What a Man's Got to Do - Chapter Four (short story)

Be sure to read the first three chapters if you have not already:

I'm writing this just one chapter at a time as an experiment to see where my ideas can lead. I don't know where this is going yet. Thanks for enjoying this story along with me.

I'm standing on the beach watching the waves pulsating on the shore when I hear a beer can open.

Danny calls to me, "Holy shit, Scott, there's someone else in the house."

Impossible. "Yeah right, there's nobody for miles."

"No, I saw him. Well, not seen. He's invisible."

I'm already making my way toward the house, mostly to get away from Danny.

"I'm serious! There's an invisible man in our house!"

I find myself curious I guess, maybe just at the thought of another human being. But is it desire or fear? The door is open, a curtain covering the entranceway. I start to push it aside but can feel resistance. Is someone holding it shut or is it caught on a nail? I manage to tug the bottom away far enough to slip into the room.

I try to call out, "Wh...ho…"

I can't speak. As hard as I try, no words will come out of my mouth. And there is someone else in this room. I am certain.

I am afraid to move further. I just can't move any closer no matter how hard I try. I attempt to reach out my hands. I can barely move them.

I try to call out once again, "Ah...I.."

A slight brush of air, as if someone just moved past me. I am slightly able to lift one hand forward. It meets resistance as I feel the softness of my hand meeting skin. This person is right in front of me. What was once invisible is taking on a glow of human form.

And then I open my eyes. I am in bed. The dream was so vivid. Yet I still cannot move. He is still in the room. I can see the form of a face above me, holding me down. I am so paralyzed with fear. I tremble, trying to fully wake myself. I am still dreaming, in a catatonic-like state, struggling to fully awake.

"Nooooo!" I manage to yell loudly.

My eyes are wide open. I am awake now. The room is just starting to light up as the sun sneaks through the window. There is nobody else here. I try to get out of bed but strangely still can't move. There is a sheet over me, but I can feel rings of pressure from my chest to my feet. I lift my head enough to see that I have been tied to the bed with heavy rope.