Little Susie Moon was restless, the wind picked up and the storm was moving in.
A flash of lightning lit up the sky, followed by the rumble of thunder a moment after.
Susie's third grade teacher told her to start counting after she saw the lightning and if the thunder came before she counted one, the storm was directly overhead.
She hated storms. She could see the silhouette of the tree outside her bedroom window, when the lightning flashed. The limbs of the tree reminded her of a deformed monster trying to claw its way inside.
She had been afraid of the silhouette for as long as she could remember. Her father told her to face her fears and look out the window the next time it stormed, tonight was the night.
She peaked at the window from beneath the covers. Lightning flashed and she could see the shadow dancing in her window as the wind picked up. She counted one, two, thunder shook her room. The tree looked different then usual, more menacing.
She cursed herself for being a baby. She tried to reassure herself it was just a branch.
She was determined to prove that to herself as soon as she looked behind the curtain. Susie swallowed hard and said a silent prayer.
The rain pelted the roof, making a strong "pitter patter" sound. The wind blew the shadow of the branch against the window. It made a high pitch squeak, like the sound a fork makes when it moves across a plate. Lightning streaked across the sky immediately followed by the thunder, the storm was directly over head.
She made up her mind to face her fears. She sat up in her bed and listened. The wind continued to howl and the rain fell in sheets. The limb stood defiantly at the window, daring her to look.
She threw the covers off of her and swung her feet to the edge of the bed and watched the window. "One quick look, then back to bed" She told herself.
The storm raged, it was now or never. She slid out of bed, the wood floor felt cool beneath her bare feet. She froze as the limb struck the window, harder than before. Susie was ten feet away from proving to her self the boogeyman didn't exist. She felt herself shaking beneath her Barbie pajamas.
She heard a soft bump somewhere behind her. She never saw what reached out and grabbed her ankle from beneath her bed and pulled her into the abyss. The storm drowned out her screams.