Erin Sullivan Narrative

Evelyn, dressed in a hibiscus pink dress, moved like her knees were just hinges, wobbling before falling on her mud-stained bottom. With eyes twinkling full of determination, she rolled to her stomach to get up again. Heel-to-toe her feet moved, arms stretched out to the side, face full of concentration. Slowly, with a little wobble, she took her first step. Then she splendidly took another step, and then another step. Before Charlene could realise it, Evelyn just successfully walked her first steps.

She returned to our bed and laid down on the edge. “I know what you are thinking.”

I walked upstairs face red, hands trembling, and body aching. I didn’t even think I could make it up the first couple steps before collapsing into a heap.Before I reached the last glossy maple wood step I heard the sound of little paws and nails scraping, slowly, softly, and sadly through the house. This sound made my heart ache.

She hurried away from the window, fearful that the thing would look up and see her watching. She scurried into the closet and closed her eyes, praying that it wouldn’t get inside. The girl heard feet hit the floor near the window and knew it had entered her tower. She peeked out through the slats in the closet door and gasped at what she saw.

upright in bed, gasping for breath. Looking around, she made out the shape of a lantern on her

Under the rising sun in Grant Park, I bent down into a calf stretch, reminding me once again I’d forgotten to put underwear on. I’d gotten to bed just a few hours earlier after spending a night out with Mia at a new club, Z’s, only to wake up after falling from my bed onto the floor, terror seizing my breath while blood rushed through my ears and my heart galloped out of my chest. It’d taken a few heart-stopping minutes to realize it’d only been a nightmare. I couldn’t remember much other than the primal fear of being chased by a beast with a desire to rip out my throat as I screamed for my life, and then relief at being saved by a man in black. It’d left me unsettled enough I couldn’t go back to sleep, so here I was. At six in the morning. Apparently trying to run off my dream.

Then his hands morphed into enormous paws with long, gnarled claws, and his pupils became dark slits. His clothing was gone and he was on all fours, covered in fur. My forehead prickled with cold sweat as I watched him hunker down, ready to pounce. He flashed his razor-sharp fangs in a twisted grin and lunged at me. I held out the wand and gold flickers shot out. Then a burst of sparks sent him flying through the air. He landed on the floor with a thwack and rolled around, wailing like a wounded water buffalo. A rat scurried out of a hole in the floor toward

Recognizing the sadness in her voice, he looked up at her, “What’s up Riles?” His eyes are softer than they have been in week and his hand is reaching across the bed for hers, burning circles into the skin of her hand with his thumb.

Olivia nodded and sat on the bed. She sprung up as darts of pain shot up from her backside.

While walking, my miniature American Eskimo runs from side to side on the road. I knew we never should’ve taken her, but Hayden loves her. I let it slide this one time, since Hayden’s birthday was a couple days away. Once our walk was lengthening, Pippy began to lower her interest on sniffing every leaf and piece of trash scattered around the road. Near the end of our walk, Hayden asked if we could walk a new route today. I didn’t mind, so we began to walk on a very long, windy road a couple of blocks away from our houses. This road is fairly used, but only by the odd people that live near the end of it. We began strolling down the slightly vacant road, stopping every once in a while to let Pippy pee at every single fire hydrant. By the time we had walked to the end of the road, the sun sat perfectly behind the mountainous hills. The sky was tinted with warm colors and a gorgeous baby blue that mixed perfectly with the pink and orange. “Hey,” said Hayden, “Do you see that dark object under the sunset?” I stared into the direction he was pointing and saw a dark building that was hidden by a nearby hill. Suddenly, Pippy sprinted towards the mischievous building, and her leash was swept out of my hand. Hayden began to run after her, but I stood still. “Are you coming or what?” Hayden asked. I nodded and followed him. I had a bad feeling about

We had been walking together for a while now, for the forest had become dim and haunting; something about the moonlight made the trees appear taller and more threatening, as if a step on the wrong path would send sharp branches down unto some poor soul. The roots on the ground were alive, twisting and bending like snakes waiting for you to stop paying attention so they could pull you down into the Earth. The sounds of rustling leaves were horrific monsters who lusted after your flesh; the cold breeze came from the shadows to steal your warmth and blanket you in goosebumps. I hoped it would be this way. The moonlight perfectly illuminated Maria’s face, and on it I could easily read fear and apprehension; she could sense danger, just like all

"You were snoring very loudly." She whispered. My eyes widened as she slowly answered my question.

There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully. What was it? She didn’t know; it was too subtle and elusive to name. But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air. Now her bosom rose and fell tumultuously. She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will—as powerless as her two white slender hands would have been.

It’s 2:46 in the morning. Gracie, a 16-year-old girl with long light brown hair with natural blonde highlights and bright blue eyes, now dull, was walking home from a friend’s party. It was a cold night in Buffalo, New York and Gracie is now holding her fur jacket to her body for the warmth it gives. She had been drinking with a couple friends just a half hour before.

“Maggie. Maggie! Wake up!” I shook my sister gently on the shoulder. “There’s something I need you to do! Are you awake? Maggie...Maggie! Please wake up!” All efforts at rousing my older sister were in vain, for she stubbornly kept her eyes closed. Maggie has always been stubborn as a mule. She always stayed in her own sweltering hot room instead of sharing my own air conditioned room, even in the summer. One of her many charms I suppose. It was early in the morning, just past midnight. The sky was still dark even with the moon’s light. Directly under her bed, thick comforters lay abandoned on the floor along with several empty water bottles. My sister snoozes peacefully in the midst of this mess,