Cornflake
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all was quietHe cowered in the corner, crouched into as small a ball as he could. Squeezing himself ever deeper into the darkness of the corner, hoping the grumbling, snorting, sniffing monster wouldn’t see him.
Sweat poured down the back of his neck, which cooled quickly in the chill of the deep night and only contributed to the chills that were constantly running down his spine.
He shivered with utter fear.
One loud breath, one heart beat too many and he was sure he’d be found.
Eyes shut so tightly that the muscles were tiring and begging for release. But he daren’t open his eyes in case he caught sight of the beast and would scream at the terror before him.
He began wishing it gone, clenching his fist and willing it gone. Begging for this nightmare to be over. Fists clenching tighter still, whites of the knuckles standing out like search lights, constantly wishing for the horror to stop, finger nails drawing blood in the palms of his hands.
Oh, the pain, the horror, the purely terrifying position he was in. How could he have ever let himself get in such a state. Where did he go wrong, why must he now suffer this unnerving agony.
The monster shifted slightly, it’s huge blood red bulk slumbered silently across the soft carpeted floor. He could just see it’s shadow now, thrown to the floor from the lights in the street. It was huge. He’s sure it could easily crush him.
The beast sniffed and snarled as it went about its grissly business. Throwing items around like they were feathers from a plucked chicken.
He could bear it no more.. he just had to try to make to make a run for the open door, but he couldn’t move. He was completely frozen with fear. His leg muscles ached from being crouched for so long, the arches in his feet were screaming in agony from the position he was squatted in. He covered his face with his trembling hands, blood slightly trickling form the wounds caused by his nails. Palms sweaty, meeting the cold sweat on his face made him shiver even more.
Surely he was making too much noise, surely the beast would find him, surely he should make a run for it….
He opened an eye and there it was, the huge beast, just in front of him, but with its back towards him.
Could he run faster than this huge beast could move?
He believed he could, he prepared himself to spring out and run as fast as he could. He’s sure he could find safety under his bed. If he could reach its dark sanctuary.
Trembling, he slowly raised himself, inch by inch. The sudden rush of blood back into his legs sent a flush of heat burn through his muscles, the arches of his feet stopped screaming as his heels touched the ground.
Slowly he turned, keeping as small a form as he possibly could, praying that he didn’t tread on a loose floor board….
And then he ran, ran as fast as he could. He sprang so hard he pulled a muscle in his calf and pain shot up his leg. He made a small scream of agony and clenched his jaw tight trying to hold back the pain.
Then it grabbed him, it’s gnarled hand grabbed his shoulder and spun him around on the spot.
Its face came down inches from his own. Its small beady eyes looked at him in almost startled amazement. It’s mouth opened and it shouted ho, ho, ho merry Christmas.
And with that it turned and whooshed up the chimney and was gone….
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