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Hey guys,
I wrote this a long time ago to change up my writing style a little bit-usually I try and make my stories realistic fiction. Anyway, be warned, if you are squeamish or easily scared, this isn't for you, however the first chapter isn't that bad. I hope it gets you in the Halloween mood!
Chapter 1
End of the Trail
It happened on May 3rd. Sarah and I were walking in the Misty Woods behind the abandoned children’s playground on Mania Road. We were laughing and chattering as usual after a day at school that had lasted too long. Sarah was new and I figured we could hang out, as we had taken to each other immediately. I was a bit of a loner at school, no friends, and no siblings, so I usually just sat in the corner and pretended to be listening to the teacher drone on and on about geometry and the Cold War. Until today. Sarah showed up in the middle of the lesson, just walking in quietly and plopping down right in the empty seat next to me. The teacher didn’t even seem to notice.
“Hi, I’m Sarah!” the girl smiled, with almost a bit too much excitement for a dreary school day, especially considering she was a new student.
“Uh...hi, I’m Jane” I stammered, not used to the attention.
We whispered for a bit before the teacher gave me a strange look and we went back to working. At lunch she told me all about how she moved here from the next town over because her electricity went out and didn't come back on after a bad storm a few nights back. She said it was actually convenient, seeing as how her dad works at Happy Hills Asylum, which she said is a twenty minute walk straight through Misty Woods. She even helped me with my math exercises, which I can never figure out. Right after school, I invited her into the woods for a walk, which I often do to clear my mind.
It was chilly and windy, as it often is in England, and we both had sweatshirts and scarves on. After a while trudging along the dirt trail, we arrived at the sign posted at the end.
Danger!
End of the trail!
Do NOT enter!
This is usually where I turn around and head home, but Sarah stood still and cocked her head to the side, staring at the sign wordlessly.
“What is it?” I asked, furrowing my brows. She shook her head slightly, as if to clear it.
“Oh...nothing,” she said, sticking on a smile, “I was just having such a good time. It couldn’t be too bad if we continued, could it? At least for a little while?” She gave me such a sugary smile, revealing the loneliness in her eyes. I could see it too. I was just like her.
“Well...I guess…” I replied, unsure.
“Great!” she squealed, the sadness gone, replaced by a maniacal glint. “It’s not much farther!”
“What’s not much farther…?” I asked, but she was already skipping away into the trees. I jogged to keep up, catching sight of her now and again, weaving through the spindly trees. At last, I caught up to where she was standing. I bent over to catch my breath, panting heavily.
“Where are we?” I wheezed, my breath spiraling into the cold.
“Home.” She replied simply, staring at me curiously. A look of pure confusion crossed my face and she turned briskly and starting walking into a patch of overgrown weeds. I followed her, hesitantly. After a minute, we reached an old, crumbling building. Metal rods poked out of forgotten slabs of concrete. It was eerily quiet. Even the crickets seemed to have been drowned out. Sarah turned, hair whipping in the breeze.
“Come on,” she encouraged, “don’t be afraid, Janie.” The nickname frightened me. Anyone who knew me knew well enough never to call me that. That was the name of my late twin. She had died when I pushed her in front of a moving car because I was mad that she ripped up my kindergarten painting. I didn’t mean for the car to hit her. After that, we moved from Ohio here to England.
“Don’t call me that!” I answered, the confidence in my voice wavering. Her eyes narrowed.
“I’ll call you what I want to.” She sneered. In a flash she was in front of me, but I figured it was just a trick of the light that I had barely seen her move. She grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the entrance door, whose windows had been torn out long ago, leaving behind only sharp shards sticking out of the empty frames.
“After you,” she smiled, a bit too sweetly as she pushed me through the entrance harder than her tone suggested she might have. I stumbled in and squinted in the dark hallway. Sarah was nowhere to be seen as the door creaked shut and slammed behind me.
“Hello?” my voice echoed and bounced off of the thick walls and my words whistled away into the wind. I shivered and clutched my sweatshirt more tightly to my body.
“Don’t be silly, it’s just us!” Sarah giggled behind me as I whirled around to face her. There was a bit of an odd shimmer around her, as if she wasn’t fully there. “Let’s play!” She grinned, “Bet you can’t catch me!” I blinked and she was gone, her laughter echoing throughout the building. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I was able to read what was written on the wall Sarah had been standing in front of.
You can’t hide.
You can’t hide.
You can’t hide.
You can’t hide.
This disturbing message was followed by a crude drawing of a creepy smiley face, literally laughing it’s head off. I shivered with fear. Whatever this place was, I didn't want to stay.
“Sarah, I’m leaving!” I declared loudly, turning around slowly and inching towards the door.
“So soon?” a voice responded from nowhere. “But we haven’t had time to play yet!” She emerged from a dark hallway to my left, her head cocked slightly.
“I...I don’t want to play. Not here.” I said with more confidence than I felt, my voice quivering slightly.
“Oh but you will,” she smiled, eyes glinting red, “we will play forever!” She threw back her head laughing gently at first, but each sound more maniacal and evil with every breath. I was seriously scared now and I made a dash for the door. Sarah stood there, watching as I frantically grabbed the handle and jiggled it. I really started to panic as it wouldn't budge and I moved to the window, ready to smash it and sprint home.
“You can’t go until you playyyy!” Sarah sang behind me. I continued kicking at the window with my boots, fervently until I heard a sharp crack. Happy with my progress, I checked the size of the crack in the window and felt a sudden sense of dread as I realized that the noise hadn’t come from my boot. As I turned around, another series of sharp cracks came from all directions. I fell to my knees, covering my ears as the volume increased and became unbearable. Then, as suddenly as it had started, it stopped.
“Are you ready to play now, Janie?” Sarah asked menacingly. “Because I wouldn’t want to be trapped in here all night with those noises for company.”
“Fine.” I answered, “What should we play?”
“How about...hide and seek?”
Hi again,
Hope you enjoyed the quick little Halloween story! I know the story line is a little under-developed but this was something I just wanted to have fun with and make as creepy as possible! Happy Halloween everyone!
-Loreleixx
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