The Beast
by Aiya Quackform
I walk by the divider between my house and the neighbor's. It is two long cement fences that run between our driveways about three feet high and a little less than a foot apart. The middle is filled up with golden brown stones to about three inches short of the top, and pond water up to the brim. I love the water, so I get closer to investigate. As I approach, I stop in amazement as a head formed by the water pops up. Retaining the opaque appearance and color of the honey brown stones, it slowly continues to form a body out of the water. I become horrified as the large body of a predatorial cat appears. Its yellow eyes are on me. But there is still time to escape before it fully forms! I turn to run down the driveway. When I do, I see my parents at the end of the driveway by the mailbox. They are yelling and waving their hands frantically for me to come to them.
I start to run, but I can't, my right leg can't move. I look down at my bulging right pocket. A large bright red ball inside prevents my leg from moving far enough ahead to move at a decent speed. I look behind me, a Persian-like monster has fully surfaced and leapt to the ground, easily standing six feet tall. Its eyes are locked onto me, and is baring its teeth and growling at me. Its bulging muscular legs move towards me.
I want to scream, but I can't. Waddling as fast as I can to the safety of my parents, I can feel the eyes of the beast on my back, enjoying my torment like a cat playing with a mouse before it devours it. The Persian-monster is close behind me now, ready to strike. But I am almost to my parents and their safety. They smile as I take the last steps towards them…
I am on my back, looking up in terror at the beast over me. I am in the hallway of my home. How I got there, I do not know. Daring to glance behind me, my parents are at the end of the hall in my room, telling me to come to them. I quickly turn my gaze back to the beast. Still on my back, I push myself towards my room.
I manage to scoot backwards slowly, but steadily. The beast's log-like leg takes a step forward. It is still growling. It is still hunting me. I continue pushing myself; it continues tormenting me. I can hear my parents. They are calling to me. I must make it to them! But this beast will not let me. I know it.
Knowing it is my only chance I wait for the right moment. I am almost there. I push myself up onto my feet, turn towards my parents, and start to run for them, but they scream at me to stop. The beast is angry, and I drop onto my back again. It calms, but it is still hunting me.
"Don't look away from it!" they say to me, and I understand. The only thing keeping this monster from attacking me is my eyes. It doesn't like me looking at it. So I stare back into its eerie yellow eyes, and I push myself backwards more.
One more push and I will be there! But the monster is angry with me for still being alive. It is going to attack…
I shoot up from my bed, covered in sweat. Again. Like I always do in this dream. Will I ever know the end?