Unblinking

In a darkened room, a girl is pacing, caged between the four walls. Not a sliver of light is seen. The moon outside shines bright, but even in the darkest hour, you could still make out some figures. The girl could only recall that light for there was not even a window in the room. The only interaction she had was the camera propped on a table. 

There were only three pieces of furniture: a table, a chair, and a sizable wardrobe. Nevertheless, the room itself didn’t lack personality. The wallpaper, old and seemingly trying to get away from the molding walls, was decorated with flowers the girl couldn’t quite name and birds she foresaw as being in the same predicament as her, not being able to ever leave the room. These details were her only focus when trying to steer away from her fear. She memorized them before the lights turned off, so she wouldn’t be alone. 

When investigating a rumored haunted house, her ego led her to this place. Accepting the challenge from her friends, a pair of rowdy boys leading the whole operation which was to capture the most active spirit in the house. The girl only did it to seem fearless because she had claimed she didn’t believe in all this nonsense. However, being in a dark room where all the rumors originated from, it’s only reasonable to have some sort of alarm in your head. 

Remembering the warning from the boys, that entities and spirits tend to feed off of negative energy, she tried to keep her skepticism above her fear. 

Nothing is going to happen. None of this is real. Nothing is going to happen. None of this is real. There’s no one there. The girl struggled to keep this mantra to herself. Almost turning to prayers she has not recited since her childhood Sundays. A creak is heard in the direction of the wardrobe. Well aware that aged wood is prone to creaking, she takes a seat. Her hands, the skin around her fingernails red and raw, grip the edges of the chair. The creaking doesn’t seem to stop. The room having no ventilation had been warm before, but now it seems to have mimicked the atmosphere outside. 

As the creaking gets louder, the girl’s breaths match up to the volume. 

The girl focuses her attention on the receding voices outside the room, her eyes concentrate on the room’s door. I’m not alone. Until there were no more voices outside, her eyes betray her and zero in on the wardrobe in front of her. The camera behind her is the least of her worries when the doors open. 

Slowly, they groan. The girl’s eyes were already adjusted to the darkness and had to do it again to take note of what's inside the wardrobe. Only a shadow can be seen. The girl’s chest strained with the rapid movement of her breathing. She finds herself paralyzed unable to look away. It’s only the faulty hinges. It’s an old wardrobe. The girl tries to comfort herself with logic, but her fear takes over. 

The shadow, originally an old coat in the girl’s imagination, moves. Rustling through the old clothing hung, a thump is heard in front of the wardrobe. The girl’s eyes are wide and refusing to look away or even close. The large shadow seems to take another step forward. Another thump. Turning forward, the shadow gains vision as its eyes are on the girl. Her surroundings are dark as its eyes shine brightly. A large and dark void with only eyes stands overtaking the wardrobe. 

It’s as tall as the room, and the coldness radiating from his body causes every hair on her body to stand. It doesn’t seem to have any limbs, but all the power to take ahold of her isn’t going away. 

The girl’s mouth does not move. Her eyes dagger around the figure. Her breathing almost at a stop. Her nails are still gripping the chair, never taking notice that the manicure she cared so much about, is now ruined, and the top of her nails are broken and hanging on. 

The adrenaline that's running through the girl’s body is enough to keep her from passing out. Her mouth is still snapped shut and her brain is going blank. She knows she should scream, alert the others who are calm and unbeknownst to the situation inside the eerie room. Yet, the only thing upcoming is not a scream, but what seems to be a heart attack. 

A hollow grin slowly emerges from the shadowy figure. A smile often being inviting only fills the girl with dread. The thump now only comes from her heart. 

It seems the entity upon her is fascinated at the fear being emitted from her body. It’s gradually getting closer, as if the final goal was to consume her. Not to fulfill any hunger, but to possess her.

Almost taking back full control of her body, the girl is now able to grip her eyes shut. Closing her eyes doesn’t help with the fear. The figure she kept looking at is now engraved in her brain. She breathes and counts to three. Her chest growing stabbing pains.

A soft gust of air keeps blowing in her face. Opening her eyes, she meets the frightening ones. 

Glowing eyes. A sharp smile. 10 centimeters from her face. 

Its mouth moves to open but the girl beats it to it. 

Finally able to move, she screams. Her hands letting go of the chair, move to shield her face. 

The room’s door opens and the light turns on. The shadow disappears and the wardrobe is closed. The girl’s tears come running and her wounded hands don’t stop shaking. 

The boys get the camera realizing its lens is broken. They exchange a few words, trying to communicate with the girl, but her hearing appears to be blocked. 

The girl is left alone, staring at the wardrobe.

In the small gap between its doors, a faint glow slowly turns off.