BROCK

The house shakes in the storm, and the lights flicker for a second, before going out completely. The rain pounds on the roof, and I close the book I'm reading, setting it aside. I run a hand through my hair, checking my phone. It doesn't turn on, and I shrug, figuring I left it on too long.

The wood hallway outside my door creaks, sending an eerie chill up my spine.

"Dad?" I call out. There is no response, and I stand up, ready for dad to jump out and scare me. He's only done it once or twice, and those instances haven't been recent, but I'm ready for it all the same.

I hear a shuddering breath that doesn't sound human, and my heart clenches. It's just dad. It's just dad. I repeat to myself, but I can't stop my heart from pounding. The suspense pulls at me, and I wish he'd just get it over. If it's him...

A shadowy figure slides into view, only noticeable by being even darker than the dark in the house. It's too tall to be my dad. I start backing away.

Then the shadow shifts, and two burning green eyes are visible. Not dad, not dad. My heart has gone from pounding to stand still, not seeming to function anymore. My hand slides over the opening panel for the window, shaking as I start to open it. My window is only a couple feet from the road, so the fall wouldn't hurt me.

The figure takes a step further into the room, and the window is already open. It takes another step. The word monster slides through my head, repeating itself. If this is what Lea is coping with...

Then the monster screeches and lunges at me. I nearly fall backwards out the window, recovering enough to jump out of it. My heart resumes pounding like a beating drum, and I bolt out towards the road.

The monster is close behind, and I push myself to go faster. For a second I get ahead of it, just as a car turns the corner shining lights on both of us. The monster staggers backwards its claws covering those burning grey eyes. It screeches, and then turns completely, fading into the darkness between houses, until I can't see it anymore.

The car had come to a complete stop, and the person inside of it gets out, looking terrified. "What was that?" It's an older woman, and she stares at me, like I know the answer. I shake my head, but again, a single word runs through my head. Monster.

"Can you describe it for me?" The police officer holds a pen above the sheet of paper, looking disinterested.

"It had a cloak, with burning green eyes. About seven or eight feet tall." I had rehearsed this description over and over again while waiting for the police. The lady who had apparently stunned the monster sits in a chair, listening. She nods once or twice as the police officer looks at her.

"This is what you saw?" He asks, like we just saw an alien sighting. I'm guessing that is his mentality anyway. Like we were just hallucinating.

"Yes. It was chasing the boy." She says, looking scared still. Matching my own feelings exactly.

The first chance I'd gotten I'd sent Lea a text. I didn't really care if she was being chased by a monster or not, I needed to know if it had been from where she was. The dimension, as the lab guy had let slip. As soon as we could, we had gone for another visit to the lab. Jared was very good about telling us that he had misspoken. He had meant to say a different word, and "it must have sounded like dimension to Brock." What a bunch of garbage.

"I'll send in a report." The police officer stands up, still sounding disinterested. "We'll let you know if we see this..." He raises his eyebrows at me.

"Monster." I fill in, and he sighs visibly, not even trying to conceal it.

"We'll tell you if we see this monster, then. Thank you for your time." Clearly, though, in his opinion we should be thanking him for his precious time.

He leaves, and I switch my gaze from the lady, to my dad. They both look contemplative, although the lady looks more scared than my dad. Probably because she personally experienced seeing it.

"Thank you for frightening it away." I break the silence, and the lady smiles shakily.

"I'm glad I came at the right time." She says, standing up. "I should be going now, though."

My dad and I stand up as well, and walk her to the door. "Thank you, again," My dad says, opening the door for you. She waves the thanks aside, giving another shaky smile before leaving.