With sticks knotted in her hair, shoelaces untied, and sweat pouring down from her face, a desperate young lady came bursting out of the thick, wooded forest, heading with all her leftover strength to reach the bright town. Her breath was unsteady, unstable, and heavy. Feeling only that she could hyperventilate if she were to get any air into her lungs, she took a large deep breath of evil air, which was then stolen from her as she tripped over a rock and lost her footing, leaving her covered in mud from the rain prior. She crashed to the ground and her head darted behind her to see the horrid monster trailing behind her, graining on her with rapid speed. Its mouth was slobbering, and from its nostrils came thick mucus and fire. Its teeth were rotten, but sharp as blades. Talons destroying the ground with every step, it came bounding toward her, out of the forest and into the open plain. It’s orange, calculating eyes matched its smelly red body.  

Having taken in enough of the monster’s appearance and wishing she could erase it from her mind, the girl raced to the town lit so smoothly on the horizon. Even during the late night, lights remained on in many of the houses. Like a heavenly joy, the town would provide her a haven from the monster behind her. She darted into the town, knowing the monster was closing in nearby. She rushed to a lit house and pounded heavily on the door. “Hey!” She yelled with all her remaining voice. “Please, help me! It’s coming! Please, let me in!” She pounded for two more long seconds, the monster gaining quick ground while she stood still, until the door opened to a man with a sweater and pillow in his hand. He looked tired, but he had the overall countenance of a happy man.  

“Hello,” he yawned, then respectfully placed his hand up in apology, “come on in, you’re welcome here.”  

“Please, let me stay the night, for that monster is out to get me, and if I leave before morning it will rip me limb from limb!” The girl cried with utter desperation, her tears staining her cheeks and her face red from exhaustion.  

The man placed his hand on her head. “You’re believing silly lies, for this is the calmest town in the region! We haven’t had trouble here for years. I can’t host a child tonight; I’m a salesman with work in the morning, and I’ll have to leave earlier than you’ll be up. I can’t let you be here while I’m gone. Run along now, you’re simply facing some nightmares.” 

“No! You must understand! It’s after me, and it won’t relent!” 

“Come now, if you’re really that scared, maybe the neighbor will take you in. Here, I’ll walk you over.” He led her by the arm to the neighbor’s house. It was a brick house, large and meticulously kept. Whoever tended the house must have paid diligence to its appearance. As she was looking at the enormity of the house, she became aware of the presence behind her once more. The night was dark. She could feel and hear its coarse growl. The man knocked on the door and before her came out a man in a suit with tired eyes. “This man is my business friend,” he said, “but he doesn’t work until late morning. Sir, could you take this child with you to rest for the night? She is lost and scared.” As soon as his introduction was complete, he returned quickly to his own house, shutting the light off immediately. 

The businessman looked her down with condescending eyes. “What’s the problem?” He gruffly asked.  

“I’m being chased by a monster!” She yelled. 

The man, to her surprise, laughed her statement off. “Oh, what nonsense! We haven’t had monsters here in five years! You must be sleepwalking—go back to sleep, little one.” 

“I’m serious–!” As she finished the word the door was slammed in her face. The orange, glaring, hungry eyes lay directly behind her. Panting, hyperventilating, she bolted down the street. How could they be so blind? She ran, her feet lagging behind her, the monster taking large, excited steps toward her. She heard it lick its lips. She felt it lick her! Screaming in terror, she chanced upon the church. With her heart beating as fast as light could muster its speed, she hid within the wide room of the church and slammed the doors behind her. She panted and whimpered.  

“What are you doing here?” It was a voice from the person of a priest. He was dressed in long robes, but he appeared to have been getting ready to retire, for his hair was ruffled and his teeth newly clean.  

“There’s…there’s a monster outside!” She yelled, and her voice rang through every crevice of the high-walled church. “It was chasing me, and it even licked me! It wants to eat me! Please, let me stay here until dawn! It’ll be gone by then—those beasts hate light!” She fell to her knees before him, begging, pleading, entreating him for mercy.  

The priest looked her up and down, his face turning more wrinkled with each second, a deep frown locked into place. “You brought a monster near the church building! Are you mad? You’ll corrupt this dear place, get along! I want to see no more of you! Go!” He forcefully lifted her up and set her outside the building, despite her squirms, cries, tears, and bites. The door shut firmly behind her, and with the sound of a click her fate was sealed.  

Before her stood the mad monster, its jaws open and ready for its midnight meal. Licking its lips and sniffing her with pleasure, it prepped its dinner. Grabbing her firmly in its claws so that she could not escape or cry for help anymore, its orange eyes with slits as pupils stared her down maliciously. “My dinner…” It growled, laughing. Its talons dug into her flesh as it held her. Its head came toward her in a sudden force of might! There her headless body rested, the last of life drained before the steps of the church.