I stood there, frozen. Eloisa charged faster towards me. "Run!" a strange voice said behind me. I didn't question their advice for a second. I ran to the oak door with stained glass windows and grasped the brass handle. I shook the handle back and forth and I pulled and I pushed, but nothing happened. The front door was locked, and I knew who had the key.

It was long, old, and rusty brass. It hung on a thick gold chain. It was attached to Eloisa's neck. And I had to get it. "Check the cupboard!" The voice said again. I raced to the cabinet on the other side of the room and opened the cabinet. There was a silver dagger. Did I have to kill Eloisa to get out of this house? Suddenly I heard her paws skidding across the floor, she was coming closer.

Her lean figure stood by the door, and she crawled closer, stalking her prey. I am her prey. Without thinking I closed my eyes and the dagger released from my grasp. There was a yelp and Eloisa staggered back and forth and dropped to the floor. I took a deep breath and grabbed the chain from around her neck.

I opened the door and ran into the courtyard, feeling the fresh air surround me for the first time in three months.