The Dark Room

You open the battered door. The room beyond is dark, dimly lit by the torch that lies, seemingly forgotten, on the floor at your feet. You pick it up, shining it around the room. The light is a pale, faded, blue white, as it picks out the shapes of objects, scattered everywhere, casting strange shadows across the dark walls. Suddenly one of the shadows moves, and you realise your mistake. What you thought was a shadow is actually a person, and as you watch, the figure stirs, a pale face appearing from between folds of grey fabric. Black eyes watch you from beneath pale matted hair, and you take a step back, shocked by the look of pure hatred that twists the blue lips into a terrifying snarl.

“Out.” The word is twisted with fury as it leaves her lips.

You stumble back reaching for the door.

“I’m s-sorry.” You gasp as the figure stands, towering above you.

The face is female, the expression pure animal, and you feel your knees start to buckle as you hold your hands in front of your face trying to protect yourself from attack.

She laughs, the sound like iron nails against glass, and approaches, her eyes suddenly wide with an odd hunger. Suddenly she is right in front of you, her breath freezing against your upturned palms as she looks down on you. You shake uncontrollably, deathly afraid though you know not why. And then her lips part wide enough for you to see her sharp white teeth, and suddenly it all makes sense.

You fall back against the wall, your hand groping for the door, but it’s too far away. She laughs again, her eyes pitiless as she snaps your wrists. You try to suck in air to scream but suddenly her hand is at your throat, strangling you.

“Goodbye.” She whispers into your ear as her teeth sink into your throat.

No one hears your silent screams, and in any case they don't last long. Soon the derelict house is still again, the only noise the low whistling of wind through the broken chimney pots