full

“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.

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

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
Speaker:

You’re

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listening

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to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Ghost

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

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of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

This

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is

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Rob MacWolf,

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

fellow

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traveler,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Tonight’s story

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is “The

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Scratching” by Renard Avec-Histoire, who is

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being

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published

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in the

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upcoming

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anthologies

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Night

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of

Speaker:

the

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Howling

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Dead

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and

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Indulge.

Read by Yuugen, Wolf of Wanderlust

Interior, a psychiatric clinic. A

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patient,

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seeking

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care,

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who

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knows

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only that

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he

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can

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hear…

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something. Not

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where. Not why.

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Not

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what.

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The

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unidentified

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sound

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could

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be

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anything,

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which

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of course is

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why it is fearful: the footsteps on the stairs. The heartbeat under the floor. The music through an attic

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window.

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The

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nigh-subliminal

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hum.

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Or,

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as

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in

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tonight’s story:



“The Scratching” by Renard Avec-Histoire

The room

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was

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silent

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as

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the

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grave,

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except

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for

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the

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gentle

Speaker:

ticking

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of

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a

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wall

Speaker:

clock.

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The

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area

Speaker:

was

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dimly

Speaker:

lit,

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accentuated

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by

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the

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flickering

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of

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a

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few

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pleasant-smelling

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aromatherapy

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candles.

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The

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beige-colored

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walls

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were

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sparsely

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adorned

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with

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framed

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watercolor

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paintings

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of

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various

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types

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of

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flowers,

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all

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spaced

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evenly

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apart

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and

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converging

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below

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a

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pricey-looking

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mahogany

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frame

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that

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housed

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a

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very

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official-looking

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document.

‘Amos

Speaker:

B.

Lyall:

Lyall:

Doctor

Lyall:

of

Lyall:

Psychology’

The

Lyall:

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,

Lyall:

Mr.

Lyall:

Roland,

Lyall:

what

Lyall:

brings

Lyall:

you

Lyall:

in

Lyall:

today?”

Across

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

smiled

Lyall:

warmly. “I

Lyall:

assure

Lyall:

you,

Lyall:

Mr.

Lyall:

Roland–”

“Please,

Lyall:

call

Lyall:

me

Lyall:

Thatcher,”

Lyall:

the

Lyall:

lion

Lyall:

interjected.

“I

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

know

Lyall:

you

Lyall:

think

Lyall:

I’m

Lyall:

crazy…”

Lyall:

he

Lyall:

grumbled.

“Nobody’s

Lyall:

saying

Lyall:

that,

Lyall:

Thatcher.

Lyall:

Why

Lyall:

do

Lyall:

you

Lyall:

think

Lyall:

your

Lyall:

house

Lyall:

is

Lyall:

haunted?”

The

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

sounds

Lyall:

like

Lyall:

scratching,”

Lyall:

Thatcher

Lyall:

muttered.

The

Lyall:

therapist

Lyall:

raised

Lyall:

his

Lyall:

eyebrows. “Scratching?”

Thatcher

Lyall:

nodded. “I’ve

Lyall:

been

Lyall:

hearing

Lyall:

it

Lyall:

every

Lyall:

night

Lyall:

for

Lyall:

weeks.”

“And

Lyall:

how

Lyall:

long

Lyall:

has

Lyall:

this

Lyall:

been

Lyall:

going

Lyall:

on?”

Lyall:

Dr.

Lyall:

Lyall

Lyall:

asked.

“Since

Lyall:

I

Lyall:

first

Lyall:

moved

Lyall:

into

Lyall:

the

Lyall:

house

Lyall:

about

Lyall:

two

Lyall:

months

Lyall:

ago.”

“I

Lyall:

see,

Lyall:

and

Lyall:

what

Lyall:

brought

Lyall:

you

Lyall:

to

Lyall:

this

Lyall:

area?”

“I

Lyall:

got

Lyall:

accepted

Lyall:

into

Lyall:

law

Lyall:

school

Lyall:

here.”

“Oh,

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

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

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,

Lyall:

I

Lyall:

mean…yeah.”

“I

Lyall:

see.”

The

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

not

Lyall:

a

Lyall:

hallucination!

Lyall:

I’m

Lyall:

not

Lyall:

crazy!”

Lyall:

Thatcher

Lyall:

snapped.

The

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

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,

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

ahead

Lyall:

and

Lyall:

start

Lyall:

from

Lyall:

the

Lyall:

beginning,”

Lyall:

he

Lyall:

said

Lyall:

gently.

Thatcher

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

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

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

Lyall:

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,

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

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

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

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

what?”

Lyall:

Lyall

Lyall:

pressed.

“Until…the

Lyall:

night

Lyall:

in

Lyall:

the

Lyall:

living

Lyall:

room…

“I

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

had

Lyall:

whispered

Lyall:

my

Lyall:

name…right

Lyall:

into

Lyall:

my

Lyall:

ear…

“I

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

you

Lyall:

experienced

Lyall:

sleep

Lyall:

paralysis

Lyall:

before?”

Lyall:

Dr. Lyall

Lyall:

asked.

“THIS

Lyall:

WASN’T

Lyall:

SLEEP

Lyall:

PARALYSIS!”

“Okay,

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

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

Lyall:

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

house:

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

house:

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

house:

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

house:

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

house:

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

house:

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

house:

just

house:

have

house:

one

house:

more

house:

question

house:

about

house:

the

house:

scratching…”

Thatcher

house:

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

house:

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

house:

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

house:

Thatcher

house:

could

house:

do

house:

was

house:

scream.




This

house:

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.

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About the Podcast

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The Voice of Dog
Furry stories to warm the ol' cockles, read by Rob MacWolf and guests. If you have a story that would suit the show, you can get in touch with @VoiceOfDog@meow.social on Mastodon, @voiceofdog.bsky.social on Blue Sky, or @Theodwulf on Telegram.

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