The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Let Me In
by Kim Richards 

Shivering in her thin shift, Sareth stood before a steel reinforced door of the old keep, staring at its bronze knocker. Shaped like a lion, it held the ring for knocking in its jaws, behind sharp fangs. She imagined it coming to life and talking with it.

“Oh, king of all cats. Allow me to enter,” she would say with a pleasant smile.

It would nod and reply, “Of course milady. Come warm yourself by the fire and have some mulled wine.”

She giggled. That’s for fantasy stories!

She reached out her arm and gingerly touched each of the eight bolts attaching the plaque with the knocker onto the door. Hard and smooth, the frosty cold burned her fingertips so she quickly pulled back. Frowning, she rubbed her fingers against the torn fabric covering her torso.

Rain drizzled, running icy fingers through Sareth’s hair and dripping down her shoulders. She knew she needed the shelter of this place, despite her mother’s warnings. She pulled up the hem of her gown enough to wrap the fingers of her right hand. It mattered little that it bared her legs–white against the night. No one would see her.

She grasped the ring portion of the lion knocker and rapped it firmly. Metal against metal rang out thrice. She let go of her gown and stood back. She hoped the door would open soon. Her bare feet already succumbed to numbness and now it spread up her legs.

The rain hardened, pelting her as if it were pebbles tossed down by an immature god. Sareth wrapped her arms around herself. She leaned against the doorway and prayed.

Then she heard footfalls from beyond the door. Straightening her posture, she called out. “Please. Help me. Please take me out of the cold.”

A deep roar of laughter reached her ears. With a click of the lock releasing, the door slowly swung inward.

Before Sareth towered a beast…no a man…no… She stared up into a rugged face, surrounded by a thick golden mane. He bared daggered fangs and grabbed the waif by her shift. He dragged her inside and slammed the door shut, muffling her screams.

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Fiction © Copyright Kim Richards
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com