I woke with a start, cold sweat moistening my skin, that terrible scream still ringing in my ears.

  It had been a restless sleep, haunted by disturbing dreams. There had been something in those dreams, something about that Shadow Beast which felt eerily familiar. Something lurking in the back of my mind, a memory stirring deep in my subconscious, just out of reach.

  Driving rain drummed loudly on my window pane, a shrill howling and whistling of the wind blowing through the branches of the pine trees outside pierced the air. Creaking and cracking as they were tossed violently by the gusts, swaying this way and that.

  There was no bright sunshine on that morning, instead a dull grey gloom seemed to seep into the room. Shadows, dark and oppressive clung to the walls, leaning over me, threatening me.

  A damp chill lingered heavily in the air raising prickles on my skin, a shiver rippled down my spine. I wrapped my arms around myself, the soft feel of velvet brushing my skin. The velvet of last night’s dress which I was still wearing. That beautiful dress, that gift from Lela.

  I pushed myself up on my bed, my elbow, swollen and purple, throbbing. A sharp, stabbing pain jolting through my chest with every breath. Those injuries bringing home the memory the attack by my brother and the threat which he posed to me.

  My room was as it always had been, but on that dim, stormy morning, something felt different, something felt wrong. The ominous space on my dresser where the little box of keepsakes had once stood. The little box which had held those photos. My paintings on the walls, those images from my fanciful imagination and vibrant dreams now seemed somehow, tainted. I could see something new in those pictures, there was something different about them. A darkness, an evil lurking just out of sight. That leaf clad fairy, dipping her toe into a shimmering pool, unaware of the danger, a dark shape lurking just beneath the surface, currents conspiring to pull her under. The galloping unicorn, a creature that I’d once considered so carefree now seemed to be running from something. His eyes were open wide in fear, foam forming at his mouth.

  To me, sitting here now with the benefit of hindsight, it’s blindingly obvious. But back then I just didn’t realise the significance of those pictures. They were just sketches, doodles and paintings. Fancies of my imagination, dreams from a simple and innocent time. I didn’t understand the meanings hidden in them, the messages that my subconscious had been trying to tell me for so long. I was blind to the secrets that it had locked away from me.

  Standing up I let myself fall into the familiar, mundane ritual of my morning routine. I undressed. Reaching behind my back, fingers finding the small zip. Pulling it down I let the dress fall into a heap of velvet at my feet. I discarded my underwear, throwing it in the direction of the washing basket. Unfastening the watch from around my wrist and carefully placing it on the dresser top.

  I reached for my towel, wrapping it tightly around myself. The soft, warm fabric allowed me some small measure of comfort against the heavy, clinging atmosphere in the room. Pulling open my bedroom door, I stepped out onto the landing.

  I was greeted with dark shadows, there was no sunlight to pierce the gloom. A strange silence had settled over the house, broken only by the sound of the rain and the monotonous tap, tap, tap of branches in the wind, knocking against the small window above the staircase. The doors to the other bedrooms were closed. Bella wasn’t at her usual spot at the top of the stairs that morning. Where she’d usually be laying protectively, there was just an empty space.

  I felt alone.

  Stepping into the bathroom, the cold tiles felt like ice beneath my feet. Shoulders shuddering, teeth chattering in the ever present chill of the room. Far from the exhilaration I usually felt from it, on that morning the air was frigid and biting.

  Breath catching in my throat, the air freezing in my lungs, an icy grip in my chest. I saw him.

  Standing there, by the bathroom mirror wearing only the underwear that he had slept in was Lars. He looked at me, his eyes widening as I stepped into the room, his expression, unreadable.

  My body tremored, a chilling wave of fear crashing over me, adding to the already wintry feel of the air. Dread rose up from the pit of my stomach. Droplets of moisture glistened my forehead, drips running down my back and chest, frosty trails left in their wake.

  I pulled the towel tighter around myself.

  A thin smile stretched his lips. His eyes, cold, shone with an unnerving glint, lingering on me for just a little too long. My feet shifted nervously on the floor as I wrapped my arms around myself, clutching the towel tightly. I felt exposed, vulnerable, naked in front of him. What was he doing here, what did he want of me? My mind flashed with images that I was desperate to push away.

  “Good morning, Sister Dearest”, his voice smooth but with words that carried no warmth, “oh have you hurt your elbow? That looks nasty, you might need to get it checked.”, his tone turned syrupy in concern but a sneer rose at the edge of his mouth, noticing the injury that he’d inflicted on me the day before.

  I was alone in this house, alone with Lars. I was naked and vulnerable. It took all of my strength, but with a trembling voice I managed to form the words, “What are you doing here Lars? I want to take a shower.”.

  Those eyes of his narrowed menacingly, his expression predatory. He looked like the cat who had just cornered a mouse and was contemplating what to do with it.

  “Oh, that’s ok. You jump right in, I really don’t mind. I just thought it’d be nice to have a little chat. Seeing as we got along so well last night.”

  My arms crossed over my chest, my hands tightly gripping the edge of towel, knuckles whitening. The things he was saying, this obviously calculated invasion of my privacy. What were his intentions? I looked into his eyes, searching for something, some clue as to what he wanted but there was nothing there. They were like empty pits just looking straight back at me, the cat sizing up its prey. The ever present ache in my elbow was a constant reminder of what he could be capable of, just a small taste of what was to come.

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  I fought myself, trying to find my voice. Finally, when it did come, it was a soft voice, barely above a whisper. “Please Lars, I don’t know what it is that you want, but can you please just let me have a shower?”.

  “Of course my dear sister, go ahead”, keeping those soulless eyes fixed on me he nodded in the direction of the shower.

  My pulse racing, pounding inside me, feet frozen to the spot. We both knew all too well that he had me cornered. He was tormenting me, playing with me just as that cat would play with its mouse before finally lashing out and striking the fatal blow.

  With an overly theatrical gesture, Lars threw his arms out to the side as if he’d suddenly come to some great realisation.

  “Oh, are you feeling bashful? That’s unlike you, you’re not usually that shy. “, pausing briefly, his eyebrow arching, a slight smirk playing at his lips, a barely audible chuckle deep in his throat, “Of course I can let you have a little privacy, if that’s what you’d like. I’ll make us some breakfast. It will be ready soon so do come straight down after your shower.”

  With those words he brushed past me, a small, contented smile crossing his face as he closed the door behind himself. As he did so, from the corner of my eye I caught a flash of movement, a slight flicker in the mirror. It was gone in a heartbeat but I knew what I’d seen. Not Lars’ reflection but a dark shadowy image, two red eyes glowing brightly within. The reflection had gone but the image lingered on in my mind.

  Drawing in a ragged breath, I lunged for the door catch. With fingers trembling, I rammed it across, bolting it securely with a sharp click. Lars was starting to worm his way into my head, I needed to find a way to regain control.

  Reluctantly I let the towel fall to the ground, the chill of the air biting my skin. Stepping into the shower I turned the tap. The tepid water began to cascade over my body, doing nothing to warm me. I felt numb, my body moving mechanically, just going through the motions. Scrubbing myself I barely noticed the fragrance of my soap. The peppermint and cedarwood, such a familiar scent, a scent usually so comforting now hardly even registered with me.

  Bubbles ran down into my eyes, stinging, burning, blurring my sight. Despite the pain, I didn’t dare to close them. I knew that if I did the visions would return, visions of that shadowy creature from my dreams.

  The water drummed a steady rhythm on my head and shoulders, the falling water masking the tears that were running down my cheeks. Slumping against the cold, tiled wall, I slid down. Pulling my knees into my chest, I watched the water spiralling around and around, down into the plughole. Conflicting feelings tumbled over each other in my head, feelings of terror and feelings of gratitude. Terror at what Lars may do and the gratitude to him for leaving me, letting me have this shower in privacy.

  Gratitude? How could feel grateful?

  Time slipped past, I felt mesmerised by the water beating down and then swirling away into the plug. A loud, sharp knock at the door snapped me out of my trance, my heart leaping. Arms wrapped tightly around myself instinctively, trying to cover my nudity.

  He didn’t attempt to open the door but I heard his voice from the other side, strong and confident. “Sister Dearest, I’ve made you some breakfast. It’s your favourite, salmon and eggs.”. His voice conveyed a tone of kindness, the way he spoke was as if he was doing me some great kindness. “Don’t be long now.”.

  Body shaking, I slowly got to my feet and turned off the tap. As I stepped out of the shower the cold air of the bathroom once again nipped at my skin. Teeth chattering, I picked up the towel and started to dry myself, the towel felt cold and damp against me. I dried myself off as best I could, before wrapping it around me. Then, with a deep breath, hands shaking, I tentatively unbolted the door.

  Stepping out onto the landing I had half expected to find Lars waiting for me, but it was empty. The rhythm of the rain and the tap tap tap of the tree branches on that little window were the only sounds I could hear, although my nose did catch the smells of freshly cooked eggs drifting up from the kitchen below.

  Back in my bedroom and only once I was sure that the door was securely closed did I allow the towel to fall. Quickly grabbing some underwear from my drawer and jogging bottoms and a baggy blue jumper from my wardrobe, I started to get dressed.

  I sucked in a deep breath, wincing slightly at a sharp jolt from the pain still present in my chest. Hesitantly and with a quivering hand I slowly pushed open my door. Stepping out onto the landing, I slowly began descending the stairs one by one. An endless staircase leading down towards the dark, shadow shrouded hallway below.

  On reaching the hallway I was suddenly aware of the feeling of dozens of eyes, little flickers of red always just on the edge of my view, watching me. The family photos, my paintings, all looking at me, judging me. Judging me on all of the mistakes that I had made, judging me on all of the mistakes that were still to come.

  Among all those accusatory faces one photo stood out to me, shining brightly in the dim light. A photo of my father. My father as a young man, standing proudly dressed in the red tracksuit of the Norwegian cross country ski team. The resemblance between him and Lars was striking, but whereas Lars’ face was cold and cruel, Dad’s was one of warmth and love.

  His smile gave me the strength that I needed to step into the kitchen.

  “There you are, my dear. I was starting to wonder if you’d drowned up there. I hope you had an enjoyable shower?”, Lars’ voice was one of genuine warmth but that warmth in his voice never touched his narrow eyes or twitching lips.

  He was sat at the head of table facing me, his elbows resting on its edge. In front of him was a plate of scrambled egg and smoked salmon. Another plate had been placed opposite. Cold blue eyes looked at me, his mouth smiling a smile that carried no kindness as he gestured to me to take a seat.

  I moved, almost unwillingly towards the table, as if compelled to by his silent command. My body felt numb. The details of the room are a haze to me now, looking back. All I remember clearly is the satisfied look on Lars’ face as I sat down in front of the meal that he’d prepared for me. It was the same look that we’d give Bella after she’d performed a new trick. A chilling thought.

  With an expectant look on his face, his head nodded slowly, eyes still fixed on me. I picked up the knife and fork. The utensils were heavy in my hands as I cut a bite and brought it to my lips. I would love to be able to tell you that the food was poorly prepared but I can’t, Lars had done a very good job on my favourite breakfast. The eggs were cooked perfectly and the salmon was delicious. The flavours danced on my tongue, the eggs were soft and creamy, the salmon smooth with a rich smoky flavour that cut through perfectly. It was a strange feeling, the sensations of flavour, the enjoyment I felt at eating that meal contrasted sharply with the empty detachment that all of my other senses felt.

  “Thank you”, I heard myself saying once I’d finished the breakfast, my voice a shallow whisper.

  Looking at me, a flicker of triumph in his eyes, “Why Heidi, I’m so pleased that you enjoyed it”, it was the look of victory. He thought he’d broken me, he thought that I was his.

  He was wrong, I was far from ready to lay down just yet.

  “I assume that you’re planning on staying home today?”, Lars’ tone was sharp, suggesting less of a question and more of a command.

  “I… I guess so”, voice stammering under his heavy gaze. I wasn’t ready to give up just yet, but I needed to be clever, pick my time carefully.

  Lars just nodded his head slowly, “It’s looking like the rain has stopped, I think I’ll go out and wash the car. I won’t be far, just outside”, his tone rising very slightly, just enough to emphasise those last couple of words.

  I felt a sudden flutter in my chest, some small glimmer of hope in the back of my mind. Was this going to be Lars’ mistake? With him out of the house, perhaps I’d have the chance to escape his clutches.

  If I could get to the phone…

  With Lars’ eyes fixed on me, I tried the supress the smile that wanted to break out across my face. The edges of my mouth twitched, a feeling of warmth rising up inside me.

  Perhaps this was my time.