The Haunting

"I want to hear your story, what is bothering you so much that you needed my old man's help?" Niel asked Manami. 

"..."

Manami's body trembled as she tried to speak. It suddenly became so quiet that you could hear the dripping water from the sink, and the moving hands from the clock. 

"Manami-san I'm here."

Niel looked at Manami and showed her a serious look. He didn't know what else to say to make the girl feel safe and he spoke the only thing he could say while nodding his head. Seeing Niel give her that look, Manami sighed before she responded. 

"Alright, I'll tell you... It all started a few days ago. I wasn't doing anything special and just did everyday things. It was after I was done studying I took a bath watched a few videos and went to sleep... Though I'm not sure if I really was able sleep but I had this dream or I thought it was a dream. There was this shadow that appeared near my bed it had a shape of a person. When I saw it I tried to move but I could not move nor could I speak, at that moment I was paralyzed. The shadow did not move it simply stood tehre, but I felt an extreme sense of dread come over me. It was such an intense fear that I could not comprehend." 

As Manami was talking her body started shaking a bit, cold sweat trickled down her back. She then started breathing loudly. 

"I wanted to scream but I couldn't, it felt like I was drowning. I closed my eyes wanting the figure to disappear as I struggled to move. When I opened my eyes the air suddenly filled my lungs and I stood up. I looked aaorund and I was in my bed able to move but the Shadow was no longer there. Of course, at first I thought it was nothing more than a bad dream, so I ignored it... That's what I thought, but it happened again the next day, and this time the Shadow was closer. The same as the previous night I did the same things and once again woke up, but this time I freaked out. I told my parents about it, but like I told you before they thought I was just stressed out because of the entrance exams which was making me have these nightmares." 

Manami paused as she drank water before continuing her story. 

"At the time I told myself that my parents were probably right, so I once again did nothing, but then it happened again the following night. If that wasn't bad enough, this time the Shadow was getting so close that it could reach out its hand and touch me. It was then that I started feeling like my very life was in danger, as fear gripped my heart. I told my parents about what happened again and they just told me the same thing. I also told my friends about it but they just thought I was trying to fool them." 

Manami clenched her fist as she spoke, her breathing was also becoming a little more eratic. Niel then got up to get her more water. After Manami drank the water she continued her story. 

"Even though I told those close to me about what was happening no one took it seriously... I did not know what to do, but I was sure that I wasn't suppose to sleep. I was so afraid, but I could not stop it. That time unable to stop myself I once again fell asleep. Once I was that state of neither being awake or asleep I saw it, the shadow, it was practically right beside my face. Even thought it was so close to me, I could not see anything but darkness from it. The Shadow was faceless, but it felt like it breathing over me. The fear nearly stopped my heart, as I waited for it do something to me. Yet after waiting for a while I was fortunately able to once again wake up. So this time instead of talking to my parents or my friends, I asked the people online for help. After passing a few fakers, I came to learn about this place, the Yokai's Bane, and you know what happens next. Please help me. I'm afraid, this time when I sleep it might get me and I won't be able to wake up again." 

After Manami was done speaking, Niel saw that the girl was holding back the tears in her eyes as she looked at him. Niel who stared into her eyes could practically see the terror and feel her fear encroaching into her very heart. 

"Alright, I will help you."

Niel was about to say something more but Manami interrupted him, as she held his hands. Tears were flowing down her face. 

"Thank y," Manami wasn't able to finish what she was going to say when Niel placed his finger on her lips, and shook his head. 

"There's really no need thank me just yet. You can thank me after we deal with your problem. Alright, just so we know that we're in the same page. Basically there's this shadow that appears after you sleep and it slowly getting closer. So you want me to make the Shadow disappear, right?" Manami nodded her head in response. 

"Okay, that would mean I need to observe you while you sleep. Is that alright with you?" 

"Please." 

"You do know that you need to stay here so that I can observe you, or if you want I can go to your house and observe you there. Either way you need to tell your parents, right?" 

"If it's alright with Niel-san can I sleep here for today, as for my parents I will deal with it. Please I just want to be rid of this nightmare." The desperation in Manami's voice was undeniable. 

"Since you trust me so much, I promise I'll do my best." Manami nodded her head in response.