Doom! The grandfather clock seemed to boom out a warning. The shadows in the room lengthened. The little girl cowered in the corner, legs pulled up tight to her chin. Her eyes wide with fear, moved constantly around the room…searching…searching for the beast that held her captive.
There! Across the room, something large moved stealthily from shadow to shadow. Its eyes glared a fluorescent yellow. She could hear its ragged breathing and smell its sulfuric breath. Frozen in terror, the girl pushed herself further against the wall, wishing that she could escape. A whimper broke past her tightly closed lips. The room that once had been her refuge was now the den of her terror.
Outside was the sound of a raging storm. The wind howled, the rain pounded, and the trees groaned. Inside, the beast continued its hunt.
The beast crept ever closer to the girl; pacing from side to side. Its razor-sharp claws tapped against the hard wood floor. The chain around its neck rattled with each move it made.
Clip! Clank! The sound seemed to reverberate around the room making it smaller and tighter. The rasping, hissing voice of the beast echoed filling the girl’s heart with dread and despair.
“Come to me,” the beast hissed. “You are mine! No one can save you now.” An evil chortle broke out of its mouth. The girl shook her head furiously, too scared to voice the scream that was stuck in her throat.
“Come to me,” the beast repeated. “There is no escaping me.” The beast’s eyes bore into the girl, hypnotizing her; drowning her in the pure evil that held its soul in bondage.
NOOOO! Mommy!! Help me! Yet she could not voice her screams.
BOOM!! The sound of thunder ricocheted off the house. A flash of lightening showered the room with light and the girl screamed.
Four feet in front of her stood the hideous black beast. Its eyes flashed and its blood-red mouth curled up in a sneer; its hair stood on end. Crouching down on its hindquarters the beast let out a roar and leaped forward. Its forepaws, claws extended, stretched out to rip open its prey.
Screaming again, the girl leaped out of the path of the beast and scrambled toward the door. Yanking down on the handle, she wrenched the door open, and raced into the hallway. The beast bounded behind her. She could feel its foul breath on her neck.
With her heart in her throat, the girl ran out into the storm. Racing across the yard, toward the forest, the girl looked over her shoulder to see the beast gaining on her. Howling at the moon, the beast laughed, enjoying the chase.
Get to the fort. The thought kept beat with her bare feet as the girl raced into the forest. Branches grabbed her as they tore at her clothing and skin, but she was too terrified to feel the pain.
On she ran; not daring to look back. Cold and soaking wet, her breathing became ragged and labored.
Just a little bit further. I HAVE to make it.
But it was pitch black and the girl didn’t see the ditch until was too late. Twisting her ankle, she fell head-long into it. Shaken and dazed from the pain, the girl laid there as she waited for death to come. The beast approached, chuckling at his good fortune.
“I told you that you cannot get away from me. You are mine.” Slowly, savoring the moment, the beast began his descent. When he was just a breath away from the girl, he lifted his right paw to strike the deadly blow.
Bang!
The beast’s eyes opened wide with shock and he looked up as he fell over….dead before he hit the ground.
At the top of the ditch stood a man with a rifle in his arms; his dark hair and clothing were plastered to his body. The man looked from the beast to the girl.
“It’s alright,” he said in a gentle voice. “He can’t harm you now.” Shouldering the rifle, the man stepped down into the ditch, lifted the shaking girl, and carried her to the fort. A shaft of light shined from the open door and the warmth of the fire oozed out into the chilly night air.
The little girl clung to the man as he walked over to the bed. Laying the girl down, the man turned and strode to the fire, lifted a pot, and poured the liquid into a cup.
“Here, drink this. It’ll warm you up.” The man’s gentle smile encouraged the girl to take a sip of the steaming cup he extended to her.
“Drink it up, little one.”
Smiling at the man that had been her friend the little girl turned and drank deeply from the cup.
Suddenly she gagged and with startled eyes looked at the man. He smiled again, but with a look of sadness in his eyes.
I’ve been tricked!
Frantically, the girl tried to spit up the liquid, but it was too late. The poison was already working. The girl’s internal organs began to shut down. As the girl felt her life slipping away, she remembered the warning her mother had given her…
“Don’t go into the forest, Ginny. It is not safe for a little girl like you. Stay away from it.” Her mother lovingly stroked Ginny’s golden locks as she tucked her only daughter into bed.
It’s not safe because of him, thought the mother.
I’m sorry, Mommy. I’m sorry I disobeyed you. I love you.
Then Ginny’s eyes closed and her breathing stopped. The man gently picked her up and took her downstairs. Carefully, he opened up the glass casket and placed her inside.
“There we go, Sweetheart. Daddy’s here. You’re daddy’s little girl. We’re back together again. There’s nothing to fear.” The man lovingly stroked Ginny’s curls. Then he closed the casket, went up the stairs, turned off the lights, and closed the door.
I liked this one, it kept me guessing. It had three intense plot twists that kept me glued to the story till the very end.