The Monster Claws

Even from behind the bedroom door and down the hallway, it was true. I would have sworn it at that moment. She had climbed them by keeping extremely close to the edge nearest the wall off the narrow strip of carpeting covering the middle of those stairs. It should have been obvious to me when she was on our way up. But why would she have done that? Why would she have known to deviate so far to do that?! And for no reason I could fully define, I pressed the lock button on the door inwards - just as I had done less than 24 hours ago.