The Gray Storm - The Story Of Emily

Chapter 1: The Woman Behind the Door

The doorbell of Emily's house rang a bit too long that one evening. 

It was getting dark. Emily's father looked up from his reading and looked out of the window.

"Who could that be at this hour?" He wondered out loud.

"Emily, could you open the door for me?" He asked, looking in his daughter's direction.

"I'm on my way," Emily replied, who was seven years old at the time.

She walked towards the darkened hall. She saw a vague silhouette standing outside. There was something on top of her head that she couldn't quite place.

She opened the door. On the other side stood a hooded woman dressed in black. There was something mysterious about her, something... eerie.

"Hello, can I help you?" Emily asked with hesitation.

The strange woman pulled her hood back a bit, so her face was revealed. Her eyes seemed to glow. The woman sneered, showing her beast-like teeth.

"I knew you'd be here," The woman's voice rasped, "I couldn't get the other one, but I must admit, this is much easier than I expected."

The strange lady was properly grinning now, and she showed what was hidden in the inside pocket of her cape. A black sword. Emily took a step back.

"Dying will be quicker than you think."

But before she could pull out her weapon further, Emily screamed as loud as she could.

Within no time her father appeared in the hallway. She clung onto his legs as soon as he came in, making her feel slightly safer.

"What's happening?" His eyebrows rose at his daughter's sudden movement.

When he looked at the opened doorway, his eyes widened.

"Emily, go to your room. Right now. She's dangerous." Emily's father told her, without looking away from the woman.
It sounded like he knew her, or what she was. It made Emily curious and terrified at the same time. She wanted to know what was happening.

"But Daddy..."

"Now!" her father ordered.

She hurried up the stairs, but she crouched at the top. The lights were still turned off upstairs, so there was a chance her dad wouldn't see her.

She heard her father say, "You've made a mistake by coming here. You will never get her."

The hooded woman showed another evil grin. "Foolish Mortal," she sneered, "You have no idea what we're capable of. We'll get her..."

The yellow eyes fixed on Emily.

"...someday."

Emily felt like the lady was talking to her now more than her dad. Emily's father noticed that the woman was looking at something, or someone, but before he could turn around, Emily sneaked back, stood up and ran towards her room.

She closed the closed the open door behind her, and sat down on her bed.

It was quiet for a few seconds. Then, out of the blue, she heard the most awful scream coming from downstairs.

It had to be at the door.

She looked out of the window, which had a view to the front door. Emily expected to see the mysterious hooded woman, but there was only yellow dust to find.

Was that...? Emily let out a quiet shriek and immediately crawled into her bed.

Still being scared, she committed to not fall asleep, but after a while her eyelids began to heavy and her tiredness won. She found herself deep asleep.