James hastily dragged Rosa away from the door.

“The wards and seals won’t hold it for long” he stated. They stopped halfway down the hall and faced the stair’s wooden foundation which travelled all the way to the ground, making it look like a wall. Mary began fidgeting with a wooden panel and it suddenly opened like a door, revealing a tiny dark room containing nothing.

Suddenly her mum pulled her into an embrace. “I love you Rosa, remember that. No matter what happens” Mary said with a brave face.

Rosa didn’t understand what was happening and began to panic. “What’s going-”.

“In now” James ordered. Scared and confused Rosa quickly crouched and shuffled into the dark space. How long has this been here?

“No matter what happens, no matter what you hear, you don’t leave. Don’t even make a noise. Your only job is to stay hidden and live. Do you understand?” James questioned sternly.

She didn’t respond. Her fear rose by the second as she failed to make sense of the situation. This had to be some kind of joke right?

“Do you understand?” James insisted urgently, almost shouting.

Rose jumped startled and quickly nodded.

A smile small broke across his face. “Love you kiddo” her father said softly and Rosa could see her mother holding back tears. James then closed the door and she was locked into darkness.

“Mary you know what to do” James stated.

“You have no weapons. James you can’t possibly try and fight-”.

“I can buy you time. Now go” he ordered, “it won’t be much time”.

Rosa could hear her mother sprint up the stairs, while her father grabbed knives from the kitchen.

The front burst open with an ear shattering bang. Damn the thing must’ve nearly come off its hinges.

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“What?” James muttered confused under his breath. “Shit” he cursed before charging down the hall.

Rosa could hear a clash. Something heavy was repeatably thrown around the hall and kitchen. Something wet was being splattered across the walls and every time the projectile landed it grunted. Grunted exactly like her father. Rosa held back a whimper. Suddenly there was a rush of wind and then a guttural gasp. Silence followed. The wind quivered and it began walking. There were no footsteps but Rosa knew it had come closer. She couldn’t explain how but it was like she could sense its movements.

It headed upstairs, dragging something heavy behind it, every step it took shaking the room Rosa sat in.

The landing upstairs was torn apart with its movements and it entered her parents’ bedroom.

“Bastard” Rosa heard her mother growl.

Another battle ensued, but it didn’t last nearly as long. The resultant noises made Rosa’s stomach churn and saliva began to assemble in her mouth. Even after her mother let out her final breath the destruction pursued, like it was enjoying annihilating everything.

Suddenly the house went silent. It was exploring the upstairs. It stopped in her bedroom. It searched around but then headed back down the stairs. Rosa froze. A shadow passed the hidden room and it searched the downstairs.

Rosa had never really believed in God, but she began praying. Begging a higher power that this monster wouldn’t find her and that her family were okay. That this was all another bad dream.

After finding nothing it re-entered the hall. It stopped near her. Rosa’s heart stopped. It hesitated. Suddenly It vanished. Rosa didn’t understand it was gone, like whatever it was had hurriedly rushed away. It must be a trick she assumed. It was trying to lure her out.

Rosa waited. Terrified and freezing. Eventually it would be day right? Eventually someone would find her? Someone would save. Soon her father would rush down the stairs and carry her to safety like always.

Time passed and no one came. She was alone.

From below the door, blood leaked in from the hallway.

This shouldn't be happening. This couldn't be happening. It wasn't, she tried convincing herself. This was all a nightmare and she'd awaken any moment. She had to. They couldn't be dead.

Tears flowed and drenched her cheeks and she clenched her mouth close with both hands forcing every cry or whimper back into the void, following her father's final command. Stay hidden, stay alive. Fear consumed her, completely paralysing her body except for the uncontrollable tremble that she pled wouldn't revealed her.

She couldn't help but watch as the blood flowed into the room she was curled up in. Staining every crevice of the wooden floor. She hid in the rooms’s darkest corner begging that the two walls would embrace her and hide her away. Inch by inch the blood spread out from beneath the door. Her father's blood intertwined the crimson life force of the woman he loved.

Then it came. Whistling. Very familiar whistling.