Кармілла
A Very Strange Agony
ButIwasequallyconsciousofbeinginmyroom,andlyinginbed,preciselyasIactuallywas.Isaw,orfanciedIsaw,theroomanditsfurniturejustasIhadseenitlast,exceptthatitwasverydark,andIsawsomethingmovingroundthefootofthebed,whichatfirstIcouldnotaccuratelydistinguish.ButIsoonsawthatitwasasooty-blackanimalthatresembledamonstrouscat.Itappearedtomeaboutfourorfivefeetlongforitmeasuredfullythelengthofthehearthrugasitpassedoverit;anditcontinuedto-ingandfro-ingwiththelithe,sinisterrestlessnessofabeastinacage.Icouldnotcryout,althoughasyoumaysuppose,Iwasterrified.Itspacewasgrowingfaster,andtheroomrapidlydarkeranddarker,andatlengthsodarkthatIcouldnolongerseeanythingofitbutitseyes.Ifeltitspringlightlyonthebed.Thetwobroadeyesapproachedmyface,andsuddenlyIfeltastingingpainasiftwolargeneedlesdarted,aninchortwoapart,deepintomybreast.Iwakedwithascream.Theroomwaslightedbythecandlethatburntthereallthroughthenight,andIsawafemalefigurestandingatthefootofthebed,alittleattherightside.Itwasinadarkloosedress,anditshairwasdownandcovereditsshoulders.Ablockofstonecouldnothavebeenmorestill.Therewasnottheslighteststirofrespiration.AsIstaredatit,thefigureappearedtohavechangeditsplace,andwasnownearerthedoor;then,closetoit,thedooropened,anditpassedout.
Iwasnowrelieved,andabletobreatheandmove
