This Babysitting Job Is Not What It Seems

I met a lovely lady yesterday, she wanted me to babysit her thirteen year old son, Finn, and her cat, Peter. At first I was suspicious, I just met this woman and she already trusts me enough for me to not only babysit her cat but her son? I never mentioned that I babysitted before because I never thought it seemed fit for the conversation that we're having at the time (we were talking about homes and rent). I had only mentioned that I lived with my mother and pet dog Felix and how our rent wasn't ridiculous but we've come close to not being able to pay it.

Anyway, I agreed nonetheless because I did have some babysitting experience and she was willing to pay me 50 a night. I decided to keep my weird feeling to myself and just do it. I had no reason not to, right? I decided to just sleep it off, maybe the unusual feeling in my gut would go away.

The next day I got ready to babysit. I ran downstairs and bid a goodbye to my mother and was out the door. I headed to the house address that Mary (The woman who I was babysitting for) gave me yesterday, I never officially asked why she wanted me to babysit her kid and cat but I just assumed she had somewhere to be. As I pulled her up to her house, the gut feeling got worse and worse, I almost felt sick. Her house was very creeping looking, but at the same time it looked magical. I had never been inside a mansion so maybe that's why I felt this uneasy yet alluring feeling. I pulled into the driveway and stepped out of my car, for some reason I couldn't pull my eyes away from the house.

"Oh Lisa! Hello, i'm so glad you came," Mary exclaimed, snapping me out of my thoughts, "Oh Hi, i'm sorry if i'm too early," I said, walking towards her, "Your house is closer than I thought." "Oh no, you're fine honey, I was actually hoping you'd come early so I can properly explain a few things," She explained while stepping to the side so I could go through. "Oh well then i'm glad," I laughed as I headed inside. The inside was even weirder than outside. There we're weird dummies and bizarre paintings, of course I'm not one to judge but I felt a chill run down my spine at the sight of all the peculiar decorations.

"Finn honey, come downstairs and meet Lisa; she'll be babysitting you and Peter tonight," Mary spoke as she began to pull me towards her kitchen. "Sit honey and i'll explain everything you need to know before I leave," She explained as she handed me a cup of some brown liquid. "Okay honey, so first thing to know is that Finn has to take medicine at 7 pm right before bed," She explained while I took a sip of the mysterious brown liquid, which turned out to just be tea. "Speaking of bed, he must be in bed at 8 pm. Peter also needs to be in Finn's bed or at least his room, sometimes Finn gets scared so Peter helps him calm down." I nodded along as she spoke to let her know I was listening. "Now if Finn does get scared and Peter doesn't help, just call me and i'll talk him through it. That's all I think and oh-" She cut herself off when she noticed the time, "Oh crap, and I'm late, thank you so much honey but now I must go, when Finn comes down please tell him I love him thanks honey!" She exclaimed as she ran outside with her purse, phone, car keys and coat in her hands. I smiled fondly, despite the weird gut feeling I had, Mary seemed like a very nice person and I couldn't wait to meet her son and cat. "Finn?" I called out, walking upstairs, I looked to my left and saw a door that had a bunch of caution and do not enter signs, that's probably his room, I thought to myself. I knocked and received no answer so I just decided to open the door anyway, "Finn?" I called out, there Finn sat at his desk, earphones in his ears, scribbling something on a piece of paper. I tapped on his shoulder, he turned around and jumped when my eyes might his, "W-Who are you?" He asked, I chuckled, "Don't worry kid, i'm your babysitter, I was just checking on you," I explained, he nodded slowly and began to go back to scribbling on his piece of paper. "Your mom told me to tell you she loves you by the way," he turned to me and smiled slightly, "Thanks."

"No problem, if you don't mind I'm gonna go back downstairs and make you dinner and after that you'll have to take your medicine because it'll most likely be 7 consdideirng it's already 6:30," I told him. "Okay thanks, um," he said as he started to fiddle with his hands. "Can you make me grilled cheese?" "Of course, whatever you want, kid." I headed back downstairs and towards the kitchen. I washed my empty teacup and started to make grilled cheese for me and Finn. When I was finished I put some chips with our sandwiches and sat out some cat food for Peter.

"Finn! Dinner is ready!" I yelled and was pleased when he walked downstairs with Peter in his arms. "Peter can eat this right?" I asked, making sure I wouldn't get in trouble. "Yes, thank you" Finn said as he sat Peter down and then sat down himself to eat his dinner. While he ate, since I had already finished mine, I had cleaned the dishes. When I was finished, I handed Finn his pill bottle, "Here you go, after you take it you can go back upstairs and go to bed." "Thanks again..." "Lisa, my name's Lisa," "Thanks Lisa," He said as he grabbed Peter and they headed upstairs together. I checked the time, 7:40 pm, Mary should be home by 9 or 10 as she told me so over text.

I sat and watched TV and I felt myself grow more and more paranoide. It was now 11 pm and I had constantly checked in on Finn and Peter. Mary should've been home at least an hour ago. I decided that maybe I should inform the police, I was growing worried and for some unknown reason I was fearing for Finn, Peter and mine's safety. Just as I was about to dial the police, I heard a loud siren noise. I ran outside and saw nothing, but I did notice that Mary's car was in the driveway, keys still in the ignition. Something was wrong, I could feel it. I ran back inside and stormed into Finn's room. I shook him until he woke up. "Finn please kid, wake up, grab Peter, we need to leave RIGHT NOW." I said checking behind me multiple times, something was so so off, something was watching and I couldn't tell what. He immediately got up, grabbed Peter and followed me outside.

Just as I was about to run to Mary's car, I noticed it. It was a 40-foot-tall humanoid creature with a heavily emaciated, near-skeletal frame covered in dried, mummified flesh in the color of rusted metal. It's limbs were disproportionately long and thin, with arms almost as long as its entire body, ending in huge, bony hands. I felt my blood run cold, I was shaking and Finn was letting out quite sobs. I immediately headed under their porch. I pulled out my phone and just as I was about to dial 911, a car pulled into the driveway. It was my mother.

"MOM!" I yelled, I picked up Finn and Peter and sprinted to the car. "Sweetie, what's wrong-" "GO please go, i'll explain later, we need to leave NOW!" She immediately pulled out the driveway and headed to the police station. I held Finn close to me, Peter surprisingly calm.

Of course the police didn't believe us, neither did my mother, they could tell we were traumatized though so me and Finn weren't considered a suspects in Mary's disappearance. My mom was able to adopt Finn and Peter. Finn and I slowly got over the trauma we experienced and I tell him all the time that I'm sorry that he had to experience what he did and how he lost his mother. I always feel like it was my fault and that maybe if I went outside sooner, I could have saved her. A few years later when we had finally moved towns, Finn and I lay asleep next to each other. Suddenly, we could hear a siren going off. We both jumped up and screamed. "It's back isn't it?" He asked me, I felt tears escape my eyes as I tried to calm him down. "Yes."