I felt it near my eyelid first. I tried to swat away whatever I felt brushing against the delicate skin, figuring it was just a fly or some other summer annoyance.

When my hand went through the air above my face, I didn’t make contact with anything so I thought whatever it was flew away. Until I felt it again. This time, the sensation was rougher and somehow warmer….wetter?

I felt a faint, wispy breath of air along my cheek. The licking continued, this time moving to the very top of the bone just under my eye. Slowly, deliberately.

The waify breathing stopped. There was a low growl. I kept my eyes shut, felt my own heartbeat quicken. I didn’t dare look, but I could sense that the creature was right above me.