I was inspired by Daz's Evil Rat and the story took shape from there.... Happy Halloween Everyone!!! A Creature’s Lair In the ensuing darkness of this October night, a slight breeze blew through the shadows of the secluded alleyway. It ruffled newspapers and stirred the leaves in the old tree, but nothing could chase away the stench rising up from its depths. It was a sweet-sour smell, the kind that made you think of decay and of death. And as the last rays of sun touched the darkness of this abandoned street, a strange rustling began to emerge. It was a dry, crackling sound with an odd mewling to it, almost as if a kitten were hidden beneath the garbage. Upon hearing this peculiar noise, a woman passing by, stopped to listen. She cocked her head to one side and began to sway back and forth in unison with the waves emanating from within. And as the noise grew in intensity, she involuntarily took a step forward. Then another, as her legs seemed to move of their own accord. The lady wanted to turn and run. She wanted to flee this dark alleyway and all its unseen horrors, but something held her in a vise-like grip. Something that was no more tangible than the air around her yet constricted her as if she were in an iron grasp. And all the while, she moved slowly forward. Then all of a sudden, the sound ceased altogether. In the momentary silence, the woman could hear the beating of her own heart as she fought for control. Then, a new sound reached her ears. One she could identify and if it were possible, scared her even more. Far back in the darkness, something was breathing heavily. As the woman stood frozen in the midst of the night, the creature moved stealthily through the rotten garbage of its home. It reveled in the delicious aroma of fear that seemed to ooze from every pore. Enjoyed hearing the wonderful beating of her heart. Knowing that all the while, he caught her as easily as a spider in a web. And when finally, the creature slithered from the debris, the woman opened her mouth in a silent scream. It was something that had come straight out of the pits of hell. And her mind had trouble coping with the grotesque sight before her. The thing resembled a large rat, but its face was human in form. Its body was covered in a slimy thick coating and it exuded a smell as foul as decayed meat. But the worst thing was when the creature opened its mouth, for she could see rows upon rows of razor-sharp teeth. In that instant, the woman was freed from her inability to move. She turned and fled, but the creature sprung from the shadows and landed on her back. The moment she felt the needle-sharp claws pierce her flesh, she screamed into the night. But it was too late for the woman, as the creature used one of its paws to swipe a path across her neck. Blood spurted from the gaping wound as the woman fell heavily to the pavement, the creature still clinging to her. And even before the body had landed with a thud, it had clamped its jaws onto her arm. With a shake of its vile head, the arm was torn out of the socket and swallowed. Then, without waiting for the body to get cold, the creature dragged the lifeless woman back to its hiding place for a quiet place to eat. Word Count 580