“AW YEAH WE DID! We talked, and played dinosaurs, and I got to be the purple one, and—” “That sounds like a great play date,” she cut him off with a grin. “Buuuut… Dad said he was gonna get us ice cream! Wanna go and tell him what flavor you want?” “YESYESYES!! OK! Bye bye, Seth!” Tyler cried, and raced from the room, forgetting about the bag of toys in his overflowing excitement for ice cream. Ellie shook her head then turned back to the now-dried circle of her own blood. “Alright, Seithonyamor. You are hereby released from your contract.” A hazy red began filtering up through the floorboards, and the beast’s form began slowly melting away into shadows. “Wait,” it said, twisting to keep the shadows from engulfing its head. “Can I… Will I be able… Will you ever.. summon me again?” Ellie had enough sense not to laugh. “I might,” she acknowledged, then allowed her face to break into a smile. “See you next Sunday, Seth.” The monster’s hideous fangs contorted into an almost-grin, and then it was gone. The blood had filtered down into the baseboards, and the candles she had lit had been snuffed out. Then Ellie heard her little brother’s voice from downstairs, and soon she was gone too. All that was left in the dusty attic of their church were dust mites, creaky floorboards, and a bag of toys that was now missing one yellow brontosaurus.
Chance Encounters Catherine Zarr
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