I think I was getting this stalking thing way in my head because, I was starting to have nightmares. Most came as vivid images and flashes that remained etched in my mind. It was starting to scare me. Unfortunately, I didn't have anyone to tell this to, and I was sure that if someone were to hear this, they would be creeped out as well.

On one particular night, after I had put Lisie to bed, I retreated to my own room to have a good night's rest and not long after, my first nightmare started.

I saw the black cloaked figure that had been stalking me all this time, appear and reappear, trying to get close to me and my child. It worked at first, because I noticed Lisie was no longer with me, she was gone. Just like that, woosh, vanished into thin air. I screamed and kicked and shouted. This all took place in my bedroom.

But when I started calling out to Lisie to come back and never leave me, I appeared by the roadside. I looked around and noticed there was not a soul in sight and there was a thick forest directly in front of me. I dreaded what was about to come. Was this about to be my last day of survival? Was I about to die? Was I about to be used as an exemplary? I ran my hands down the side of my face and heaved a deep sigh.

A screeching sound deafened my ears and I looked up at the dark grey clouds just to see huge bat-like creatures en masse, heading in my direction. I began taking steps back. Okay, I wouldn't call it that because I was on my hands and knees trying to get away faster from them and by now, they had gotten close to me. I used my fingertips to block my eardrum so the high-pitched sound would at least be minimal but, it didn't work.

I didn't want to die. I just wanted a peaceful life with my kid. She was my only hope, my survival and my driving force. I had to be alive for her, I had to strive to live because of her. But at the same time, I felt weak. I bent my head down and willed for the creatures to take me. I was tired of screaming and crying. And I also realized maybe, I might have even lost my voice.

So, when I felt a pure sickening pain from the flesh of my leg being beaten, I didn't scream or cry. I just gritted my teeth and tried holding on. Perhaps, I might be able to survive this. I may be able to get my kid back, and then everything would be alright. I didn't cry when the creatures pranced on my head, I didn't cry when their teeth pierced into my flesh, I didn't cry when I was being beaten with their wings, I didn't cry from the screeching sound in my ears. I just felt numb.

Totally helpless and unable to move. I knew if I did, the kill would just be more painful and merciless. I could feel my blood seeping out from my legs and trickling to the ground. Pain vibrated in every part of my body and I felt my life slowly ebbing away. There was no way I had any strength or will power in me left for survival.

I was floating. Floating into the deep calm waters and I couldn't see anything. Everywhere was dark and still, but, I knew I had to have plunged into the water during the feast of the creatures on me. What was happening? Was I being rescued? Or was I being left to die from all the wounds on my flesh?

I felt myself going deeper into the still dark waters and I told myself this was it. This was what the creatures wanted. They didn't want a human's existence. They wanted to take over and control the world. They didn't want any other living creature to survive apart from them. It was right then, realization dawned on me.

I was about to finally allow the darkness to take me when I felt a blinding light shine on me. It pierced through my closed eyelids and I resisted the urge to open my eyes for a while. Then, all of a sudden, I felt myself being pulled up out of the darkness that seemed to engulf me. I let myself be saved because, I knew perhaps life had another purpose for me.

........

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