Evelyn stumbled into the bar, her legs feeling unsteady as she almost tripped over a stool, barely managing to catch herself. Her breath came in ragged bursts, the haunting fear she had escaped in the forest now clinging to her like a shroud. She quickly caught the attention of Alex, the bartender and a casual friend. Her voice cut through the chatter as she urgently ordered, "Alex, water, please. I think I might be dying."
Alex turned towards her, curiosity etching their features. "What happened to you at this hour? And why do you look like you've been through a storm?"
"I just got out of the forest, and I'm utterly spent," Evelyn replied, her tone a mix of exhaustion and urgency. She leaned over the counter, her hands seeking support. There was an edge to her voice, something beyond mere fatigue.
Concern furrowed Alex's brow as they regarded Evelyn's pale face and trembling hands. "Evelyn, tell me what made you venture into the forest all alone. Did you leave your sanity behind, and were you trying to find it?"
Evelyn took a deep breath and sipped the water Alex had placed before her. Her hands still trembled, and her skin felt like it was on fire. "I... I almost died," she confessed, her voice a blend of disbelief and a peculiar, dark amusement. Suddenly, she sneezed, the suddenness of it catching her off guard.
Alex's eyes widened, surprise mixing with concern. "What? How? Are you okay?"
Evelyn wiped her nose with the back of her hand, her sneezes causing her discomfort. "Yeah, it's a weird story. I encountered a dog in the forest, and... well, it's a long story."
Alex settled down beside her, their concern deepening. "Start from the beginning."
Evelyn sighed, her body leaning against the bar for support. "Okay, you know that herbology class with Professor Huxley?" She paused, her gaze distant for a moment, and Alex noticed the dreamy look in her eyes. "I heard he's giving extra credit for bringing in rare plants, and I thought, why not? If I impress him, he might—"
Alex raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Impress him? Seriously, Evelyn?"
Evelyn's cheeks flushed, and she glanced away, feeling a mix of embarrassment and determination. "Yes, well, maybe I... have a bit of a crush on him." She let out a small, embarrassed laugh. "So, I went out into the forest to find this rare plant he mentioned."
Amusement danced in Alex's eyes, and they couldn't help but tease. "You went into the forest at this hour for extra credit?"
Evelyn nodded, her expression rueful. "I know, it sounds ridiculous now. But at the time, it seemed like a great idea." She shivered involuntarily, her unease palpable. "If it weren't for the fact that I wanted to be one of the genius students in his eyes, I wouldn't have done it."
Alex regarded her with a mix of amusement and concern, their tone light. "Setting aside your daring escapade, what happened in the forest?"
Evelyn took a deep breath, her voice dropping slightly as if the memory held a sense of secrecy. "I was searching for the plant when I stumbled upon this wounded... creature, kind of like a dog." She shook her head, still grappling with the oddity of the encounter. "I don't know why, but I felt drawn to it. And somehow, I helped it."
She unconsciously scratched at the skin on her wrist as she spoke.
"And then what?" Alex leaned in, intrigued by the tale.
Evelyn sneezed suddenly and rubbed her nose. "Achoo! I think that darn dog gave me an infection!" She sneezed repeatedly and scratched at her body with growing intensity.
Alex's expression turned perplexed as they noticed her skin turning increasingly red wherever she scratched. "Evelyn, are you all right? Your skin—"
Evelyn interrupted, her voice strained with discomfort. "I need to leave! I think I might be having an allergic reaction or something." She puffed her cheeks, her voice a mix of pain and frustration, and hastily slid off the stool before waving at Alex.
"Text me when you get home!" Alex called out as Evelyn rushed towards the door, eager to escape the bar and the prying eyes that seemed to watch her every move.
Evelyn returned home with a mix of relief and discomfort. The sneezing fits that had plagued her in the bar continued unabated, her body rebelling against some unseen invader. The itching sensation had escalated to the point where it almost burned, her skin crawling with an intensity that defied explanation. Her nose was congested, and the continuous sneezing had made her throat feel like it was burning.
She entered her two-story home, a quaint abode with a beautiful backyard that held fond childhood memories. Yet tonight, the warmth of familiarity seemed to elude her. The streetlights that usually bathed her surroundings in a soft glow were inexplicably out, casting a shroud of darkness that felt eerier than usual.
The interior of the house felt hollow, the absence of her parents abroad accentuating the emptiness. Her grandmother, her usual companion, was at the hospital undergoing routine check-ups. Evelyn tossed her belongings aside with frustration, the unease building since her encounter in the forest now gnawing at her like an itch she couldn't scratch.
Undressing, she stepped into the shower, gasping as she saw red marks scattered across her skin. She rubbed her eyes, thinking she might be imagining things, but the marks remained, stark against her pale complexion. Annoyance welled up as she scrubbed her body, as if the water could wash away not just the marks but the unsettling feeling clinging to her.
As she washed, an inexplicable chill swept over her, as though a pair of eyes fixated on her. She frowned and looked around, 'Is somebody in the house?' She glanced at the shampoo bottles with seriousness, her breath hitching, but found nothing unusual. Dismissing the sensation, she applied an antiallergic cream, its coolness a brief respite against the burn.
Focusing on her chest and neck, she smoothed the cream over her skin, the relief fleeting. Her stomach and thighs, however, were aflame with a sensation akin to being branded by some malevolent force. She spread the cream liberally, then lay on the bed dressed in a lightweight night suit, hoping that the air against her skin might alleviate the discomfort.
But as her fingers brushed against the blisters on her skin, a sudden surge of pain shot through her, the burning sensation intensifying. She gasped, the touch more searing than she had anticipated. The chill that had enveloped her earlier now seemed to creep beneath her skin, the notion of being watched once again making her heart race. She quickly got up and looked around with alert eyes, ensuring she caught the intruder if there was any.
Her internal monologue waged war with the creeping anxiety. "Calm down, Evelyn. It's just your mind playing tricks on you. Maybe the forest encounter got you worked up. Maybe it's just an allergic reaction to something you touched out there."
She clutched the phone tighter, its cool surface a grounding presence. Dialing her mother's number, she breathed a sigh of relief when her mother's voice answered. "Hey, Mom. Just checking in."
Her mother's tone softened, a balm to her frayed nerves. "Is everything okay, sweetheart?"
Evelyn's grip on the phone tightened, her voice carrying a mix of relief and anxiety. "Yeah, just had a weird night. You know how it is."
Her mother chuckled softly. "Of course, darling. Sometimes the imagination can get the best of us."
Evelyn's grip on the phone tightened, her voice carrying a mix of relief and anxiety. "Yeah, that's exactly it. Thanks, Mom. I feel better now."
"Anytime, sweetheart. You know we're just a call away."
Hanging up, Evelyn settled back into her bed, clutching her phone as though it were a talisman. The sensation of being watched still lingered, but the connection with her mother had helped soothe her frayed nerves. As she finally closed her eyes, she hoped that sleep would bring an end to the bizarre unease that had taken root within her.