Watching Me Watching You (scene 21)

I drop Dean back at his house and drive home, getting in around eleven o'clock. Mum's already asleep in bed. I think I should probably do some study but I can't be bothered. I drag my feet to my room; light illuminates my belongings as I flick the switch on. Everything is just where I left it: dirty washing in and out of the basket in the corner, makeup litters my desk and Mum's magazines lie near my bed; Mum refuses to even enter my room let alone clean it.

I put my stuff down on the floor and take off my shoes. I flick the T.V. on and throw a pair of pyjamas on my bed and start to unbutton my top. I walk over to my window to close the blinds. There's someone there. Outside the window. I think i'm screaming; my mouth is open but I'm not sure if anything is coming out, suddenly Mum's there. The figure is gone. I feel like I'm stuck in a video on slow play. My heart has left my body. I'm shivering from head to toe. I feel the sting of Mum's hand on my cheek, whacking me back to reality.

'Reilly, what the fucking hell is going on? Why are you screaming like that?'

I'm sobbing and pointing at the window, trying to speak.

'You're scaring me, what's wrong?'

'There's someone there. Someone...was there, at my window, outside.' Mum looks through the window.

'I'm calling the police.' I'm nodding, clutching onto myself as she runs to get her phone. I sit up against the wall blowing breath into my hands praying for it to blow back into my lungs and help me to breathe properly again. Come on Reilly. Breathe. Get real Reilly. Breathe. Mum is back in my room.

'The police are on their way. I'm going to go outside and check.'

'Mum no, please just stay here, wait for the police.' She's grabbing my hockey stick from beside my bed.

'I won't go outside then, but I'll just look out of the kitchen curtains into the back yard.'

'Mum just wait, please...' The lights go out and we both scream. She sits down and puts her arm around me.

'It's alright. Everything's going to be alright Reilly. Trust me. I won't let anything happen to you, okay.' I'm crying and nodding as she keeps repeating her mantra. I'm not sure if it's comfort for me or for her? She doesn't seem so brave anymore which makes me even more petrified. We listen to the sounds of the house and flinch with every one.

'MUM!' The hooded figure is standing back at the window. This time I can hear both mine and mum's screaming. She's not beside me anymore, waving the hockey stick at the window and shouting abuse.

'The police are on there way you sicko, so stay right where you are.' There's a banging at the door and the hood disappears. Mum runs out of the room. Everything is dark. I'm alone. And then I'm not...

#Stranger #Intruder #Terrified #Scared