Tate lunged at the taunting creature, slicing at it with his sword. But it was nimble and quick and easily evaded his clumsy attack. It perched on the wooden headboard of his bed.
It let out a raspy chuckle as he tried to wrench the sword free that was now embedded in the wall.
He turned to look at it again. It was even more visible now that it was nearer to the oil lamp. He noticed that its paws were almost hand-like with an unnaturally-long index 'finger' on each paw. It pointed the clawed digit from its right limb at him and said again "Hurt special baby. Bad. Bad. Bad."
He managed to wrench the sword free and lunged again at it. This time he succeeded only in knocking over the oil lamp and setting his blanket on fire.
Frantically, he smothered the flames. And the room was once again plunged into darkness.
He heard the laugh echoing again as it faded into the distance.
