The Invitation

The Monster

Once back at her room, Alice didn't give Liam time to try to make more excuses for what he'd done. She hurried through the door and shut it behind her, leaning against it in case he tried to follow her inside. He didn't, and she knew he wouldn't. She waited until the sound of his footsteps faded into the distance before she moved.

Fumbling around in the dark, she pulled her dress off and tossed it to the chair in the corner before collapsing on her bed. Thankful it was warm in the room, she closed her eyes without even crawling under the duvet.

Creeak

Wearily, Alice opened her eyes expecting it to be morning already. But the room was still dark, save for the little bit of light from the moon hanging above the treeline. Unsure how long she'd been asleep, she rubbed her eyes and sat up. Her room was empty, or so it appeared. Though she was still very much half asleep, she couldn't ignore the feeling she was being watched. Blinking away the sleep, she slowly surveyed the room, her eyes coming to a stop on an unusually dark corner on the wall furthest from her. She narrowed her eyes to try to see better in the dark.

Then it moved. It rushed towards her, an unnaturally tall woman with long flowing dark hair that obscured most of her face. Her mouth hung open in a silent scream, her eyes burned hot white. Alice gasped and sunk back in the bed, the woman – creature – stopped at the foot of the bed and reached for her.

A low creaking groan emitted from the hanging lips, like a weak dry wail but it overpowered Alice. Its long fingers that seemed to stretch across half the bed held long dagger-like nails, ready to tear into her flesh.

Alice froze. Unable to move in sheer terror. Where would she even go? The creature stood between her and the door and would likely grab her the second she moved anyhow. She could try for the lever, her eyes left the creature long enough to search out the wooden dowel on the wall. It was still too far away; and even if she managed to pull it, the creature would have her long before anyone showed up to help.

Her eyes snapped back to where the creature was, only it wasn't there anymore. Gasping, Alice frantically looked around the room again, expecting it to jump out once more.

The wailing began again, Alice's blood ran cold as she realized the sound was coming from above her. She lifted her head to see the figure on top of the canopy, its long nails tearing at the fabric to get to her.

Closing her eyes and burrowing down as far as she could into the bed, she screamed. She quickly yanked the duvet over her, a feeble attempt to shield herself from the horror above her.

The hands were on her now, daggers digging into the flesh of her belly hard enough to hurt but not enough to pierce the skin. Its hair hung over her face, veiling her sight from the world if she were to open her eyes.

It stank. Putrid decay and rott rolled out of its mouth down to cover her nose and mouth.

Alice gagged, but the creature continued its wails inches from her face.

Unable to bear it any longer, she covered her ears and screamed. She risked rolling to her side, to try to push the thing away without laying hands on it, but it didn't budge. It used the duvet to pin her, its legs on either side of her trapping her hips beneath it.

The creature moved closer, its face inches from her own, she could feel every hot disgusting breath as it rolled across her cheek. Squeezing her eyes shut she willed it to be a dream. Then it bit her, a small nick just below her ear, but it was enough to break her out of the spell.

She began kicking and wailing her arms, all the while screaming at the top of her lungs. The duvet tossed about her, covering her completely as she continued to fight against whatever was attacking her. Her leg shot out from under the duvet and kicked the dresser. Pain shot through her foot as she heard a crash of something being toppled onto the floor.