The Shadow

It was a low roofed room, probably an attic. It was dark, dingy and dimly lit by a candle at the corner of a dilapidated and dusty table. Its flame was calm and yellow occasionally flickering due to a cool breeze coming through the broken window. The walls were matted and mouldy. There was a chill in the room. An odd smell of “guano” filled the area. I could make out a shadow in one corner, it’s silhouette was occasionally rising and then falling as if it was breathing. I moved a step closer to get a look and loose floor board creaked beneath my foot. 
    The shadow shuddered and woke up and I could see the silhouette of its face, its eyes were glowing as if filled with fire. This creature stared unblinkingly at me with its voluminous fiery eyes. The air around me became hot. I felt as if my hair were burning and fire was singeing my skin.
     It was all very eerie and I felt as if a box trapping some mysterious evil will open with a chilling howl and an ensuing menacing laugh. Suddenly with swish a door opened at the very end of the attic and banged at the wall. A cloud of red and golden dust blew through the entrance and the creature sprang and sped through the door. It vanished behind the cloud of dust. I felt a surge of hot blood rushing through my veins. 
    I ran after the creature through what seemed a cloud of red and gold. It was no cloud but a thin curtain concealing a long corridor behind it. It was an archway with high walls. The walls were draped with long scarlet curtains and flame torches the size of humans lit the way. Life size portraits of unknown men adorned the walls of this gallery. 
I stared at one, but couldnt focus of the face. It was as if the portrait didnt want me to see the face. This occured with each of those portraits, I couldnt see their faces but they all were wearing large black gowns. In my distraction, I feared I had lost the creature but it was not far and it was flying a few meters ahead. Its strong bat like wings propelled it through the golden lit gallery towards a large wooden gate. It’s shiny silver tail following him, swinging behind like a thick whip. His dangling hind legs bore claws, almost like an eagle, but much bigger. 
I ran behind it, wishing to catch up, but I was getting farther every second. The space between us grew larger until I could see it no more and all was dark around me.

I could see nothing and hear nothing until the silence was broken by a loud thud and a vigorous shake that woke me up.