FIERCE

"Valerie," I said, meeting her eyes carefully, "I have to turn off the light."

"No," she whispered, her head shaking in rapid spasms, "Make it go away now."

I looked around, mind racing. My eyes found the discarded bat, and a hope grew within me. Picking it up, I clasped Valerie's hands around its handle.

"You were scared when you held this, but you swung anyway. Hold it while I get the light."

She stopped shaking and met me with resolute eyes. She closed those eyes, forcing her breath out evenly. Her knuckles whitened about the handle, and she gave me a single, curt nod.

I stepped around the shadow-thing, never taking my eyes off Valerie. She held fast, keeping her own eyes firmly on the beast. I felt the door frame, sliding my fingers along the wall next to it until they found the switch. Darkness filled the room, and the shadow on the floor twitched and groaned.

Two long strides brought me back to Valerie. I clung to her, holding her as she held the bat. Shadows played over the wall as the beast melted into them. Only its eyes remained, glowing brightly in the gloom. After many long moments, we heard that raspy voice one last time, "No others will come."

Moonlight poured in, having broken through a passing cloud to fill the room. An oppressiveness we hadn't even known was suddenly lifted, and breath we hadn't even known we were holding was released.

"He's gone."

I smiled at her, my brave Valerie, nodding as I gently took the bat from her loosening grip.