All the stalls are occupied so, crossing her arms over her waist, she stands and waits her turn. A short, slender brunette turns to look at Lisa and smiles. “Nice dress."
Lisa smiles. “Thank-you."
The brunette makes her way out of the bathroom, pushing the bathroom door open, allowing the music to filter in just before it closes and cuts it off again. "Oh, this is my jam!" screams one of the girls. A few of them push their way out of the bathroom as the music comes in again, just before it's muffled once more.
One of the stalls opens up and Lisa ventures forward. “Finally.” Stepping inside and closing the door, she thinks of the red eyes she thought she saw. "Maybe I didn't see anything," she whispers to herself.
As she’s using the toilet, the girls inside the bathroom quickly begin to leave. The sound of the music fades in and out a few times before Lisa is left alone. Finishing up, she raises a foot to flush the toilet.
Then she smells something that makes her wrinkle her nose. It smells like…sulfur? It reminds her of the sulfur springs in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Hearing a growl, Lisa freezes and her heart skips a beat. The pungent sulfur smell grows stronger and she hears the growl again but, this time, it's deeper and closer. Panicking, she stands there frozen, unsure of what to do.
Lisa peeks through the crack between the stall door and the lock. On the other side, something steps away from the wall. The image resembles a human-shaped bubble, but the clear substance begins to solidify. The figure starts to shift into a tall, hooded man. She gasps and holds her breath. She can feel her heart beating so hard, it’s flooding her ears. The hood is pulled down far enough to cover his features, providing a shadow over his face. He snarls as he stretches his arms out, cracking his neck.
Feeling a force like a wind blow through the bathroom, the first stall door slams open. His low voice growls, "Come out, come out, wherever you are. I know you are in here." He sniffs the air, then snarls, "I can smell you." Lisa gasps. His voice is dark, sadistic. Growls and struggled breathing fill the air. If fear were a language, he was the creator.
Lisa begins to shake. Not knowing what else to do, she pulls the pumps off of her feet, then steps on the toilet seat to hide herself. Looking up, she sees a vent in the next stall. That probably wouldn’t help her escape. Looking back down, her heart begins beating faster as panic rises in her chest.
She feels the force of wind again as the next stall slams open. Tears begin to form in her eyes. Swiping at them, Lisa dares to peek over the top of the stall to see a black hood covering the man's head. He's tall and carries a thick build. His skin is tan, and his toned chest is thick with muscles and dark chest hair. "Lisa…” he hisses, as a serpent's tongue slips through his lips, tasting her presence in the air. “I know you're in here. Come on out.” He chuckles darkly, the sound low and almost hypnotic. “Let’s play."
She places a hand over her mouth to keep herself from screaming. Her stall is the next one in line. Her heart is beating so fast that she has no idea what she can or will do. Suddenly, a warmth engulfs her. Another hand covers her mouth and muffles her scream. An arm wraps around her waist, pulling her against something hard. Her back pressing against a firm body, panic sets in and Lisa begins to flail.
"Shh," she hears whispered in her ear.
A white veil drops over her eyes, blinding her. Her heart is racing so fast that she feels a panic attack coming on. Fighting against her captor, she feels herself lifted into the air. Breeze whips around her body. A crash sounds as her head turns from side to side, trying to make out what is happening. Finally landing on something solid, her feet touch down on what feels like a windowsill. Shoes in hand, she grasps the man holding onto her, feeling hair on his forearms. Her breathing comes out in labored breaths, her fingernails dig into the man’s arm.
“Stop it. I’m trying to help you.” His voice is soft against her ear. Lisa fights against him more as he re—adjusts himself, pulling her hands to her chest and holding her tight. Tears spill down her cheeks. She feels the man holding her push off of something and they jump, floating through the air.
"NO!" growls the dark voice. She feels something swipe at her feet, but it doesn't reach her. The sounds of the night fill her ears.