Hex

Chapter 1
The Unwelcome Guest

Chapter Description: During the middle of a late night storm, Adam decides to study since he cannot sleep. Later that night he must face a surprise intrusion.

The clouds were full and very dark. Rain was pouring down and sparks accompanied it at regular intervals. Storms like these were fairly common. As a flash of blue illuminated his room, Adam stuffed his face into his pillow. “God, I wish I could just get some sleep tonight,” he mumbled. As a booming crackle resounded, he gave up on sleep entirely and decided to just study. Since the next day was Halloween, he was skipping school, so he figured he could use extra study hours anyway.

Adam turned on the lamp before he waded in the clutter that filled his room. “Fuck, where’d I put that backpack?” he muttered to himself. After poking through a few stacks of dirty laundry, he finally remembered he’d left it by his door. Upon retrieving his backpack, he fished out his math textbook and began to read.

Blue flash and a boom. Blue flash and a boom. Blue flash and a boom. Adam was sick of hearing this noise. His apartment walls were paper thin, so he could almost hear anything that went on outside. If he turned on music his neighbors would definitely hear it, especially at the volume that he needed to hear it.

Adam devotedly continued to read. One hour passed and then two. As Adam picked up his cell phone to check the time, he realized that it was 3:37 in the morning. He was finally starting to doze off. He had plans for the day, albeit, not very big plans, but those plans did merit skipping classes for the day, which almost everyone else would be doing too, leaving him with the smartasses that would die before missing a day of classes, especially ones that most of them were paying for out of pocket.

As his eyes started to close involuntarily, an unwelcome sound caused Adam to bolt upright. The clicking from outside was definitely the sound of a lock being picked, which he assumed to be his own. He immediately rushed to turn on all lights.

There was still clicking coming from his apartment door. With the light on, Adam could definitely see the handle jiggling as he approached. Grabbing the baseball bat he kept by his coach for such an occasion, Adam slowly made his way closer to the door. He was going to unlock the door and scare off the intruder before they even had a chance of stealing something.

The door stopped rattling. It slowly started to turn clockwise. Adam froze. He’d always figured himself a badass who could take on any situation as they came up, but the timing on his door unlocking right in front of him sparked fear in his ego. The door creaked open and it slowly came inward. In his doorway stood a cloaked figure.

Hesitation radiating in his eyes, Adam moved to intimidate the intruder. Mustering up courage and reminding himself of how badass he was, Adam slowly brought the bat over his shoulder into batting position and made the most menacing face he imagined he could make. He knew a bat to the face could scare off just about anyone. He wasn’t really going to hit them because of a potential lawsuit, but any normal prankster would be turned away and only the most desperate of thieves would stick around.

Adam maintained his position. The hooded figure stayed put. “I-I-I’m war...” Adam was cut off by a low, croaky laugh, which sent chills down his spine. Paralyzed with fear, he found himself immobilized and unable to try another attempt to scare off the invader. He began to tremble as the cloak opened, revealing a skeletal figure, flesh loosely hanging off some of the bones and dripping with blood. As its skull seemed to make eye contact with him, Adam fell backward. The skeleton laughed again. As a bony hand produced a carving knife, Adam flinched. This wasn’t a robber, it was a serial killer, with flawless fear tactics. He began to whimper as his assailant knelt down to his level. As the other bony hand slowly wrapped around his throat, Adam sobbed. Thinking about the plans he’d never get to fulfill he swallowed and closed his eyes. Adam was pinned to the floor, disarmed, had a hand around his neck, and a knife to his chest. Acknowledging this was the end, Adam braced himself for the inevitable. The unsettling voice continued, “... and now you...” Adam heard a thunk on the ground, “...get tickled!!!” a really girly voice finished the statement. Through the tickle assault Adam opened his teary eyes and realized that his early morning guest was none other than his oddball girlfriend, Nikki.