"11:30" the stove clock read, its bright green light the only thing somewhat visible at the time.

Charlotte was getting a snack, she couldn't sleep. After laying in bed for hours on end, sleep never seemed to bless her with its much wanted appearance.

Throwing away the granola bar wrapper, she sighs. She had just moved to the rural town after getting evicted from her tiny apartment, and this was the only place she could afford.

A few children had come around to warn her of the strange things that happen at midnight, but she didn't believe them. Children pass around so many rumors, there's no way it could be real.

"11:41" the clock says. She should be getting to bed now, maybe the granola bar will help. She drags her bare feet across the wooden floors, heading up the few steps that are there and walking across the hall. She opens her bedroom door, immediately greeted by her mattress that lay on the floor. She promised herself she'd make her bed the next day, since she was too tired to make it during the day.

She gets onto it, putting the blanket over her and facing the ceiling.

Several minutes pass, and Charlotte still doesn't fall asleep. She grabs her phone, checking the time. Exactly midnight.

"Looks like the ghosts are gonna come out now," she jokes to herself.

Bang!

Suddenly, the window in her bedroom is slammed open, the curtains getting moved around by the wind outside. Charlotte jumps, not expecting the sudden noise.

"What the..." She says, getting off of the mattress and walking over to the window. The cold wind encloses her body, removing all warmth. She shivers, quickly shutting the window and going back to the mattress.

She gets back into it, planning on going to sleep, but instead hears a loud noise in the kitchen. She quickly sits up, no longer tired like she was before.

Slowly getting off of the mattress, she makes her way to the door and peeks her head out, looking to see what might have caused the noise. Seeing nothing, she assumes she is just hearing things and heads back to go to sleep.

The lamp next to her mattress suddenly turns on, and off again, and on and off several times, each time picking up speed. Charlotte widens her eyes, quickly unplugging the lamp. The flashing stops.

Creaking floorboards are heard downstairs, and Charlotte stifles a gasp. Someone is downstairs.

The footsteps make their way to the bottom of the stairs, stopping next to the first step. Heavy breathing follows not long after the silence, confirming the intruder in her house.

Charlotte covers her mouth, not moving a muscle. If I make a noise, they'll know I'm up here, she thinks to herself. The door is flung open, and Charlotte jumps. No one's at the door.

The breathing stops, and the footsteps continue their movement up the stairs.

Once on the first step, it stops for a few seconds, before continuing. It repeats the action for the rest of the steps, before eventually making it to the top.

The heavy breathing continues for several minutes, as Charlotte sits and waits for it to come into her room and attack- maybe even kill- her.

The footsteps continue, stopping in front of her door. Charlotte slowly looks up and opens her eyes, seeing a tall figure with a long coat and top hat at her door.

She holds back a scream, covering her mouth in shock and fear.

The person raises up a hand, waving slowly at Charlotte as she hugs her blanket tightly. She closes her eyes tightly, wishing this was all a dream and that she'd wake up soon.

She slowly opens them, and the person is gone, nowhere to be seen. She looks all around her room, expecting them to come out at any moment and kill her.

But, he is nowhere. She lets out a breath of relief, laying back down on her bed and facing the ceiling.

She widens her eyes at what she sees.

The person from before sits on the ceiling, it's razor sharp teeth showing. It jumps down onto Charlotte just as she starts to scream, devouring each and every peice of skin and bone, leaving behind a large puddle of blood.

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