Children of Darkness Read Online Free

running around my room and playing with my toys. They run past each other, tossing the items back and forth between them. Their eerie giggles send chills up my spine. I look at their little feet and see only three toes on each foot. I count their toes twice and come back with the same number. My gaze travels to their hands and see they have sharp claws where their nails should be. These aren’t children at all.
    Of the three, the one with the longest claws is taller than the others and tearing my toys apart while the smaller ones simply play. Its skin looks like leather, thick and tough. The monster’s appearance is shriveled compared to the others and the hair atop its head is thinning, making it seem to be older.
    The other creatures have similar features but at a less progressive state. The wrinkles are beginning to form and the claws coming from their fingers are short but sharp. Their hair shows signs of thinning and they stagger in height.
    The smallest being has the thickest hair. Its fingers are small and frail. Frail is really the only description for this creature, but looks can be deceiving. I don’t find the thought comforting in the least.
    They are all facing away from me, until my eyes land on a fourth one. He sits in the corner of my room watching the rest play. Even though he’s sitting, I can tell that he is much bigger than the rest. His toes have dagger-like nails protruding slightly and his knees are bent, hiding the middle of his body. His arms drape over his knees and in one hand, the missing doll of my childhood is nestled between his claws. No, not my doll. Just the head.
    His eyes are deep set into his face and flat black. They glow dimly in a disturbing shade of dark green. His silver hair is thin and curled, covering most of his head. Between his eyes is a horizontal slit that opens periodically to take in air. Where the mouth would normally be is a tiny circle that I couldn't see into.
    He looks down and strokes my doll’s head. Tears prick my eyes but I refuse to dash them away. I don’t want to draw any attention to myself. Moonlight brightens part of the room and lands on his eyes. They become reflective, much like a cat’s eyes.
    Fear turns my insides cold and I slowly pull my legs up to my chest. His eyes go from the doll to my bed and meet mine. The tiny circle opens up and I see jagged, stained teeth sticking out in all directions. A big, thick, black tongue slithers past the pointy teeth and rolls around in the air as if trying to catch the taste of something.
    A loud bark echoes through the room and The Leader turns his head, hissing. The sound breaks the spell I seem to be under. I scream and try to scramble back, only to fall off the back of my couch. Max is barking and I am back in my adult body in my own house. I am safe. The monsters aren’t here anymore; they left me a long time ago.
    I push off the floor and feel small cuts in the wood. I look down and see scratches dug into the floor in little set of threes. The air catches in my throat as I stagger back to the wall. I squeeze my eyes shut and wish the marks away. A glance back down tells me it’s very much real. Max is still barking and I scan the room to find him. He is by the hallway, barking into the now dark space.
    I know the lights were all on when I fell asleep. I try to call Max to my side, but I can’t make a sound. My throat feels like it is full of sawdust and I could only croak his name. My body trembles and it takes four tries for me to call him back to my side. I hastily shut the door to the hallway. No way am I going into the dark with creepy giggles still in my head.
    “Please tell me I’m still dreaming.”
    He continues to growl at the closed door. “Come on, Max. You’re not leaving my side.”
    I take a shower and let the fatigue wash away, checking my surroundings the entire time. I had slept for nearly two hours and there is no way I can rest now. I am up for the day.

 

     
    Music plays