Ava

My thumbs danced over my screen, the small tapping noise in rhythm with the hard rain pounding against the bus's windows. Outside, the dark navy sky cast a gloomy shadow, with black trees painted on the ominous canvas. Below, the lake's water stood frighteningly still despite the ripples cast across the surface from the storm. Against the window, the rain distorted the imagery, furthering the feeling of trepidation.

Inside the transit bus, we were not exempt from the picture of uneasiness. With only a few people present in the seemingly haunted night, all seemed eerily quiet. An old man was seated opposite to me fidgeting with a faded gold ring on his forefinger, his eyes closed. A few seats beside him was a dazed female, evidently wearing off from a party from the state of her ripped concert clothes and stance. A couple sat in the front, murmuring quietly to each other small, meaningless phrases to keep each other awake.

Still, despite the scenery, it was Jeremy who grasped most of my attention. Though right next to me, I didn't want to be the one to break the silence with whispers, so I continued my message to him as he mindlessly stared out the window. As I hit send, his phone vibrated, pulling him out of his trancelike state.

Do you really believe this is going to work?

Sadness quickly glossed over his eyes as he stole a quick glance from me before he returned to his phone.

...

We'll find out what we find out.

Dissatisfied, I looked out the drivers window and silently scolded myself for expecting a more exact answer. Furiously, I wiped at my eyes and cheeks with my sleeve and tried counting the endless amount of trees to distract myself. Even if he was doubtful, I couldn't stop after we had come so far. I gave up looking after the driver began to curve, instead focusing my attention on an animal that seemed to have appeared in the middle of the road. The way it looked - with it's bright green catlike eyes that could be spotted even a hundred yards away and it's beast-like structure - it was impossible that it could've been real. But, as we moved closer to it, it seemed unlikely that this was just a figment of my imagination. My heart quickened as I looked to see if anyone else noticed what I was seeing. The animal stayed put, as did everyone else, unknowing.

"Hey, Jeremy. Jeremy!" I whispered as I nudged him, still staring outside. In the short time he had begun to sleep.

"What?" He murmured, eyes still shut and body still slumped against the chair.

"Do you see that outside?" I shook him again, but to no avail.

He moaned and turned away from me; "S'probably nothing…."

My nerves increased as we began to speed closer to the animal, who, despite noticing the vehicle, stayed put as if biding its time until we came.

I got up from my seat and slowly went to the driver, hoping he wouldn't yell at me for doing so.

It seemed with every step, time slowed. The lapping of the water had almost become still, and the water merely slugged down the windows instead of running down them. I almost felt as if I was moving too fast myself in comparison, even with my slow, paced steps.

I finally looked ahead, shaking off the stillness as anxiety, but as we came to where the creature would've been, it seemed to have disappeared from its place. This only distressed me further. There was no stillness to the fast pacing of my heart.

Where could it have gone?

"behind you."

Monster

Hell was cold compared to the fiery rage I felt towards that girl. My blood did more than just boil in her presence, it seeped out of the vessel's skin, dripping onto the floor like the rain on the window. I could hear it's animal roar inside my head, trying to use volume to escape it's entrapment.

It would soon be over though, once I left this body, the stab wounds would cease to be healed and pain would bring the animal to death. Thankfully though, for it's bear-like ways threatened to expel me well before I found the girl.

Everything I had suffered before had turned my heart black with anger towards her. Not even her terrified look was enough to calm me, her unknowing eyes not enough to settle my rage.

She looked around, trying to meet her eyes with another pair, as if that alone could snap her out of this nightmare.

I step forward, and she trips over herself trying to back away. I bend over her frail little body, resisting the persistent urge to snap it in two.

"No one can see you, dear," I whisper beside her ear. She hoisted herself onto her knees and looked around, finally noticing all the bodies surrounding her were frozen in their places.

"Wha-what do you want," she shook, barely audible through her fear.

I didn't answer, but instead gave her a mischievous grin, showcasing my black and bloodstained teeth, and slowly slid my hand across her face, cutting into her fragile skin and allowing her bright red blood to seep out like tears.

She winced in pain, tears forming in her eyes from both pain and terror. Blood seeped out of the fresh wound, and she began sobbing into her palms. She whimpered and stared at one particular boy, almost pleading him to wake up out of his frozen trance. I watched, pleased with my revenge but far from done.

"What are you? What are you going to do to me?" She asked. In response, I took hold of her wrists and she whimpered.

"You ask too many questions," I said. "This body was a courtesy of the devil himself, before I could get my own back." I twisted her wrists, until I could feel the pressure beneath them. Her pulse quickened, and she bit her lip, trying not to scream.

"Wh-which body is-is yours?" She said behind clenched teeth, her mind already knowing the answer.

"Yours."

Her eyes widened as I plunged my nails skin deep into her skin, and seeped my soul into the body. Her fright only made my power surge through her quicker, as if it fed on her fear.

I cracked my neck, showing my power compared to hers, keeping my head down and eyes wide for her to see the creature fall, dead. It turned to ash and disappeared, only black dust and its dark blood remained.

As I looked on, I returned the scene to its normality, until the raindrops beat heavily on the windows once more and time was restored. I took each step carefully, powerfully, towards the front of the bus. The driver gave me a quick questionable glance before turning back to the road.

"Hey ma'am, if you could return to your seat." He said absently.

I stepped closer.

"I don't think that will be necessary…"

"Hey what're you-!" He looked at me widely as I tore his hands away from the wheel and held it in my hand. His idiocy kept his foot on the pedal as I yanked so hard it pulled straight into the guardrail and his the icy waters below.