Sleepless

The night was cold. Winter winds arrived early this year and started freezing all the lonely souls up in the city, including mine. My mind and body were numb, not even coffee was helping. Maybe it was just the weather; maybe it was the lack of sleep. I didn’t really remember the last time I had a solid night of sleep. Always tossing and turning in bed, searching for that perfect position to relax my body. This position is so hard to find that I’m starting to think it is only a myth, created by parents to cease their kids. Just like the boogie man. Anyways, I couldn’t sleep.
My apartment never looked so disgusting. Coffee stains all around, a TV that doesn’t work, and a nasty smell of dirty laundry. I always forget to clean everything up. Plus I had no energy to do it, so I guess it will stay like that for a while. One thing though is for sure: I needed to get out of there.
I grabbed my coat and headed north on Knight Street. My mind was blank and my body was just moving in the same direction as the wind, until I saw a house. A big, dark, weird house. “Funny” I thought, I had never seen it here before. All the lights were off. It seamed abandoned. I started walking again, but something was holding me back.
I looked at the house again. Some lights were now on and the main gate was open (seconds before I could swear it was heavily locked with chains and padlocks). Without thinking, I entered the property.
As I walked through the garden, I realized I was not alone. Whispers floated in the air, shadows danced all around me, and I started to hear a weak, soft piano melody. The music dragged me slowly towards the house as an insect is attracted to light in a summer night. I finally entered the house and the piano melody became stronger. “Who is there?” I asked. No answer.
A cold wind ran through my body, almost lifting me up in the air. “What is happening?” I asked myself out loud in case someone could hear me. Again, no one answered me, but the first drop of sanity hit me like thunder. “What am I doing here?! I have to leave!” I ran towards the main door, but before I could reach it, the music started again; this time, louder and even more hypnotizing. I looked at the stairs and felt a strange sensation. I knew I had to go up, I knew I had to follow that music.
As I went up the stairs, shadows followed me. Strangely enough I did not mind, the whole evening was weird anyway. I finally got to the second floor and the music got stronger. A door caught my attention. It was at the end of the long corridor and anyone could easily see the light coming through it.
On my way to it, I stepped on something. It was a doll. Without thinking, I held on to the doll and continued my way to the door. My fingers finally reached the doorknob and I entered the room.
There wasn’t any light on to my surprise, except the one coming from the full moon outside. And there was no piano. A little girl was seating by the window staring at me. My eyes kept analyzing her translucent body. Was she a ghost?
-Who are you? I asked
-The doll…where did you find her?
I stared at the doll for a second. I had forgotten I was holding it.
-The doll….was in the hallway. Is it yours?

-Yes. Where’s the piano?

-I don’t know…I thought you were the one playing it.
-No. I can’t. Only they can.
-What? What do you mean? Who are they?
-My doll…Give me my doll.
-But…the piano…
-Give me my doll!
A cold breeze went through my body as I handed the doll over. The little girl grabbed her toy and returned to her seat. I started to feel woozy and weak. My body was being pulled towards the floor and I couldn’t fight it. I fell.
I couldn’t see anything as if darkness entered my body through every pore. I started to hear heartbeats, decreasing slowly like fading funeral drums. Was I dying?
Suddenly, I heard the little girl whispering: “We are all trapped in here.”
And then, silence. The drums stopped.

To be continued…