We were silent. Creeping through the house, getting as far away from the Creature at the door as possible. I could hear it scratching at the wood. Lois was buzzing with excitement. Oli was wearing a calm mask, but I could sense the fear beneath it. She was wheezing a little, and I hoped that she didn't have asthma or something.
I was a tangle of fear and panic. My instincts were kicking in. I had to protect Lois at all costs. It was everything I knew and everything I had ever known. To be the grown up, to hold everyone together. To protect, to provide, to parent.
The Creature was getting frustrated now, the thuds at the door were becoming louder and wilder. I knew it wouldn't be long before the old wood splintered under the Creature's frantic hammering. As we crept down the hall towards the back door I stopped, placing my arm in front of Oli and Lois, barring their path. I signalled for them to be quiet, and inched nervously to the door.
Silently, I lifted the filmy curtain covering the glass panel. I peeked out and barely stifled a gasp. There were more. More of the Creatures. More than I had ever seen at one time. Most of these had faces, but none were right for them.
There were people with the faces mixed up, so the features were in the wrong order. There were adults with children's faces. A fat old man wearing the face of a young girl appeared to be at the lead. The face was almost... familiar. Better not to think about it. I turned and gestured to Lois and Oli. "There are more."
YOU ARE READING
The Gifted
HorrorLost in a world that is no longer their own. Without adults to guide them. With fear consuming their every breath. A sister, a friend, lost, taken by the enemy. The enemies that surround them. Even the ones who should be on their side cannot be trus...
