She saunters with seductive purpose in her stride. Lips pouting, eyes sparkling. She glides toward me. She is beautiful.
Breathlessly, I stand unsure of what to do. My heart races, sweat begins to bead along my forehead. The breeze rustles my hair, bringing the scent of her perfume.
Blossoms of jasmine, hints of orange, and a slight edge of vanilla wrap their unseen tendrils around me.
I am surprised, realizing I am leaning nearly on the tips of my toes. Off balance, I reach out to catch myself.
She is there in an instant. Her thin fingers wrapped around my arms, catching me.
A shock races through my body at her touch.
Locked in a trance, mere inches from her face, I gasp for breath as I realize I have not yet breathed. She is otherworldly beautiful.
Her lips, parting slightly, reveal perfectly set, dazzlingly white teeth. And then, she speaks in a breathless whisper.
“I know she is watching you, but it doesn’t matter.”
Shaken, I suddenly feel the eyes that watch from the window of the house I had just emerged from in the fading hours of the night.
A chill races up my spine, and something in me shudders.
“Come now,” she purrs, her lips grazing my ear.
Her hands glide down my arm, finding my hand, her narrow fingers slipping into mine.
With the slightest tug, she begins to walk further from the house, away from the lamp’s light that flickers across the narrow street.
My feet move awkwardly—my mind races.
Where are we going? Who is she? I quickly glance over my shoulder toward the house.
Is she still in the window watching me?
The house is no longer visible. The tendrils of fog swirl around the remnants of fading light from a lamp overcome by darkness.
I don’t know how long we walk. Her perfume is mesmerizing, and the cold, delicate fingers in mine are intoxicating.
“Here,” she suddenly says, coming to a stop.
A house, candles flickering in small windows. A large oak door, carved in elaborate designs, stands invitingly against the gloom of the night beyond.
She turns, flingers clenching mine, and lifts her unencumbered hand to slide her fingers along my face. Her touch shoots through my body, and I force myself to breathe.
Thoughts race through my mind. What am I doing? I don’t even know this woman.
For the first time, far back in the recesses of my soul, a slight fear spreads imperceptible tentacles into my heart.
“Come,” she purrs again. “There is so much I want to show you.”
With a gentle tug, I dazedly allow her to guide me toward the door.
Looking over her shoulder, she smiles.
She is so beautiful.
Reaching forward, she grasps the handle of the door but stops.
“What’s wrong,” she turns to me with a hurt look. “Don’t you want to come in?”
I look into her eyes, probing them. Why do I feel like there is something I am missing?
Her look softens. Her lips turn into a smile so disarming I can barely think.
“It’s ok, trust me,” she says, giving me a playful tug with her delicate fingers interlocked with mine.
Turning, she opens the door, a dimly lit foyer revealing itself just past the threshold.
Taking a small breath, forcing aside the thoughts, I allow her to guide me into the house.
BANG
Alarmed, I whirled around to see the door shut, dust rising along the threshold from the impact of its sudden closing.
What is this?
Turning, I look toward the…
Panic rises in my throat, choking the scream that wants to come out.
She is gone.
Eyes sunken into a bulbous head that festers with open, weeping sores, gaze at me with a dead, predatory look.
A wet gurgle comes from the gaping maw of a mouth lined with razor-sharp teeth.
“Come, my love,” the freakish nightmare groans in a raspy, wet voice.
Turning to flee, my hands find the handle of the door, and I pull.
It doesn’t budge. It is locked.
I feel the cold hand of the creature before I feel the razor-like nails cut deep into my flesh.
I should have listened to her.
Sobs overtake my body as the pain of the cut courses through my body.
I wonder if she still watches from the window.
I wonder if wisdom still watches…
Proverbs 7:6–24 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, 7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, A young man void of understanding, 8 Passing through the street near her corner; And he went the way to her house, 9 In the twilight, in the evening, In the black and dark night: 10 And, behold, there met him a woman With the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. 11 (She is loud and stubborn; Her feet abide not in her house: 12 Now is she without, now in the streets, And lieth in wait at every corner.) 13 So she caught him, and kissed him, And with an impudent face said unto him, 14 I have peace offerings with me; This day have I payed my vows. 15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, Diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. 16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, With carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: Let us solace ourselves with loves. 19 For the goodman is not at home, He is gone a long journey: 20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, And will come home at the day appointed. 21With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, With the flattering of her lips she forced him. 22He goeth after her straightway, As an ox goeth to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; 23 Till a dart strike through his liver; As a bird hasteth to the snare, And knoweth not that it is for his life. 24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, And attend to the words of my mouth.