"It's time", he snarled.

Sandra got up in a haste. She tried to calm down her brain which was hysterical now. 'I can't die... Not like this..'

"Why are you doing this, Michael? This is so wrong! What did Amy do to deserve what you did to her?" she shouted at him.

Michael smirked, " Oh! So you found the door! What was I thinking!"

"Answer me!" Sandra growled in frustration, but unable to hold back the tears that were giving away her fear.

" She was a sacrifice, like you will soon be. Don't cry for her, you must take pride instead. The Dark Lord has chosen you to be his ultimate offering. For years I have been begging him to take me, but he won't. But I know that the more I offer him, the more he will protect me. This, he has promised me"

"You are insane! What are--", Sandra broke off as Michael closed in on her fast. He tried to catch hold of her hands, but she kept thrashing and screaming.

"You monster! You murdered your family! You murdered your daughter! Get your filthy hands off me!"

Michael paused momentarily, caught off guard when she mentioned his past. Grabbing the opportunity, Sandra pulled his arm in an attempt to bite it with all her might. But he was too strong, he slapped her hard across her left cheek. She felt her face burning, for a minute she felt dizzy.
Michael dragged her to the centre of the hexagram. Then he got down on his knees and started chanting in some foreign language, eyes closed. As his voice grew louder, he began to move back and forth. Out of the corner of her eye, Sandra thought she saw the shadow shift.

'I will not die like this', Sandra looked around her. 'Make a run for the stairs'. She began to relax and stopped fighting. As expected, Michael loosened his grip on her. Mustering the last bit of strength, she quickly locked his left leg with her right and rolled over. Michael lost his balance and fell on the floor. Sandra made a dash for the stairs.

"Aaaaah!" She screamed in surprise as Michael literally pounced on her bringing her down!

He was so strong! Not trying to hold back his anger, he tossed her to the side. She landed with a loud crash among the furniture, tripped and fell face flat in front of the dreaded door. She caught a glimpse of two wide eyes looking at her through under the door!

Gasp! Sandra quickly sat upright! A stabbing pain shot up her right hand. Michael had gone to pick up his horrendous axe. He looked possessed, with bloodshot eyes. He walked towards her mumbling some incoherent words.

'There is no other way', She willed herself to stand, quickly turned the knob, opened the door and got inside. Just as she was about to close the door, a strong invisible force pushed her outside. Terrified, Sandra turned back to look at the source. She saw the crouched woman dart out at Michael who had his eyes wide in shock, and pulled him back inside, and the door slammed shut!

She could hear him screaming! There was banging on the door as though he was flung at it! He had started to slash at the door with his axe.

What Sandra didn't see was the shadow that was growing bigger behind her back, stealthily spreading forwards. Gradually Sandra sensed herself feel despair, like the end was near. She felt sad, her full body was starting to hurt her. She couldn't move, or rather, she didn't want to. The stairs, she knew they led to freedom. But she chose not to try. There was no hope. Sandra silently watched the darkness cover her and move along till it reached the door, which then fell apart. Michael emerged out of it with a bleeding eye, breathing heavily, holding his axe in the air. The next moment, he was rushing at her.

Time seemed to slow down. 'Maybe it is time. After all there was no escape. Calm down Sandra, you don't want to die in fear. Calm down and may you leave in peace', she closed her eyes.

There is no peace..... Ever!...

Something growled behind her ears in a husky unearthly voice.
And that was the last thing she heard before she felt a sharp pain across her neck.