Sadie's Nightmare

Chapter Twenty-Five: Retrieval

The door to Patricia's bedroom was eased open as silently as Rosemary could manage. Though, it didn't stop the rancid stench of decaying human flesh from wafting out and forcing itself up her nose.

Rosemary popped her head inside the room.

The monsters were still feasting, as if they had not fed in years and were savouring every mouthful. A dial down from their earlier frenzy. Perhaps they were getting full.

"Wait by the door." Rosemary whispered to Sloan, before moving into the room as slowly and quietly as she could.

Sloan swallowed, forcing the lump in his throat back to whence it came and pulled a face at the horrid odour when he took a step inside. He would remain by the door to watch Rosemary's back, keeping one eye on the door, and one eye on the monsters.

She skulked over to the wardrobe, her slippers squelched in the coagulated mess on the carpet. With each sound she made that she thought to be too loud, her gaze would dart to the creatures to make sure they didn't notice.

The wardrobe was open, Rosemary only needed to reach down and grab the blanket.

As she outstretched an arm into the darkness, she kept her eyes on the monsters. She felt around for the blanket but couldn't find it. She had to look at where she was grabbing.

The blanket was further down than she'd thought. It was half hanging out, draped on some old shoe-boxes on the floor, of the wardrobe.

She had to reach right down to grab it.

Meanwhile, something had distracted Sloan. He glanced down for only a moment. Beside his shoe was a dark patch on the carpet. Not a blood patch, but the spot where he'd soiled himself.

Suddenly, things had seemed to have become rather quiet.

Rosemary quickly looked to the monsters.

Eight pairs of enormous gleaming eyes were staring back at her. Unmoving. Unblinking.

They scented the air and their heads began to twist and tilt, as if they were smelling something familiar.

Sloan had noticed the quiet and was staring at the creepy creatures all huddled over the corpse of his partner. He brought his hand up to rest on his gun.

There was a lighting strike. The monsters jolted forward as Rosemary started toward the door.

Sloan whipped out his weapon and shot at them. Their attention went straight to him and they advanced on him instead.

His gun flashed four times. And each time, the monsters shrieked. Even the ones who didn't catch a bullet yelped in pain.

Rosemary swung herself out of the room and slammed the door shut. She didn't even bother to wait for Sloan or check to see if he was okay.

Steven and Sadie were standing in the hallway—worry written across their faces—when Rosemary turned around.

"What's going on?" Asked Steven. "I heard gunshots."

Before Rosemary could answer, Sadie who held Luna in her arms, had seen what was in her grandmother's hand.

"My blanket!" Sadie exclaimed.