2:46 am

There was a loud slam, as something rammed itself against the door. There was a loud crack as it begun to splinter.

She yanked the phone and charger out of the socket and stuffed it into her bag. She grabbed her bag and managed to duck down beneath the splintered desk just as it burst into the room.

She thought its breathing was bad when it was behind the metal door. The thing was in the same room now and the sound was much worse.

She held her breath and willed it to go away. It didn’t. It walked closer into the room. Closer to her.

Her spine shivered, her body petrified. Should she run? Should she stay?

She glanced nervously towards the filing closet. But it would see her if she dashed into the room. Would she even have enough time to punch the number pad before the monster got to her?

The thing stepped closer still, crushing paper and rubble beneath heavy footsteps.

Nervous sweat dripped down her and it hovered closer to the desk.

Sniffing, breathing, searching. For her.

She looked down around her for anything she could use as a weapon. She tentatively picked up a large splinter from the desk.

The monster lurched over, stretching its long neck to look down from the top of the table.

Summer grabbed another splinter. She chucked the splinter in her left hand far away from to her left. It rattled against the wall.

Then she sprinted out from under the table.

What am I doing? Where am I going? What am I… out the door? In the room? Where…

Her thoughts stopped in their tracks when she looked at the thing. Her mind could not process the creature that was on the table.

The creature’s head was turned, looking at the splintered shard on the floor. Then it swivelled its head towards her and blinked. It was a large black creature with a face that was similar to a horse, but with a humanoid body frame. It’s four eyes were bulging green. It’s skin was slightly shrivelled. It had long sharp claws that were oozing with some sort of liquid.

It screamed a high pitched almost metallic screech. It’s pointy teeth and tongue lashed out as it lunged at her. Summer sidestepped and shoved the remaining splinter into one of it’s eyes. It popped and sizzled, oozing out green liquid that splashed on her hand.

Summer turned tail and ran out of the room, clutching onto her bag as she entered the hallway. She could hear the monster in the room, screeching and wailing. It was clawing at the splinter. Trying to remove it with long talons.

This is not happening, this is not happening, this is not.... find a way out find a way out.

She wanted to scream, but knew she couldn’t. She just had to run.

She sprinted down the winding hallways as fast as she could go. The hallway was eerily silent. All the backup lights were on, bathing the area in a soft red glow. She carried on tearing pass room after room, not caring to look at the contents of each. Not registering if doors were opened or closed, if there were anything or anyone in those rooms. Where there more monsters? Where there any people? There was not time for that now. She had to escape.

A loud roar ripped through the hallway. The creature removed the splinter from out of it’s eye. It would come for her now.

Summer turned a corner and she saw the section’s exit door. She gathered more of her strength and dashed into the door, slamming right into it. The door did not budge. She pushed and pushed, and it would not open.

Her father always let her through.

You need a key card.

She did not have a key card.

The monster roared again. It was near. It was coming.