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One. Two. Three.
That familiar knock rings out from the front door. 2am: right on time. It has almost become a nightly ritual for Ada, oddly comforting in its predictability. As the time drew near, she could feel a sense of restless anticipation. And then it arrives, just like it always does. Or at least, like it has been doing for the past week.
Of course she was scared the first time it happened. Who wouldn't be? She lives alone in the woods; she is not a wimp. However, what she also is not is a naive idiot. With the recent wind and rain, no reasonable person would be out, especially at this hour. So she hid under the covers like a child, holding her breath even though there was no way the person could here her above the storm. It did not make a difference. Her shield of blankets felt peppered with holes. That voice echoed through her rooms, seeping into every corner. Minutes stretched into hours into days. She began to lose track of herself, the only thing keeping her grounded being her beating heart, heavy in her throat.
When dawn broke and she found them gone, she had thought it was the last of it. Just a creep, trying for an easy mark. Her lonely cabin in the woods didn't help in that respect. But still that person comes, night after night. Ada never let them in, nor does she ever respond; she is smarter than that. That doesn't seem to matter; they do not give up. It has been a very long week, full of restless nights and anxious days.
Peering out between the blinds, the porch light throws long shadows across the lawn, weird and distorted shapes that should not exist in any reality. Ada knows there is nothing out there aside from the person, that her mind is just twisting simple vegetation into unimaginable horrors, but she cannot help but wonder what other monsters might hide in the darkness that seems too deep. Surely nothing worse than the monster at her door, whatever they might truly want. Ada thinks that she should really reconsider that dog her uncle offered. Not that she would want to bring an animal into this mess, but that would mean she could rule out some sort of extended hallucination. She is sure that would make more sense than whatever really seems to be happening.
And then the person speaks, voice like sharpened glass that pierces her right down to her soul. Each shard shatters over and over, digging even further in until she is nothing but infinite distorted reflections of her worst self. Ada shakes herself out of that looping thought. She has become fairly practiced at that by this point.
But the stranger is not yet done. "It's dark out here," they say. "Dark and cold and wet. Won't you let me in? That would warm me right up." There is a pause, punctuated by long, breathy pants that sound more animal than human. Almost hidden by the lit bulb on the porch, another source of light twinkles out across the river. Her salvation or her end, she does not know. But it creeps closer every time, and she dreads the moment it truly arrives. The person continues, just like they always do. "I know you are in there; you cannot hide from me. They are coming for you; let me in and I'll explain. You think I am bad but they, they are worse than you could ever imagine. Once they are done with you, you could only wish you had offered a stranger a simple welcome, particularly one bearing such news."
Now this is new. The person had never mentioned others before. The light in the distance? Or is there yet another coming to haunt her waking dreams? The hairs raise on the back of her neck. She is sure they must be lying, and yet some level of truth rings out from their words. Ada lets out a long, slow breath, steadying herself. On both paths lie risk. Can she hide from this or will it force her to confront it?
She breaks her silence for the first time. "Who are you and what do you want with me?" Once out, she wants to take those words back, but it is far too late.
She can almost hear their smile growing, a low cackle causing her to flinch back from the window. "Oh my dear, nothing more than what I have always wanted." There is the thud of a single hand upon the door. "Join me." The voice is lower now, soft but still ringing through her house. "You know you cannot resist this forever. You will give in; they always do." Ada swallows roughly. There is the sound of fingernails tapping on wood, getting steadily faster. Her heart beats in time, the pounding rhythm consuming her thoughts. No. Not this again. Anything but this.
From somewhere deep within, a strength she didn't know she had, Ada is able to gasp out, "No. I refuse. You shall not take me this night."
"This night? Oh, this night is just beginning. No matter where you go, you cannot escape me. This is my hunting ground. While you sleep, I am here, watching through the window. Even in your dreams and your nightmares, you are not alone. You shall never be alone."
"No." The word rings out, sharp in its finality.
"So be it." And with that, they are gone. Or appear to be so, at least. Ada is not convinced they would give up so easily. She pulls the blinds even more firmly, retreating to what small comfort her bed offers. Not much, if that person has been watching her in it.
Ada does not sleep easy that night.
In the morning, all trace of the person is gone. The steady rain has washed away any footsteps, if they left them in the first place.
In the light of the day, steam rising over her cup of coffee, she ponders. Ada is not afraid of the person, not really. Deep down, she is afraid that one night, her curiosity will override her fear of whatever lies outside in that deep night. And when that day comes, she doesn't think there will be much of her left.