• (I'll put the description of the character here, because it won't let me fit it in the description:
    Pete Seers is a 15 year old kid, who has ADHD and dyslexia, he's as clumsy as a 2-legged horse, and he has mastered the uncanny art of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. His normal world however, is about to change dramatically.)

    ~*~*~*~*~


    I woke up in a mess of sweat, darkness, and panic. I couldn't see anything beyond the foot of my bed, and my whole body was soaking, like I had just been dunked in a pool. My breath came in harsh, heavy gasps. I glanced over at where my clock sat on top of my nightstand, wondering how late it was. But the comforting green glow was not there. Panicked, I groped around for it, but the only thing there was my lamp. Getting mad, I felt round for the switch. Harsh yellow light suddenly filled the room, stinging my eyes. After a minute, I uncovered my eyes and looked around. My jaw dropped in shock.
    My room was a disaster. It looked as though a tornado had come through while I had slept. My alarm clock was on the floor, the plastic covering shattered. The drawers on my dresser had been flung open, their contents spilling out onto the floor like guts. My closet door was closed, but hangers with clothes still on them had been thrown out. And right there, on the frame of my door, were gouge marks. Deeps ones. They were enormous, and a few seemed to have some sort of dark red liquid surrounding them around them. Across my carpeted floor ran three more jagged gouges, each one at least an inch deep and about two feet long, lined up in a row.
    Without another thought, I began to yell. I yelled and screamed as if there had been a murder, which could have been a possibility considering the state of my room.
    In seconds, my mom burst through the door and flipped on the overhead light. She had a baseball bat in her hands, and a scary look on her face. Her eyes went to me first, then examined the room. Her expression became guarded, especially when she discovered the gouges in the floor and door frame.
    "Mom---"
    She held up a hand and I fell silent. She tiptoed towards my closet, bracing her back against the wall as she moved. Gently, she laid her hand on my closet door and shut her eyes. I held my breath, not wanting to make any noise.
    Suddenly, a hiss escaped through Mom's teeth, and she threw herself against the door. At the same time, something pounded from inside the closet. An ear shattering squeal erupted from inside, and whatever was inside began to repeatedly hurl itself against the door. I sat frozen in fear on my bed.
    "Pete, run! Get out, now!" My mom gritted her teeth and dug her heels into the carpet as the creature fell against the door again and again.
    In a speed I hadn't thought possible, I hurtled myself off my bed and sped out into the dark hallway. My feet were moving too fast by the time I got to the stairs and I couldn't see through the dark. I missed the first step and went tumbling down the staircase. Luckily, I hit the floor feet first and took off in the direction of the door without missing a beat.
    I heard a loud thump upstairs, followed by an inhuman shriek. Trying not to faint, I found the door knob and twisted. It didn't budge. Panic filled my chest as I tugged as hard as I could on the door. It groaned in protest, but it still wouldn't move. I gave up and made a mad dash towards the living room. I could see the street lights outside, and my courage soared. However, I forgot about the coffee table. The sound made by the impact of my shin and the wood, was sickening. I fell on top of the coffee table, and my head struck something and sent it skidding across the table's surface. Whatever it was fell to the floor with a shatter. Suddenly, behind me, I heard a blatant pop, followed by the splintering of wood. I groaned and rolled over, rolling myself off the table completely. My head pounded as I lifted it and gazed towards the door.
    The front door was gone. I knew it because I could see the street lights outside. But there was something in the doorway. The lights outlined a bulky, heaving thing, bigger than a horse. And I knew it was alive because it had monstrous glowing red eyes that were leering at me. Suddenly, it uttered a deafening roar and charged. That got me moving. I scrambled to my feet and yanked back on the patio door, ready to dart as fast as possible around our pool. But the patio door didn't move. I could hear the beast getting closer.
    Adrenaline pumping and head throbbing, I stepped back and grabbed the little magazine rack next to our couch. I hurled it at the creature and had the satisfaction of hearing it squeal in pain. It paused for a moment, and that's all the time I needed. I snatched up the bowl of ornamental rocks that had sat next to our lamp for years. I chucked it at the patio door, shattering the glass. Then, I covered my head and barreled through the opening I had made. I flinched as glass cut into my arms and dug into my bare feet, but I kept moving. I skittered around the pool, too afraid to look behind me now. At first, I headed for the neighbor's lawn, but on a whim, I turned and ran for the front of the house. Mom always left her keys in her car. Halfway to the front yard, a loud splash reached my ears. I smirked and willed myself to go faster.
    Just then, a dark figure darted into my path. My eyes widened and I tried to change direction, but the grass was too slippery. I struck the figure full force, and we both hit the ground with agonizing thuds. Adrenaline stick pumping, I began to flail and kick, trying to disentangle myself from my attacker. I wasn't going down without a fight, even though I hadn't even been attacked yet.
    "Pete!” a sharp female voice hissed. Cold hands grabbed my wrists and pulled me to my feet. Orange light from the street fell onto the figure’s face, and I sagged with relief.
    “Mom,” I groaned, suddenly feeling every cut, scrape, and bruise on my body. Mom wrapped her arms around me and began leading me towards the car at a frenzied pace.
    “Pete, hurry,” Mom quickened our pace, nearly carrying me, now. She yanked open the back car door and pushed me inside. In a split second she was in the driver’s seat, revving the engine. Dizzily, I glanced out the window, then gasped.
    The monster that had been after me was charging at the car. Next to it was a lizard-like serpent thing, with spikes, everywhere.
    “Mom!” I yelled, scrambling back from the window.
    “Hold on,” she ordered. The car gunned forward, throwing me back against the seats. I smelled burnt rubber as the tires squealed against the pavement.

    Soon we were flying through stop lights, narrowly missing a few late night drivers and several pedestrians.
    "Mom, what's going on? What were those things?" Now that the adrenaline in my veins had dissipated, I felt the terror creep in like ice. I couldn't help it. If you had woken up to find your room in shreds and a mutant monster hiding in your closet ready to kill you, I bet you'd be as terrified as I was.
    "I'll tell you when we stop, but for now, try and sleep, Pete, please," she begged, glancing into the rearview mirror. I couldn't tell if she was looking at me, or looking out for more predators.
    I prepared to launch into protests. Sleep? Was she serious? But the more I thought about it, the better sleep sounded. My body ached, and all I wanted was to lie down and not move for an eternity. So, despite the fear of what I might see behind closed lids, I stretched out in the backseat, wincing. I felt like I had been run over by a truck, then thrown off a cliff and pelted with boulders.
    I was almost out when I heard Mom whisper something. Whether it was to me or herself, I wasn't sure.
    "What did you say?" I implored groggily, lifting my head.
    "Nothing, sweety. Go to sleep," she urged gently.
    I was too tired too resist. I laid my head back down, cradling it in my arms. My eyes drifted shut and everything began to go black. Then I heard the faintest of whispers drifting around me.
    "And so it begins. . ."

    © Xzenia