The chilling shiver crawled over Charlotte's body. She dared not look at it, her gaze fixed on the carpet where the light played tricks. Her bare toes curled, avoiding the twisting dance of black mist.
"I feel awful," Charlotte's voice was hoarse, "terribly, terribly awful."
The black monster emitted a careless laugh. It sounded like gravel grinding against sandpaper, like knives scraping glass. The sound echoed eerily.
"Well, you better toughen up," it leaned closer to her, sniffing. "What are you hiding?"
As it spoke, a dreadful fissure opened at its waist, and a twisted arm emerged from the black-red gap. Charlotte wanted to scream, but her voice was trapped in her throat. She could only watch in horror as the grotesque scene unfolded.
The alien arm pressed against the girl's body, instantly tearing apart her dress. Soft fabric floated down and was seized, thrown into the strange crevice.
