An eerie high-pitched note whirls around in young Becky’s mind as she sleeps. The howling is earsplitting, wailing just outside her window, imitating a music score in a horror film. Not that she would know because she isn’t old enough to watch scary movies, but her six-year-old imagination tells her so. The trees fall into a trance like a spell has been cast upon them. Rocking back and forth, their branches bend in unnatural ways, the tips like long, pointed fingernails scratching on the double-paned window. The howling grates on her brain like a fork scraping a plate. Raindrops pound with anger. Becky tosses and turns. She fights to stay asleep. Subconsciously, she remembers Beauty and the Beast on the wall above her headboard, the best musical ever, and how she adores Belle. She’s carried to a happy place, slowing falling back into a deep slumber, but only temporarily…

The scratching escalates, faster and wilder! The wailing blares louder than fire sirens! With eyes scrunched closed, Becky covers her ears with both hands, hoping to mute the terror. She no longer tosses and turns because her body is paralyzed by fear. She can’t even move an inch, but she has to get out of bed! It’s coming for her! It will shatter her window and climb inside! Her legs may as well be blocks of cement, but with all her might, she swings her left leg over the side of her twin-sized bed, then her right leg. She is sitting up now but has to run! No time to waste! No time for shoes! Her bare feet must carry her down the hallway to save her parents! Suddenly, Becky hears glass shatter, shards scatter on her bubblegum pink comforter! She flies off her mattress, her legs sprinting out of the room!

For a second, Becky closes her eyes while her legs move at marathon speed, the hallway never seemed so long. And just when she reaches her parent’s doorway, arms bind around her tightly in boa fashion, squeezing the air from her lungs.

“Let me go! Let me go!” She screams loud enough to shake the roof! Her arms and legs fling sporadically, fighting off the huge monster with pointy fingernails!

“Becky, it’s Mom, wake up!” Linda gently shakes her daughter, sitting on the edge of her bed. Belle and the Beast watch from the lilac wall.

“Mom! It’s coming for us! We have to get Dad! We have to leave, now!”

“Oh, sweetheart, you had a nightmare. It’s storming outside, but the three of us are safe in the house. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“Oh, Mom, I was so scared! I hate the wind!” Becky manages through erratic sobs, hugging her mother, never wanting to let go.

“I don’t like it either,” Linda hugs her daughter back, loving the feel of her little girl safe in her arms. “But just close your eyes and know that Dad and I will protect you.”

And just like that, consoled by her mom, Becky lets go and rolls over onto her right side – exhaustion from the excitement finally kicking in. Her eyelids slowly close. Linda sits for a few minutes, watching her beautiful daughter fall into a peaceful sleep. Her blonde hair cascading across the fluffy pillow. Then Linda gently kisses her daughter on the forehead and quietly steps out of the room, but the earsplitting howling perpetuates. The storm isn’t due to pass for another ten hours.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
I hope you enjoyed this revised story from a few years ago. ❤️

Lauren Scott
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry
Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book)
Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry
Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose
Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry
Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry
Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku
Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology
Co-Author – This Is How We Grow
Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships
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