Barnum Posted January 6, 2008 Author Posted January 6, 2008 Darla sat up in the bed, clutching her pillow. Her pajamas were wet with sweat, and she was shaking. She had only dozed for a few minutes before the horrible dream returned, but this time when she awoke, she caught something out of the corner of her eye . . . something dark and snakelike, moving toward her closet. "They're real!" she whispered into the darkness. The sound of the slamming closet door still fresh in her ears. For a moment, Darla wasn't sure what to do. She hadn't slept for a week, and she was sure that insanity was just around the corner. Something had to be done. Darla wanted to run, but she knew enough about the magical world to know that running wasn't an option either. That thing, whatever it was, didn't really live in her closet. It was gating its way here from somewhere else. It could find her anywhere. No . . . her only hope was to fight back. Darla pulled back the covers and climbed out of bed. Her footie pajamas masked her footsteps as she stalked around her bed and over to the closet. With hands trembling, she pressed her ear to the door, not sure what' she'd hear.
Barnum Posted January 6, 2008 Posted January 6, 2008 Darla sat up in the bed, clutching her pillow. Her pajamas were wet with sweat, and she was shaking. She had only dozed for a few minutes before the horrible dream returned, but this time when she awoke, she caught something out of the corner of her eye . . . something dark and snakelike, moving toward her closet. "They're real!" she whispered into the darkness. The sound of the slamming closet door still fresh in her ears. For a moment, Darla wasn't sure what to do. She hadn't slept for a week, and she was sure that insanity was just around the corner. Something had to be done. Darla wanted to run, but she knew enough about the magical world to know that running wasn't an option either. That thing, whatever it was, didn't really live in her closet. It was gating its way here from somewhere else. It could find her anywhere. No . . . her only hope was to fight back. Darla pulled back the covers and climbed out of bed. Her footie pajamas masked her footsteps as she stalked around her bed and over to the closet. With hands trembling, she pressed her ear to the door, not sure what' she'd hear.
Barnum Posted January 6, 2008 Author Posted January 6, 2008 Darla sat up in the bed, clutching her pillow. Her pajamas were wet with sweat, and she was shaking. She had only dozed for a few minutes before the horrible dream returned, but this time when she awoke, she caught something out of the corner of her eye . . . something dark and snakelike, moving toward her closet. "They're real!" she whispered into the darkness. The sound of the slamming closet door still fresh in her ears. For a moment, Darla wasn't sure what to do. She hadn't slept for a week, and she was sure that insanity was just around the corner. Something had to be done. Darla wanted to run, but she knew enough about the magical world to know that running wasn't an option either. That thing, whatever it was, didn't really live in her closet. It was gating its way here from somewhere else. It could find her anywhere. No . . . her only hope was to fight back. Darla pulled back the covers and climbed out of bed. Her footie pajamas masked her footsteps as she stalked around her bed and over to the closet. With hands trembling, she pressed her ear to the door, not sure what' she'd hear.
Lilac Posted January 7, 2008 Posted January 7, 2008 Darla listened intently to at her closet door, but she heard nothing except the sound of her father snoring in the next room. It certainly didn't sound like there were giant tentacles just behind the door. There was however a quickly vanishing odor. It was sickly sweet, mildly putrid smell that made Darla's stomach churn.
Lilac Posted January 7, 2008 Posted January 7, 2008 Darla listened intently to at her closet door, but she heard nothing except the sound of her father snoring in the next room. It certainly didn't sound like there were giant tentacles just behind the door. There was however a quickly vanishing odor. It was sickly sweet, mildly putrid smell that made Darla's stomach churn.
Lilac Posted January 7, 2008 Posted January 7, 2008 Darla listened intently to at her closet door, but she heard nothing except the sound of her father snoring in the next room. It certainly didn't sound like there were giant tentacles just behind the door. There was however a quickly vanishing odor. It was sickly sweet, mildly putrid smell that made Darla's stomach churn.
Barnum Posted January 8, 2008 Author Posted January 8, 2008 Darla stepped back from the door and pinched her nose. "I smell you," she said to the door. The creature, whatever it was, was close. Now was the time to act. With eyes closed, Darla began to trace a shape in the air with two fingers. She could see the shape in her mind, but it was faint and indistinct at first. The more she tried to picture it, the clearer it became, as if someone was helping her remember. Darla completed the shape and then spoke the word that Julakin had been whispering into her brain . . . "Akaramalizikabetarun!" Darla's fingers began to give off a green ethereal light. She squatted down and touched her toes and then stood up quickly, throwing her hands up in the air. The girl was engulfed in more of the green light momentarily. The brightness faded, but the green hew clung to her skin, hair, and pajamas like a green film. More confident now that she had some magical protection, she padded over to the closet and jerked open the door.
Barnum Posted January 8, 2008 Author Posted January 8, 2008 Darla stepped back from the door and pinched her nose. "I smell you," she said to the door. The creature, whatever it was, was close. Now was the time to act. With eyes closed, Darla began to trace a shape in the air with two fingers. She could see the shape in her mind, but it was faint and indistinct at first. The more she tried to picture it, the clearer it became, as if someone was helping her remember. Darla completed the shape and then spoke the word that Julakin had been whispering into her brain . . . "Akaramalizikabetarun!" Darla's fingers began to give off a green ethereal light. She squatted down and touched her toes and then stood up quickly, throwing her hands up in the air. The girl was engulfed in more of the green light momentarily. The brightness faded, but the green hew clung to her skin, hair, and pajamas like a green film. More confident now that she had some magical protection, she padded over to the closet and jerked open the door.
Barnum Posted January 8, 2008 Author Posted January 8, 2008 Darla stepped back from the door and pinched her nose. "I smell you," she said to the door. The creature, whatever it was, was close. Now was the time to act. With eyes closed, Darla began to trace a shape in the air with two fingers. She could see the shape in her mind, but it was faint and indistinct at first. The more she tried to picture it, the clearer it became, as if someone was helping her remember. Darla completed the shape and then spoke the word that Julakin had been whispering into her brain . . . "Akaramalizikabetarun!" Darla's fingers began to give off a green ethereal light. She squatted down and touched her toes and then stood up quickly, throwing her hands up in the air. The girl was engulfed in more of the green light momentarily. The brightness faded, but the green hew clung to her skin, hair, and pajamas like a green film. More confident now that she had some magical protection, she padded over to the closet and jerked open the door.
Lilac Posted January 8, 2008 Posted January 8, 2008 The closet looked perfectly normal, or rather looked like Darla's closet normally looked. There were no signs of tentacles or shadows or monsters of any kind. Darla did, however, begin to feel very uneasy. Darla knew that her closet was only a few feet deep behind the wall of clothes and other things, but it felt much deeper. And from the dark recesses of the closet, where the light from her night light dared not go, something was watching her, and waiting.
Lilac Posted January 8, 2008 Posted January 8, 2008 The closet looked perfectly normal, or rather looked like Darla's closet normally looked. There were no signs of tentacles or shadows or monsters of any kind. Darla did, however, begin to feel very uneasy. Darla knew that her closet was only a few feet deep behind the wall of clothes and other things, but it felt much deeper. And from the dark recesses of the closet, where the light from her night light dared not go, something was watching her, and waiting.
Lilac Posted January 8, 2008 Posted January 8, 2008 The closet looked perfectly normal, or rather looked like Darla's closet normally looked. There were no signs of tentacles or shadows or monsters of any kind. Darla did, however, begin to feel very uneasy. Darla knew that her closet was only a few feet deep behind the wall of clothes and other things, but it felt much deeper. And from the dark recesses of the closet, where the light from her night light dared not go, something was watching her, and waiting.
Barnum Posted January 9, 2008 Author Posted January 9, 2008 Darla was too sleep-deprived to go about this in an cautious, intelligent fashion. In her current state she was acting on instinct and passion . . . mostly passion. Darla took a step toward the closet. Her knees and hands were shaking, but not from fear. It was the anticipation. With her eyes squinted, she looked hard into the closet, but she couldn't see much of anything by only the light of her night light . . . just a pile of dirty clothes, a stack of sweaters and shoes and such in little side-stacked crates, and a row of clothes on hangers. "Now it's my turn to come into your bedroom." Darla reached up and with both hands parted the clothes.
Barnum Posted January 9, 2008 Author Posted January 9, 2008 Darla was too sleep-deprived to go about this in an cautious, intelligent fashion. In her current state she was acting on instinct and passion . . . mostly passion. Darla took a step toward the closet. Her knees and hands were shaking, but not from fear. It was the anticipation. With her eyes squinted, she looked hard into the closet, but she couldn't see much of anything by only the light of her night light . . . just a pile of dirty clothes, a stack of sweaters and shoes and such in little side-stacked crates, and a row of clothes on hangers. "Now it's my turn to come into your bedroom." Darla reached up and with both hands parted the clothes.
Barnum Posted January 9, 2008 Author Posted January 9, 2008 Darla was too sleep-deprived to go about this in an cautious, intelligent fashion. In her current state she was acting on instinct and passion . . . mostly passion. Darla took a step toward the closet. Her knees and hands were shaking, but not from fear. It was the anticipation. With her eyes squinted, she looked hard into the closet, but she couldn't see much of anything by only the light of her night light . . . just a pile of dirty clothes, a stack of sweaters and shoes and such in little side-stacked crates, and a row of clothes on hangers. "Now it's my turn to come into your bedroom." Darla reached up and with both hands parted the clothes.
Lilac Posted January 11, 2008 Posted January 11, 2008 For a moment the darkness hung at the back of the closet, waiting, and then it struck. Even before Darla pushed back the clothes a long dark tentacle shot out of the closet, wrapped tightly around her waist, and jerked her with back-breaking force into the closet. The tentacle crushed the all of the air out of Darla's lungs as she was yanked into the void at the back of her closet. After what seemed like an eternity of falling, the tentacle released its grip, slamming the girl hard onto the ground...in another world. Darla's bedroom was gone as was the closet. She was lying on something hard and rocky, and all around her was darkness. "Heeeeeeeeelo, little girl. Iiiiiiiii've been waaaaaaaaanting to meeeeeeeeet you." The voice was just above a whisper and sounded like nails on a chalkboard. It was terrifying close.
Lilac Posted January 11, 2008 Posted January 11, 2008 For a moment the darkness hung at the back of the closet, waiting, and then it struck. Even before Darla pushed back the clothes a long dark tentacle shot out of the closet, wrapped tightly around her waist, and jerked her with back-breaking force into the closet. The tentacle crushed the all of the air out of Darla's lungs as she was yanked into the void at the back of her closet. After what seemed like an eternity of falling, the tentacle released its grip, slamming the girl hard onto the ground...in another world. Darla's bedroom was gone as was the closet. She was lying on something hard and rocky, and all around her was darkness. "Heeeeeeeeelo, little girl. Iiiiiiiii've been waaaaaaaaanting to meeeeeeeeet you." The voice was just above a whisper and sounded like nails on a chalkboard. It was terrifying close.
Lilac Posted January 11, 2008 Posted January 11, 2008 For a moment the darkness hung at the back of the closet, waiting, and then it struck. Even before Darla pushed back the clothes a long dark tentacle shot out of the closet, wrapped tightly around her waist, and jerked her with back-breaking force into the closet. The tentacle crushed the all of the air out of Darla's lungs as she was yanked into the void at the back of her closet. After what seemed like an eternity of falling, the tentacle released its grip, slamming the girl hard onto the ground...in another world. Darla's bedroom was gone as was the closet. She was lying on something hard and rocky, and all around her was darkness. "Heeeeeeeeelo, little girl. Iiiiiiiii've been waaaaaaaaanting to meeeeeeeeet you." The voice was just above a whisper and sounded like nails on a chalkboard. It was terrifying close.
Barnum Posted January 12, 2008 Author Posted January 12, 2008 Darla finally released the scream she had been stifling since being pulled into the closet. She fell back onto the ground and began trying to crawl away from sound of the voice. The darkness all around here was stifling, and she wanted more than anything to be able to see. "Losakarpolimaum." It was barely a whisper, but the words were potent. A small sphere of light began to glow above Darla's head, illuminating the world inside her closet.
Barnum Posted January 12, 2008 Author Posted January 12, 2008 Darla finally released the scream she had been stifling since being pulled into the closet. She fell back onto the ground and began trying to crawl away from sound of the voice. The darkness all around here was stifling, and she wanted more than anything to be able to see. "Losakarpolimaum." It was barely a whisper, but the words were potent. A small sphere of light began to glow above Darla's head, illuminating the world inside her closet.
Barnum Posted January 12, 2008 Author Posted January 12, 2008 Darla finally released the scream she had been stifling since being pulled into the closet. She fell back onto the ground and began trying to crawl away from sound of the voice. The darkness all around here was stifling, and she wanted more than anything to be able to see. "Losakarpolimaum." It was barely a whisper, but the words were potent. A small sphere of light began to glow above Darla's head, illuminating the world inside her closet.
Lilac Posted January 12, 2008 Posted January 12, 2008 Darla was siting on a broad, oval-shaped plateau about 200' across. The rocky table fell off into inky darkness on every side, and Darla was just feet from the edge. Walking--no, that wasn't the right word because it didn't have legs. Oozing toward Darla from the middle of the plateau was the most unsettling thing Darla had ever seen. It was big, almost as tall as Darla's one-story house, and its shapeless blob of a body sported dozens of writhing tentacles that, at their base, were thicker than Darla's legs. The creature's body and "limbs" were filled with ever-changing, undulating mouths, teeth, eyes, and smaller finger-like tentacles. The effect was as nauseating as it was hypnotic. Several of the tentacles were already near Darla, and one, bearing a particularly slimy mouth filled with putrid lips and white teeth, was whispering in her ear. "Mmmmmm, tassssssssty." One of the creeping tentacles wrapped itself around her arm and slithered up her sleeve. Another coiled around her neck and began making it's way down the front of her pajamas.
Lilac Posted January 12, 2008 Posted January 12, 2008 Darla was siting on a broad, oval-shaped plateau about 200' across. The rocky table fell off into inky darkness on every side, and Darla was just feet from the edge. Walking--no, that wasn't the right word because it didn't have legs. Oozing toward Darla from the middle of the plateau was the most unsettling thing Darla had ever seen. It was big, almost as tall as Darla's one-story house, and its shapeless blob of a body sported dozens of writhing tentacles that, at their base, were thicker than Darla's legs. The creature's body and "limbs" were filled with ever-changing, undulating mouths, teeth, eyes, and smaller finger-like tentacles. The effect was as nauseating as it was hypnotic. Several of the tentacles were already near Darla, and one, bearing a particularly slimy mouth filled with putrid lips and white teeth, was whispering in her ear. "Mmmmmm, tassssssssty." One of the creeping tentacles wrapped itself around her arm and slithered up her sleeve. Another coiled around her neck and began making it's way down the front of her pajamas.
Lilac Posted January 12, 2008 Posted January 12, 2008 Darla was siting on a broad, oval-shaped plateau about 200' across. The rocky table fell off into inky darkness on every side, and Darla was just feet from the edge. Walking--no, that wasn't the right word because it didn't have legs. Oozing toward Darla from the middle of the plateau was the most unsettling thing Darla had ever seen. It was big, almost as tall as Darla's one-story house, and its shapeless blob of a body sported dozens of writhing tentacles that, at their base, were thicker than Darla's legs. The creature's body and "limbs" were filled with ever-changing, undulating mouths, teeth, eyes, and smaller finger-like tentacles. The effect was as nauseating as it was hypnotic. Several of the tentacles were already near Darla, and one, bearing a particularly slimy mouth filled with putrid lips and white teeth, was whispering in her ear. "Mmmmmm, tassssssssty." One of the creeping tentacles wrapped itself around her arm and slithered up her sleeve. Another coiled around her neck and began making it's way down the front of her pajamas.
Barnum Posted January 12, 2008 Author Posted January 12, 2008 Darla screamed again and began trying to scramble away from the tentacles, but the creature already already had her arm and chest entwined. She sensation of the slimy appendages against her skin was mind-numbingly horrifying. "W-w-w-ho are you?" she managed to ask. The light still hovered above her head, and Darla began looking around frantically for some route of escape.
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