A Creature in the Dark

Chapter 1: The Incident

"Mom!!! Dad!!!" I scream. Our home.... our home is destroyed. I watch helplessly as my home burned, the flames eating away everything like a greedy monster. I scour the area in hope of seeing my parents. What happened? It all came so fast. I remember sitting with my family eating dinner. I remember hearing the phone ring and my dad walking over to answer it. A man's distorted voice on the other end speaking to my dad urgently. My dad yelling something that I didn't catch. "It can't still be alive! I watched as it was being destroyed!" I heard my dad scream and slam the phone down forcefully with a loud POP! I looked over at my mother whose face was now pale with a terrified expression. She began to speak, her voice almost too quiet to hear.

"Is it still alive?" she asked, her voice shaking in fear. Dad nodded grimly. I looked at the two of them confused. What were they talking about? What was still alive? My dad looked over at me and acted like he had just realized that I was there. He looked back at mom, his face still grim. "Yes.... It's still alive....."

"How do they know for sure?"

Dad didn't answer for a long time, his face still grave. Finally he spoke with a frosty tone. "They spotted it near the laboratory."

"Has anyone been killed?"

"Dr. Crow was found dead, lying on a table. His body was so mutilated, they could barely recognise him if it hadn't been for his ID."

Mom gasped in terror and cupped her mouth. Tears were forming in her eyes. "I thought we had gotten rid of it."

"As did I. That was Tyson Quills on the phone. He told me that it's making it's way here. He advised that we leave immediately."

My mom looked at me, her face a knot of astonishment and fear. Her voice quivered. "Then let's go. If it's truly after us, we have very little time."

My father's face flashed with fear, but faded as quickly as it had appeared. He glanced at me. "Serenity, hurry and pack a few pairs of clothes and come into our room. Now!"

I nodded and ran up the stairs, my heart thumping rapidly. I entered my room and quickly grabbed a large bag, stuffing clothes, my journal, a flashlight with extra batteries, money and a camera into my bag. I notice the picture of me and my parents in D.C and quickly grab it. I started down the hallway towards my parents' room when our doorbell rang. My dad appeared from his room and walked cautiously down the stairs. My mother also appeared and looked at dad with worry. My dad turned his face to her and nodded. In response my mom grabbed my arm and led me down the hallway quickly. We were almost at the end of the hall when she stopped and face the wall. I looked at her confused, but she ignored me and knocked on the wall four times. We heard a small click and a hidden door opened. "Get inside." She said and pushed me inside. She ran her hand through my hair and then kissed me on the forehead. She looked at me and whispered urgently in my ear, "No matter what you hear outside this door, you must never open it. Even if you hear me or your father pleading or begging for you to open up, you must never open this door, understood?"

I nodded to show her that I understood.

She smiled. "Good. There should be some emergency supplies in the back of this room if you are in need of them. I wish I could explain to you what is going on, but there is no longer any more time. I love you, Serenity and no matter what, your father and I will always love you."

She hugged me then kissed my forehead again. "Stay hidden, stay safe. Your father and I will come to get you shortly."

I nodded again. She stood up and closed the door, leaving me in total darkness. I listened to my mother's footsteps as she hurried down the stairs to my dad. I listened for any sign of their voice and sure enough, I could hear two very familiar voices only muffled. I could hear them talking quickly. They sound so scared. I thought. Suddenly a loud CRACK! Breaks through my thoughts and I hear my mother screaming in terror and my father yelling at whatever it was down there. A loud deafening roar shook the house. I could hear furniture and glass shattering into pieces, followed by the sound of gunshots. I was too terrified to move. Another deafening roar. I cover my ears, desperately wishing for it to go away. The struggling lasted a little while longer, then silence. I waited, unsure of what might still be out there. After what seemed like hours, I opened the door, only to see thick smoke. The smoke filled my lungs and my eyes. The smell was horrible. I coughed and staggered towards the door. I could feel heat. My house was on fire. Desperately, I try to feel my way to the door knob. I felt it and opened the door. Fresh air filled my lungs and I coughed, trying to get rid of the ash inside me lungs.

Now here I am. I open my eyes and look around desperately for any sign of my parents. Where were they? "Mom!"

I felt my legs beneath me collapse from exhaustion. My eyes brimming with tears, began to close. I could faintly hear the sound of sirens. "Mom." I rasped before succumbing to unconsciousness. They were gone.