Red (Part Six)

Trying not to show any fear, Avani closed the Curtains and reached under her pillow for her phone. It wasn't there.

 “What the hell!” she shouted as she began to strip the sheets off the bed looking for her cell phone, but when she heard her ring tone coming from the hallway, her heart catapulted to her throat.

Footsteps ascended the stairs outside her door; fear covered her body as she waited for her bedroom door to bust open. And it did. Hitting the wall and almost falling off its hinges. A shrill of absolute fright escaped her lips, but the doorway stood empty. A shadow moved across the floor and crept up her skin. Then she felt it, the touch that caused her lungs to work over time; a hand was pulling at Avani’s big toe. She closed her eyes wishing it was all a dream.

 “This little piggy went to market,” said a croaky voice. Avani opened her eyes and saw a frail, bent old woman stooping at her feet, her blue eyes staring into Avani’s grey ones.

 “You like watching me do you?” she said, red sticky blood dripping down her chin.

 “Well I like watching you too and you look very tasty Avani” Old lady Marjoree stared at the timid, helpless girl standing in front of her, her eyes were beaming red now and Avani felt as though the flesh would burn off her bones. Then she opened her mouth and she let out a cackle that made Avani’s ear drums throb with pain. Her gums were bloody and she had no teeth. Slowly, she forwarded towards Avani who was now struggling to open her window..

 “Don’t run away from me child!” Carnivorous, rage grew in her voice. She grabbed Avani’s hair and pulled her back inside the room. Avani’s heart was pounding so hard now, it hurt.

 “Let me go you old hag!” she screamed. Fear and anger were fighting beneath her skin and she struggled to break free. But the old woman had unknown strength and pulled her closer and as she opened her mouth to Avani’s neck, Avani elbowed her in the stomach and she let out a cry that sounded like nails on a chalkboard. Avani then tried to pull free but the the old lady’s grip was so tight that her long black nails dug into her arm and she screamed out in pain. Blood was now oozing down her arm to her fingertips and Marjorie licked her lips and advanced on her. Avani ran to the window, opened it and began to climb out. Marjorie followed close behind and caught hold of her leg and began pulling her back inside, but Avani kicked her in the face with her other foot and scampered through.

 “You foolish girl!” she screamed as she made her way through the window and began to crawl down the roof towards Avani.

 “Help!” Avani yelled. “Hel-” Two scaly hands wrapped around Avani’s throat and stifled her screams. Unable to hold her balance she fell forward, Marjorie falling on top of her.

 “Get off me!" Trying to avoid her snapping gums, with all her strength Avani pulled at the old lady’s hair. Tugging as hard as she could, she heard a slight ripping sound and realised that along with some hair she pulled off a piece of her scalp revealing what looked like rotting brain covered with sticky, slimy blood.

 “Aaah! You little witch,” she yelled. Avani finally got her chance to escape, and almost reaching the edge of the roof, she turned around and saw two hands reaching for her. Avani, now scared out of her mind, thought of falling to her death or fighting to her death; she had no time to resolve her thought so she just jumped and landed safely in a pair of arms. But Marjorie wasn’t so lucky, she came tumbling after her and fell on the picket fence below; the wooden spike protruding out her back and her body exploded to ash.

Avani watched Mr. Willis as he put her down.

 “I almost thought you didn’t see me,” he said.

 “No, I saw you. I just like to be a little dramatic sometimes.” Avani smiled thankful that her mother had the fence put in two day ago.

 “Hey Avani, what are you guys doing in the front yard,” said Adam walking up the street, looking peculiarly at Mr. Willis.

 “Oh Mr. Willis just saved my life when Old Lady Marjorie tried to eat me, then chased me off the roof and fell onto the fence and exploded," Avani's voice was calm and she tapped Mr. Willis on the shoulder and he nodded in agreement, exhaling a giant sigh that imitated an exploding sound.

 “Ha ha, very funny,” said Adam looking at his sister and his neighbour like they just ate a big bowl of crazy.

Mr. Willis said goodnight and walked over to his house, but not before Avani hugged him so tight that he almost stood upright.

 “Did I miss something? I thought you hated that guy,” said Adam when Mr. Willis left.

 “I just told you what happened but you didn’t believe me...so,” said Avani.

 “Fine, don’t tell me. I don’t care,” Adam stomped up the front steps to the porch, Avani at his heels. But when he stopped dead in his tracks and she crashed into him and started to yell profanities when her head hit his lower back, her second word was muffled by a choking gasp that escaped her lips. Avani stared helpless as her brother was lifted off the ground in the second it took her to blink.