Scratch

I felt uneasy to say the least. This place was supposed to be abandoned, empty, having been left to rot for decades. Yet here I was hiding, praying that the footsteps would just walk on by. It was a dare, a stupid, idiotic dare that is now going to get me killed. It'll be fine they said, no one's lived there in years, how stupid could I be? I pushed my body farther into the cobwebs and slight damp clothes. The floor creaked in front of me once again. Ice cold fear filled me. My body stilled, eyes trained on the black mass in front of me. It was so dark that I could barely see my hand held out in front of me. My only saving grace being the small sliver of moonlight at the base of the door.

"I know your here," A voice hissed. Is it possible to die from a heart attack at 17? A light chuckle echoed through the air. The air on the back of my neck raised as my breath got in my throat. Fight or flight? It's a stupid question because where would I even go? I'm locked inside a closet on the second floor of a decrepit 100 year old mansion. I felt sick. My stomach turned at the thought of who or what was on the other side of that door.

"Come on out little one," The words an alluring whisper. A sudden scratching sound could be heard. Like someone was dragging their nails across the wood. I nearly jumped when the door handle began to shake and turn.

"Come to meeee, come to me!" The once soft voice suddenly turning violent and guttural toward the end. Black smoke began spilling out from under the door, blocking the light. Tears formed at my eyes at the overwhelming scent of cinnamon. I chocked back the sudden tears as I waited for the door to break and for whatever monster was hiding behind it to make its move. Fingers closed around a rusty old clothes hanger as the pounding increased. It sounded like a semi truck was ramming into the wood making it crack under the pressure.

The whole house seemed to be groaning in pain. It reminded me of this old movie from the 90's called Twister, where this two story house caved in from a tornado. Maybe it will cave in one me. The spluttering and cracking of wood could be heard as the door seemed to almost heave forward before snapping back in place.

Suddenly it stopped.

There was now a long crack in the dark oak wood. It was just wide enough the I could catch a small glimpse of what outside. For a moment I froze and waited. Maybe they left? I inched forward, my hand hovering over the handle only to jerk back as a large wide eye met my own. I screamed, my body flinging itself back into the safety of the closets moldy clothes. It's brown iris peering through splinted wood and locking on my own, holding me in place.

A long echoing laugh filled the air causing me to cringe. The smell of cinnamon was quickly replaced with something much fowler. A rancid, putrid smell more a kin to sulfur filled the air.

"You cannot escape me little one. You feel my power I know you do."

Long tendrils wrapped themselves around my wrists and ankles yanking me back towards the door. I helplessly flailed around trying to pull myself back. The rusty hanger forgotten as my body took over in a desperate plea to escape.

"You know I love a struggle, but this is quite pathetic dear. Just give in, your only making a fool of yourself." I screamed when a dark tendril closed around the lock effectively swinging the door open and my body into my captors arms. A hand gripped the back of my hair yanking my head back.

"Oh what fun we'll have,"