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My entry for the Nightmare Contest word count: 200



“Is..is that you, Katie?” The pallid woman furrows her brows, squinting as she tries to look past the fog and darkness of the night.

“Yes, mah.” A crisp voice resonates in the distance.

Gazing at the approaching figure, the woman falls back, uttering "..No.."

Instantly, a pale hand grabs onto her wrist; the woman’s eyes widening and pupils dilating as she stutters out “K..Ka..tie...y..ou..”

“Yes, mommy, it’s me.” The small figure wraps her arms tightly around the woman’s waist, smiling.

Reflexively, the woman pushes her away, “You..d...di..! N…o...why?” pauses and suddenly shrieking: “No, I won’t let you take my family away! You..."

Stopping the woman’s scream with a chuckle, she bellows: “Why so defensive? Aren’t I your family…too?”

“I’m…I’m sorr…I didn’t mea..n.. to. I..” The woman cringes down to her feet and begins to sob.

“It’s okay, mommy.” She pads the head of the shivering figure and whispers “I know.”

The woman hugs back like a penitent child and cries hysterically. “I’m so…sorry…”

Wiping away the tears, she helps the adult figure stand back up. “Come on, mommy. Let’s go home. You don’t belong here…anymore.”

Gradually, two figures, small leading the large, disappear into the darkness of the night, leaving nothing behind- not even a footprint on the glistering fresh snow.