I run. I run so fast it's like I'm living inside of one of my nightmares. Despite the fact that I can clearly see and the world is just how it always has been around me, I'm still running away from exactly the same thing which gives me that same sense of sheer terror. The place that he brings with him. The Hell that he has promised me.

"Are you okay, Miss?" someone calls out to me, but I don't stop. I appreciate the kindness of strangers, now more than ever, but I need to be somewhere safe. I need to speak to someone with authority, someone who can help me.

I need to get to the cops.

It might be an insane story, I'm aware that they might not take me seriously, but they're obligated to at least take care of me. If I tell them that I'm in danger, that someone's coming after me, they don't have any choice.

As soon as I get to the police station, I burst through the door gasping desperately. I can sense the eyes of every single person in the room upon me, but I can't get the necessary words out. My brain feels deprived of oxygen, my whole body feels shaky, like the ground is trembling beneath me, I just don't feel...right.

Help me, my brain screams. I need help!

But my mouth simply opens and closes without making any noise. I don't know what is wrong with me now.

"Can I help you?" a kind-looking lady asks me. "Miss, are you okay? Do you need someone?"

"I...I...I..." Why can't I say anymore? What is wrong with me? This can't be anything to do with Epiales, he wants me to talk. "H...Help...need help."

Eventually I manage to calm myself down for long enough to have an actual conversation. Unfortunately by that time, everyone is terribly concerned about me and I'm being pandered far too much for anyone to actually take me seriously.

"So, you're saying that your phone rang, and everything vanished around you?" Officer Bright asks with intense seriousness. That only proves to me that he isn't taking me seriously at all. "Then something strangled you but there wasn't anything there."

"I was stabbed too." I tug at my hair, knowing how silly I sound. "I know that doesn't sound possible because I'm fine, but I felt it. It really hurt."

"Right, I see." He nods, acting as if he's taking me very seriously. "Then you have a message to deliver the world?"

"Yes," I sigh, hating myself for having to say this aloud. I don't want that sympathetic look again, it hurts painfully. "That Hell is coming."

A pregnant pause fills the air, if I had a knife I could cut the tension between me and the police office. I need to say something to make it right, but I just can't find the words. If I was sat on the other side of this desk, I would be giving myself that look too.

"I know it sounds crazy," I chuckle mirthlessly. "I'm aware of how mad I sound. I guess I don't want anything done about that at all, I just want some help." I fold my arms protectively over my body. "I don't want to go back home. I'm scared. I don't want to be alone either. I just want to be looked after."

"I think I have a suggestion for you," Officer Bright gave me a sweet, caring smile. "I think I should escort you to the hospital. I think a medical professional needs to check you over, to see your injuries. Then, I shall request that you are kept in overnight, that way you will have people around you all night long."

"Erm..." I don't like that idea at all, it freaks me out badly.

"It's better than a police cell, isn't it?" He shrugs as he suggests my only other option. "Better food, better company, warmer."

"Yeah, I suppose so." I do feel a bit fragile anyway. Maybe it would be better for someone to see me. My neck might not look like it's been hurt, but I can still feel it. "Thank you."

***

I don't feel like myself as I sit in the hospital waiting room. People rush around me, it's like a hive of activity, but it's all blurring and I'm the only one still. I'm a statue, waiting...with no idea what's to come.

"Lila Rose?" someone finally calls out to me. "The doctor is ready to see you again now."

I have already been in the room with Doctor Turner. She ram every single test on my possible under the command of Officer Bright. I've had every inch of my physical anatomy looked at, if there's something wrong with me this woman will have found it.

We also had a talk too, I told her everything that had been going on, and it felt nice to have just one person listening to me intently, taking me incredibly seriously. Even though my story is crazy, she made me feel like it's plausible.

"Hello there again, Lila, thank you for waiting," Doctor Turner gives me a warm look. "I have received all of your test results and there isn't anything physical I can see that's wrong with you."

"Nothing at all?" That shocks me, my whole body feels sickly and ill.

"Nothing. But I do have something for you. I believe that you're suffering with Somniphobia."

"Somni...what? What is that?" It sounds serious, I'm intrigued. I need to know more.

"You have developed a phobia of sleeping. You have become so scared that your exhaustion levels are terrible." That's what I first thought, but hearing it come from the stranger's mouth makes me feel uncomfortable. I don't know if it's only that anymore. "You need to get some sleep."

"No, I can't sleep," I jump in sharply. "I can't, that's the problem.."

"You not sleeping is the problem." She purses her lips and stares intently at me. "I will put you up in a hospital bed for the night and administer you with sleeping pills. Someone will watch you all night long, nothing bad will happen to you while you're under our care..."

She continues to talk but I don't hear any of her words. Panic tears through me like a hurricane, I can feel a scream bursting from my chest. I can't let this happen, I just can't. the only person I thought understood me doesn't, she wants to trap me, she wants to send me back to Hell...

I need to escape.