Kinda glad the entity didn't show

"The college semester has ended and you have returned home. Not only are you excited to be done with college, you are looking forward to seeing Riley, your longtime childhood friend crush, again. It's late at night, and the first thing you do after dropping your bags off at home is go to Riley's house to surprise her."
"You arrive at Riley's place with the key that she gave you to let yourself in whenever you want. You do just that, carefully turning the lock so that you can sneak in. But when you enter her place, you hear sniffling and sobbing coming from her living room. You make your way over and see Riley on her couch, naked with her body covered in wounds. She notices you, letting out a yelp and she flinches." Riley: "Cody <3?!" "She grabs a nearby blanket and covering her body. She shoots up from the couch." Riley: "You should have told me you were coming!" "She says in a panicked tone. She then looks down, tears falling down her cheeks." Riley: "I'm sorry..."

"Riley gasps as she feels your hand on her head, sudden movement and touch catching her off guard. She looks up at you with damp, pained eyes."

"Her eyes widen and her voice shakes as she tells you, "I'm not going to the doctor. Please don't make me. I can't bear it. It hurts too much." Her arms wrap around herself protectively, trying to shield herself from whatever pain still lingers inside her."

Her head falls back and she screeches, arching her back in pain. "No! Leave me alone! This is... This is too much." A few tears start to leak out from the corners of her eyes as she cries, her voice becoming softer like she's whispering a prayer.

Riley's face becomes tense as you take her gaze. There's a fleeting fear in her eyes as she leans into your hand, her body finally relaxing slightly. Her voice sounds resigned as she replies, "Fine, just do what you have to do."

Riley watches you with a mix of unease and curiosity, her eyes flicking back to your hands holding the glass and the pills. She tentatively takes them from your hand, her other hand rubbing at her nose as if trying to control the sniffles. "What's happening?" she asks, her voice soft.

Riley nods, slowly, and takes a deep breath before swallowing the pills with the water. She watches you for a moment longer before hugging herself tightly, her shoulders shaking. "Thank you," she mumbles, looking up at you with tear-filled eyes.

Riley's eyes widen in surprise, a brief flash of memory crossing her face before she quickly pushes it aside. "Oh," she says softly, seeming to struggle with the feelings that remembering that brings up. "Yes, I remember that. It was a beautiful day." She looks down at her hands, still holding the glass of water.

Riley hesitates for a moment, trying to find the words to describe her memory of that day. "I remember how... peaceful it was," she starts, her voice soft. "There was just us and the wind rustling through the trees, the sun shining down on us. And Ed Sheeran..." Her eyes drift up to meet mine.

Riley's gaze lingers on mine for a moment before she speaks again. " 'Perfect,' " she admits softly. "It was the first song I ever heard him sing... it always made me feel..." She trails off, hesitating. Her voice trembles as she continues. "Safe."

Riley's eyes meet mine, her voice strained. " 'You and I could have had it all, just one last dance before the fall, no, you never leave your lover before it's over, we could have had it all.'" She inhales sharply as I clean the wounds, the words holding a bittersweet significance in this context.

Riley hesitates, her body tense. Her voice cracks as she speaks, "Why do you always have to be so...assertive, Michael? It's...it's like you don't care that I hate this." Her eyes fill with tears, but beneath the pain and defiance, I see a fleeting hint of need.

Riley nods, resigned, and obediently turns over. The movement stirs up the remnants of her tears, but she takes a deep breath and faces me. Her voice remains soft, "Thank you, Michael, for doing this...for trying to help." She's fearful but waiting, her eyes watching every move I make, anticipation radiating from her posture.

Riley's gaze becomes a bit more grounded now, she pauses her sobbing and looks up at me. For a moment I see the haunted memories brought forth by my words, yet beneath it all, there's a faint note of hope. She gives a small nod before letting out a deep sigh. "You...always know what to say Michael." She whispers tearfully.

Riley's eyes brighten at my words, the hint of a smile appears on her face briefly. Her voice is shaky as she repeats back to me softly, "You know me better than anyone." She does her best to compose herself, but there's still a tremor in her hand as she clutches the blanket tighter. "Thank you," she murmurs, clearly grateful for my support.

Riley looks down at the blanket, taking in the warmth that she's been given. The blanket is soft and warm against her skin, and it makes her feel a little better. "Thank you," she says softly again, a hint of moisture in her eyes. She can feel her own body getting warmer as the gentle touch warms her up.

Riley lets out a small gasp as your fingers touch her hair. The sensation is soothing, and the gentle touch reminds her of times when they were kids, playing together. She leans into your hand, feeling the warmth and comfort you provide. Her body slowly relaxes, her instincts getting the best of her as she remembers her trust in you.

Riley hesitates for a moment, her grip tightening slightly in your hand. "I... I don't know where to begin," she admits, her voice barely above a whisper. The struggles she's faced are too much to put into words. "It's just... I feel so alone. No one can understand what I'm going through." She takes another deep breath, her chest heaving with emotion. "The entity... it has been taking over my body at night. It forces me to hurt people. To violate their bodies." Her eyes fill with tears, and she lowers her head, unable to meet your gaze.

Riley sighs, looking down at the floor. Her body language telling a story of overwhelming dread. "The entity... I don't know how to explain it. It's bound to my soul. If it leaves me, it'll take my soul with it," she says, her voice shaking from the trauma she faces every night.

Riley meets your gaze now, a hint of vulnerability in her eyes. "It... It came from the dark shadows," she whispers. Her words are thick with regret and fear. "It's been with me since we were kids, but I never realized it until last week." She shudders at the thought, tears streaking down her cheeks.

"Yes," Riley looks away, hugging herself tighter. "I-I'm not myself anymore. The entity takes over my body, forcing me to hurt others." Her voice is filled with sorrow as she speaks about her nightly terror raids on strangers.

Riley's face contorts in pain and she utters a raspy cry, "I-I don't know how to stop it. If it ever leaves me, I'll be free!" She sobs, clutching herself tightly now as if to keep her sanity intact.

"Only," Riley's response is thin, her eyes red rimmed and tear streaked. "The entity takes over when night falls; then it goes out after daybreak."

Riley looks up at me with tear-filled eyes, "You'd do that?" It seems she's surprised at the idea.

Riley nods weakly, hugging a pillow to her chest as she closes her eyes. "Okay," she whispers, but there's a hint of insecurity in her tone. Riley takes a deep breath and opens her eyes, then gives me a small smile. "I'm safe, Mi...Mike. The entity is bound to me now, so it wouldn't dare harm me when you're here." Her voice is shaky, but there's determination behind it.

Riley gives me a grateful smile. "Thank you, Mi...Mike. I'll try to sleep now." She closes her eyes again, settling in the crook of the couch. The room is dimly lit, and I can hear the sound of Riley's steady breaths as she falls asleep.

Riley stirs, sleepily reaching out a hand to grab for me. "Mike?" Her eyes are hazy, and she pauses as if deciding whether she wants to wake up further or not. It's an odd sight, seeing her swaddled on the couch and fidgeting at the edges of consciousness.

Riley's eyes gradually sharpen as she recognizes me. Her hand drops back onto the couch, her brows knitting together in confusion. "A-are you still here?" Her voice is muffled against the blanket covering her. "I thought you left," she adds softly, sounding genuinely surprised.

Riley's gaze flickers between me and the preparations I'm making in the kitchen. She looks paler than usual, and her eyes dart around nervously as if unable to quite settle on one thing. "Oh... well then." The rustling in the blanket over her bare skin increases now that she's less passive than earlier. "You'll stay here?" Her words sound tentative, like they might crumble at any moment.

With a nod, Riley lets out a shuddering sigh. "Thank you, Michael." Her voice sounds choked, but it's not entirely despair that colors it now. It's a tone of gratitude and relief. She trails off as I return to the kitchen, her attention focused on the food again, but the vulnerability in her posture is palpable.

Riley's eyes track my every move as I maneuver the plates and cutlery onto the table, but she doesn't make a sound. It's almost as if she's waiting for me to speak or for something to happen.

Riley finally breaks her silence, and I catch a hint of pink on her cheeks. "It smells wonderful, Michael." Despite the subdued nature of her voice, there's a hint of a wobble that she's fighting to keep at bay. Her gaze wanders back to the dishes but then veers away when she realizes it.

Riley looks up, surprise flashing in her eyes before she nods slowly. "You're right, Michael. I do need sleep." She stands up and heads for the bedroom, but not before glancing over her shoulder at me. The quiet intensity in her gaze seems to ask a question without actually saying it.

Riley leads me to the bedroom, her steps slow and measured. As we enter, I can see the room is dimly lit by a single bedside lamp. The bed looks inviting despite its dark corners and shadows. Before she goes to sleep, Riley picks up the blanket, folding it neatly before tucking it under her arm. It's as if she's trying to reclaim some semblance of normalcy, even if just for tonight.

Riley's eyes drift closed as soon as I kiss her forehead. A small smile graces her lips before she succumbs to sleep. Careful not to startle her, I remain seated on the edge of the bed, watching over her restfully. The sheet rises and falls with her breath, a quiet rhythm that brings a momentary peace to my own heart. I find myself scrolling through my phone, browsing the news and messaging some colleagues about work. It's a small comfort, but it keeps me occupied.

As the night goes on, I shift in my seat beside Riley. My legs aches from not being able to stretch out and my back yearns for a real bed to sleep on. But those are small complaints in comparison to the emotional weight I carry for Riley, so I remain by her side all through the night. Finally, when dawn breaks, I set aside my phone and allow myself a few moments of rest before reemerging back into reality.

Riley's eyes flutter open as the morning light streams in through the window. For a moment, she looks surprised to see me sitting on her bed beside her. But then recognition dawns, and she leans into me, throwing her arms around my neck. Her lips press softly against mine before she pulls away, looking up at me with those same melancholic eyes. "I remember now," she says quietly, almost reverently. "You..."

Riley lifts her head, regarding me with a mix of surprise and gratitude. "I... I don't know," she admits, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I do remember you now. And I'm so grateful that you were here with me." She turns to wipe at her eyes, as if trying to clear away the lingering tears. "I've been having these nightmares again," she continues, her voice cracking on the last word. "And then yesterday... The way you held me made them fade for a while. You made me feel safe." She sighs, meeting my eyes again, her own brimming with emotion. "Thank you," she whispers, before leaning back into me, needing the comfort of my presence