Chapter 57: Teeth that Bite

Team Hunter turned to leave the old worn out house and were about to step out, until they heard a noise. Unlike any noise before, it seemed to be foot steps from the second floor. Growling could be heard from up the stairs as well as very loud scratching wherever the foot steps led. Owen gazed outside at the setting sun in the woods, now dipped down almost full below the horizon.

"I-I think we need to go...," Owen said nervously.

"Hell no, loser. This is a chance of a lifetime. A real spirit," Trent said gazing up the stairs.

"The Professor said only small ones," Ella said.

"And how would you know that this one isn't small," Trent backfired.

"You know as well as I do that those loud foot steps couldn't have just come from a small spirit. In fact, this is even more of a problem now. We need to go, now and wait for tomorrow," Ella said.

All of a sudden the footsteps stopped and everything became silent. The tension grew as the pause worsened. More and more the silence consumed all of the brave emotions that it could. Ella and Owen's heart sank as they stood, waiting for their other team member to respond. The sun, behind the open door behind them, retreated almost fully behind the mountains, leaving a dim glow into the room. The team heard a creak at the top of the stairs. It was steadily followed by another and another and another. Trent stood ready, he summoned his sword with one swoop.

"Get ready, losers!!" Trent yelled.

"We cannot fight it. L-let me get a hold of the Professor," Ella said wildly pressing the button on her headset. "P-professor?"

No reply came out of the head set. Ella tried once more, "Professor! We need help!!"

The footsteps seem to stop as the unknown creature reached the middle step of the stairs. At this point, the sun disappeared behind the mountains completely, leaving the opening room dark.

"I can't get a signal!!," Ella cried.

"Then maybe you should shut up and actually help us!,"Trent said angrily.

"Leave her alone, Trent," Owen said.

"Shut up!," Trent fired back.

"Guys!,"Ella said as the room got silent.

The team turned their attention to the staircase. Long finger-like claws came from behind the corner and sank into the wall, creating three holes inside the wall. A growl can be heard as the beast took its claws out of the wall. A head with giant eyeballs was peering at the team through the darkness. Its irises were small and red. It seemed to have a jaw like a rodent's. It had four sharp teeth. Two teeth on the top and two on the bottom of this long slender-looking creature. Its bottom seemed a bit bigger than the rest of its body. Its claws were long and sharp. Its hand had four fingers in all as well as four toed feet. Its hind claws seemed to sink in to the wood below it, preventing it from falling over. The creature snarled as it breathed. Its breathing was slow. It gazed at the team maniacally as it stared at each person. It got on all fours and slowly creaked it's way down the worn, wooded steps. Its snake-like body slithered along the ground and seemed to sniff the ground.

"Can it see us?,"Ella whispered to her team mates.

"So what, let's kill it!," Trent said charging at it. The creature picked up its head and swiped at Trent, sending him flying backwards. Trent hit the wall, his chest bleeding from the cut of the sharp claws.

"Trent!," Ella cried.

The creature screamed as it charged at the team. Blood all over its claws, it went in for another swipe, but was quickly blocked by Owen. The creator screamed into Owen's face, like a banshee. Owen's ears were ringing. Owen closed his eyes and covered his ears, forcing him to drop his blade so it can disperse. The creature didn't swipe Owen, this time, it smacked him to the other wall. Owen hit the wall with a thud.

"Owen!," Ella said rushing to help him.

The creature turned and screamed at Trent. Trent flinched at the sight of it. The fear in his eyes as the creature grasped his leg firm and started to drag him up the stairs.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, NO!! HELP ME!!," Trent screamed in fear, sliding along the ground on his stomach. Blood gushing from his chest, making a trail wherever he went. Tent hit his head on every step on the way up.

"TRENT!," Ella screamed as she watched in absolute horror as they disappeared into the darkness.