Suspense: The Sounds Gets you First (Sleep paralysis)

dark ambient, psychological horror, foley, rhythmic footsteps, sound effect, abrasive, silence, quiet, acapella, comedic, vocal adlib, playful, spoken word, menacing, male vocals, futuristic

STUDIO

The first thing is always the sound.

A vibration somewhere behind my ears.

At first I think it's the ventilation.

Then I try to move my hand.

Nothing.

(Here we go again.)

That's when I understand.

I'm awake.

My body isn't.

I've learned not to fight it.

Count my breaths.
Wait for my fingers to come back.

(Just wait.)

Usually that's enough.

Tonight the vibration changes.

A pressure builds inside my head.

Then something hits the floor downstairs.

I listen.

Probably the building.

(Please be the building.)

Then footsteps start climbing the stairs.

Faster than anyone should be moving.

(It's not real.)

They reach the landing...

and stop.

(Don't listen.)

A thin noise begins somewhere behind the wall.

Higher.

Closer.

Then it cuts out.

I hear my mother say my name.

From downstairs.

Again from the hallway.

(That's not her.)

And once more...

right beside my ear.

I know she's not here.

(I know that voice.)

I don't look.

The voice sounds exactly like her.

Except the words arrive
with the wrong spaces between them.

Then I hear people talking.

Not one person.

A whole room of them,
somewhere beyond the bedroom wall.

(How many are there?)

I almost understand one conversation.

Then every voice stops together.

Something metallic moves across the floor.

It stops.

Three quiet knocks answer from inside the wall.

(Why am I listening?)

I listen anyway.

That's my mistake.

The buzzing returns.

*electrical surge*

Louder this time.

Underneath it,
I hear rushing air.

For a moment it sounds like an engine.

Then barking somewhere far away.

Then screaming.

Then music I almost recognize.

Everything folding into something
I can't identify anymore.

(Don't follow it.)

I try to lift my arm.

I feel it move.

(I swear it moved.)

I feel my fingers above my face.

But I can see my hand
lying beside me.

(Then what did I feel?)

Something breathes against my ear.

Pssssst.

(Don't turn around.)

I stop trying to move.

Everything disappears.

I sit upright.

I can move again.

(There. I'm awake.)

The bedroom is dark.

Normal.

No voices.
No footsteps.

I wait until my breathing settles.

It was sleep paralysis.

That's all.

(It was.)

I lie back down.

My eyes are still open
when the vibration starts again.

But this time...

I can move.

(Wait.)

Something hits the floor downstairs.

The sound gets there first...

The sound gets there first.

(I was already awake.)

Then a voice beside me whispers:

You're awake this time.

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The first thing is always the sound. A vibration somewhere behind my ears. At first I think it's the ventilation. Then I try to move my hand. Nothing. (Here we go again.) That's when I understand. I'm awake. My body isn't. I've learned not to fight it. Count my breaths. Wait for my fingers to come back. (Just wait.) Usually that's enough. Tonight the vibration changes. A pressure builds inside my head. Then something hits the floor downstairs. I listen. Probably the building. (Please be the building.) Then footsteps start climbing the stairs. Faster than anyone should be moving. (It's not real.) They reach the landing... and stop. (Don't listen.) A thin noise begins somewhere behind the wall. Higher. Closer. Then it cuts out. I hear my mother say my name. From downstairs. Again from the hallway. (That's not her.) And once more... right beside my ear. I know she's not here. (I know that voice.) I don't look. The voice sounds exactly like her. Except the words arrive with the wrong spaces between them. Then I hear people talking. Not one person. A whole room of them, somewhere beyond the bedroom wall. (How many are there?) I almost understand one conversation. Then every voice stops together. Something metallic moves across the floor. It stops. Three quiet knocks answer from inside the wall. (Why am I listening?) I listen anyway. That's my mistake. The buzzing returns. *electrical surge* Louder this time. Underneath it, I hear rushing air. For a moment it sounds like an engine. Then barking somewhere far away. Then screaming. Then music I almost recognize. Everything folding into something I can't identify anymore. (Don't follow it.) I try to lift my arm. I feel it move. (I swear it moved.) I feel my fingers above my face. But I can see my hand lying beside me. (Then what did I feel?) Something breathes against my ear. Pssssst. (Don't turn around.) I stop trying to move. Everything disappears. I sit upright. I can move again. (There. I'm awake.) The bedroom is dark. Normal. No voices. No footsteps. I wait until my breathing settles. It was sleep paralysis. That's all. (It was.) I lie back down. My eyes are still open when the vibration starts again. But this time... I can move. (Wait.) Something hits the floor downstairs. The sound gets there first... The sound gets there first. (I was already awake.) Then a voice beside me whispers: You're awake this time.

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