Addison R., age 12

 

Eleven-year-old Paula whirled around toward the direction of the breathing. A heavy, un-human like panting that seemed to follow her wherever she went. She ran through the dark. Through the maze. Away from the monster…

Paula awoke with a gasp. She was covered in a cold sweat and she was shaking. She was scared, so scared.

She was most of all relieved. Relieved it had just been a dream.

Nothing more.

Or so she hoped.

But you could never be too sure.

 

The next night was more of the same, only Paula’s dream seemed more alive. More real.

She shook the thought away and curled up under her covers, comforted by the safety of her warm blankets.

Paula was nearly asleep. Comfortably this time. She wouldn’t let nightmares bother her anymore.

 

Paula’s eyes were open wide. She was awake and alert.

The scream echoed through her head. Over and over again until she couldn’t take it any longer.

“Mom,” she whispered as she crept into her parents’ room.

No response.

“Mom,” Paula tried again. Still nothing.

Tired of waiting, she went to her mother’s side and threw back the covers. Her heart dropped.

Now it was Paula’s turn to scream. Her mom was gone, and in her place was a giant pool of blood.

Paula fell against the wall, gagging at the foul smell.

Then there it was. That scream again.

Not a scream that you might hear in movies, distressed, or startled, but more like a wail from someone who’s actually mortified. Like their throat would come out if they held it for too long.

Paula knew at once the sound was coming from next door.

She bravely dashed out of her home, hopped her neighbor’s fence, and kicked down the back door.

Paula was startled by yet another shrill scream once she was in the house.

It reminded Paula of light bouncing off various mirrors. The noise ricocheted off the walls and scattered around the room, making it sound a thousand times louder and more like it was coming from all directions instead of only one.

Rip

Paula’s head snapped up. The wallpaper that had been plastered to the ceiling was peeling away as if something giant was scratching it. Tearing it.

A massive claw tore a chunk of the ceiling clean off and reached its long, long arm down into the house.

Paula stepped back, horrified.

She felt something snap under her foot. She whirled around.

A body. Paula had stepped on a body.

She screamed and immediately regretted it when the monster lowered its enormous head through the hole and stuck its long, black tongue into the room.

Ears, she realized a bit too late. Its tongue is covered in ears.

And it was listening for Paula. Waiting for her to shriek again.

The black tongue snaked its way over to Paula’s direction.

It latched onto her wrist and pulled her closer. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t get away.

Now it was around her waist, its firm grip sliding her towards the monster’s mouth.

 

Paula woke up with a gasp. She sat up and hugged herself tightly.

She was just beginning to relax when…

Paula heard a scream next door.