Oneshots, etc.

Moiyoider monster in the walls

A/N: Pretend this is for halloween, and not just something I've had floating around in my drafts for the past few months-

XYLO'S P.O.V.

A scuttling sound in the walls jerks me awake. I grumble, rolling over. Blasted mice, ruining my sleep.

nononono up follow come with need see talk favourite FOLLOW

My eyes snap open and I inhale sharply through my teeth. Has someone put an illusion spell on me? That would be bad, I don't need to go around hearing voices in my head.

who dare no one they die if that no spells favourite okay favourite safe

The scuttling moves to just behind the head of my bed, and moves rapidly back and forth, as if frantic for attention.

FOLLOW

"What's the magic word?" I mumble, still groggy and confused. Silence ensues for a moment.

abracadabra?

"Nope."

...plause?

"Nearly."

...pleased?

"Close enough." I sit up, stretching and yawning, and place my feet on the floor. It's freezing cold, so I jerk back a bit. The scuttly thing moves to the floor under my feet, effectively warming that area. I'm too tired to question it, so I follow the patch of warmth as it leads me out of the door, briefly stopping to grab my staff from the rack near the door, and my wand on the bedside table.

smart favourite smart follow talk see meet yesyesyes see talk

I frown at the weird whispery voice. It doesn't have the echo of an illusion spell, so it must be a creature of some kind, although I have no idea how it got in. The school is supposed to be impossible for creatures and monsters to get into until the last year. Excluding the ones already here, of course. Also known as most of the students. And those two ghosts that float around, I guess.

Although there have been rumors going around the school for decades that a monster lives within the walls, picking people off in the shadows. It's a nonsense tale though, nothing but lies. I hope. I hope that this thing guiding me isn't it. What does it mean by 'Favourite', anyway?

Gods I hope I don't die here. That would possibly be the most boring way anyone's ever died in this place. I mean, following a possible murder-monster into the dark? Pretty stupid way to die, honestly. Of course, I could very easily be headed to that exact fate right now, so maybe I should stop this train of thought.

The thing leads me down several hallways, scuttling and hissing beneath my feet. Eventually, I reach a door that leads to a small maintenence cupboard. The handle rattles for a moment, then the door swings open with a creak. I sigh - this is a very obvious trap - but step inside anyway.

The cupboard is small enough for me to reach out my arms and touch each side without even trying, and I bump my head on the ceiling as I walk through. Said ceiling appears to be made up entirely of one large vent.

Well if that isn't a warning sign, I don't know what is.

As that thought runs through my mind, the vent is lifted away with a screech of metal, and a mass of thin, brittle tendrils wrap around my arms. I scream, loud and shrill and panicked as I'm dragged up and into the ceiling. Oh gods, this is it, this is the end, I never got to say goodbye to Devin and Kay-