3 Amanda screamed and jumped up to her feet. She tried to dash toward the door, but when she grabbed the knob she let out another shriek of terror. The handle was covered in the thick blackness. She staggered back and jumped a few feet into the air when she felt the part coming out of the floor touch her leg. The young woman dove for the bed and raised her feet just in time. The creature was fast, unnaturally fast, and Amanda barely avoided its split-second grab at her ankle. She frantically crawled back into the corner and looked around for a way to escape. Her eyes settled on the window. Desperate, she clumped the bed covers together into a tight ball and pressed the sheets into the glass. The old panes shattered out into the night air and she turned to toss back the covers. A

