Chapter Eleven

I stayed curled under the bed, too tired to move. My body shook with each breath, and the damp smell of mildew clung to everything. My muscles ached, but I couldn't care. Fear and exhaustion swirled together, and as my eyes started to close, I finally gave in to the pull of sleep.

Time slipped away. I didn't know how long I slept, but something woke me—a presence, not a sound. A weight, a warmth, pressed against me.

Someone was next to me.

I felt my body go rigid, every muscle tightening as I sensed the shaking figure next to me. My breath hitched in my throat, my heart pounding as I turned slowly, fear creeping in like a chill.

Maya.

Her face was pale, smeared with blood, her clothes torn and hanging off her in shreds. She shook uncontrollably, her eyes wild with terror. She looked at me, lips quivering as she whispered, her voice breaking, "It... it killed them. Brian... Alex... I think Katie too. I-I don't know. I just ran. I just... ran."

Her words were like ice in my veins. The memory of her pushing me out of the room flashed in my mind—how she left me to face him alone. Maya had always looked out for herself, always made sure she came out unscathed, no matter who she abandoned.. She left them behind, just like she left me.

Her eyes darted toward the door, fear radiating off her like a suffocating fog. She was trembling so violently I could feel it, her body shaking as she tried to press closer, desperate for safety she didn't deserve.

Then came the slow, deliberate flapping of wings.

Maya stiffened beside me, her breath quickening as the Creeper drew near. Her eyes widened, tears brimming as she realized what was coming. The wings beat with a slow, steady rhythm, the sound filling the room like a heartbeat. For the first time, I saw true terror in her eyes—not the calculating Maya I knew. This was someone stripped bare, broken, afraid.

And for the first time, I felt a dark satisfaction rise inside me.

The door creaked open, and he slid in, his pale body moving with slow, deliberate grace. The room seemed to shrink , the air thickening as he approached. His dark, leathery wings folded in, and his black eyes gleamed as he scanned the room.

Maya's breath hitched beside me, her panic spiking. But I didn't move.

I didn't warn her. I didn't try to stop him.

It was her turn.

I slid out from under the bed, moving silently across the room. My eyes locked onto the creature, and without hesitation, I pointed toward the bed.

"She's under there," I said, my voice calm.

The creature's head tilted, curiosity flickering in his dark eyes before he moved forward. Maya's breath came in shallow, panicked gasps as he crawled closer. Her hands scrabbled at the floor, nails peeling back as she clawed deeper under the bed, but there was nowhere to go.

"Rose!" she hissed, her voice trembling with fear. "What are you doing? Please—don't—"

But I didn't answer. I didn't need to.

With one sharp motion, the Creeper ripped the bed away, exposing her shaking form. Maya screamed, scrambling backward, her hands clawing at the floor in a desperate attempt to escape. The creature's wings unfurled, casting long shadows over her as he loomed closer, blocking the light.

Her eyes darted to mine, pleading. "Please!" she cried, her voice cracking. "Don't let him do this! Rose, please!"

I just watched.

He gripped her ankle, dragging her across the floor as if she weighed nothing. Her screams filled the room, raw with terror. I could see the fear twisting her features, the helplessness in her wide eyes, and something deep inside me stirred. Satisfaction. She was finally feeling what I had felt. The creature's dark eyes flicked to me, as though he was seeking my approval for what he was about to do.

And I gave it.

The Creeper grinned, revealing rows of sharp teeth, then he leaned over her.Maya's screams turned into ragged gasps as he dragged his claws down her legs, slicing through her skin in slow, deliberate strokes. Blood welled up, staining her shredded clothes, pooling on the floor beneath her. Her body jerked violently, her hands slapping the floor as she tried to push him away, but the Creeper didn't flinch.

He was playing with her, like a cat with a mouse.

His claws tore deeper, carving lines of blood across her thighs and stomach. Maya's sobs turned into desperate pleas. "Rose... please... I'm sorry... I didn't mean it... I didn't..."

Her words fell on deaf ears.

He pulled her up, his claws digging into her flesh, lifting her off the ground. Maya's head lolled to the side, her eyes wide with shock, lips quivering as she tried to speak. Blood dripped from her mouth, her breath shallow and broken.

And still, he watched me. He tore into her shoulder, his teeth sinking into her flesh with a wet, tearing sound. Blood sprayed across the floor, splattering the walls. Maya's body jerked in his grip, her screams choking off as blood filled her throat. The Creeper didn't rush. He savored each moment.

All the while, he kept his eyes locked on me.

He dropped her limp body, but he wasn't done. Maya gasped for breath, her chest heaving as she tried to crawl away, but the Creeper grabbed her again, flipping her onto her back. He dug his claws into her stomach, ripping her open with one brutal motion. The sound of tearing flesh echoed through the room, followed by Maya's gurgling scream. She tried to beg, but her words were lost in the blood.

The Creeper toyed with her, his claws slick with blood, pulling and twisting her insides. Maya's eyes fluttered, barely conscious, her body twitching as the last of her strength faded. The Creeper leaned over, whispering something low and guttural in her ear. I couldn't understand it, but it sent a final shiver of terror through her body.

Her eyes went still. Her chest stopped rising.

The room fell silent.

He stood, wiping his bloodied claws on her torn clothes, and turned to me. His dark eyes gleamed with satisfaction, as though he had done this for me. And I had wanted it. I had wanted her to suffer.

A tightness coiled in my stomach, and suddenly nausea surged as the reality of what I had just witnessed hit me. I backed away, my breath coming in shallow, panicked gasps. The Creeper tilted his head, watching me, sensing the shift. My legs moved before I could think, and I ran.

But he followed.

I heard his wings beating behind me, low growls echoing through the hallway. My bare feet slapped against the cold floor, my pulse roaring in my ears as I sprinted through the narrow, winding corridors. The walls seemed to close in, the house a maze of dead ends and shadows, but I kept running.

I glanced back, heart leaping into my throat as I saw him closing in, his eyes gleaming with hunger. He wasn't just chasing me—he was toying with me, the way he had with Maya. The thought sent a shiver of fear and something darker through me, a sick thrill that made me push harder.

His claws grazed my back, sending a sharp, electric jolt through me. My breath hitched, and I stumbled forward, but I kept running, my skin flushed with fear and adrenaline. Every step felt heavier, every breath a struggle as the Creeper closed in.

Finally, he caught me. His claws ripped at the curtain I had wrapped around me, tearing it away, leaving me exposed. My skin prickled under his gaze, the cold air biting at my bare flesh. His eyes linger on me, dark and predatory, my pulse quickening.

Before I could react, the Creeper lunged, pinning me against the wall. His claws dug into my wrists, holding me there as he loomed over me, his breath hot against my face. My heart pounded, fear mixing with something deeper—darker.

He stared into my eyes, his gaze intense, searching, as though he could see something in me I hadn't recognized.

And then, driven by some primal urge, I kissed him.