It Lurked in Darkness

When Ray had awoken, he found himself in a damp, bleak, and suffocating room. A dim blinking light was the only thing that illuminated the room.

Taking in a deep breath and exhaling, Ray covered a hand over his nose, gagging. The smell of decay, blood, and mildew invaded his nostrils.

Where was he?

Ray squinted, letting his eyes adjust to the room. The dim light barely lit up anything, making it hard for him to determine his surroundings.

Ray looked around from his place on the floor, feeling the smooth texture of wood with some parts where the boards were missing. His hand bumped into something and looking down, Ray held in the urge to scream as he bit his bottom lip. What he was looking at was a human skull.

Ray could see more than just the skull. More bones were littered around where he sat, and old reddish-brown stains were on the walls and under the piles of bones.

Then he saw something move. A sudden chill ran down his spine. Standing in the center was a figure rocking back and forth.

How long had they been there, and why hadn’t they said anything? Ray went to open his mouth to speak, but something told him not to. He pulled himself to his feet, keeping an eye on the figure.

Ray used the wall to guide himself to what he believed was a door. His foot accidentally kicked one of the many bones on the ground, causing the figure to turn its attention to him.

It turned its head from side to side, listening and sniffing the air. Could the figure not see him? Exhaling a sigh of relief, he waited, not wanting to draw it closer to him.

Ray was now at the door, his hand almost touching the handle, when he heard shuffling approaching him.

He froze, turning his head to where the source was coming from. The figure was now closer. Why? He thought it could not see him.

Ray could now see more of the figure’s features.

Its skin was ashy and sunken, clinging to the bone. Its limbs were twisted and bent. The figure dragged its feet across the floor, lifting its head to look at Ray with eyeless sockets.

Its mouth opened and closed, exposing a mouth full of black crooked teeth. Ray’s chest panicked as this creature was now in front of him. The creature tilted its head to the side. It knew precisely where Ray was.

He stepped back, causing the creature to sneer and bear its teeth. Its eyeless sockets locked on Ray as it advanced onto him. Ray tripped over one of the many piles of bones in the room.

It pinned him down, wasting no time in sinking rotten teeth into Ray’s flesh. It bit and tore into his flesh and bone. The creature gulped down his blood with a smile on its face. Ray’s vision blurred as he began to lose consciousness.

He would become nothing but a pile of bones, another mere collection of this creature that lurks in the darkness.