Curse Me

A sound by the barn door caught Clarissa’s attention – the stumbling and grunting of a man. Were the town of Roseland closer to Hayville, Clarissa might’ve known the danger that was lurking by. But the two towns were a full day’s ride from one another, so the letters warning of the man-eating demon weren’t sent there.

Thinking that it must be another drunk trying to make his way home, Clarissa returned to work, pulling a sack with beans toward the corner. It was heavy, but the girl was used to hard work.

The doors to the barn opened, and Fredrick Kairan growled at the girl inside. The monster ran at her, ready to sink its fangs into her neck. Clarissa dropped the bag and darted away. Beans scattered on the floor like a thousand eyes looking up at the fight. Fredrick ran at the girl again, and again she escaped his grasp.

Clarissa dashed from one wall to another, sure that she was going to die this night. The creature of nightmare made the final leap to catch the slender figure and fell to the floor. The beans were looking up at him, and the monster looked back at them.