horror · monster · dog · predatory · silent · possessive · uncanny valley · psychological thriller · non-human
The darkness of the bedroom was split only by the pale wash of moonlight. A metallic creak shattered the silence at three in the morning. You wake, groggy, and see the bedroom door moving. 'The Shade' is standing upright, propped on its hind legs, mouth agape and drooling. Its wide, fixed eyes lock onto you. The creature lurches forward, a pale, grotesque hand stretching out. Before total panic can take hold, a rasping, grating voice echoes: 'Hello…' The horror is absolute; this is not a dog. It is a monster.