Things

A Story by Chloe

Just behind that lamp. A little to the left. Your eyes open wide. Now you see.

There are things everywhere you do and don't look.

There are things with sunken eyes and rotting skin, creatures that give off a stench not dissimilar to that of a dead pig rotting in the sunlight and wind as maggots feast on its dry carcass. Their stench swallows you and you see their mutilated appearance every time you circle the trees in your woods, but you ignore. You choose not to see.

There are things with long necks that lust after your skin, wanting to bite it and tear it with the sharp, jagged edges of their teeth. They want and want and want you so badly, but you ignore. You choose not see.

There are things who haunt corridors and hallways, their limbs extending towards you as they cry out, longing for the long-gone familiarity of their mother's embrace. They cry out for you, like children for an ice-cream truck, but you ignore. You choose not to see.

There are things like with poisonous tongues that creep nearer and nearer every moment you close your eyes, wanting something more than to destroy you. They reach out and stroke your neck, but you ignore. You choose not to see.

These things are everywhere you do and don't look, but you ignore.

In fact, I'd say there's one looking at you right now. You just choose not to see.