The door burst open as the boy ran into the closet, closing it behind him and hoping the creature didn’t see him hide.

It took him a few seconds to calm down and for his breath to return to normal, but he did not let his guard down. Moving as slowly has his nervousness allowed, he peered through the keyhole, trying to scan the hallway and see if he was safe.

His hopes were dashed as he noticed a large, sluggish mass at the very edge of his vision.

Startled, he jumped back and falls through the garments hanging in the closet. Only the carpet muffled the noise of his landing, but he’s not thinking about any of that. His eyes gaze down to the space between the door and the floor, and his breathing speeds up as he sees something block the light.

Then, he heard a noise. A noise unlike anything he’d ever heard before but that somehow managed to send chills down his spine. He recognised the noises. It was his name.

“Da… niel…”

Daniel closed his eyes and covered his mouth with both hands, hoping the creature wouldn’t think of looking for him in the closet and would just walk away. He grew uncomfortably aware of every noise he made. The air coming out of his nose, the muffled rubbing of his pyjamas against the wall, the beating of his heart which grew faster by the second.

Nevertheless, he remained silent, trying to repeat the prayers his mom taught him every night. After a few seconds, the shadow disappeared, and he once again saw pure light coming through the space between the floor and the door. Still, he didn’t move. He waited for a good while until his breathing calmed down and his heart stopped beating like crazy.

When he thought he was safe, Daniel opened the door a smidgen, peeking through to see if the creature was still around. Satisfied with the empty hallway, he ventured a step out, and then another one, until he was creeping down the hallway.

He then remembered to close the door, and as he did so, he caught a glimpse of the door at the very end of the hallway.

Dark. Dark wood with twisted veins and several stains, the carpet near it was still a bit damp, but it was the soft dripping sound which made Daniel’s skin crawl. He had to get away. Closing the closet door, he once again crept his way through the house, careful to make as little noise as possible.

Just as he turned around the corner, he heard the creature’s steps in a nearby room.

Panicking, he shuffled to the closest room and ran inside, diving under the bed and pulling himself further into it. There’s quite a bit of dirt under it, but he cared little for getting dirty. Not getting caught was more important.

His heart skipped a beat as the door opened and thudding steps made its way into the room.

“Da… niel…”

He does his best to remain immobile, despite his body’s efforts to shake as though it were the middle of winter.

The creature was in the room with him, and it was getting nearer by the second. Even though, he was forcing himself to close his eyes, he couldn’t help but throw a few furtive glances to the side of the bed from where the sounds came.

He could see the boots of skin hitting the carpet with every step. His gaze lingered on them, following their every move before they turned around and started moving the other way. Daniel didn’t dare to breath until they had left his sight.

After a few more seconds, Daniel finally let out his breath as his whole body slumped, washed over by waves of relief.

“Da… niel!”

The cries die in his throat as he feels two hands wrap around his ankles and pull him from under the bed.

[hr]

“Do not make me say it again, Master Daniel,” the matron said as she carried the pouting boy.

Daniel rolled his eyes, letting his body slump in the embrace of the older woman. They walked towards a dark wood door at the end of a hallway.

“Your parents shall arrive within the hour and they’ll expect to find you bathed and in bed,” she said as she opened the bathroom door.