A Night to Forget
A short story
by Aimee R.M. Condon


On a cold wet dreary day I sat awake in my study, trying to get a little work finished. It was probably ten or eleven at night, I'm not to sure, I was not paying to much attention to the time that ticked above my head. Why you ask, well I was submersed in the reading of a very exciting book... although by my drifting in and out of sleep it might of confused you a little. My study was cold and damp anything could put me asleep in an atmosphere like that. Every word though of that book was written firmly within my memory, by the event that unfolded that night. An event that even to this day scares me to talk about or even read within the pages of a novel of lies spun to scar even the heartless. It is not a story for the faint at heart but a story for only the brave! I was at this time probably in between one world and the other. I knew that I could not hold on very much longer the book was dragging out and the words seemed to get longer. I decided that I was going to head off to bed, once I was done the chapter that my professor told me was due tomorrow at class. I was studying English, I wanted to be the greatest novelist of all time. Although Dickens classics were not totally thrilling I knew that I must read the book. I was almost finished the chapter, a couple of pages away from the end, when I heard a subtle beat like someone was running in the distance. I thought nothing of it, after all I did live in a pretty busy place. As the fire crackled, and the seconds grew into minutes I heard this faint beat grow stronger, and bolder. I peered out my window to see what the commotion was about, when a hand covered in mud and blood dragged across my nice clean window. I ran outside with a mission. Was this man to die on the steps of my house when I knew that I had the ability to save his life? I cried out "Hello!... who's out here? You need any help?" but all I heard was the faint cry of boy not yet 13. A small child that was mangled beyond recognition. I ran and gathered the small mess within my arms and turned to see two red eyes staring back at me. I tell you now It felt like my heart was about to leap from my chest. My feet grew wings and I stumbled in my door just in time... Thud! I heard a small whimper but not a whimper of a dog but that of something that was out to get whatever it could. The whimper shook me a bit but not as much as what came next. A roar, a growl as though this beast emerged from the pit of hell. I could no longer tell if it was but a wolf, or something beyond the grave. I could hear the faint heart beat of this child who's blood now stained my carpet. Life was fleeting from his veins and I no longer knew if I could save his life. He was was more alive then ever, but yet the smell of his death lingered in my nose. Outside the beast was scratching at my door wanting only to devour the life left within this young boy. A chill rolled down my back at the thought for he would surly devour us all if he could.

I took the boy into my study, there was more light so to properly treat this boys wounds. As he lay tiredly upon my desk I knew only what I could not do for this life. I had not the power or knowledge to save this young lad from dying, but I knew of someone who did. So I woke my uncle that slept a floor above and told him of this young man's wounds. He told me to bring him directly upstairs and that is what I did. Now all I could do is pray that this young man recovers his strength and that this beast does not get in. I went to the door and the sound of claws and growling had ceased so I thought that the beast must have returned from whence it came. Hopefully that is what happened. As I began to clean up the mess that surrounded my house now. I heard this gentle tap upon my window. Maybe it was rock, maybe a bird I'm not sure but the tapping did not stop. I crept slowly to my window still shaken from the incident before and as drew the blinds away I saw only darkness... my nerves settled and let out a laugh "For sure the beast is gone now!" The mistake that I made was waiting at that window just staring into the darkness, for without warning something hit my window blood dripped from its fangs and pure hate stung me through his eyes. He was mad! His black fur matted, clumped with mud and the blood of all those that crossed his path. The red that beamed through his eyes struck my heart with fear. I slowly stepped away. The beast stared at me as though to tell me that I got in the way of his prise and now I must die. The hate that beamed through his eyes was nothing compared to the pure evil and death that spewed from his mouth. I could not believe that such an animal existed in this world, but then again I did not know where this beast came from. He began to claw slowly at my window his sharp, curved claws that still held the skin of his previous victims. I backed away even faster, but I did not leave so as to give him a chance to find a way in. I grabbed a book from my shelf a I decided to read it out loud. I did not know what the book was that I snatched form the 500 books that were on that shelf but I tell you know that the one that was in my hand was worth more to me that day then I could have ever imagined. I opened it and began to read hoping that it would possibly calm me down. "Resist the devil and he shall flee draw near to God and He shall draw near to you." The Bible! Out of 500 books I had to grab the book that could help me the least... well that's what I thought. As I read verse by verse this beast slowly backed off not losing contact with my eyes but I could see a sense of fear struck his countenance. I knew now that this beast was a demon sent on an assignment to kill this child before God could make him into a great man. So I continued to read but along with the reading I prayed. I have never prayed so earnestly in my life as I did that night. the sun rose early that morning but I had not closed my eyes all night I stared that demon down until he retreated completely. I prayed and spoke the scripture to pass with every breath that passed my lips that night. I know that the dusty Bible that sat upon my shelf had never been touched in years. until that night and I had never read so much until that scare came my way. Now I know that God is real! and that he helped me that night. The boy not yet 13 survived that tragic incident, his name is Isaiah. I still talk to him occasionally and pray for him everyday. He is now 20 years of age, out of high school, and doing better then ever. I see so much potential in that child's life. I finished my degree, I didn't become a very good novelist, but I do get to mold young minds. I teach grad 12 English, in the high school that I attended all those years ago. As for the beast that came to destroy us that one fateful night, well I have never seen him since. Praise the Lord! That night is forever printed in my head and I'm sure it is also forever on the mind, spirit and body of young Isaiah. He is a survivor and he continues to spread the joy that God has given him. I learned that night that God is forever faithful, and that no matter how I feel I must always wake up and thank God for another day.