywhere for monsters to hide.

Bill sighed heavily. It was too early for this. He tiredly walked into the dark kitchen and poured himself a glass of water. He caught a whiff of cigarette smoke, shrugging it off as a lingering smell from Dale being over in the past. Bill couldn't believe how smelly his house was, he was nose blind to it. He was mortified that his friend's smelled this. He got another whiff of smoke and turned on the living room light.

Dale let out a startled shout. He was halfway out of the window before he stopped and straightened himself out. "Hey Bill." He said in a deadpan sheepish voice, standing there awkwardly with his hands in his pockets. "Hey, Dale." He said after a an awkward moment. "Want to watch tv?" Bill asked. Dale nodded and sat down. Bill turned on the tv and put on a comedy show.

"I thought you finally killed yourself." Dale said, lighting another cigarette.

Bill snorted and shook his head. "Worse."

"Hm." Dale said grimly, his lips pressed in a flat line.

A heavy silence hung in the air.

"I'm getting married before the week's over." Bill said, awkwardly breaking the silence.

Dale gave him an are you kidding me look behind his dark sunglasses. "This the date you had before you disappeared?" He asked with a snappy tone.

"Not exactly." Bill said, clasping his hands together.

"That's not a good idea." Dale said after taking a long drag on his cancer stick.

Bill glared at his friend. He was going to marry Bailey with or without Dale's blessing. "She saved my life. I love her and...you wouldn't understand." Bill snapped.

"I understand you're rushing into this too soon." Dale said angrily, tapping his ashes onto the floor carelessly. Bill made an indignant unintelligible noise. "We thought you were dead." He snapped in quiet irritation. He lit yet another cigarette before continuing, "You finally come home and- It's not a good idea." He said, disappointed in his friend, holding his tongue for once. "I'll see you tomorrow." Dale said tiredly, putting his cigarette out in the already full ashtray on the table. He wasn't in the mood to argue about this right now, irritated Bill was rushing into marriage already.

"Good night." Bill said awkwardly, hiding his irritation. Dale used the door this time. Bill sighed heavily and looked at the ceiling. They would come around once they got to know Bailey. He looked at the door sadly, he did miss his friends. They would come around, he tried to reassure himself.