Shadows and Scales

"You're ready for your new date, huh?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant despite the knot of unease in my stomach. Mom had found a new guy, Caspian, who'd been coming over once a week to stay with us. He seemed like a nice enough guy - muscular, well-built, and with a voice that was both commanding and attractive.

I could see why Mom was drawn to him. But what I couldn't understand was why she seemed to have forgotten all about Dad. I knew she didn't want to dwell on the past, but it felt like she was erasing him from our lives altogether.

The sad look on my face must have triggered something in Mom because she placed a gentle hand on my shoulder and smiled reassuringly. "Kendra, don't give me that look now.

You know as well as I do that we can't stay hurt forever. Sometimes we have to move on." Her voice was soft and persuasive, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that she was moving on too quickly.

I sighed heavily and gently removed her hand from my shoulder. "Mom, you should go. You'll be late." With that, she left, leaving me to my thoughts.

I sighed again, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. I grabbed my headphones, put on some music, and started to exercise, trying to clear my head.

As I lay on the floor doing sit-ups, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. It was as if the air in the room had grown thick and heavy, like a physical presence that was watching me.

I tried to focus on my exercise, but my skin prickled with goosebumps, and I couldn't help but feel like I was being stalked.

And then, I heard it. Well, I thought I did. A low, menacing growl that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at the same time. I froze, my heart pounding in my chest.

The growling grew louder and more intense, and I knew that I was not alone in the house.

The creature emerged from the shadows, its presence seeming to fill the entire room. It was massive, with six long, spindly legs that ended in sharp claws.

Its body was covered in scales that seemed to shimmer and glow with an otherworldly light, like embers from a fire that had burned for centuries. Its face was hidden behind a mask-like structure that seemed to be made of some kind of dark, metallic material.

The mask seemed to be twisted into a grotesque grin, with two glowing red eyes that seemed to bore into my very soul. The creature's presence was like a cold wind that seemed to blow through every cell in my body, leaving me feeling frozen and terrified.

"Are you surprised to see me, darling?" the creature hissed, its voice like a rusty gate scraping against concrete. "You should have heard stories about me from your Mom." I stumbled backwards, my eyes fixed on the creature in horror.

The creature began to move closer, its legs clicking against the floor like a ticking clock. I could feel its hot breath washing over me, like a wave of heat that seemed to sear my skin. I raised the knife I had grabbed earlier, trying to hold it steady as the creature loomed closer.

"What the hell are you?!" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady. The creature chuckled, a low, menacing sound that seemed to come from deep within its belly. "You, my dear, are a special kind of key," it said, its voice dripping with malice.

"A destined powerful girl...my master calls for you, Kendra. Come, and he will tell you more than you need to know." As the creature spoke, my phone rang, shrill and insistent in the silence. I took a deep breath and picked up the call, trying to calm my racing heart.

"Hey, Vyn...what's up?" I asked, trying to sound normal despite the terror that was threatening to overwhelm me. But Vyn's voice on the other end of the line was concerned. "Huh...Kendra, are you alright? You sound really scared."

I felt a lump form in my throat as I tried to reassure him. "Yeah! I'm cool..." I lied, trying to sound braver than I felt. But as I turned to check on the creature, I realized that it had disappeared into thin air.

My eyes widened in terror as I screamed, my phone dropping from my hand like a stone. I stumbled backwards, tripping over my own feet as I desperately tried to get away from the spot where the creature had vanished.

I landed hard on the floor, the wind knocked out of me. As I struggled to catch my breath, I couldn't shake off the feeling that the creature was still watching me, waiting for its next move. The air in the room seemed to vibrate with tension, like the quiet moment before a storm broke.

I slowly got to my feet, my eyes scanning the room for any sign of the creature. But it was gone, vanished into thin air like a ghost. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down, but my heart was still racing like a wild animal.

I had to think clearly and figure out what to do next. I walked over to the phone and picked it up, hoping that Vyn was still on the line. The phone felt cool against my ear, a comforting presence amid chaos.

"Vyn?" I said, trying to keep my voice steady. But it trembled slightly, betraying my fear. "Kendra, what's going on?" Vyn asked, his voice filled with concern. "I heard you scream and then the line went dead." His words were like a lifeline, a reminder that I was not alone.

"I...I saw something," I stuttered, trying to find the right words. "A creature. It was in my house." The words felt like a weight on my tongue, hard to speak. There was a pause on the other end of the line, a moment of silence that felt like an eternity.

"Kendra, I'm coming over," Vyn said finally. "Stay where you are and don't move." His voice was firm and reassuring, a reminder that he was on his way.

I nodded, even though I knew he couldn't see me. "Okay," I said, trying to sound brave. But my voice was barely above a whisper.

As I waited for Vyn to arrive, I couldn't shake off the feeling that the creature was still watching me. I kept looking over my shoulder, expecting to see it lurking in the shadows. But there was nothing.

The room was quiet and still, the only sound was the ticking of the clock on the wall. I paced back and forth across the room, my eyes scanning the space for any sign of the creature.

But it was gone, vanished into thin air. I was alone, but I didn't feel safe. The creature could return at any moment, and I would be powerless to stop it.