Short Story: In The Dread Of Night

Short Story: In The Dread Of Night

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It was the light that woke him, but it was terror that kept him awake.

All around him it was pitch black, except for the light that seemed to be shining directly at him. But this was too dim to allow him to make out his surroundings.

He could feel his heart beating against his ribs. It sounded like thunder in his ears. Could no-one hear it? Was there no-one there at all? Please don’t let me be by myself, he whispered. Surely he couldn’t be alone?

But he was afraid to shout. Even though he wanted to. He didn’t even know if he would be able to shout if he tried.

Sweat broke out on his forehead. In a matter of minutes, his entire body was soaked. He could feel the sweat trickling down his back.

He pushed his arms against the restraints but wasn’t able to move them at all.

The sweat was dripping into his eyes, making them sting. Now he wanted to cry. But that wasn’t going to help. He tried to lift his hand up to rub away the sweat but it wouldn’t move. Some kind of string was wrapped around it at the wrist. The other arm was caught underneath his body.

What was it he’d been told? Don’t panic. Take a few deep breaths. He tried but it felt as though his lungs were bursting. Oh no, there’s no air, he thought. I can’t breathe.

Don’t panic, he told himself. That would only make it worse.

Stay calm. He closed his eyes. Think of something else. What? Nothing came to mind.

Feeling a bit calmer, he straightened his legs out as far as he was able to. But he could feel something twisted around his knees, something that dug into his skin and forced him to pull his legs back up again. He stretched his neck but the top of his head was tight against something. He felt as if he was tied in a bag.

He began to cry, now really terrified. Not just of the dark or the fact that he couldn’t move. He was afraid he was going to pee. Or even worse. He sobbed even harder.

‘Freddie, Freddie, what’s the matter?’

At last, someone was there. He held his breath, waiting to see who it was. Then he felt a tugging and all of a sudden, it was bright.

‘Freddie, what on earth have you been doing? You silly boy, you’ve got yourself all caught up in the bedclothes. The sheet’s wrapped around your knees and your pyjama cord is knotted around your wrists.’