Before you read, I've got to admit this came out of a couple of nights of disturbed sleep, having dreams where I literally felt like someone was in my bedroom, and I couldn't let them know I was there. A warning to you all: this is what happens when you read the 'Nightmare Fuel' page on TV Tropes before going to sleep...
Anyway, here's my little vignette, which I quickly thrashed out over a few 10-minute train journeys to and from work last week. Enjoy!
[INT.] [NIGHT](A dark bedroom. All is silent. The camera shows the perspective is of the bed's occupant. After several moments we hear the padding footsteps of a small child, running barefoot from one side of the room to the other. However, there is no one to be seen.)[Man (V.O.)] There's been someone in my room again. I heard them. It's not a dream, I'm sure.(The camera pans slowly around the room, lingering on shadowy recesses, where there is a fading suggestion of a figure.)[Man (V.O.)] Whoever it is, I think they are still here - they're in the shadows. Or maybe -(the camera swings back to the side of the bed)[Man (V.O.)] - they're right beside me?(There is no one there. The bed covers slowly begin to draw up over the camera, as though the bed;s occupant is pulling them over his head.)[Man (V.O.)] But there shouldn't be anyone here. After all, it's been two months since she left, with Jack.(The camera turns, as though the occupant is now laying on his side, facing the empty side of the bed.)[Man (V.O.)] He would wake me during the night. Sometimes I'd hear his footsteps. Sometimes I wouldn't wake until he was stood right beside me.(The camera shifts, as though the occupant has sat up, looking at the doorway in the corner.[Man (V.O.)] Even though he has gone with her, I'm still waking up with someone stood beside me.(The suggestion of a shadow slowly emerges from the doorway, gradually moving closer to the side of the bed the man is in.)[Man (V.O.)] I know I there can't be anyone there, but there IS a shadow, like the outline of someone.(The sheets pull up over the camera, and it shifts as though the bed's occupant has laid down again.[Man (V.O.)] So then I think, am I still dreaming? There CAN'T be anyone there. And I'm afraid, so I cover myself, to hide under my bed sheets. I dare to glance -(the cover slowly lift)[Man (V.O.)] - and I tell myself I AM still asleep, dreaming, because there CAN'T be anyone there - and there ISN'T.(the covers go to reveal the figure is not there.)[Man (V.O.)] So, if there's really no one there - why do I still feel like there is?(The camera tilts as though the bed's occupant is laying on their side again.[Man (V.O.)] I lay there, trying to convince myself I'm alone, really.(A few moments pass.)(Then there is the sound of running footsteps, from one side of the room to the other.)[Man (V.O.)] But then the footsteps begin again.(The camera rapidly tilts up, as though the occupant is now sitting up abruptly. It then begins to pan from side to side, slowly)[Man (V.O.)] And I'm searching the dark, again.[Man (V.O.)] I KNOW they're still here.(There is a suggestion of a shadowy outline. The camera snaps back, but it is not there.[Man (V.O.)] And I begin to wonder why someone is in my room when I should be alone. Perhaps they don't realise I'm here. OR, I hope they don't.(The sheets begin to draw up over the camera.)[Man (V.O.)] SO I hide, not allowing any part of the my body to be seen I have a great fear that, if I leave an arm or leg hanging out, I'm sure whoever is in my room will find me. And I don't want to know what will happen to me if they do.(Slowly the sheets lift off the camera, and there is a shadow of a figure stood at the side of the bed. Suddenly the camera jerks forward and it moves as though the bed's occupant is being dragged off the bed, on to and across the floor, in to the darkness outside the room.)[CUT TO: The camera suddenly returns to the perspective of the bed's occupant, under the covers, as before.][Man (V.O.)] But this is crazy. There is NO ONE here but me; I AM alone. These shadows must be my imagination.(The covers lower and the camera scans the room for shadow, before the perspective changes as the the bed's occupant is laying down.)[Man (V.O.)] Perhaps it's because I've not got used to being alone. Perhaps I don't want to.(The camera turns as the bed's occupant has rolled on to their side, to view the other side of the bed, which is empty.)[Man (V.O.)] When you've lived with someone for that long - 7, no 8 years - you're not going to find this ...loneliness normal.[Man (V.O.)] So I guess I've made these things up - the sounds, the shadows, so I don't feel like I'm on my own now.[Man (V.O.)] I don't know what's more frightening.(Several moments silence. Then there is the sound of footsteps. The camera adjusts as thought the bed's occupant has sat up. The footsteps continue from one side of the bed to the other, the camera following them as they go around the other side of the bed. Then the footsteps become running footsteps, back to the other side of the bedroom. The camera pans slowly back to the other side of the bed. There is someone laying next to the occupant, their back to him, the covers up over their head.[Man (V.O.)] If this is just in my head then it's because I need someone with me.[Man (V.O.)] But if it's not, I'm not really alone, the thought that scare me most is what do they want of me?(The other person in the bed slowly turns over, pulling the sheets down, to reveal a female face, but with dark shadowy pits where the eyes and mouth should be. They move towards the camera, closer and closer, until the shadowy pits swallow all in darkness.)END
Thank you for reading! All there is to say for now is: nite nite, pleasant dreams..! :-p
