The Escape of Experiment 27

Sara sat on the couch, flicking through channels without much interest until she stumbled upon a news report. A woman’s voice, shaky with fear, filled the living room. «Subject #27 has escaped from the lab. The subject is highly dangerous. Please, remain indoors and do not open the door to strangers.»

Sara, only ten years old, watched with wide eyes. The idea of a lab experiment gone wrong sounded like something from one of her movies. “A monster? Please! How can people believe in that kind of nonsense?” she muttered under her breath. Her parents had warned her that evening, but like many children her age, she didn’t take it seriously.

«Sara, we’re going out for a little while,» her mom had said, pulling on her coat. «Don’t open the door for anyone, okay? Especially if you hear any strange noises. If anything happens, call us first. Promise?»

«Okay, Mom!» Sara had replied, half-heartedly, more interested in playing games on her phone than the ominous warnings her parents gave her.

The house was quiet now, almost too quiet. Sara heard the sound of the front door clicking shut as her parents left. She curled up in her bed, phone in hand, scrolling through her messages. The news report had already faded from her mind. She let out a small chuckle, «People are so dumb. A monster? Come on.»

Then it happened. A noise from the kitchen.

Sara paused, her thumb hovering above the screen. She waited. Another noise, louder this time, like a cupboard door being slammed shut.

Her heart started to race, but she shook it off. “Maybe it’s just the wind… or the cat,» she whispered to herself, although she knew they didn’t have a cat.

Curiosity got the better of her, as it always did. She tiptoed toward the kitchen, every step a battle between her growing fear and her disbelief in what she’d heard. The dimly lit hallway seemed longer than usual. Her pulse quickened, her breaths shallow.

When she reached the kitchen door, she hesitated, her hand hovering over the doorknob. Maybe she should call her parents… but what if it was nothing? She didn’t want them to think she was scared.

Slowly, she opened the door. The kitchen was dark, except for the faint glow from the streetlight outside. For a moment, everything seemed normal. Then she saw it—a massive, hunched figure in the corner. Her breath caught in her throat.

It was the monster from the news. A grotesque, hulking thing, its skin a sickly green, with sharp claws and teeth that glistened in the dim light. Its head was large and misshapen, with no visible eyes, but Sara knew it could sense her.

It was blind, but its sense of smell was heightened. And right now, it was sniffing the air, searching for her.

Sara’s body froze. She wanted to scream, but no sound came out. Her feet felt like they were glued to the floor, her heart pounding in her chest like a drum. The monster’s head turned in her direction. It let out a low, guttural growl, its teeth bared.

Without thinking, she stepped backward, her foot hitting a chair. The noise was enough to catch the monster’s attention fully. It sniffed the air again, its nostrils flaring as it honed in on her scent. It lunged.

Sara bolted down the hallway, her feet barely touching the ground. She could hear the monster’s heavy breathing behind her, its claws scraping against the wooden floor. She darted into her bedroom, slamming the door shut and locking it, her body trembling with fear.

She grabbed her phone, hands shaking, and dialed her parents. No answer. She tried again. Still nothing.

The monster was outside her door now, scratching and pounding against it. The wood creaked under the pressure. It wouldn’t hold for long.

Tears filled Sara’s eyes. She didn’t know what to do. The monster let out another growl, louder this time, more desperate. It knew she was inside. It could smell her.

Just when she thought the door would give way, there was a sudden silence. The scratching stopped, and the growling faded.

Sara held her breath, listening. Had it left?