Creature

I sit at the foot of the stairs with the creature laying at my feet. I'm remembering that awful night. The last day of my life.

I was laying in bed. My parents were out together, so I was home alone. I always hated nights like this. This house is haunted, I know it. Things moved on there own. Footsteps could be heard where nobody was. Tonight, the moon shun a dim blue light into my room. The silence was eerily present, and I could feel it. I could feel it looking at me. It's stare burned into my back. With a deep breath, I turned to see what it was. There, in the corner of my room, was a shadow with large holes where the eyes should've been. It sat on all fours, staring at me.

I jolted out of bed with a blood curdling scream. With a jerk, it tilted its head. I didn't give it time to think. I stumbled to my feet and bolted from my room, but without warning, the thing gave chase. It scurried after me into the hallway. In a panic, I tripped on the rug and hit the floor. It whipped around and perched on the ceiling directly above me.

I can't believe I was right about this damn house being haunted. This shadowy thing was shaped like some deformed monster. This has been in my house? I was mortified that I'd been living with this thing.

I got off the floor and ran to the stairs. I took the first step down, but my foot slipped, sending me tumbling down. I called out in pain on impact, but it was immediately gone. So, I clambered to my feet. Below me was a crumbled body, the head cooked at an odd angle. It took me a second to recognize myself laying there. I didn't have the time to let the sight sink in.

I heard the floor creak upstairs and my head followed. Horror seeped into my stomach as I looked up at the thing. It was no longer a shadow, but a bony creature with gray, leathery skin. It's spine was protruding from it's back, and it's large claws pressed into the carpet. But then there were it's eyes. It's huge red eyes with unnaturally small pupils were staring straight at me.

"What are you?" I whispered. It cocked it's head curiously at me. I didn't think it wanted to hurt me, or it would've already done so. I took a step toward it, but my foot hit something. I looked down at my lifeless body and realized what had happened. "You killed me." The anger bubbled up inside. "You killed me!"

It flinched at my sudden rage. Seeing this, I felt a bit of courage. I stomped up the stairs, glaring at it. It sensed my change of demeanor and scurried back to my bedroom. I was the one chasing it now. "Get back here you coward!" It looked back at me and made a high pitched gurgling sound, before skittering under my bed.

I reached my doorway. I could see it's big scarlet eyes peering at me fearfully as if I was the monster. I felt the anger fade away. What had I been planning to do to it? There wasn't anything I could do. I sat on the floor as the tears began to flow uncontrollably. I was dead. Dead. Now what?

The creature slowly inched its way out from under the bed with another gurgle. I looked at it resentfully. "It's your fault. It's your fault I'm dead." It sat down, looking at the floor. I understood this had been an accident.

Didn't mean it.

I felt the words in my mind. What was that? Was it communicating? "Then what did you mean to happen?" I wiped away the tears. It looked up at me as if surprised I'd heard it.

Wanted to meet you.

"Meet me, huh? Chasing people is a weird way to meet someone."

Didn't mean to scare you.

"I understand. I'm still pissed though. I mean, I'm dead now." I threw my hands up. "Seriously. Now what?"

Go to Heaven now?

"I- I guess. But I'm not really ready to leave my family yet."

Then stay. Be here with them.

I looked into it's eyes. It blinked at me. I sighed and sat my head in my hands. I guess it was right. I could stay and look after my family until I was ready to go. "So, how'd you get here anyway?"

Always been here.

"Always? Don't you ever get bored?" I laughed a little. It nodded.

Reason I wanted to meet you. Bored of just watching.

"Well, I guess we'll watch together now."

I heard the front door open. They must be home. I got up, but I didn't leave the doorway. I didn't want to see their face when they saw my body. I waited for what felt like forever before I heard my mom scream. I heard them both cry. The ambulance came, but of course there wasn't anything they could do. I had been killed instantly.

The funeral came and went, as did my next birthday. It wasn't ideal to watch my family suffer without me, but I just couldn't leave them in pain either. So, I stayed and tried from beyond the grave to comfort them. Of course there was the creature too. He became a sort of friend only because no one else could see me.

Three years have passed from that horrible night, and here I am now, ready to leave. I've been here long enough. My parents have begun to recover from my loss. Everything is going smoothly for them. I think I can go now. I sigh and say good bye to the creature and the house one final time. I feel myself fading away. When my vision refocuses, I see intricate gates of white in front of me. So this is eternity.