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“The Scratching” by Renard Avec-Histoire (read by Yuugen)
Law school can be stressful. Especially when you’re being watched in your new house by something you can’t see.
Tonight’s story is “The Scratching” by Renard Avec-Histoire, who or is being published in the upcoming anthologies Night of the Howling Dead and Indulge.
Read for you by Rob MacWolf — werewolf hitchhiker.
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If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.
https://thevoice.dog/episode/the-scratching-by-renard-avec-histoire
Transcript
You’re
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Ghost
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog
Speaker:on
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:Rob MacWolf,
Speaker:your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveler,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Tonight’s story
Speaker:is “The
Speaker:Scratching” by Renard Avec-Histoire, who is
Speaker:being
Speaker:published
Speaker:in the
Speaker:upcoming
Speaker:anthologies
Speaker:Night
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Howling
Speaker:Dead
Speaker:and
Speaker:Indulge.
Read by Yuugen, Wolf of Wanderlust
Interior, a psychiatric clinic. A
patient,
Speaker:seeking
Speaker:care,
Speaker:who
Speaker:knows
Speaker:only that
Speaker:he
Speaker:can
Speaker:hear…
Speaker:something. Not
Speaker:where. Not why.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:what.
Speaker:The
Speaker:unidentified
Speaker:sound
Speaker:could
Speaker:be
Speaker:anything,
Speaker:which
Speaker:of course is
Speaker:why it is fearful: the footsteps on the stairs. The heartbeat under the floor. The music through an attic
Speaker:window.
Speaker:The
Speaker:nigh-subliminal
Speaker:hum.
Speaker:Or,
Speaker:as
Speaker:in
Speaker:tonight’s story:
“The Scratching” by Renard Avec-Histoire
The room
was
Speaker:silent
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:grave,
Speaker:except
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:gentle
Speaker:ticking
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:wall
Speaker:clock.
Speaker:The
Speaker:area
Speaker:was
Speaker:dimly
Speaker:lit,
Speaker:accentuated
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:flickering
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:pleasant-smelling
Speaker:aromatherapy
Speaker:candles.
Speaker:The
Speaker:beige-colored
Speaker:walls
Speaker:were
Speaker:sparsely
Speaker:adorned
Speaker:with
Speaker:framed
Speaker:watercolor
Speaker:paintings
Speaker:of
Speaker:various
Speaker:types
Speaker:of
Speaker:flowers,
Speaker:all
Speaker:spaced
Speaker:evenly
Speaker:apart
Speaker:and
Speaker:converging
Speaker:below
Speaker:a
Speaker:pricey-looking
Speaker:mahogany
Speaker:frame
Speaker:that
Speaker:housed
Speaker:a
Speaker:very
Speaker:official-looking
Speaker:document.
‘Amos
B.
Lyall:Lyall:
Doctor
Lyall:of
Lyall:Psychology’
The
wolf
Lyall:retrieved
Lyall:a
Lyall:pad
Lyall:of
Lyall:paper
Lyall:and
Lyall:a
Lyall:pen
Lyall:from
Lyall:his
Lyall:desk
Lyall:drawer,
Lyall:taking
Lyall:a
Lyall:seat
Lyall:in
Lyall:a
Lyall:brown,
Lyall:plush
Lyall:armchair.
Lyall:He
Lyall:uncapped
Lyall:the
Lyall:fountain
Lyall:pen
Lyall:and
Lyall:scrawled
Lyall:a
Lyall:few
Lyall:notes
Lyall:on
Lyall:the
Lyall:pad.
“Well,
Mr.
Lyall:Roland,
Lyall:what
Lyall:brings
Lyall:you
Lyall:in
Lyall:today?”
Across
from
Lyall:the
Lyall:wolf
Lyall:sat
Lyall:a
Lyall:large,
Lyall:well-built
Lyall:lion.
Lyall:He
Lyall:had
Lyall:the
Lyall:appearance
Lyall:of
Lyall:someone
Lyall:who’d
Lyall:most
Lyall:likely
Lyall:be
Lyall:seen
Lyall:on
Lyall:a
Lyall:football
Lyall:field
Lyall:rather
Lyall:than
Lyall:a
Lyall:therapist’s
Lyall:office.
Lyall:If
Lyall:anyone
Lyall:were
Lyall:to
Lyall:see
Lyall:him
Lyall:on
Lyall:a
Lyall:normal
Lyall:day,
Lyall:the
Lyall:last
Lyall:thing
Lyall:they
Lyall:would
Lyall:think
Lyall:is
Lyall:that
Lyall:he
Lyall:needed
Lyall:a
Lyall:shrink.
Lyall:However,
Lyall:today,
Lyall:large
Lyall:purple
Lyall:bags
Lyall:lined
Lyall:his
Lyall:lower
Lyall:eyelids
Lyall:and
Lyall:his
Lyall:mane
Lyall:was
Lyall:disheveled
Lyall:and
Lyall:unkempt.
Lyall:He
Lyall:sat
Lyall:with
Lyall:his
Lyall:arms
Lyall:crossed
Lyall:and
Lyall:hugged
Lyall:close
Lyall:to
Lyall:his
Lyall:body,
Lyall:his
Lyall:tail
Lyall:draped
Lyall:over
Lyall:his
Lyall:lap
Lyall:and
Lyall:his
Lyall:leg
Lyall:bouncing nervously.
“I…uh…don’t really know what to
say,
Lyall:Dr. Lyall,”
Lyall:the
Lyall:lion
Lyall:mumbled,
Lyall:his
Lyall:eyes
Lyall:glued
Lyall:to
Lyall:the
Lyall:floor. “It’s
Lyall:going
Lyall:to
Lyall:sound
Lyall:silly…”
Dr.
Lyall
Lyall:smiled
Lyall:warmly. “I
Lyall:assure
Lyall:you,
Lyall:Mr.
Lyall:Roland–”
“Please,
call
Lyall:me
Lyall:Thatcher,”
Lyall:the
Lyall:lion
Lyall:interjected.
“I
assure
Lyall:you,
Lyall:Thatcher,
Lyall:nothing
Lyall:you
Lyall:say
Lyall:is
Lyall:going
Lyall:to
Lyall:sound
Lyall:silly.
Lyall:I
Lyall:promise
Lyall:I’ve
Lyall:heard
Lyall:it
Lyall:all.”
Thatcher
slowly
Lyall:looked
Lyall:up
Lyall:to
Lyall:meet
Lyall:Dr. Lyall’s
Lyall:gaze,
Lyall:not
Lyall:fully
Lyall:trusting
Lyall:what
Lyall:he
Lyall:was
Lyall:saying.
Lyall:However,
Lyall:the
Lyall:therapist’s
Lyall:demeanor
Lyall:seemed
Lyall:genuine
Lyall:enough.
Lyall:The
Lyall:lion
Lyall:sighed
Lyall:and
Lyall:took
Lyall:a
Lyall:deep
Lyall:breath.
“I
think…”
Lyall:Thatcher
Lyall:started
Lyall:to
Lyall:speak,
Lyall:but
Lyall:then
Lyall:groaned
Lyall:and
Lyall:buried
Lyall:his
Lyall:face
Lyall:in
Lyall:his
Lyall:paws.
Lyall:He
Lyall:stayed
Lyall:that
Lyall:way
Lyall:for
Lyall:a
Lyall:few
Lyall:moments
Lyall:before
Lyall:slowly
Lyall:sliding
Lyall:his
Lyall:paws
Lyall:off
Lyall:of
Lyall:his
Lyall:snout. “I
Lyall:think
Lyall:my
Lyall:house
Lyall:is
Lyall:haunted.”
The
room
Lyall:fell
Lyall:silent
Lyall:once
Lyall:again,
Lyall:save
Lyall:for
Lyall:the
Lyall:gentle
Lyall:ticking
Lyall:of
Lyall:the
Lyall:wall
Lyall:clock.
Lyall:Dr.
Lyall:Lyall
Lyall:showed
Lyall:no
Lyall:reaction
Lyall:to
Lyall:what
Lyall:Thatcher
Lyall:had
Lyall:said,
Lyall:keeping
Lyall:his
Lyall:face
Lyall:perfectly
Lyall:stoic.
Lyall:He
Lyall:studied
Lyall:Thatcher
Lyall:up
Lyall:and
Lyall:down
Lyall:for
Lyall:a
Lyall:few
Lyall:seconds
Lyall:before
Lyall:scrawling
Lyall:something
Lyall:down
Lyall:on
Lyall:his
Lyall:notepad.
Lyall:Thatcher
Lyall:let
Lyall:out
Lyall:an
Lyall:exasperated
Lyall:sigh
Lyall:and
Lyall:hid
Lyall:his
Lyall:face
Lyall:behind
Lyall:his
Lyall:paws
Lyall:once
Lyall:again.
“I
know
Lyall:you
Lyall:think
Lyall:I’m
Lyall:crazy…”
Lyall:he
Lyall:grumbled.
“Nobody’s
saying
Lyall:that,
Lyall:Thatcher.
Lyall:Why
Lyall:do
Lyall:you
Lyall:think
Lyall:your
Lyall:house
Lyall:is
Lyall:haunted?”
The
lion
Lyall:slowly
Lyall:looked
Lyall:up
Lyall:at
Lyall:Dr. Lyall,
Lyall:not
Lyall:exactly
Lyall:sure
Lyall:how
Lyall:to
Lyall:explain
Lyall:himself. “I’m . . .
Lyall:hearing
Lyall:things . . .
Lyall:in
Lyall:my
Lyall:house.
Lyall:Things
Lyall:that
Lyall:aren’t
Lyall:there.”
“I
see,”
Lyall:Dr.
Lyall:Lyall
Lyall:replied,
Lyall:jotting
Lyall:down
Lyall:some
Lyall:notes. “What
Lyall:is
Lyall:it
Lyall:that
Lyall:you’re
Lyall:hearing?”
“It
sounds
Lyall:like
Lyall:scratching,”
Lyall:Thatcher
Lyall:muttered.
The
therapist
Lyall:raised
Lyall:his
Lyall:eyebrows. “Scratching?”
Thatcher
nodded. “I’ve
Lyall:been
Lyall:hearing
Lyall:it
Lyall:every
Lyall:night
Lyall:for
Lyall:weeks.”
“And
how
Lyall:long
Lyall:has
Lyall:this
Lyall:been
Lyall:going
Lyall:on?”
Lyall:Dr.
Lyall:Lyall
Lyall:asked.
“Since
I
Lyall:first
Lyall:moved
Lyall:into
Lyall:the
Lyall:house
Lyall:about
Lyall:two
Lyall:months
Lyall:ago.”
“I
see,
Lyall:and
Lyall:what
Lyall:brought
Lyall:you
Lyall:to
Lyall:this
Lyall:area?”
“I
got
Lyall:accepted
Lyall:into
Lyall:law
Lyall:school
Lyall:here.”
“Oh,
you’re
Lyall:going
Lyall:to
Lyall:law
Lyall:school?”
Lyall:Dr.
Lyall:Lyall
Lyall:queried,
Lyall:eliciting
Lyall:a
Lyall:nod
Lyall:from
Lyall:Thatcher. “How is
Lyall:the
Lyall:semester
Lyall:going
Lyall:so
Lyall:far?”
Thatcher
leaned
Lyall:back
Lyall:in
Lyall:his
Lyall:chair,
Lyall:letting
Lyall:out
Lyall:a
Lyall:loud
Lyall:sigh. “It’s
Lyall:been
Lyall:more
Lyall:difficult
Lyall:than
Lyall:anything
Lyall:else
Lyall:I’ve
Lyall:ever
Lyall:experienced.
Lyall:It’s
Lyall:just
Lyall:nonstop
Lyall:work
Lyall:and
Lyall:studying.
Lyall:Plus,
Lyall:with
Lyall:everything
Lyall:going
Lyall:on
Lyall:at
Lyall:my
Lyall:house,
Lyall:I
Lyall:haven’t
Lyall:slept
Lyall:in
Lyall:days.”
Dr.
Lyall
Lyall:took
Lyall:a
Lyall:moment
Lyall:to
Lyall:scribble
Lyall:down
Lyall:some
Lyall:more
Lyall:notes. “Would
Lyall:it
Lyall:be
Lyall:safe
Lyall:to
Lyall:assume
Lyall:that
Lyall:you’ve
Lyall:been
Lyall:under
Lyall:a
Lyall:lot
Lyall:of
Lyall:stress
Lyall:since
Lyall:you
Lyall:started
Lyall:school?”
“Well,
I
Lyall:mean…yeah.”
“I
see.”
The
two
Lyall:sat
Lyall:in
Lyall:silence
Lyall:for
Lyall:a
Lyall:few
Lyall:moments,
Lyall:listening
Lyall:to
Lyall:the
Lyall:subtle
Lyall:ticking
Lyall:of
Lyall:the
Lyall:wall
Lyall:clock.
Lyall:Dr.
Lyall:Lyall
Lyall:scrutinized
Lyall:Thatcher,
Lyall:who
Lyall:shifted
Lyall:anxiously
Lyall:in
Lyall:his
Lyall:seat.
Lyall:The
Lyall:wolf
Lyall:leaned
Lyall:in
Lyall:a
Lyall:little
Lyall:closer
Lyall:towards
Lyall:the
Lyall:lion,
Lyall:a
Lyall:sympathetic
Lyall:look
Lyall:on
Lyall:his
Lyall:muzzle.
“You
know,
Lyall:Thatcher,
Lyall:sometimes
Lyall:when
Lyall:we’re
Lyall:under
Lyall:high
Lyall:levels
Lyall:of
Lyall:stress
Lyall:and
Lyall:anxiety,
Lyall:we
Lyall:can
Lyall:experience
Lyall:something
Lyall:called ‘auditory
Lyall:hallucinations–’”
“It’s
not
Lyall:a
Lyall:hallucination!
Lyall:I’m
Lyall:not
Lyall:crazy!”
Lyall:Thatcher
Lyall:snapped.
The
therapist
Lyall:leaned
Lyall:back
Lyall:and
Lyall:put
Lyall:his
Lyall:paws
Lyall:in
Lyall:the
Lyall:air. “Okay,
Lyall:Thatcher.
Lyall:Nobody’s
Lyall:saying–”
“I
knew
Lyall:this
Lyall:was
Lyall:a
Lyall:mistake!”
Lyall:Thatcher
Lyall:barked,
Lyall:shooting
Lyall:up
Lyall:from
Lyall:his
Lyall:chair. “We’re
Lyall:done
Lyall:here!”
Lyall:Thatcher
Lyall:turned
Lyall:to
Lyall:storm
Lyall:out
Lyall:of
Lyall:the
Lyall:room.
Lyall:He
Lyall:had
Lyall:his
Lyall:paw
Lyall:on
Lyall:the
Lyall:door
Lyall:when
Lyall:Dr.
Lyall:Lyall
Lyall:called
Lyall:out
Lyall:to
Lyall:him.
“Wait,
Mr. Roland!
Lyall:I
Lyall:apologize,
Lyall:I
Lyall:did
Lyall:not
Lyall:mean
Lyall:to
Lyall:upset
Lyall:you.
Lyall:Please,
Lyall:why
Lyall:don’t
Lyall:you
Lyall:sit
Lyall:down
Lyall:and
Lyall:explain
Lyall:what’s
Lyall:been
Lyall:happening?”
Thatcher
hesitated
Lyall:for
Lyall:a
Lyall:moment,
Lyall:keeping
Lyall:his
Lyall:paw
Lyall:on
Lyall:the
Lyall:handle.
Lyall:Eventually,
Lyall:he
Lyall:relented
Lyall:and
Lyall:slowly
Lyall:trudged
Lyall:back
Lyall:to
Lyall:the
Lyall:chair
Lyall:across
Lyall:from
Lyall:the
Lyall:therapist,
Lyall:sinking
Lyall:into
Lyall:it
Lyall:with
Lyall:a
Lyall:long
Lyall:sigh.
Lyall:Dr.
Lyall:Lyall
Lyall:wrote
Lyall:some
Lyall:more
Lyall:on
Lyall:his
Lyall:pad
Lyall:and
Lyall:looked
Lyall:back
Lyall:up
Lyall:at
Lyall:Thatcher,
Lyall:his
Lyall:ears
Lyall:perked
Lyall:to
Lyall:listen.
“Go
ahead
Lyall:and
Lyall:start
Lyall:from
Lyall:the
Lyall:beginning,”
Lyall:he
Lyall:said
Lyall:gently.
Thatcher
took
Lyall:a
Lyall:deep
Lyall:breath,
Lyall:leaning
Lyall:over
Lyall:and
Lyall:resting
Lyall:his
Lyall:elbows
Lyall:on
Lyall:his
Lyall:knees,
Lyall:his
Lyall:eyes
Lyall:glued
Lyall:to
Lyall:the
Lyall:floor. “It
Lyall:started
Lyall:about
Lyall:a
Lyall:week
Lyall:after
Lyall:I
Lyall:started
Lyall:school.
“When
I
Lyall:first
Lyall:got
Lyall:accepted
Lyall:into
Lyall:this
Lyall:law
Lyall:school,
Lyall:I
Lyall:wanted
Lyall:to
Lyall:live
Lyall:on
Lyall:campus.
Lyall:However,
Lyall:the
Lyall:student
Lyall:housing
Lyall:fees
Lyall:were
Lyall:too
Lyall:expensive
Lyall:for
Lyall:me
Lyall:to
Lyall:live
Lyall:on
Lyall:campus.
Lyall:I
Lyall:was
Lyall:afraid
Lyall:that
Lyall:I
Lyall:wouldn’t
Lyall:be
Lyall:able
Lyall:to
Lyall:attend
Lyall:because
Lyall:I
Lyall:would
Lyall:have
Lyall:nowhere
Lyall:to
Lyall:live.
Lyall:Luckily,
Lyall:I
Lyall:found
Lyall:this
Lyall:house
Lyall:listed
Lyall:for
Lyall:ridiculously
Lyall:cheap.
Lyall:It
Lyall:was
Lyall:almost
Lyall:too
Lyall:good
Lyall:to
Lyall:be
Lyall:true.”
Dr.
Lyall
Lyall:listened,
Lyall:periodically
Lyall:writing
Lyall:in
Lyall:his
Lyall:notepad.
Lyall:Thatcher
Lyall:fidgeted
Lyall:in
Lyall:his
Lyall:seat
Lyall:as
Lyall:he
Lyall:spoke.
“I
was
Lyall:able
Lyall:to
Lyall:buy
Lyall:the
Lyall:house
Lyall:with
Lyall:some
Lyall:help
Lyall:from
Lyall:my
Lyall:parents
Lyall:and
Lyall:moved
Lyall:in
Lyall:three
Lyall:days
Lyall:before
Lyall:I
Lyall:started
Lyall:school.
Lyall:My
Lyall:classes
Lyall:were
Lyall:tough
Lyall:but
Lyall:manageable
Lyall:at
Lyall:first.
Lyall:I
Lyall:was
Lyall:getting
Lyall:along
Lyall:with
Lyall:all
Lyall:my
Lyall:classmates.
Lyall:But
Lyall:when
Lyall:I
Lyall:told
Lyall:them
Lyall:where
Lyall:I
Lyall:was
Lyall:living
Lyall:they
Lyall:all
Lyall:started
Lyall:giving
Lyall:me
Lyall:weird
Lyall:looks.
Lyall:When
Lyall:I
Lyall:asked
Lyall:what
Lyall:was
Lyall:up,
Lyall:they
Lyall:all
Lyall:started
Lyall:telling
Lyall:me
Lyall:stories
Lyall:about
Lyall:the
Lyall:place.
Lyall:They
Lyall:told
Lyall:me
Lyall:that
Lyall:horrible
Lyall:things
Lyall:happened
Lyall:to
Lyall:anyone
Lyall:who
Lyall:lived
Lyall:there.
Lyall:Naturally,
Lyall:I
Lyall:thought
Lyall:it
Lyall:was
Lyall:a
Lyall:load
Lyall:of
Lyall:bunk.
Lyall:Just
Lyall:razzing
Lyall:on
Lyall:the
Lyall:new
Lyall:kid,
Lyall:right?
Lyall:I
Lyall:never
Lyall:thought
Lyall:anything
Lyall:of
Lyall:it.
Lyall:I’d
Lyall:been
Lyall:there
Lyall:for
Lyall:days
Lyall:and
Lyall:nothing
Lyall:strange
Lyall:had
Lyall:happened.
Lyall:Sure, the house
Lyall:was
Lyall:a
Lyall:little
Lyall:creepy,
Lyall:but
Lyall:it
Lyall:was
Lyall:an
Lyall:old
Lyall:house.
Lyall:I
Lyall:figured
Lyall:it
Lyall:was
Lyall:a
Lyall:normal
Lyall:feeling.
“Then,
after
Lyall:about
Lyall:a
Lyall:week
Lyall:into
Lyall:classes,
Lyall:I
Lyall:started
Lyall:hearing
Lyall:something.
Lyall:It
Lyall:was
Lyall:subtle
Lyall:at
Lyall:first,
Lyall:so
Lyall:soft
Lyall:that
Lyall:I
Lyall:almost
Lyall:thought that
Lyall:it
Lyall:was
Lyall:my
Lyall:imagination.
Lyall:But
Lyall:after
Lyall:a
Lyall:bit,
Lyall:I
Lyall:knew
Lyall:I
Lyall:was
Lyall:definitely
Lyall:hearing
Lyall:it.
“Scratching…
“It
sounded
Lyall:like
Lyall:it
Lyall:was
Lyall:coming
Lyall:from
Lyall:within
Lyall:the
Lyall:walls.
Lyall:I
Lyall:figured
Lyall:it
Lyall:had
Lyall:to
Lyall:be
Lyall:insects
Lyall:or
Lyall:some
Lyall:other
Lyall:kind
Lyall:of
Lyall:critter.
Lyall:I
Lyall:just
Lyall:tried
Lyall:to
Lyall:ignore
Lyall:it
Lyall:at
Lyall:first,
Lyall:but
Lyall:it
Lyall:kept
Lyall:getting
Lyall:louder.
Lyall:I
Lyall:called
Lyall:an
Lyall:exterminator,
Lyall:but
Lyall:they
Lyall:said
Lyall:they
Lyall:couldn’t
Lyall:find
Lyall:any
Lyall:evidence
Lyall:of
Lyall:any
Lyall:kind
Lyall:of
Lyall:infestation.
Lyall:I
Lyall:set
Lyall:out
Lyall:traps,
Lyall:hoping
Lyall:to
Lyall:catch
Lyall:something,
Lyall:but
Lyall:nothing
Lyall:ever
Lyall:came
Lyall:of
Lyall:it…”
Thatcher
began
Lyall:to
Lyall:grow
Lyall:visibly
Lyall:more
Lyall:distressed
Lyall:the
Lyall:more
Lyall:he
Lyall:talked,
Lyall:shifting
Lyall:in
Lyall:his
Lyall:chair
Lyall:and
Lyall:grabbing
Lyall:and wringing
Lyall:his
Lyall:tail.
Lyall:Dr.
Lyall:Lyall
Lyall:remained
Lyall:silent,
Lyall:allowing
Lyall:his
Lyall:patient
Lyall:to
Lyall:speak
Lyall:when
Lyall:he
Lyall:felt
Lyall:comfortable
Lyall:doing
Lyall:so.
Lyall:Thatcher
Lyall:took
Lyall:a
Lyall:few
Lyall:moments
Lyall:to
Lyall:breathe
Lyall:deeply
Lyall:before
Lyall:continuing
Lyall:his
Lyall:story.
“I
put
Lyall:up
Lyall:with
Lyall:that
Lyall:for
Lyall:a
Lyall:few
Lyall:days,
Lyall:trying
Lyall:to
Lyall:focus
Lyall:on
Lyall:my
Lyall:studies.
Lyall:Then,
Lyall:I
Lyall:started
Lyall:seeing
Lyall:things.”
Dr.
Lyall
Lyall:stopped
Lyall:writing
Lyall:in
Lyall:his
Lyall:notepad
Lyall:and
Lyall:looked
Lyall:up
Lyall:at
Lyall:Thatcher,
Lyall:eyebrows
Lyall:raised. “Really?
Lyall:What
Lyall:were
Lyall:you
Lyall:seeing?”
The
lion
Lyall:groaned
Lyall:and
Lyall:buried
Lyall:his
Lyall:face
Lyall:in
Lyall:his
Lyall:paws,
Lyall:seemingly
Lyall:embarrassed
Lyall:to
Lyall:have
Lyall:to
Lyall:talk
Lyall:about
Lyall:it. “I
Lyall:started
Lyall:seeing
Lyall:shadows.
Lyall:They
Lyall:were
Lyall:small
Lyall:at
Lyall:first,
Lyall:like,
Lyall:I
Lyall:would
Lyall:think
Lyall:that
Lyall:I
Lyall:saw
Lyall:a
Lyall:little
Lyall:shadow
Lyall:duck
Lyall:behind
Lyall:the
Lyall:kitchen
Lyall:counter
Lyall:or
Lyall:something.
Lyall:I
Lyall:thought
Lyall:my
Lyall:eyes
Lyall:were
Lyall:just
Lyall:playing
Lyall:tricks
Lyall:on
Lyall:me,
Lyall:but
Lyall:after
Lyall:a
Lyall:few
Lyall:days,
Lyall:the
Lyall:shadows
Lyall:started
Lyall:getting
Lyall:bigger.
Lyall:I
Lyall:could
Lyall:never
Lyall:figure
Lyall:out
Lyall:what
Lyall:they
Lyall:were.
Lyall:They
Lyall:never
Lyall:had
Lyall:any
Lyall:defining
Lyall:features,
Lyall:they
Lyall:were
Lyall:just
Lyall:small
Lyall:black
Lyall:blobs.
Lyall:But,
Lyall:every
Lyall:time
Lyall:I
Lyall:would
Lyall:catch
Lyall:a
Lyall:glimpse
Lyall:of
Lyall:one,
Lyall:I
Lyall:would
Lyall:feel
Lyall:a
Lyall:sense
Lyall:of
Lyall:dread
Lyall:creep
Lyall:over
Lyall:me.
Lyall:Like
Lyall:I
Lyall:wasn’t
Lyall:safe.
Lyall:The
Lyall:scratching
Lyall:never
Lyall:stopped
Lyall:either.
Lyall:I
Lyall:heard
Lyall:it
Lyall:every
Lyall:night,
Lyall:getting
Lyall:louder
Lyall:and
Lyall:louder…
Lyall:until…”
The
lion’s
Lyall:ears
Lyall:lowered,
Lyall:and
Lyall:his
Lyall:gaze
Lyall:once
Lyall:again
Lyall:fell
Lyall:to
Lyall:the
Lyall:floor.
Lyall:He
Lyall:took
Lyall:a
Lyall:couple
Lyall:slow
Lyall:shaky
Lyall:breaths,
Lyall:struggling
Lyall:to
Lyall:continue
Lyall:his
Lyall:story.
Lyall:Dr.
Lyall:Lyall
Lyall:noticed
Lyall:Thatcher’s
Lyall:distress.
“Until
what?”
Lyall:Lyall
Lyall:pressed.
“Until…the
night
Lyall:in
Lyall:the
Lyall:living
Lyall:room…
“I
was
Lyall:sitting
Lyall:in
Lyall:the
Lyall:living
Lyall:room
Lyall:one
Lyall:night
Lyall:on
Lyall:the
Lyall:couch,
Lyall:trying
Lyall:to
Lyall:study
Lyall:for
Lyall:the
Lyall:upcoming
Lyall:midterm.
Lyall:At
Lyall:some
Lyall:point,
Lyall:I
Lyall:lay
Lyall:down
Lyall:and
Lyall:dozed
Lyall:off.
Lyall:I’m
Lyall:not
Lyall:sure
Lyall:how
Lyall:long
Lyall:I
Lyall:was
Lyall:asleep
Lyall:for,
Lyall:but
Lyall:I
Lyall:remember
Lyall:hearing
Lyall:whispering.
“Someone
had
Lyall:whispered
Lyall:my
Lyall:name…right
Lyall:into
Lyall:my
Lyall:ear…
“I
jolted
Lyall:awake.
Lyall:Everything
Lyall:looked
Lyall:dark,
Lyall:which
Lyall:was
Lyall:strange
Lyall:because
Lyall:I had
Lyall:left
Lyall:a
Lyall:lamp
Lyall:on.
Lyall:I
Lyall:slowly
Lyall:looked
Lyall:upward
Lyall:and
Lyall:saw
Lyall:this
Lyall:shadowy
Lyall:figure…towering
Lyall:over
Lyall:me.
Lyall:Every
Lyall:other
Lyall:time
Lyall:I
Lyall:had
Lyall:seen
Lyall:a
Lyall:shadow,
Lyall:it
Lyall:was
Lyall:small.
Lyall:But,
Lyall:this
Lyall:one…this
Lyall:one
Lyall:was
Lyall:massive…
“I
was
Lyall:so
Lyall:petrified
Lyall:seeing
Lyall:this
Lyall:thing,
Lyall:I
Lyall:couldn’t
Lyall:move
Lyall:an
Lyall:inch. All
Lyall:I
Lyall:could
Lyall:do
Lyall:was
Lyall:stare
Lyall:at
Lyall:it,
Lyall:frozen
Lyall:in
Lyall:terror.
Lyall:I
Lyall:could
Lyall:feel
Lyall:it
Lyall:staring
Lyall:at
Lyall:me,
Lyall:watching
Lyall:me
Lyall:with
Lyall:these
Lyall:horrible,
Lyall:glowing
Lyall:red
Lyall:eyes.
Lyall:I
Lyall:couldn’t
Lyall:look
Lyall:away
Lyall:from
Lyall:its
Lyall:eyes.
Lyall:I
Lyall:can’t
Lyall:even
Lyall:describe
Lyall:how
Lyall:I
Lyall:was
Lyall:feeling
Lyall:while
Lyall:I
Lyall:looked
Lyall:into
Lyall:its
Lyall:eyes.
Lyall:It
Lyall:just
Lyall:felt…evil.
“And
then,
Lyall:it
Lyall:just
Lyall:vanished
Lyall:into
Lyall:thin
Lyall:air,
Lyall:and
Lyall:I
Lyall:was
Lyall:able
Lyall:to
Lyall:move
Lyall:again.
Lyall:I
Lyall:looked
Lyall:all
Lyall:around,
Lyall:but
Lyall:it
Lyall:was
Lyall:nowhere
Lyall:to
Lyall:be
Lyall:seen.
Lyall:But
Lyall:I
Lyall:could
Lyall:still
Lyall:feel
Lyall:its
Lyall:presence.
Lyall:I
Lyall:could
Lyall:feel
Lyall:its
Lyall:eyes
Lyall:on
Lyall:me…watching
Lyall:every
Lyall:move
Lyall:I
Lyall:made…”
Thatcher
placed
Lyall:his
Lyall:paws
Lyall:against
Lyall:the
Lyall:sides
Lyall:of
Lyall:his
Lyall:head,
Lyall:grabbing
Lyall:fistfuls
Lyall:of
Lyall:his
Lyall:mane
Lyall:as
Lyall:if
Lyall:he
Lyall:were
Lyall:trying
Lyall:to
Lyall:purge
Lyall:the
Lyall:memory
Lyall:from
Lyall:his
Lyall:brain.
Lyall:A
Lyall:single
Lyall:tear
Lyall:welled
Lyall:up
Lyall:and
Lyall:spilled
Lyall:over
Lyall:his
Lyall:eyelid,
Lyall:running
Lyall:over
Lyall:the
Lyall:top
Lyall:of
Lyall:his
Lyall:snout.
Lyall:He
Lyall:whimpered
Lyall:for
Lyall:a
Lyall:moment,
Lyall:trying
Lyall:to
Lyall:regain
Lyall:his
Lyall:composure.
Lyall:Dr.
Lyall:Lyall
Lyall:continued
Lyall:to
Lyall:write
Lyall:down
Lyall:everything his
Lyall:patient
Lyall:told
Lyall:him.
Lyall:The
Lyall:two
Lyall:sat
Lyall:in
Lyall:silence
Lyall:for
Lyall:a
Lyall:few
Lyall:moments,
Lyall:with
Lyall:only
Lyall:the
Lyall:subtle
Lyall:ticking
Lyall:of
Lyall:the
Lyall:wall
Lyall:clock
Lyall:being
Lyall:heard
Lyall:before
Lyall:anyone
Lyall:spoke
Lyall:again.
“Have
you
Lyall:experienced
Lyall:sleep
Lyall:paralysis
Lyall:before?”
Lyall:Dr. Lyall
Lyall:asked.
“THIS
WASN’T
Lyall:SLEEP
Lyall:PARALYSIS!”
“Okay,
okay,
Lyall:I’m
Lyall:sorry.
Lyall:And
Lyall:what
Lyall:did
Lyall:you
Lyall:do
Lyall:after
Lyall:you
Lyall:saw
Lyall:this…entity?”
Lyall:Dr. Lyall asked
Lyall:gently.
“I left
my
Lyall:house
Lyall:and
Lyall:went
Lyall:to
Lyall:a
Lyall:motel
Lyall:nearby.
Lyall:I
Lyall:couldn’t
Lyall:stay
Lyall:there
Lyall:any
Lyall:longer.
Lyall:While
Lyall:I
Lyall:was
Lyall:staying
Lyall:in
Lyall:the
Lyall:motel,
Lyall:I
Lyall:finally
Lyall:did
Lyall:some
Lyall:research
Lyall:on
Lyall:the
Lyall:house.
Lyall:Some
Lyall:of
Lyall:the
Lyall:stuff
Lyall:I
Lyall:found
Lyall:out
Lyall:made
Lyall:me
Lyall:sick
Lyall:to
Lyall:my
Lyall:stomach.
Lyall:Apparently
Lyall:in
Lyall:the
Lyall:seventies,
Lyall:a
Lyall:guy
Lyall:killed
Lyall:his
Lyall:entire
Lyall:family
Lyall:in
Lyall:that
Lyall:house,
Lyall:saying
Lyall:that
Lyall:the
Lyall:voices
Lyall:told
Lyall:him
Lyall:to
Lyall:do
Lyall:it.
Lyall:About
Lyall:ten
Lyall:years
Lyall:later,
Lyall:a
Lyall:little
Lyall:kid
Lyall:died
Lyall:by
Lyall:falling
Lyall:out
Lyall:of
Lyall:one
Lyall:of
Lyall:the
Lyall:upstairs
Lyall:windows.
Lyall:If
Lyall:that
Lyall:weren’t
Lyall:bad
Lyall:enough,
Lyall:the
Lyall:person
Lyall:that
Lyall:lived
Lyall:in
Lyall:the
Lyall:house
Lyall:before
Lyall:me
Lyall:blew
Lyall:his
Lyall:head
Lyall:off
Lyall:in
Lyall:the
Lyall:basement!
Lyall:Suddenly,
Lyall:it
Lyall:made
Lyall:sense
Lyall:why
Lyall:the
Lyall:house
Lyall:was
Lyall:so
Lyall:cheap…
“I
could
Lyall:only
Lyall:afford
Lyall:to
Lyall:stay
Lyall:in
Lyall:the
Lyall:motel
Lyall:for
Lyall:a
Lyall:couple
Lyall:of
Lyall:days.
Lyall:As
Lyall:soon
Lyall:as
Lyall:I
Lyall:walked
Lyall:through
Lyall:the
Lyall:front
Lyall:door,
Lyall:everything
Lyall:felt
Lyall:heavy.
Lyall:It
Lyall:almost
Lyall:felt
Lyall:like
Lyall:the
Lyall:house
Lyall:was
Lyall:angry
Lyall:that
Lyall:I
Lyall:had
Lyall:come
Lyall:back.
Lyall:As
Lyall:I
Lyall:laid
Lyall:down
Lyall:to
Lyall:sleep
Lyall:that
Lyall:night,
Lyall:the
Lyall:scratching
Lyall:started
Lyall:again. I
Lyall:couldn’t
Lyall:take
Lyall:it
Lyall:anymore,
Lyall:so
Lyall:I
Lyall:found
Lyall:some
Lyall:cotton
Lyall:balls
Lyall:and
Lyall:stuffed
Lyall:them
Lyall:in
Lyall:my
Lyall:ears.
Lyall:Anything
Lyall:to
Lyall:drown
Lyall:it
Lyall:out.
“But
it
Lyall:didn’t
Lyall:work…it
Lyall:only
Lyall:got
Lyall:louder…it
Lyall:was
Lyall:like
Lyall:I
Lyall:was
Lyall:hearing
Lyall:it
Lyall:in
Lyall:my
Lyall:mind…
“I
was
Lyall:at
Lyall:my
Lyall:wit’s
Lyall:end.
Lyall:I
Lyall:took
Lyall:the
Lyall:cotton
Lyall:out
Lyall:of
Lyall:my
Lyall:ears
Lyall:and
Lyall:jumped
Lyall:out
Lyall:of
Lyall:bed.
Lyall:I
Lyall:grabbed
Lyall:a
Lyall:flashlight
Lyall:and
Lyall:started
Lyall:searching
Lyall:the
Lyall:house
Lyall:high
Lyall:and
Lyall:low.
Lyall:I
Lyall:was
Lyall:desperate
Lyall:to
Lyall:find
Lyall:where
Lyall:the
Lyall:scratching
Lyall:was
Lyall:coming
Lyall:from.
Lyall:I
Lyall:looked
Lyall:through
Lyall:every
Lyall:nook
Lyall:and
Lyall:cranny
Lyall:of
Lyall:that
house:house:
every
house:bedroom,
house:the
house:kitchen,
house:I
house:even
house:looked
house:into
house:the
house:crawl
house:space
house:in
house:the
house:basement.
house:It
house:got
house:so
house:loud
house:that
house:it
house:felt
house:like
house:it
house:was
house:shaking
house:the
house:walls.
house:I
house:felt
house:like
house:I
house:was
house:losing
house:my
house:mind.
house:I
house:was
house:turning
house:over
house:furniture
house:and
house:ripping
house:the
house:doors
house:off
house:my
house:cabinets,
house:praying
house:that
house:I
house:would
house:find
house:what
house:was
house:making
house:that
house:awful
house:noise.
house:I
house:was
house:stumbling
house:around
house:blindly
house:when
house:I
house:found
house:myself
house:standing
house:in
house:front
house:of
house:the
house:door
house:that
house:led
house:to
house:the
house:attic,
house:the
house:one
house:room
house:I
house:hadn’t
house:gone
house:in
house:since
house:I
house:moved
house:into
house:that
house:horrible
house:house.
house:I
house:never
house:bothered
house:because
house:every
house:time
house:I
house:walked
house:past
house:that
house:door,
house:something
house:in
house:me
house:knew
house:that
house:I
house:would
house:regret
house:opening
house:it.
house:But,
house:sure
house:as
house:I
house:was
house:standing
house:there,
house:something
house:in
house:me
house:knew
house:that’s
house:where
house:it
house:was
house:coming
house:from.
house:Every
house:fiber
house:in
house:my
house:being
house:was
house:telling
house:me to
house:not
house:open
house:that
house:door,
house:but
house:the
house:scratching
house:had
house:gotten
house:to
house:a
house:point
house:where
house:I
house:could
house:practically
house:feel
house:it
house:inside
house:my
house:body.
house:Like
house:something
house:was
house:trying
house:to
house:claw
house:its
house:way
house:out
house:of
house:my
house:chest.
house:I
house:grabbed
house:the
house:handle
house:and
house:threw
house:open
house:the
house:door.
house:When
house:I
house:opened
house:it,
house:the
house:scratching
house:just…
“…stopped…
“It was
like
house:the
house:entire
house:world
house:fell
house:silent
house:in
house:an
house:instant.
house:I
house:almost
house:thought that
house:I
house:had
house:suddenly
house:dropped
house:dead.
house:It
house:was
house:so
house:quiet,
house:I could
house:swear
house:I
house:could
house:hear
house:my
house:own
house:blood
house:running
house:through
house:my
house:veins.
house:The
house:scratching
house:had
house:been
house:tormenting
house:me
house:for
house:months,
house:but
house:this
house:silence
house:was
house:more
house:terrifying
house:than
house:I
house:could
house:ever
house:imagine.
“I
wanted
house:to
house:run.
house:I
house:wanted
house:to
house:just
house:leave
house:and
house:never
house:come
house:back.
house:I
house:wanted
house:to
house:burn
house:the
house:place
house:to
house:the
house:ground.
house:But
house:I
house:had
house:to
house:know.
house:It
house:took
house:everything
house:in
house:me
house:to
house:climb
house:the
house:stairs
house:into
house:the
house:attic.
house:When
house:I
house:reached
house:the
house:top,
house:I
house:looked
house:around
house:the
house:room
house:for
house:the
house:first
house:time.
house:It
house:seemed
house:ordinary
house:at
house:first.
house:It
house:was
house:mostly
house:empty,
house:save
house:for
house:some
house:boxes
house:that
house:a
house:previous
house:owner
house:had
house:left
house:behind.
house:I
house:shined
house:my
house:flashlight
house:along
house:the
house:walls
house:until
house:I
house:found
house:something
house:that
house:looked
house:like
house:big
house:claw
house:marks
house:in
house:the
house:wood.
house:I
house:was
house:hoping,
house:praying
house:even,
house:that
house:when
house:I
house:found
house:the
house:source
house:of
house:the
house:scratching
house:it
house:would
house:be
house:something
house:simple,
house:and
house:that
house:I
house:had
house:just
house:been
house:blowing
house:everything
house:out
house:of
house:proportion.
house:But
house:even
house:though
house:I
house:found where
house:the
house:scratching
house:was
house:coming
house:from,
house:I
house:felt
house:no
house:relief.
house:I
house:only
house:felt
house:dread.
house:Then,
house:my
house:flashlight
house:landed
house:on
house:something
house:that
house:the
house:light
house:didn’t
house:reflect
house:off
house:of.
“It
was
house:a
house:tall
house:shadow.
house:I
house:could
house:see
house:it
house:plain
house:as
house:day,
house:even
house:though
house:the
house:light
house:wouldn’t
house:shine
house:on
house:it.
house:It
house:was
house:like
house:it
house:was
house:swallowing
house:the
house:light.
house:Once
house:I
house:saw
house:its
house:glowing
house:red
house:eyes,
house:I
house:knew
house:it
house:was
house:the
house:thing
house:that
house:was
house:watching
house:me
house:on
house:the
house:couch.
house:Terror
house:doesn’t
house:even
house:begin
house:to
house:describe
house:what
house:I
house:felt
house:as
house:I
house:stared
house:at
house:it.
house:I
house:couldn’t
house:move.
house:I
house:couldn’t
house:even
house:breathe.
“That’s
when
house:it
house:started
house:to
house:smile
house:at
house:me. It
house:slowly
house:revealed
house:these
house:horrible
house:jagged
house:fangs,
house:twisted
house:into
house:the
house:most
house:awful
house:smile
house:I’ve
house:ever
house:seen
house:in
house:my
house:life.
house:It
house:almost
house:looked
house:like
house:a
house:triumphant
house:smile,
house:as
house:if
house:it
house:was
house:telling
house:me, ‘Got
house:you.’
“All I could do was scream…
“I think
I
house:passed
house:out
house:for
house:a
house:moment,
house:because
house:the
house:next
house:thing
house:I
house:knew,
house:I
house:was
house:lying
house:at
house:the
house:bottom
house:of
house:the
house:stairs.
house:I
house:bolted
house:out
house:of
house:the
house:house
house:and
house:drove
house:away.
house:I
house:haven’t
house:been
house:back
house:and I’ve
house:been
house:sleeping
house:in
house:my
house:car
house:ever
house:since…”
Thatcher
was
house:openly
house:crying
house:at
house:this
house:point,
house:his
house:face
house:buried
house:in
house:his
house:tear-dampened
house:paws.
house:Dr.
house:Lyall
house:sat
house:opposite
house:the
house:broken
house:lion,
house:expressionless.
house:The
house:two
house:sat
house:in
house:the
house:room
house:for
house:several
house:moments
house:not
house:saying
house:a
house:word,
house:the
house:only
house:sound
house:being
house:Thatcher’s
house:quiet
house:sobs.
house:Dr.
house:Lyall
house:looked
house:over
house:to
house:the
house:adjacent
house:wall,
house:noticing
house:that
house:the
house:clock
house:on
house:the
house:wall
house:had
house:stopped
house:ticking.
house:He
house:set
house:down
house:his
house:pen
house:and
house:pad,
house:got
house:up
house:and
house:slowly
house:walked
house:over
house:to
house:inspect
house:it,
house:leaving
house:Thatcher
house:alone
house:in
house:his
house:misery.
house:The
house:wolf
house:stared
house:at
house:the
house:muted
house:timepiece
house:for
house:a
house:few
house:seconds
house:before
house:speaking
house:up
house:once
house:again.
“I
just
house:have
house:one
house:more
house:question
house:about
house:the
house:scratching…”
Thatcher
slowly
house:looked
house:over
house:to
house:the
house:therapist,
house:furrowing
house:his
house:brow
house:in
house:confusion
house:as
house:he
house:saw
house:the
house:peculiar
house:position
house:in
house:which
house:he
house:stood.
house:Dr.
house:Lyall
house:was
house:facing
house:completely
house:away
house:from
house:the
house:lion,
house:his
house:face
house:unseeable,
house:and
house:had
house:his
house:left
house:paw
house:pressed
house:against
house:the
house:wall.
Thatcher’s
perplexion
house:turned
house:to
house:horror as
house:he
house:watched
house:Dr. Lyall’s
house:paw
house:begin
house:to
house:tremble
house:and
house:long
house:jagged
house:claws
house:slowly
house:grow
house:out
house:of
house:the
house:tips
house:of
house:his digits.
“Did it sound like this?”
The wolf
slowly
house:dragged
house:the
house:long
house:pointed
house:claws
house:down
house:the
house:wall,
house:peeling
house:away
house:the
house:paint
house:and
house:gouging
house:deep
house:gashes
house:into
house:the
house:drywall.
house:The
house:sound
house:that
house:had
house:been
house:torturing
house:Thatcher
house:for
house:weeks
house:rang
house:throughout
house:the
house:office,
house:reverberating
house:into
house:Thatcher’s
house:very
house:soul.
house:The
house:lion
house:watched
house:in
house:silent
house:horror
house:as
house:his
house:therapist
house:slowly
house:turned
house:his
house:head
house:around
house:in
house:Thatcher’s
house:direction,
house:his
house:chops
house:pulled
house:back
house:into
house:a
house:terrible
house:pointed-toothed
house:smile,
house:with
house:blank
house:glowing
house:red
house:eyes.
All
Thatcher
house:could
house:do
house:was
house:scream.
This
was “The
house:Scratching”
house:by Renard
house:Avec-Histoire, read for you by
house:Yuugen,
house:Wolf
house:of
house:Wanderlust.
house:You
house:can
house:find
house:more
house:stories
house:on
house:the
house:web
house:at
house:thevoice.dog, or
house:find
house:the
house:show
house:wherever
house:you
house:get
house:your
house:podcasts.
house:Thank
house:you
house:for
house:listening
house:to
house:The
house:Ghost
house:of
house:Dog.