User blog:KanjiTribe/Tick Tock

''Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.''

On and on it went.

Never once stopping.

Josh's breathing slowed, calmly. The never ending ticking, soothing him. "Sleep well, my boy." A soft feminine voice murmured, causing the boy to look into the eyes of his mother. Pale skin, hazy eyes. That's all she had. Soft features. That's about it compared to Josh. Rugged looks and hard eyes, tanned skin of beauty.

''Tick tock. Tick tock.''

Hours went by in the dark room. He didn't blink.

There was breathing beside him.

The bed dipped.

Nothing was there.

''Tick. Tock.''

"H-hello?" Josh called out, head turning to the side. There sure was a body print in the bed, but there was only air. He sat up, cautiously. He saw his bedroom door wide open to the hallway. The hallway's light was flickering.

On, off. On, off. On, off. Off.

"Ma!" Josh wailed suddenly.

Nothing.

"Ma!"

Silence.

"Maaaa!"

Footsteps.

Closer.

Silence.

Josh jumped up from his bed to dash to the door.

It slammed before his fingertips could even graze the wood.

He jiggled the doorknob.

"Ma?"

A loud banging hit on the other side of the wooden door.

Louder.

Louder.

Silence.

"W-who's there?"

Silence.

Then a rough, deep chuckle was on the other side of the door.

Silence.

Then Josh slowly backed away from the door.

He ran into a dark figure.

He looked up.

Breathing.

"Tick. Tock."