'Human Nature'

It is human nature that we tell ourselves horror stories. We, as people, are wired to convince ourselves that their is something hiding in the dark, that there is someone waiting to attack around that corner, that the knock on the bedroom door is an axe murderer. We tell ourselves that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day, that's it's unlucky to open an umbrella in doors. We are all linked subconsciously - if, in a lunch hall, one girl avoids a seat, the next girl will avoid that seat as well for no apparent reason. Because it is easy to have superstitions and fears. Because even if we know it isn't true, something inside us still screams that this is wrong, this is bad. Olivia sat on the floor in her room. Her family was asleep, but she knew she wouldn't be able to do the same if she tried. She imagined the man that walked down the hallway to her room, ready to attack -so vividly that she could hear the floorboards creaking. If you get to the bed fast enough he won't get you. If you hide under the covers he won't see you. This is isn't real, there isn't anyone there. Olivia got slowly to her feet, her hair still wet from the shower, her heart racing. She imagined the doorknob turning, imagined hands grasping her shoulders from behind and pulling her into a dark abyss… but that was not going to happen. That couldn't happen. She grabbed the duvet cover, overturning it and crawling underneath, her breathing evening out. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath of fresh air, the cool breeze drifting through her open window soothing. She looked over towards the door. Nothing happened. No one entered the room. She leaned over to check that her phone was charging and then closed her eyes, finally at peace. Her covers flew off and she opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out. Not the door - the window. The open window. It is human nature that we tell ourselves horror stories. Sometimes, they come true.

- Kerry McGahan