"IT’S INSIDE " by Jacob L

Finally home. It had been hours before my group Mikayla,
McComy, Shawn, Jess, Greg,  and I came home from our
graduation ceremony including a party which may have been a
little out the norm for me but a few of the drinks there
helped ease me into having some fun for once. As we arrived
everything seemed normal except for when we got inside. A
window was open and there seemed to be a weird smell kinda
like a wet dog mixed in with something else that so pungent
that would’ve made me gag if I didn’t walk back outside. As
I was trying to breathe while my friends, already used to
smells like this from other parties began to help clean I
saw something at the corner of my eye dash behind a huge
rock from a tree by the shed in seconds. But that wasn’t
possible, that tree was a good thirty meters from there.
Greg pulled me inside before I had time to think about it
anymore with the smell gone and the smell of caramel
popcorn being made by Jess, never have I ever met anyone
who could get hungry so quickly after eating only an hour
ago. Shawn and I being the netflix addicts we are turned
the tv on, only for Mikayla to snatch the remote claiming
it was her turn since she didn’t get to watch it the day
before. After an hour though everyone began to head to the
two rooms that were right by the kitchen to finally get
some shut eye. It started with one voice while we slept. My
eyes opened already adapted to the dark night with the rest
of the guys. No words were spoken as we saw McComy shushing
us as he pointed outside our door. But as I looked there,
there was nothing I could see. Shawn and Greg looked

confused at him as if he was crazy only to hear a loud
crash in the kitchen. Adrenaline rushing in us as the wind
outside began to crash branches against the window.
Cringing and holding our breaths as a maddening, clawing
sound echoed into our room. I felt my hands run cold and my
lungs stop as the door slowly creep open and my breath
finally came back to me when I saw that it was Mikayla and
Jess. I looked for Greg who had jumped into the closet so
fast I didn’t even notice that he had moved from beside me.
No words were spoken as steps so light that it would’ve
been impossible to hear if we weren’t shushed by McComy
again. The gentle thumps began to slowly creep towards the
room beside us and slowly head towards. I pinched myself
hoping to wake up but nothing changed. Thump, thump, thump
was all I heard before I held my breath praying that this
animal whatever it may be wouldn't hear me or the others.
It slowly began to make its way right beside the door,
sniffing, then a growl that was so deep that I could feel
my chest vibrate. I lost control of my breath and was about
to lose it until I heard one of the cars outside begin to
go off. I looked at McComy who had his hand on my mouth and
the keys in the other before I looked back at the door it
was already gone. He finally let go and allowed me to keep
myself from suffocating. We looked around the house as
quietly as possible only to hear a howl in the distance as
if  queuing us to run to the truck. As the engine started
there was a loud crash in the bushes and an image seared
into my eyes of a seven foot tall creature with black fur,
claws that were as long as my entire hand and furious gold

eyes that shined with the lights on its face. All lasting
seconds before Jess slammed on the gas pedal. I laughed
thinking we were safe until I saw where Mikayla was looking
which was beside me. Looking to my left as I was right by
the window I was greeted by the same two golden eyes that I
thought we had escaped and for a moment I thought that I
was about to greet death personally as it leaped towards
and broke my window I felt a pain in my arm before Jess
swerved the beast into a light pole before pressing the
turbo button and taking off again. I passed out from the
pain and let the darkness take over. The next morning I
woke up in a bed and saw a tv in front of me saying that
there was an animal attack at a house  that I then realized
was ours. I saw the Mikayla in the other bed with bandages
around her left eye who then told me it was glass that hit
her in the eye. I got up and went to the bathroom I looked
in the mirror at my arm that had a bandage as I unwrapped
it I could see three claw marks that seemed like they had
already scarred. I don’t know what that thing was,where it
came, or even why it chose to chase us. But I don’t care
all I know is that I am gonna make sure that my friends and
I are gonna be gone by dusk.