The Lady Burch Inn(Matt Guerra) It was a normal evening at the Lady Burch Inn, an old looking house that would give anyone the creeps when first glancing at it. But inside it was warm and cozy like a home should be. My name is Tim Peters, a 16 year old who was forced to go on a vacation with my parents and older sister. Our car broke down not that far from here and we’ve been staying at the Inn for the past few nights. The nearest town is close to eighty miles, and even in a car that seems like a long away.

Last night near midnight, I woke up to the sound of a scream. I couldn’t understand how my family didn’t hear that. It was like something from a monster movie. Being the smart guy that I am, I just went back to bed under the covers. When I opened my eyes, it was morning already, but my family wasn’t there. I went out the door to see everyone crowding near the end of the hall. When my sister spotted me, she pointed at me as if I had done something. Every person that was there turned and had their eyes on me alone. Slowly I looked down, to see my shirt was torn with blood covering me all over. It wasn’t mine. I didn’t feel any pain around my body. My mom in tears was held back by my sister while my father came walking towards me with an expression of fear. Fear that his son might’ve done something he never would’ve imagined he could do. I was put in the Gardner’s room upstairs. I could hear them whispering to each other outside the room in the hall. Not knowing what was going on was killing me inside. ‘Did I kill someone?’ Only thing I remembered last night was that devilish scream that forced fear down my spine. Finally the door opened and the owner of the Lady Burch Inn came inside. She had a gentle smile on her face that made me feel at ease. “Young man, how did you get like that?” I was being interrogated. Nothing I could do but comply. “Mrs. Burch! I woke up like this. I went to bed early last night and woke up to this confusion. Did someone get hurt?!” The lady smiled and looked at the closed door. She moved a little closer, taking my hands in hers. “My dear boy, we found blood all over the hallway. A broken window was found on the first floor with the same stuff on the glass. We found some fabric that look liked it matched your T-Shirt you’re wearing. All the evidence points towards you, except for one thing. Motive.”

Hearing her talk like a cop made me feel cold and sweaty. It was hard to believe what was going on. The one thing that didn’t fully click, was the question she didn’t answer. Who’s blood was it? Everyone was in the hallway when I had gazed at them. No one was missing. So then who’s blood is on me? “Mr. Peters, I’m afraid we’re going to have to hold you here until the police arrive later tonight. We will bring you your meal later in the evening.” and with that, she let go of my hands and walked out the door. Locking it from the outside. I was being blamed for something I didn’t do. I felt cold again. The gardeners room was small like the shack outside which was beside the house. Feeling bored to death, I began to walk around in circles, looking at everything there was in the room. Nothing but a bed, a few pots on a shelf near the door, and a window with bars on it. I found myself walking towards the window to see the sun already going down. I can’t believe the hours flew by just like that.

The moon was up but covered in clouds. Another full one. Just like last night. I remember looking at it outside for awhile before climbing into bed. It wasn’t long after that, when I had heard that scream or shriek. My body was feeling cold again, sweat started to cover my palms and forehead. I felt sick. Anxious that the police were going to take me away from my family in a few hours, my body froze. It was that scream again. I ran towards the door to listen, but couldn’t hear anything afterwards. But this scream sounded familiar. It was my mothers. I didn’t know what was going on. I tried to bring down the door with my own strength but ended up hurting my shoulder. A whimsical chuckle came out of me from my own pain. But hearing my mother scream again gave me the strength to break the door down a bit. It was still locking me in, but with a final kick with everything I had caused it to smack against the hallway wall in front of me. Then, I quickly looked around only to see the maid and gardener on the floor. They were covered in gashes and torn clothing. Pools of blood were surrounding the bodies and on the wall had random blood streaks along them. I fell to my knee’s, trying not to throw up. But it was too much for me. The lights began to flicker before turning off completely. The help of the moon light kept it just above true darkness in the hallway I was in. Once I got up, I went back into the room I was just in. I grabbed one of the pots that was on the shelf and began walking past the two bodies.

They were good people. The Gardener always had a smile on when he’d water his plants and the tree’s outside. But now his face wasn’t recognizable. It just looked empty with cuts and scrapes. The maid, was an older woman, maybe in her sixties or seventies. She was quiet, but didn’t show any signs of being bitter towards me or my family. Just quiet. Now…her throat was ripped apart. That must’ve been the wound that killed her.

I found myself at the corner of the hallway. Close to the stairway that led down to the first floor. But it was there. At the end of the other hallway that I was looking at. This thing. It was on the ceiling. I don’t know if it was an animal or a demon that escaped hells grasp. The thing had no face, but a large row of sharp fangs with drool and blood dripping down to the carpet floor. It’s body was slender with no eyes on it’s head. The thing was crawling towards me, but I didn’t wait for it to come get me. I quickly turned around and ran down the hall where the two bodies were at. As soon as I went past the corner of this hallway I entered the other one. It was quiet, and the moon light shined through this place better than the one I was just in.

Soon my body scooted to the other corner. Slowly I stuck my head out to see if the coast was clear to run down that hallway. But…it was there. It was standing in front of me. A scream came out of my body when I had noticed the thing holding my sister's and father's heads in it’s hands. I couldn’t believe this. This was a nightmare. The creature just opened it’s mouth and swallowed them one after the other. Enjoying me falling back, crying from the sight. It hopped over closer to me, its fangs getting close to my face. The stench of death had leaked off of its body. The pot in my hand had moved swiftly towards it’s face, shattering from impact. It started to snarl and bite randomly. Quickly, I got on my feet and ran past it. I tripped going down the stairs, hitting every step until my body bashed against the first floor. Blood. Blood was everywhere. I noticed my families bodies were piled up with all the other guests. They were there, all of them. Headless but there. If this is a nightmare, I have to wake. I have to. “How, why?! Why is this happening?! I-I must wake up!”

The lights from the police were flashing through the window before they broke down the door. There were at least four of them. Pistols drawn at me. I stood in the pile of bodies with blood covering me all over. As soon as I opened my mouth, they shot. It was a rookie cop that pulled the trigger. I guess the sight of all this was too much. When one fired the others did as well. It hurt at first, but when I was looking up at the ceiling it didn’t hurt anymore. I closed my eyes, only to hear the sound of the police men screaming. Then no more…

Pain. I woke up in pain. My head felt like it was on fire. My body, it burned. The images of my family and fellow guests at the Lady Burch Inn were running through my mind. I opened my eyes…the thing from the darkness appeared. It was just standing there, before taking my hands into it’s own. The smile was there. I couldn’t help but cry, knowing all too well who it was from the very beginning now. She was the only one I didn’t see in that whole mess I’m laying in. “Mrs. …Burch.”

My eyes closed and I heard that devilish shriek once more.

-The End

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