The darkness inside the wardrobe was a suffocating, living thing.
The atmosphere was thick, with the scent of mothballs and time-worn forsaken fabrics—a smell Daniel had grown to associate with fear.
He ceased breathing focusing deeply with every fiber, his body rigid and prepared.
He sensed Chloe's heart beating rapidly and unevenly against his back resembling a rabbit.
Her delicate body quivering violently made him fear that the shaking alone might expose their location.
He gripped her firmly a vow to keep her safe.
Outside their sanctuary the house ceased to be theirs.
The monstrous intruders advanced with a horrifying mix of wild, brute force and cold, calculated purpose.
A sharp noise resonated throughout the room as the living room couch was turned down.
A loud sound of breaking glass echoed as the framed family pictures fell off the mantel.
Each sound was a fresh spike of fear in Daniel's chest.
The beings expressed themselves using clicks and moist throaty growls, a tongue that seemed to claw at the depths of his mind.
The heavy non-human footsteps neared, pounding down the hallway. One set of steps heavier, than the others paused outside his bedroom door.
Daniel sensed his blood turn ice cold. He squeezed his eyes shut, pressing his face against the fabric of a tattered coat.
The bedroom door suddenly flew open.
The being moved forward its claws producing a noise as they dragged along the floorboards. It took a breath exhaling a succession of loud moist inhalations that disturbed Daniel's stomach.
He felt Chloe trying to curl into a ball just behind him. He didn't dare breathe out.
The quiet lingered endlessly dense. Laden, with fear.
A muted thud occurred when one of the creatures struck the wardrobe. The old wood protested with a creak. The scratching stopped.
A pointed jagged claw clawed at the crevice, in the door pushing it ajar.
With force the doors were ripped off their hinges.
The hellish red shine of the moon illuminated their hiding spot overwhelming their sight. Daniels eyes blinked swiftly tears welling up as they struggled to adjust.
A nightmare stood at the threshold. It resembled a figure. Was horrifyingly misshapen its skin tinted like a day-old bruise pulled taut over a bony skeleton.
Its limbs were unnaturally elongated, concluding in blackened claws. Two curved horns jutted from its forehead and its eyes shone with a fiery brightness.
A sickly metallic stench, resembling a slaughterhouse baking, in the heat surrounded them.
Just as Daniel was about to grasp the horror a clawed hand sprang out grabbing a fistful of his shirt and yanking him from the wardrobe.
He struck the ground with power the air pushed out from his lungs.
He had fulfilled his duty his body serving as a barrier protecting Chloe from their sight. She remained hidden in the darkness nestled under the blanket.
"Hey, ugly! Over here!" Daniel shouted, scrabbling backward on his elbows trying to draw everyones attention toward himself.
An alternate insect-like being darted into the room its legs tapping swiftly against the floor.
The first beast let out a growl. Delivered a direct kick to his ribs.
A sudden intense burning sensation burst, in his side accompanied by a snap. He cried out drawing himself into a ball as another strike struck his back.
They were on him now, a whirlwind of merciless blows.
A heavy blow, like a bag of stones struck his jaw and the scene dissolved into a haze of red.
He savored the flavor of his blood!
To those people he was negligible. A nuisance. A thing intended to be harmed.
A horned beast pinned him to the earth its massive clawed foot firmly planted on his chest pressing forcefully that he fought to catch a breath.
It lifted its hand. Daniel noticed the tip of a rough uneven blade. His entire life surged through his mind instantly. He shut his eyes tightly unable to face the vision of his fate.
The point was aimed at his chest. This was the moment. He was about to perish!
As the creature's arm curled, ready to strike a noise broke the silence.
It wasn't a scream or a cry. It was the smallest, most pitiful noise imaginable.
A quiet unintentional sound of fright slipped out from behind the heap of garments, in the closet.
All beings, within the room fell silent.
The entity with its foot located on Daniels chest slowly turned its head, its glowing eyes narrowing as it focused intently on the wardrobe.
The individual grasping the dagger dropped their arm their focus entirely shifted to something.
A new figure appeared at the threshold of the bedroom prompting the others to move. This person was unmistakable. Taller, broader and radiating a sense of authority.
In contrast, to the others who were savages this one advanced with a cunning. Its horns stretched out more curving backward from its head like a crown and its deep purple skin displayed delicate complex patterns.
It examined the setting: the injured boy lying on the ground the monsters standing watchfully. The shadowy wardrobe.
Its gaze was sharp and analytical. It proceeded intentionally into the room its eyes locked on the source of the sound. Then it spoke words.
The address consisted of a series of sounds a command resonating with authority.
"Kra'shel tikta vren'sa nol'tar."
Immediately one of the horned grunts turned around. Strode, toward the wardrobe. It began tearing through the garments Daniel had carefully arranged.
A after it pulled Chloe into the glow.
She shivered, her face ashen consumed by terror and marked with tears. In the light her dark hair and large clear eyes made her resemble a fragile porcelain figurine.
The leader's shining eyes slightly widened, a trace of what appeared to be curiosity flickering across its face.
It seemed fascinated. This small adorable scared creature was more engrossing, than the wounded man resting on the floor.
It inclined its head to the side before signaling its followers with a snap of its fingers. Its objective was to seize her. A trophy. A mate.
When a beast grabbed Chloe's arm, a shining wave began to form in the middle of the room.
The atmosphere twisted and gathered, forming a vertical whirlwind of power a gateway.
Seeing Chloe drawn to that door shattered something, inside Daniel.
The pain in his ribs, the blood in his mouth, the crushing weight of his failure, all ignited into a singular, explosive surge of pure adrenaline.
His entire existence revolved around one goal: rescue her!
With a roar bursting from his depths he propelled himself upwards. The creature's foot stayed firmly on his chest. He ignored it completely.
He exerted force against its leg with all the power he possessed.
The being, surprised by the opposition stepped back, from its prey.
That was the opportunity Daniel needed. He quickly lifted himself his body objecting loudly.
Ignoring the pain in his side he pushed himself forward. He had never been a fighter, a sluggish scared child but, at this instant he was a desperate brother.
He leapt up twisting his body into a kick aimed at the beast holding Chloe.
His heel struck the creature's arm with a thud. The beast growled more from irritation than pain. Its hold, on Chloe eased momentarily.
"CHLOE, START RUNNING!" he shouted.
But there was nowhere to run.
His brief and futile act of defiance came to a close. The leader watched with a smile before giving a nod.
One of its sentries spun quickly. Brandished a metallic item, the tip of an extraterrestrial armament in a rapid motion.
Daniel could not lift his hands sufficiently.
The blow, to the rear of his skull was a bone-shattering impact.
A sharp flash of light exploded behind his eyes followed by complete overwhelming darkness.
His strength ebbed from his body. He collapsed to the floor like a puppet, with cut strings.
His vision focused on a fading speck.
The ultimate image he preserved in his memory just before darkness consumed him fully was his sister's face her mouth open, in a wordless scream as she was dragged through the radiant otherworldly portal.
Then, there was only silence and pain!