Closer

She grabbed another book of the shelf. Desperately flicking through it, she realized that it wasn’t in this one either. She pulled another book down, throwing the previous one into the growing pile next to her.

She could hear it getting closer, the rhythmic thudding in the hallway growing louder. She would be fine as long as the door held.

Another book joined the pile. She searched the next one, growing more frantic with each page. Then she found it.

A sketch of the thing in the hallway. An incantation to render it harmless.

She heard the door crack behind her.