> What's Lurking In The Shadows > by Script Singer > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Introduction > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I was walking home, coming back from a fun night out with some friends. We had dinner, did karaoke, and my crush even asked me for a dance so I was still in a happy bubbly mood. I decided to take a shortcut to get home faster since it was getting so late. I didn’t know the route very well, but I knew it was the fastest way to my house. I had taken it before once or twice with a group of my friends so I at least knew the route slightly. I couldn’t help but feel an uneasiness in the air, almost as if something was lurking in the shadows.  I thought I saw something move in the corner of my eye, causing me to jump slightly as I turned toward it. I saw a unicorn stallion walk out of the shadows with dark black hair and a dark coat walk toward me. He smiled at me. “You look frightened, my dear,” He said, his voice sweet and calm. “Don’t worry, you won’t be alone now that I’m here.”  I felt my throat close up as I stared at him. My brain was setting off so many alarms, but my body refused to respond. He slowly grew closer to me as my eyes grew wide in fear. He began walking towards me.  What does he want from me?  I thought. He began to start getting too close, so I just backed away, but he kept coming closer to me until I found myself backed up against a wall. He grinned, sending chills down my spine. I stared into his eyes, glowing blood red. “Somepony, help…” I squeaked, unable to find my voice. My body refused to move, too frightened to do anything. He let out a chuckle. Finally, my legs responded as I ran as fast as I could. I heard him running after me. “Get back here!” He growled. “SOMEPONY, HELP ME!!!” I screamed, finally able to find my voice. I felt him pounce on top of me, grabbing me by the mouth. I continued screaming out for help as I felt him dragging me away into a nearby alleyway.  “Shut up!” I felt him slap my face hard, causing me to let out a frightened whimper as my screams finally died down. I cowered in fear as I slowly looked up at him. “That’s a good girl…” He had a large grin on his face as he held a gag in his aura. I turned away, squinting my eyes tightly as he reached his hoof out toward me. He grabbed me by the chin and forced me to look at him. "Now, be a good girl, and listen to your Master." He whispered as he levitated the gag towards my mouth. "P-Please, just don't hurt me..." I whimpered as my body trembled.  I felt him put the gag over my mouth letting out a soft chuckle. "I can't promise that, after all, I want to have some fun tonight." I shut my eyes tight as he said that. Tears streamed down my face. Once the gag was on, he pinned me against the wall, causing me to let out a muffled whimper. I opened my eyes slightly as I felt him lean in closer to me. He leaned over to my ear and moaned softly as he began touching me. I shook my head as I tried to mumble out in protest. That’s when everything went dark and my memory shut down. --- I woke up in the middle of the street, trying to figure out what happened. I looked at the sky, finding it was almost dawn. I rubbed my head as I tried to get up, but ended up vomiting. I managed to slowly sit up and tried to recall what happened.  Why did my body scream out in pain, was I in a fight or something? Did I hit my head? Did somepony attack me? I slowly got up, trying to hold down my insides. I felt my stomach as my eyes grew wide. I looked around me, finding blood on the ground along with other body fluids. Shock overwhelmed my mind.  "Oh, Faust..." I said, my voice shaking. I then curled into a ball and silently wept. I’m not sure how long I layed there, but it felt like hours. I finally got up and began to walk back home.  I slowly walked to my front door and walked inside as I slowly walked up the stairs into my bedroom and cried myself to sleep. --- I awoke to a knock at my door, I slowly got up, trying not to make myself sick as I walked over to my window to see who it was.  “Hey, Ellie!” I called out to my griffon friend. “What are you doing here this early?” Ellie flew up to my window with a confused look on her face. “What do you mean?” She said. “It’s Tuesday. We’re coming to pick you up for brunch.” “Oh…” I blushed slightly. “Right… Forgot.” I rubbed the back of my neck. Ellie’s look of confusion quickly turned into concern. “You okay? You seem a bit… off today.” “I’m fine!” I quickly say. “Are you sure? “Y-Yeah, just… didn’t sleep too great last night!” I grew a sheepish smile as I rubbed my neck more.  “Okay, if you say so. You coming or what?” “Sorry, I’m not feeling too great today. I’ve lost my appetite.”  Once again, my friend looked at me with concern. I’m typically a type of pony who’s always hungry and my stomach is hardly satisfied. But once again she said nothing and just flew off.  I took a deep breath as I let out a sigh and walked into the bathroom to take a shower. I pulled off my sweater and threw it into the trash can then turned on the water. Never again will I ever wear that thing. It reminds me too much of my past. > Night Terrors > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I jumped at the sound of a knock at my door. I slowly walked down the stairs to answer it. I opened the door, finding my dragon friend, Flame Flare with a bag of food in her claw. “Hey, Script!” She said. “I figured since you didn’t come, we could bring you your favorite meal!”  I took the food from her claw. “Thanks, Flare!” I said with a forced smile. “You wanna come in?” Flare nodded as she entered my house. I walked into the kitchen placing the food on the table then grabbed a plate and fork, then pulled the food out of the bag.  “Where’s your sweater?” Flare asked. I never seemed to take it off before now. “It’s a little too hot for me today, it’s in my closet.” I lied. “Oh, okay then!” I just poked at the food on my plate, unable to eat it. It almost felt disgusting to look at. It took everything inside of me not to throw up. “Script?” I jumped at the sound of my name, nearly falling out of my seat. I looked up, finding Flame Flare with a worried look on her face. “Hey, you doing alright?” She asked.  “I said I’m fine,” I say slightly annoyed. “You just seem super jumpy today.” “I just didn’t sleep too great last night, that’s all…” I fibbed.  “Script, I’m getting really worried about you.”  I threw my fork in frustration. “I said I’m fine!”  I instantly regretted saying those words to her in that tone. Flame Flare is one of my super sensitive friends and does not like to be yelled at. I watched as tears flooded her eyes as she began to whimper softly. “Flare, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to raise my voice… I’m just tired, that’s all.” Flare wiped a tear from her face. “It’s alright, I shouldn’t have pushed you so far.” “No, I shouldn’t have yelled in the first place. I’m just not myself today I guess.” I walked over to my friend and gave her a hug. “I understand.” “Can you maybe spend the night…?” I muttered. “I just don’t feel safe right now…” “Sure, is everything alright?” She asked with a worried look on her face. I looked down as my ears folded back. “I… I don’t know...” Flare just reached out her claw to my shoulder. I jumped slightly at her touch but quickly calmed down. “Well, I’m here if you wanna talk about it.” I looked up at her as a soft smile grew on my face. --- I walk calmly down the street on my way home from a night out with some friends. I silently hummed to myself as I walked down the new street that got to my house. I then heard a low chuckle, bringing me to a halt. I turned around looking up, finding a looming shadow before me. I turned around, running away as fast as I could.  “Come here, pretty flower…” A voice growled.  “Please, just leave me alone!” I screamed.  I turned a corner only to find a dead end. I turned around facing the monster before me. I cowered in fear as he grew closer, chuckling to himself. I shut my eyes tight as he stood inches in front of me, licking his lips. “P-Please, don’t hurt me…” I whimper. --- I woke up screaming at the top of my lungs, tears and sweat dripping down my face. Flame Flare jolted awake, looking at me in concern.  "Script, what's wrong?" She asked. I only curled into a ball as I sobbed into my hooves, my body shaking. Flame Flare just walked over and sat on the edge of my bed. She began to softly run her claw against my back. "What happened?"  I struggled to speak, unable to find my words, just mumbling things in-between sobs. Flame Flare just talked to me calmly as she tried to bring me back to reality. Finally, after a few minutes, I spoke up. "I had a nightmare..."  "About what?" She asked calmly. I wanted to tell her what happened to me that night. I wanted to tell her how that stallion invaded my body and took away something that was a part of me. But I couldn't, I didn't know-how. "Script, please. You can tell me." I couldn't keep it in any longer. "I got raped..." I sobbed. Flame Flare let out a gasp. "By who?"  I only winced at the memory. Flame only wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. But Script, I’m so sorry that happened to you.” "Flare..." I said. "What am I g-going to do...? I can't go on like this... I'm terrified... I'm so afraid!" I buried my face into my friend’s chest. "I felt so helpless afterward, not remembering anything... Why can't I just know what happened, what he did to me??" "Script, I think this was a good thing." I looked at her with a glare. "How is getting raped a good thing?!" "I didn't mean it like that, I meant the memory. You said you have trouble remembering what he did to you, right?" I nodded. "Think of it as a blessing. Tartarus, if that happened to me, I would want to forget it." "That doesn't change how I feel now..." I muttered.  "All I'm trying to say is it's gonna be okay. You're gonna get through this." "How do you know that everything’s gonna be fine...?"  "I don't. But I do know you're strong." Flare smiled as she wiped the tears off of my face.  “So… What’s gonna happen now…?” I asked.  “I’m not sure, but I do know that I’ll be here to help you along the way.” I smiled slightly as I snuggled up against my friend as I felt my eyes grow heavy. Flare pulled the blanket over us as I felt relief wash over me and finally found peace. I felt her wrap her arms around me as she hugged me tightly as I fell asleep.