Sam sighed as he entered the bedroom. Cheryl lay on the far end in a tank top and nothing else. If Sam’s mind wasn’t clouded at the moment, he would have made an amorous move on her.

After Julian had left earlier, along with Nancy and Randal following shortly afterwards, Cheryl decided to pass the night. Sam had no objections to that as his mind was on something else.

He couldn’t shake off the feeling that something wasn’t right. Why did Julian act strange earlier? He rubbed his neck as he looked into the mirror in front of him. He was still yet to spot the so called tattoo that Julian claimed he saw. Julian was never a prankster or joker and if Sam remembered correctly, Julian never drank alcohol. Or at least he didn’t see Julian take one that night. Or was Julian hallucinating?

With all the unanswered questions in his head, Sam made his way over to the bed and lay down. Cheryl took her eyes away from the novel she was reading the moment and glanced at him.

“Something wrong?” She asked.

“Nothing really. It’s just Julian’s out-of-the-blue character today.” Sam replied.

Cheryl stared intently at him as she tried to make out his countenance. The ginger haired man looked either confused or passive. She couldn’t tell which. She still hadn’t gotten over her earlier suspicion of him possibly doing something with Trish when they both left the living room. She might be wrong but she was the only person who spotted a tiny red mark at Trish’s nape when they were questioning Julian’s possible hallucination. That mark was close to the resemblance of a hickey. God help her poor boyfriend if her suspicions turned out correct.

But now wasn’t the time for an investigation.

“Maybe Julian drank a little too much?” She responded to his statement.

“He didn’t drink at all.” Sam gave her a blank stare.

“Be that as it may, I don’t think you should worry about it. This is Julian we’re talking about. Just forget it and let’s get to bed.” Cheryl said.

She dropped the novel at the bedside table and turned her back to him. However, her movements caused the bottom of the shirt to slide up her waist, exposing her bare backside to his view.

Whether it was deliberate or not, Sam didn’t care. All worry and concern slipped off his mind as he reached out and ran a finger along her thigh. Cheryl flinched momentarily as the cool texture of his finger brought goose bumps on her skin.

“Seriously?” Her voice was a hoarse whisper. “Right now?”

“You did say ‘let’s get to bed’ ” Sam grinned cheekily in response.

His hand slipped around her waist and moved upwards. He cupped one of her soft endowments and let out a hiss in response, shutting her eyes tight. Any feeling of anger and resentment she had towards him were now thrown out of the window. She moaned in pleasure as he pinched her hardening bud.

‘I guess there is no sleep for me this night.’ She thought.

That was just the thing about her boyfriend. When it came to moments of passion and he got started, there was no stopping him. She only hoped he would be lenient enough to stay on one round this time.

Meanwhile Sam had leaned over and began to plant kisses at the nape of her neck. Feeling her submit to his touches, he rolled her over to her back and made to take off the only garment she was wearing: his shirt.

Suddenly, the lights flickered above. Sam was the only one who noticed as Cheryl’s eyes were still shut tight. He gazed up and the lights became stable. He shook his head and made to take off her shirt again when the lights flickered the second time.

“What the hell?” He frowned.

Cheryl opened her eyes just in time for the lights to become stable again.

“What’s the matter?” She asked.

“Nothing.” Sam replied, forcing a grin to his face.

He leaned forward towards her lips when it happened. This time it wasn’t the lights but something else. A voice from behind him.

“One of the men.”

Sam blanched as he turned around. There was no one there.

“Did you hear that?” He turned to face Cheryl.

“Hear what?” Cheryl scowled at the sudden pause of his actions. “ I didn’t hear anything. What’s the matter with you?”

Sam made to retort when he heard the voice again. This time it was deadlier and sounded like it was reciting a poem.

“One of the men.

Where your fate lies.

What shall happen then.

You are sacrifice.”

Sam broke out in cold sweat and jumped off the bed. Cheryl sat up in surprise at his sudden action.

“Sam!” She cried out. “What’s gotten into you?”

Sam didn’t reply. He looked around for the source of the voice that recited that perilous poem. Soon it was heard again and it sounded furious.

“Sacrifice!” It bellowed. “Sacrifice! Sacrifice! Sacrifice! Sacrifice!”

‘Shut up!” Sam yelled as he clutched his head tight. He shut his eyes tight as he willed himself to endure the torment.

“Sam?” Cheryl’s voice echoed her concern. Why was her boyfriend acting strange all of a sudden? She was torn between staying put and moving closer to him. He was unpredictable at the moment.

Sam released his head and opened his eyes. The voice had stopped. But that was the least of his worries. For standing beside his bed and staring at his petrified state, was a hooded figure clad in black. There was nothing that could suggest the figure was human. The only thing Sam could see was the burnt hands of the figure. They were so charred that it looked like they would disintegrate at the slightest of contact. The figure’s cloaked face was blank and dark with the exception of two small bright circles which were assumed to be eyes.

Sam gasped as the figure pointed a charred finger at him and began to laugh. It was a laughter laced with venom and malice.

“No.” Sam shook his head as his eyes widened. “ You’re not real.”

The figure suddenly stopped laughing. It then let out an angry cry and charged towards Sam. Sam had little time to react as the figure went through him. It was like smoke passing through a window. The figure disappeared shortly afterwards.

At first, Sam felt nothing. Then it happened. A sudden pain in his lungs and heart. He screamed and dropped to the floor, writhing in agony.

“Sam!” Cheryl jumped from the bed and rushed to meet him.

She was too late and met a horrifying sight. Cheryl screamed in terror at what her eyes beheld.

Lying on the floor where Sam’s body was supposed to be….was a burnt skeleton.