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There's no one but you

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Chapter 3: Afraid of the dark

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I felt a wave of relieve wash over me as soon as I stepped inside my apartment.

''Sigh… home sweet home'' I managed to said despise my short breaths intakes, and the 170 pounds of extra weight that were currently hanging onto my shoulders ''Damn Johnny…you are heavier than you look''

''Mmmgg…'' he wasn't even able to formulate words at this point.

We stumble until the living room, and once inside I tried to place him carefully over the couch. Sadly, I lost my balance and ended up dropping him onto the couch like a sack of potatoes. And of course, I fell as well, but unlike the really fortunate drunken Johnny, I didn't land over the couch's soft cushion but over the hard cold floor beside it.

''Ouch, Ouch…Shit!'' I whined, while rubbing my aching lower back.

Before getting up the floor, I took off my shoes and untied the melted compress that was still tied around my ankle. I hissed at the sight of what appeared to be a surgically inserted a Ping-Pong ball inside it ''Jezz…that will hurt like hell in the morning''

I shoved my hair out of my face and huffed. What a night, not only I felt and landed over my butt twice, but I also lost my really convenient job in the pizza parlor…as well as the occasional free pizza I loved so much. Sigh.

A foreign snore took me out from my pessimist thoughts, and I turned around to stare at the pass out guy beside me. Johnny was out like a light, and I felt a small smile creep up on my face when I noticed his legs haggling over the arm rest because they were to long to fit in the couch ''Well pal, I will let you crash in my couch tonight, but don't get used to it, okay?''

It wasn't as if I didn't like Johnny. He was fun to hang out with and he looked a little bit like James Franco. However, every time I pictured something happening between us I just felt… 'Meh'

Before retiring to my bedroom, I grabbed a sharpie to write him a note…and also to draw a mustache on his face as payback for making me carry him.

''Hello! You are in my apartment, just so you know you weren't abducted by some stranger. I left you some pain killers over the kitchen table, and there's also Ramyun over the microwave if you get hungry. Wake me up and I will kill you! With love, Mika''

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''Urrghh'' I felt as if my head was going to explode at any minute.

Believe me, this was not my first time waking up in the middle of the night because of a killer-alcohol-induced-headache. But, it certainly was my first time waking up because of a killer-alcohol-induced-headache, plus a really painful swollen ankle and a paralyzing backache, all courtesy of dragging a 6 feet tall unconscious guy for three entire blocks. Yes, I was still holding that grudge.

With my eyes still closed I started rubbing my temples ''I guess this is how it feels to wake up after a good beat up'' whoever said that women have a high pain tolerance, wasn't surely referring to me.

Rolling onto my side, I stretched my arm to reach my table light, though it was weird for it to be off in the first place, considering I never sleep without it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not scared of the dark or anything, but I'm a girl living alone in the city, and that tiny light on my night table really reassures me that no lunatic, robber, or rapist would ever trespass into my room… and also because of ghosts.

I prepared myself mentally to be blinded by the annoying yellow light of the lamp. Yet, despise of clicking the lamp switch several times, I was still covered in the same darkness. Thank you, table light! Out of all the nights you could have chosen to stop working you certainly choose the best one!

Irritated, I searched for my cellphone under my pillow to use it as a light, but… Surprise! Surprise! It wasn't there… I buried my face in my pillow and let out a frustrated groan ''didn't I take my phone before going to bed? Mmmh, I think I did, but can't remember clearly''

Letting the lack of light aside, I ventured my hand into the darkness, and lurched inside my night table's drawer to explore between its messiness for a box of Advil. I touched several things I didn't have any idea of why were there, as well as other things that I have been looking for ages, like my favorite X-acto knife ''Afff I would have been so happy to find you last week'' I tossed it aside again, continued rummaging until I finally felt the squared shape of the Advil box ''Jackpot!'' I celebrated before discovering that it was already empty inside ''you have to be kidding me!''

I took in a deep breath in order to calm myself down, and started thinking about the awful course of events I will have to follow in order to get the other box of painkillers that was over the kitchen table.

Gathering all my leftover energy, I started lifting my upper body with my arms, which caused my back to make a sharp cracking sound in protest ''Damn it'' I straightened slowly and dragged myself until the edge of the bed.

When I felt my feet touch the floor, I thought the worst had already passed and proceeded to my do my next task… look for something to cover myself, given that when I went to bed I just took off my dress and plummeted right into the bed; and I wasn't planning of going out of my room wearing only my underwear when there was a guy sleeping on the couch. I knew he would probably still be passed out, but in view of how great my luck has been tonight, I wasn't going to risk it.

Unfortunately, I wasn't counting with that after standing up and taking a few steps towards the closet; my ankle will start hurting so bad that it would make me drop immediately to the hard cold floor… for third time tonight.

''Fuck…'' I hissed, and found myself sweating profusely because of the sudden strain.

I crawled to the bed and with my one good leg, pushed myself right onto the bed again.

My eyes became glossy ''Okay, It seems like walking is off the table…'' I was officially trapped in the bed, I couldn't stand up, and all the sudden movement only made my headache turn into dizziness.

''…''

''Mom… where are you when I need you?'' In that moment, I was wishing with all my heart that my mother could somehow magically appear into my room and take care of me. However, imagining my mother just made me start remembering my home, my family, and how far I was for everyone, especially how far I was from a particular someone.

Suddenly, I found myself fighting back my tears.

''…''

''Mom… sniff…sniff ''

''…''

My eyes flooded with tears and I started to breath unevenly ''Sniff…sniff'' I was already in pain, and crying only seemed to worsen it, but I just couldn't seem to stop myself.

''…''

''Mia… you are so stupid…we were supposed to be living together in New York… why did you have to ruin everything and die'' Without noticing, I opened a door that was usually hard to close

''…''

''Sob…Sob…you leave me alone'' my whimpering became louder.

'' Shhh… don't cry baby cakes. Is okay'' I felt something gently wiping the seat from my forehead.

I gasped and lifted into a sitting position in less than a second ''what the…?'' my eyes darted crazily around the room ''did I imagine that?'' I touched the place in my forehead where the foreign touch was still lingering.

Spite of being a little bit of a coward, I dared to ask ''Mom…?''

''…''

''…'' I heard nothing again, just the usual noise coming from the city.

''…''

''Yeah, I definitely imagined that… Is so curious how the brain can…''

''Pfff… Really! Mom…? '' Someone burst out into laughing.

I jerked my head towards the noise's direction ''Whu-w- who's there?'' I asked more out of reflex than anything else.

''Oh babe, don't tell me you don't recognize me…''

I felt my heart jump into my throat ''Johnny…? Why did you come into my room? How did you even enter? My door was looked'' I was just been foolish; I perfectly knew this wasn't Johnny's voice.

'' Oh babe, now you are only trying to hurt my feelings''

As much as I just wanted to scream my lungs out, I managed to kept my cool to said ''who is it? this isn't funny…''

''Come on babe; don't tell me you can't recognize my voice?'' this time the same voice seemed to come from a different place in my room ''I will give you some clues…We had talked twice in the phone'' and it moved again ''you followed my pizza recommendation'' and again.

I found myself trying to keep it up with the voice sudden changes of place, and jerking my head from a direction to other.

''I'm also the image of health'' this time I heard it closer ''Come on! You know this, I'm sure Mika, just try guessing'' now I felt it just above me.

I instantly looked up hoping to find me face to face with the voice owner, but I just meet darkness ''M- Mi- Mikey?''

''Tim Tim Tim! We have a winner!'' He was just in front of me, like a big dark shadow standing at the end of my bed.

With a renewed energy that came to me out of nowhere, I jumped out of the bed as fast as I could, but before my legs could even touch the floor, I felt a powerful pair of arms catching me on midair, grabbing me by my shoulders and pinning me down to the bed again.

''He-lp hmmmggg'' I tried to scream until an enormous hand covered my mouth and almost my whole face.

''Shhh, keep it down baby cakes, your neighbors are sleeping''

''Mhhhmmgggg'' My legs begun kicking the air so hard that half of my body lifted by the impulse of it, and with both of my hands I tried to remove the enormous suffocating object out of my face.

''Easy…easy…'' was everything he said, almost as if my desperate intents to get free were only amusing to him.

I was starting to feel lightheaded because of the lack of oxygen and in a last attempt to release myself; I launched my arms forward in the darkness, but I only managed to scratch a strange leathery surface in front on me.

''Woah! You are a feisty one, aren't you?'' with his other big free hand he held both of my arms above my head

''Mhhmmgg'' as he hovered over me on the bed, he watched me struggle until I almost run out of air.

''I will let go of your mouth, only if you promise me that you will be quiet, deal?'' I just nodded ''Good girl'' satisfied, he finally removed his hand from my face.

I took in a sharp breath and started coughing. I couldn't see much in the dark but I was able to more or less outline his huge figure straddling me.

''W- what are you doing here! What do you want?'' my voice was raspy and my chest was rising and falling rapidly.

''What do you mean? I thought you were going to be happier to finally meet me''

My eyes widened as a realization suddenly hit me, and Tony's strange behavior suddenly started to made sense ''They will kill me...please''

''GET OUTTT! SOMEO- Mghhhhhhhmmmm'' He muffled me again with his enormous hand.

''Hey! You are cheater, you promise me to be quiet'' he covered my face for almost an entire minute and then removed it again.

''Cough… Cough… Please, please, just leave…''

'' Why are you like this? Is obvious you don't like being alone baby cakes, I saw how you were crying before''

''I- I wasn't crying because of that… it was because of my ankle… and other stuff'' Shit, why did I have to explain myself to this psycho.

''Awww… were you feeling bad babe? Don't worry I will take good care of you from now on'' before my brain could even start to process what he had said, one of his gigantic hands reached for my face, making me wince as soon as I felt it scrap against my skin ''don't be so scare, you already know me'' He insisted, and started stroking a side of my face with what I assume was his… thumb? I wasn't really sure but it was long and tick… Gosh, I was really hoping it was his thumb.

DISGUSTING ''No! I don't need you to take care of me, just leave me alone!'' I started struggling again but he was sitting over me, impeding me to move.

I never considered myself to be a weak person, and I always imagined that in situation like this I would be able to put up more of a fight. But I was wrong, I couldn't move, I couldn't scream, I couldn't do anything to protect myself. I was screwed.

''Shhhh… don't speak so loudly Mika, or I will have to cover your mouth again'' he continued stroking my face and wiping my wet cheeks.

New tears escaped my eyes and I started sobbing uncontrollably… I was scared…so scared.

'' Tsk… Humans... they freak out so easily…I'm treating you kindly because I like you, and look at you… tell me what I have to do to don't freak you out? Eh Mika?''

I really wanted to ignore the very important part were he said the word humans as something he was not, but obviously I just couldn't.

'' Y- You aren't human…?'' Without knowing why, I felt that it made a lot of sense.

''…'' his silence answered for him.

''What are you then?''

''Just… not a human''

''You just want to scare me, you cannot be serious''My heart was beating so loudly that I almost couldn't hear myself talking.

'' Why would I make up something like that? '' He seemed to be confused.

''Let me see you then'' I challenged; and in that moment, just in that moment, my curiosity surpassed my fear.

''…fine''

''F-Fi- Fine…?'' I was freaking out again.

With a speed I imagine no human could possess, he flipped from my bed and turned on my room lights.

I growled as the sudden brightness blinded me, and covered my eyes with my hands.

''I'm sorry baby cakes… I didn't mean to hurt you… are you okay?'' I felt him in less than a second sitting in front of me again; rubbing my shoulders.

Finally, my sight adjusted and my eyes took in all off Mikey's glorious appearance.

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