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.
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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
You’re
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Ghost
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog
Speaker:on
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:Rob MacWolf,
Speaker:your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveler,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Tonight’s story
Speaker:is “The
Speaker:Scratching” by Renard Avec-Histoire, who is
Speaker:being
Speaker:published
Speaker:in the
Speaker:upcoming
Speaker:anthologies
Speaker:Night
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Howling
Speaker:Dead
Speaker:and
Speaker:Indulge.
Read by Yuugen, Wolf of Wanderlust
Interior, a psychiatric clinic. A
patient,
Speaker:seeking
Speaker:care,
Speaker:who
Speaker:knows
Speaker:only that
Speaker:he
Speaker:can
Speaker:hear…
Speaker:something. Not
Speaker:where. Not why.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:what.
Speaker:The
Speaker:unidentified
Speaker:sound
Speaker:could
Speaker:be
Speaker:anything,
Speaker:which
Speaker:of course is
Speaker:why it is fearful: the footsteps on the stairs. The heartbeat under the floor. The music through an attic
Speaker:window.
Speaker:The
Speaker:nigh-subliminal
Speaker:hum.
Speaker:Or,
Speaker:as
Speaker:in
Speaker:tonight’s story:
“The Scratching” by Renard Avec-Histoire
The room
was
Speaker:silent
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:grave,
Speaker:except
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:gentle
Speaker:ticking
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:wall
Speaker:clock.
Speaker:The
Speaker:area
Speaker:was
Speaker:dimly
Speaker:lit,
Speaker:accentuated
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:flickering
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:pleasant-smelling
Speaker:aromatherapy
Speaker:candles.
Speaker:The
Speaker:beige-colored
Speaker:walls
Speaker:were
Speaker:sparsely
Speaker:adorned
Speaker:with
Speaker:framed
Speaker:watercolor
Speaker:paintings
Speaker:of
Speaker:various
Speaker:types
Speaker:of
Speaker:flowers,
Speaker:all
Speaker:spaced
Speaker:evenly
Speaker:apart
Speaker:and
Speaker:converging
Speaker:below
Speaker:a
Speaker:pricey-looking
Speaker:mahogany
Speaker:frame
Speaker:that
Speaker:housed
Speaker:a
Speaker:very
Speaker:official-looking
Speaker:document.
‘Amos
B.
Lyall:Lyall:
Doctor
Lyall:of
Lyall:Psychology’
The
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,
Mr.
Lyall:Roland,
Lyall:what
Lyall:brings
Lyall:you
Lyall:in
Lyall:today?”
Across
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
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:smiled
Lyall:warmly. “I
Lyall:assure
Lyall:you,
Lyall:Mr.
Lyall:Roland–”
“Please,
call
Lyall:me
Lyall:Thatcher,”
Lyall:the
Lyall:lion
Lyall:interjected.
“I
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
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
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
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
know
Lyall:you
Lyall:think
Lyall:I’m
Lyall:crazy…”
Lyall:he
Lyall:grumbled.
“Nobody’s
saying
Lyall:that,
Lyall:Thatcher.
Lyall:Why
Lyall:do
Lyall:you
Lyall:think
Lyall:your
Lyall:house
Lyall:is
Lyall:haunted?”
The
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
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
sounds
Lyall:like
Lyall:scratching,”
Lyall:Thatcher
Lyall:muttered.
The
therapist
Lyall:raised
Lyall:his
Lyall:eyebrows. “Scratching?”
Thatcher
nodded. “I’ve
Lyall:been
Lyall:hearing
Lyall:it
Lyall:every
Lyall:night
Lyall:for
Lyall:weeks.”
“And
how
Lyall:long
Lyall:has
Lyall:this
Lyall:been
Lyall:going
Lyall:on?”
Lyall:Dr.
Lyall:Lyall
Lyall:asked.
“Since
I
Lyall:first
Lyall:moved
Lyall:into
Lyall:the
Lyall:house
Lyall:about
Lyall:two
Lyall:months
Lyall:ago.”
“I
see,
Lyall:and
Lyall:what
Lyall:brought
Lyall:you
Lyall:to
Lyall:this
Lyall:area?”
“I
got
Lyall:accepted
Lyall:into
Lyall:law
Lyall:school
Lyall:here.”
“Oh,
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
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: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,
I
Lyall:mean…yeah.”
“I
see.”
The
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
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
not
Lyall:a
Lyall:hallucination!
Lyall:I’m
Lyall:not
Lyall:crazy!”
Lyall:Thatcher
Lyall:snapped.
The
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
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,
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
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
ahead
Lyall:and
Lyall:start
Lyall:from
Lyall:the
Lyall:beginning,”
Lyall:he
Lyall:said
Lyall:gently.
Thatcher
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
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: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
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,
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
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
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
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: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
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
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
what?”
Lyall:Lyall
Lyall:pressed.
“Until…the
night
Lyall:in
Lyall:the
Lyall:living
Lyall:room…
“I
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
had
Lyall:whispered
Lyall:my
Lyall:name…right
Lyall:into
Lyall:my
Lyall:ear…
“I
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
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
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
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
you
Lyall:experienced
Lyall:sleep
Lyall:paralysis
Lyall:before?”
Lyall:Dr. Lyall
Lyall:asked.
“THIS
WASN’T
Lyall:SLEEP
Lyall:PARALYSIS!”
“Okay,
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
just
house:have
house:one
house:more
house:question
house:about
house:the
house:scratching…”
Thatcher
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
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
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
Thatcher
house:could
house:do
house:was
house:scream.
This
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.