• "Come here Sheera"
    The man demanded as pulled her arm to direct her his way.
    Her body fought his massive hand tightly gripping her wrist. As much as she struggled her step-father's strength, the more futile it became. She hated how he tugged her around like a rag doll. Sheera dug her feet into the cement flooring as the subway zoomed past her in a blur. Again he pulled her and her feet dragged to the point of leaving skid marks.

    "I'm not going with you!"
    She yelled at him through the screeching brakes of the train.

    He pulled her close and went down to one knee, so he could look her face to face. He brushed his fingers through her soft chestnut hair. She moved her head in disgust, but still kept eye contact. His green eyes squinted in anger, then relaxed as he smiled. When he pat the top of her head she jerked away and he began to quietly speak to her.

    "My precious daughter. You will go wherever I say. You will do whatever I say and you will enjoy the pleasure you shall receive. As much as you want to struggle tonight, my darling, you won't fight it anymore. You'll be my happy princess and you'll ask me for more. You will adhere to me."

    He kissed her forehead and picked up her small body. She kicked and screamed again in defiance. Others around looked at her screaming and kicking as he was smiling.

    "Stop struggling sweetie. You have to go to the dentist. You can't fight the cavities with screaming."
    He pronounced loudly.

    The people that were staring looked away and stared back at their phones and technology. Sheera could not understand why anyone would help her. Being only ten years of age she may have been, but incoherent she was not. She knew exactly what his plans were. She knew what his stares were. The kind of glances he made at her body.

    She stopped screaming and still fought with his strength with the subway door's were ready to close. Finally her squirming paid off and she fell from his arms. She bolted away from him as fast as she could. The train departed to its next destination when she ran through the crowd. She blessed herself for her short height and small size.

    Her step-father pushed and shoved people while calling Sheera's name. Not daring to turn around she managed to dash around a corner. The dark and damp way sent chills down her spine. She felt like death was creeping around her. Waiting for her to make a swift move.

    She stayed transfixed in the darkness. She heard her name be called again by several voices. She moved deeper into darkness until a small light was ahead. Although a deep red, she still followed. The voices were no longer echoing in the distance. Complete silence traveled through her ears and she stopped by the light. She stared at the odd lighting. the symbols and markings she could not comprehend. As though something was calling to her, she lifted her finger to touch the symbol on the wall. It began to glow brighter as her finger moved closer.

    She felt the earth shift below her when her finger made contact with the writing. It rippled along the wall. Backing up in terror she hit the wall on the other side of the hallway which rippled like the wall in front of her. A voice in a gurgling sound was something unknown. It's bubbling and boiling timbre had a particular sound of pure evil. She shut her eyes and cuddled into a ball of fear.

    The demonic sounds she heard crept closer. She prayed to herself for the voice to disappear. It did no such thing. She wished she were in her bed and under a blanket. Sheera's coat did not give her such comfort. She felt something was watching her. A hidden evil that she was terrified to see. Her ears no longer heard the gurgling voice, but instead a hard breathing. The breaths were not from her own lungs. Her heart stopped as she remained petrified in a huddled ball. The breaths blew against her coat. She dare not move, let alone breathe louder than a whisper.

    After a few moments of silence, the breaths stopped and footsteps began to step away from her. She felt the silence become overbearing.

    "I have to be in a dream."
    She whispered to herself. She rocked herself gently and tried to think of another place and time. Where she felt comfortable in her own room.

    What felt like an eternity discovering her own thoughts, a small flicker of a light bulb made her jump onto her feet. She looked up to see a small, dull light turn on. More of the hallway was illuminated so she could see blood splatter and stains as far as she could tell. The symbols and writing on the wall had disappeared as she gazed in awe of all the red deluging the hall. She turned around to the darkness behind her and came closer to the light.

    She saw the closest door to run to and yellow, razor sharp teeth kept the door shut. As she moved closer it twitched with excitement at its next possible meal. She turned away and stayed near the light. With the environment soaking in, she heard the breathing once more.

    Something was headed towards her. She could hear the footsteps coming closer and stepping faster. It was coming for her. Sheera looked left and right. The doors with teeth twitched again and the ceiling began to drip with blood. The bubbling and boiling voice began to speak again. This time with an eager accent.

    As the voice grew louder, her sight finally gifted a small hole she could fit in. Without thinking she crawled inside. Fitting herself inside she faced the hall one more time. Two large grotesque feet appeared in front of the hole. The claws scratched against the floor. Its mangled and ripped skin made her own skin crawl. When the feet turned she could see meat and bone from one foot. She held her breath in hopes it would disappear like it had done before.

    After several moments the feet walked away leaving a trail of bloody footsteps. She sighed with relief and rubbed her eyes. She had no idea what time it was. Her step father took her away from her mother during the evening after dinner. She tried to think of the time and could not grasp the gap of when she was no longer in the real world. She lifted her head and a claw reached out to her in the hole. Her body could no longer take the shock and she screamed at the top of her lungs.

    Try as it could, the claw could not grab her as it was only inches away from her chest. She would not stop screaming. The gurgling beast screeched itself in frustration. It knew she was there, even more so now that she screamed. It stretched its arm so much that a distinct cracking noise rang in her ears. The beast screeched louder and pulled harder.

    Her instinct took over and she crawled backward to get away from the massive claw. Fresh blood dripped while new skin still hung from the slender and sharp looking claws. Her legs moved quickly, but she did not look back. Her eyes could only stay fixed on the hand that tried to grab her. Before she realized it, she was falling. Sheera felt a thunk on her head and fell into the dark depths of unconsciousness.