The girl arrived later than anticipated, but given the deplorable conditions of human roads, this was not unexpected. "Grandma? It's me." She walked in and shut the door, first removing her soiled gaiters, then her red cloak. She hung her cap on a metal hook nailed into the wall.
"How are you, Grandma? I hope you're feeling better."
As she walked towards the bed, she froze.
Grandma was sitting up, dressed in her usual shift and nightcap. Heavy woollen blankets covered her up to her neck. Her expression was terrifying. He eyes bulged as if invisible claws held her eyelids wide-open. Her mouth was pulled back in an unnaturally wide grin, like a child trying to mimic the death-smile of a skeleton. Her ears were stretched out and appeared to twitch, like a dog or a cat. Under her blanked, s
