Do you not see that?”

Aaron’s voice was tight and the air felt heavy as he tried to breathe.

“Tell me that you see that is the guy that was in here with me. The guy who ordered our shots. Tell me that you see that.”

His hands quivered as he yanked the bartender from the floor and pushed him against the bar.

“Dammit! Tell me what you see!”

The bartender backed away from Aaron. “Dude, it’s just a photo of a shitty cover band. I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m calling you a cab. Just sit right there.”

The face of the shadow was inches from mine. A deep, rotten stench wafted from its mouth, and the sticky goo that held me to the ground strung between its lips. The goo dripped slowly onto my face as its hot, damp breath pulsed against my skin. A long, split end tongue unfurled from its mouth and roughly licked my cheek. I shuddered under its touch.

The faint smell of her mother’s perfume filled the air around her as she was yanked back into her parents’ bedroom. The door closed and she turned to find her mother staring at her. Her eyes were wide as saucers and her face was ghostly white.

Natalie looked at her stunned. She furrowed her brow as her mother said, “I heard that, too.” She was trembling. Natalie was utterly confused. She looked back towards the closed door, then back to her mother.