Mosquito

It was foolish to be walking down an isolated alley in the dead of night. Yet, here I was. Last to leave the party and taking an unnecessary risk on a shortcut.

The alley felt wrong as soon as I entered. My ancient survival instincts sounding the alarm. I brushed the warning away as irrational. Halfway down the passage, I saw it.

I do not know how I missed the humanoid figure blocking my path, standing swathed in shadow with a moribund visage. But there it was. I stopped, finally taking heed of my senses screaming danger.

The thing was a significant distance away, so I simply turned to go back the way I came. In an instant, I felt a cold grip on my shoulder and I was thrown against the alley wall. It pinned me to the brick; its inhuman eyes bored into mine. Its lips parted revealing exaggerated fangs.

True terror gripped me. There was no time for incredulity at this myth come to life. This thing would drink my blood. Desperately, I thought maybe it would leave some life in me. I closed my eyes and offered my throat. But when I did not feel it prick my skin, I looked at my attacker.

It sneered at me. “You think me a mosquito, a sucking parasite. I tell you, I am a lion.” And the thing sank its teeth into my cheek. As the flesh tore from my face, I screamed.