Again.
Sighing wearily they left the solace of their bedroom to head to the top floor.
The hatch was rusty, no matter how much they oiled it.
As it creaked open they debated ending their problem... or their life.
They weren't sure what would be easier at this point.
It was hard to hook the ladder's latch with the old fire poker but after a few attempts they managed.
Folding the ladder out took a fair amount of force - like most things in the house it was rusted.
Taking the fire poker with them they ascended.
To deal with their problem once and for all.
The attic was always freezing, damp and the floor had a thin layer of mist.
All a part of the creature's effect, they supposed.
Its' body was chained to the floor,had been for as long as they could remember.
They'd inherited the house with the condition that they keep the creature alive.
No consequences were specified though, neither was the trouble it caused.
Its' neck was fully outstretched, bloody vertebrae extending from its bloated, hairy body all the
way up to the ceiling where its' bulbous, toothy head grinned down at them, blood and saliva
dripping from its' open mouth as it began to cackle excitedly.
It loved guests.
Sometimes it spoke, never said anything nice... just repeated all the hurtful things people had said
to whomever was in the room at the time... or near the room... or in the house.
It had strong lungs, that much was clear.
They'd lost track of how many times it had the police coming over before they were convinced
(after a speedy purchase) that it was all just a nasty family parrot.
That wasn't a total lie at least.
But that was then, the first year.
This was now, eight painful years later.
And now no more.
They'd been warned not to cross the line carved into the floor, its' head couldn't reach past that.
It was the only real safety net there, besides the chains of course.
Before they even thought of crossing the line they yelled at the creature, eight years of pent-up
aggression, frustration all coming to a boiling point.
They stepped over the line, fire poker ready to drive in their point and drive out the creature.
End it at last.
As the tip of their foot went over the line the creature's head rushed forward and tore into their leg.
They fell forward, not even given the chance to scream as it tore out their throat, swallowing
chunks of their flesh as their body fell to the floor with a wet thud.
The creature left only their bones, licking the blood off the floor with its' spiked tongue.
Shrugging off the chains it headed down the ladder, gradually shifting until it looked just like its' meal.
By the time it reached the door it looked almost human, mouth still too wide and eyes too bulbous.
Stretching long disused limbs it walked free, the house shuddering behind it.
By the time the creature reached the end of the street the house collapsed on itself entirely.
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