I woke with a start. My room was encased in darkness. I tried to sit up, but I couldn’t move. My entire body was paralysed. I tried to scream but no sound came out of my mouth, and panic overtook me.
Please, please, please let this be a nightmare.
My eyes moved around my room, but it all felt too real. I wasn’t dreaming. I was wide awake. An invisible force seemed to be pushing down on my chest, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I thought I saw a shadow move at the foot of my bed and fear took hold. Whatever the shadow was made of, I couldn’t move my body to fight it off.
Encapsulated by terror, I could do nothing but lie in bed and wait for the shadow to come for me. Was it the ghost of Victor? Or was it some other spirit who’d passed away within these walls? Whatever or whoever it was, I felt its malevolence with every fibre of my being.
Then, several seconds later, the pressure on my chest eased, and I inhaled a wheezing breath. A noise of pure distress escaped me, and I sprang up, my pulse pounding in my ears. I rushed to the light switch, flicking it on and illuminating my small room in brightness. No shadows remained. Everything seemed completely normal, but I couldn’t get the terror I’d felt out of my head. I hadn’t been able to move a single part of my body, hadn’t been able to speak, and I had no clue why.
One thing was for certain, I’d be sleeping with the lights on for the foreseeable future.
***
On Monday after school, I walked through the gates with Aoife as we chatted about her latest art project. I was aware of Sally, Claire and their group just a few yards behind us. I was always aware when they were close. The hairs at the back of my neck stood on end, like I’d developed some survival instinct to warn me of predators.
I heard Sally’s cackle of laughter and turned my head ever so slightly to see the cruel gleam in her eyes. She’d clearly just made some joke at my expense. I frowned and gritted my teeth, anger bubbling up inside me. Then the loud roar of an engine cut through my thoughts. A motorbike pulled up outside the school, and it took a second for my brain to compute that it was Noah. He pulled off his helmet and ran a hand through his thick, dark hair.
“Oh my God,” I whispered under my breath, and Aoife shot me a funny look.
“What’s wrong?” She followed my gaze then blinked several times when she saw who had drawn my attention.
“Is that—”
“Yes.”
“What’s he doing here?”
“I have no idea,” I answered. I also had no intention of finding out. I hadn’t laid eyes on Noah since he may or may not have caught me snooping in his bedroom on Saturday. In fact, I’d gone out of my way to avoid him at all costs.
I ducked my head and attempted to hide behind Aoife as we passed him, but then he called my name. “Estella!”
I winced, and Aoife gaped at me, wide-eyed. I gave a little wave in Noah’s direction and replied with a courteous, “Hello,” before quickening my step. He climbed off his bike and caught up with me. I stopped in my tracks and folded my arms when he blocked my way.
“What do you want?”
He lifted an eyebrow at my petulant tone, eyes moving over my face and lingering on my mouth a moment. Instinctively, I bit my lip, feeling unnervingly exposed under his cool gaze. All of a sudden, I was hyperaware of him. I did my best to keep my composure when he stepped closer, his voice low when he asked, “That bully of yours around?”
My eyes widened as I chewed my lip. “Um …”
“You told him about Sally?” Aoife whispered, and I nodded. She raised an eyebrow. I didn’t blame her for being surprised. The way I’d spoken about Noah wouldn’t have led her to believe we’d been close enough to talk about such things. And we weren’t. I still wasn’t sure what possessed me to tell him. All I knew was he had a way of drawing personal details out of me.
Noah turned his attention to Aoife, a congenial smile in place. “Hello, Estella’s friend. I’m Noah.” He held his hand out to her, and she glanced at it briefly before shaking with him.
“It’s nice to meet you, Noah. I’m Aoife.”
“Aoife,” he repeated, sounding out the syllables “eef-ah” in a low, sexy voice. “What a pretty name. Say, you wouldn’t be interested in pointing out the bully, would you?”
Aoife shot me a questioning look, and I vehemently shook my head. She looked back to Noah. “Afraid I can’t. Sorry.”