Annie, a mature and friendless 13-year-old, originally lived in the bustling chaos of New York City, where she was an outcast at school and a target for relentless bullies. Her family life was equally challenging. Her father abandoned her before she...
Annie's heart raced as she crouched under the bed, clutching the small dragon in her pocket. The dim light from the lanterns outside barely illuminated the room, casting eerie shadows on the walls. The growling grew louder, and she could hear heavy footsteps entering the room, accompanied by the scraping of claws on the stone floor.
Her breath hitched as she dared to peek from her hiding spot. The creature was unlike anything she had ever seen—a monstrous hound, its eyes glowing an unnatural red, saliva dripping from its jagged teeth. Its fur was matted and black as night, blending with the shadows around it. The air was thick with a strange, metallic scent, and Annie felt a chill run down her spine.
The beast sniffed the air, its growls deepening. It moved slowly, methodically, as if searching for something—or someone. Annie held her breath, trying to stay as still and silent as possible. Her mind raced, trying to figure out how she could escape without being noticed. She glanced at the book she had hidden under the bed with her, wondering if it held any answers.
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The creature stopped near the bed, and for a terrifying moment, Annie thought it had found her. She could hear the sound of its breathing, the low rumble of a growl forming in its throat. The small dragon in her pocket squirmed, sensing the danger, and Annie gently placed a hand over it, hoping to calm it down.
Just as the monster seemed ready to pounce, a faint, melodic chime echoed through the room. The creature's head snapped up, ears pricking at the sound. It let out a guttural growl, then turned and bolted out of the room, the ground shaking beneath its weight.
Annie waited, her body tense and her heart pounding. The room was silent again, save for the fading echoes of the chime. Slowly, she emerged from under the bed, her legs shaky from fear and adrenaline. She grabbed the journal and the lantern from the bedside table, her hands trembling.
As the monstrous canine lumbered out of the room, Annie's instincts took over. She scrambled from under the bed, her heart pounding in her chest. With shaking hands, she quietly closed and locked the door behind the creature, trying to keep her breathing steady. Sweat beaded on her forehead, her fear palpable in the stifling air of the dungeon.
Desperate to find a moment of respite, Annie leaned against the wall, sliding down until she sat on the small, worn carpet in the corner. Her mind raced, replaying the terrifying encounter with the monstrous hound. The weight of the danger she was in pressed down on her, and she felt a rising panic that threatened to overwhelm her.
Suddenly, the carpet gave way beneath her, and Annie felt herself plummet into darkness. She barely had time to gasp before she was falling, the world above disappearing into a shrinking.
As Annie plummeted into the hard cement floor, the impact jolted her entire body, sending waves of pain through her limbs. Her breath caught in her throat, the force of the fall knocking the wind out of her. She tried to move, but her body felt heavy, unresponsive. A sharp, searing pain radiated from her head, the world around her spinning and blurring.
