AUTHOR'S NOTE-I'm going apologize now for the many grammar mistakes you may come by. The truth is that this story has a stern deadline, that is in a couple of days. Thankfully there's one chapter left, so I think I'll make it barely, and you can look for that any day now. But as an extra treat, well I hope you think its a treat, this is the longest chapter so far! And will probably be longest of the whole story. Hooray. Soon as always please enjoy!
Logan cautiously peered through the ridges of the closet door. Behind him was completely dark, all visibility was accounted from the light coming outside of the closet.
Slanted shadows masked his face as he tried to get as much of a clear view as he could from inside his isolated quarters.
A woman, tall, but aged with stressed monotonously stirred a pot of soup on the stove. He could only see her back, but he could tell that her whole body was tense with fear and anticipation. he didn't know this woman, but somehow she brought a sense of comfort and safety to him. In fact he think he may have loved her. After all, all the care he could remember receiving came from her.
The door slammed open. Both Logan and the woman felt a cold dread crawl up their spine. Logan could feel his stomach hope into his mouth, and a sudden dryness invaded his throat.
Then there was the sound of stomping feet and all of a sudden he was in a horror movie. He was the helpless victim hiding hopeless from the satanic monster out for his blood.
Logan found himself cowering deeper and deeper into the closet. This wasn't a horror movie, this was real. He knew it wouldn't cut to the credits if the monster found him hiding in the closet.
The woman, however had no place to hide. Her body was ridged with fear, but still she did not back down. She stole a glance to the closet right before the monster entered the room.
Logan saw into her eyes. Whatever was in that closet, she was protective of, in fact she would sacrifice her life for its safety. Logan briefly found himself wondering what was so important.
Logan and the woman both jumped when the monster entered the room. Suddenly light abandoned the scene, and Logan could only make out a shadowed silhouette of the figure, as well as the woman's.
The creature emitted a deep, low growl toward the woman. Something was in his hand, a bottle? And Logan could just barely make out a tiny trail of liquid dropping from the corners of his mouth.
The woman was silent, and the creature growled again, this time louder and more assertive.
The woman, tensing ever so slightly held her ground and responded to the monster, however to softly for Logan to make to out her words.
The monster however heard her loud and clear and roared at her. A deafening roar that immediately had Logan's hand up protectively against is ears.
The creature snarled and hollowed until it seemed his lungs were dry.
The woman was brave. Not backing down she went to face the creature and started yelling right back, but it was gibberish to Logan's contorted ears.
The two went on, both their voices growing louder and louder, which Logan couldn't even imagine from the monster. Soon their voices were infiltrating and overflowing his closet. It sounded like hundreds of cannons were firing all around him. The sound vibrated through his very skull and no matter how desperately he tried to block it out, it pursued, scarring his ears forever.
When it finally seemed as though there would be no winner the monster pulled something out. Something that strongly resembled a whip.
He brought it up above his head and stared down at the woman, mercilessly. She barely had time to let out a scared gasp before he brought it down on her, hard.
She screamed in agony and instantly fell to the floor. Her screams scarred Logan even more to the previous yelling. The ratchet sound made a terrible shiver rock his body, and his ears were sore. It was like listening to someone scratch a chalkboard for hours.
The creature, however seemed devilishly satisfied with the sound. In fact it even laughed as it repeated its actions, over and over again.
Logan again could feel himself frozen. He wanted to look away, he wanted to block out the noise and protect himself. But he couldn't, his eyes were locked to watching the scene, his body was too terrified to move, in fact he could hardly feel it.
He watched the woman, tears slowly surfacing in his eyes. The gruesome scene was shadowed, by a blessed grace, but the violence of it got to him just the same.
The woman, a helpless form on the floor, at first jumped and twitch every time the whip was brought down on her, she tried to move, to somehow save herself, but the whip was too fast, and every time she moved the whip came harder and harder.
Logan eventually lost track of how many times she was struck. At every strike blood splattered to the walls, and she emitted a desperate wail of pain. However as this kept going on, for what Logan swore was hours and hours, her screams grew softer, and weaker. Her body barely flinched as the whip continuously was brought down upon her.
The monster didn't light up on her weakened state. In fact it just seemed to anger him. He brought it down even harder upon her, and faster. Logan could tell he was using all the massive strength he could muscle to bring her pain. It worked, for while, her screams returned and her body reacted to the increased pain it was put through.
The monster kept up this remarkable bit of strength for quite some time. Hitting her harder and harder every time her screams softened. Blood, more blood then Logan knew was even in the human body was spread, the scrams may have light up, but the blood never did. In fact it increased with every strike.
Eventually the woman's screams silenced and then stopped all together. This of course angered the monster more then anything and he blastically began striking her somehow faster and harder the Logan had ever seen.
It was no use though, all he got were flinches in pain. Finally, finally after hours of beating, and nearly painting the kitchen walls and floor with blood, he ceased.
The woman's figure now deathly still, flinched. Logan could still not take his eyes off of her. He could feel mad tears cascading down his cheeks in heartfelt sympathy.
This would have deeply disturbed him even if it was a stranger, but she, she was someone he felt like he loved. In fact at this moment he couldn't think of one other thing that he loved besides her.
The light once again resurfaced itself, and Logan could make out some parts of the woman, mainly her face.
It was contorted in pain and agony, but no sadness or fear. Logan had to study her deeply, but he could make out no trances of panic or desperation. Instead he incredibly found determination.
She stared back at him, hard, with eyes that declared they would fight until the end, no matter what the pain. This made even more tears come to Logan and he felt his heart being shred into two. He'd rather see her broken spirit being put out of its misery, instead of the stubborn one that would only receive more pain.
To Logan's horror the monster seemed to notice the woman's enduring spirit. In rage he screamed to the roof and screamed to her. Logan could finally make out what he was saying.
"Beg for mercy." he demanded.
The woman, barley holding to life summoned all of the strength that was leaking out of her, "Never." she gasped, between her pained gasped.
Logan wished she hadn't had said that. He wished either she was as cowardly as him, or he was as brave as her.
The creature, frustrated and in raged, boiled over and screamed, loud enough to shake the entire house and Logan from the inside out.
Then out of he corner of his eyes he noticed the soup on the stove, now boiling over. He grasped it firmly then poured t over the woman.
Her scream was in deeper agony then any before. Like she was being dipped into acid, which she basically could have been. It erupted from the pit of her bloodied body and was the last thing she sounded to the world.
Then the monster brought the steaming hot pot over her and started to beat her once again.
It wasn't for hours this time. It only took twenty strikes before she lied still forever. Her body no longer flinching in pain, her determined and spirited eyes, now dead and forever shut of to the world.
Logan was split into two, part of him still wanted to continue to cower in the closet as he had been, the other wanted to run out and hold the woman, to properly mourn the loss of his only loved one. The former urge was stronger.
The monster, now holding the pan cascading blood, stood panting for a few moments. Logan could almost feel him smile, with a repulsive satisfaction of his kill.
Then he caught his breath, and slowly turned to face the closet door. Logan's breath stiffened as his eyes met the red, mad ones of the creature. He felt like a rock coating climbing up his body and preventing any hope of movement. He didn't even tremble, which was odd because he was just doing such uncontrollably.
His eyes locked onto the creature's. Though he couldn't detect much emotion but he did recognize vengeance, for he knew it himself all too well.
"Come out, come out wherever you are." the monster growled, venom dripping out of his newly threatening voice.
The words came to Logan like a dagger. He felt his heart stop, then suddenly started beating in over drive.
The monster began his hunt. He scanned the kitchen first. Checked under the sink, table, in the cabinets. All places a scared little boy could hide himself. Then he once again set his eyes on the closet, and headed toward it.
Logan stopped breathing at once. He was determined to make himself as silent as possible, it was either that or be silenced forever like the woman. He even begged his heart to stop beating, for fear that the monster could hear its frantic pounding.
The monster gripped his hand on the door knob. Logan could feel the coat of rock he was covered with transform into ice. He didn't dare gasp, his voice hid deep in the pit of his stomach and refused to come out. The only thing that was really moving on him were the tears and sweat. They were both silent;imprinting trails onto his skin.
The monster however never turned the knob. Instead it stopped, stood ridged for a moment, then died. It collapsed onto the floor with its last breath let out in a pained gasp.
Logan's beating heart finally ceased, and for the moment it felt as though the whole world stood still. It felt like every single form of life was dead, all hopes were forever gone and forgotten, and all emotions were blank.
All that there was were tears, tears that were still falling but without reason.
As Logan studied the bleak scene in front of him, he heard a sniffle. He jumped towards the noise, knowing for a fact it didn't come from him and saw the form of a little boy.
He was trembling, tears were pouring down his face, but he didn't make a sound. All he could make out from the youth, that must have been years younger then him, was that he was scared. His skin was probably pale by now and his eyes forever scarred.
Logan had never felt such a sympathy for anything else then he did for then helpless creature right there. He didn't know the creature personally, but he knew what it was feeling. All of his innocence had been stolen from his in a heartbeat, and all those people he believed could protect him, were no longer there at all. And he was alone, completely, utterly alone.
Suddenly Logan felt the urge to protect the boy, stronger then anything he'd ever felt. The boy was all of a sudden a form of redemption, for he was unable to help the woman, maybe he could help this lost soul.
He tried to reach out his hand, he knew there was never going to be a way he could properly heal the boy, after what he saw, but he could at least he could comfort him.
Or so he thought. His arm was frozen, in fact he couldn't feel t at all. He suddenly realized he couldn't feel anything physical at all. His overwhelmed mental feelings had blocked him from sensing that sooner.
All of a sudden he was a ghost, being able to do nothing but spectate.
Red and blue flashing lights illuminated the darkness of the closet. From the shadows Logan could make out the depression and fear carved into the boy's face. That look, should never be found on a child.
Out of no where an arm broke into their silent sanctuary and ceased the boy. It yelped of shock, then was viciously pulled out. Logan cried out for it, but it was no use, he could't be heard.
Instead he heard voices, h couldn't hear heir exact words, but he felt the coldness of them. They were completely oblivious to the scene, and it almost felt like it never happened.
The voices turned into impatient barks and growls at the boy. Such sounds would have usually made him crumble down and cry. But this time, he stood still, with the pained look of fear still sketched onto his face.
The voices persisted, and Logan felt sick to his stomach. hadn't tis boy been though enough. He tried to go and comfort the boy's antagonists, stick up for him. But again he found himself useless.
Finally the voices wet quite in vain. The turned into soft sound, faking pity. Then the boy was dragged away, into the darkness ahead.
"No!" Logan screamed and lunged is whole body to aid the boy.
But he didn't fly forward, instead he felt a force, stronger then anything he'd ever felt, pull him in the opposite direction. For a fraction of a second he tried to fight it, transform his protectiveness of the boy into strength, but it was in vain.
The boy disappeared from his sights forever, and he was sucked back into his own personal hell. But this time it wasn't full of the feeling of fear, this time all he could feel was failure.
For a moment all around him was, and all he could feel was his wildly pounding heart.
Then he realized he was squinting his eyes shut. He opened them to find he was still sitting on the couch in the dead quite Palm Woods lobby.
He released his breath and studied the room. Everyone was still sound asleep, some snoring and stirring. Lying right next to him was Carlos, who fidgeted like he usually did fast asleep.
He remained on James's steady lap who was relatively a sound sleeper.
Logan's lips formed into a small smile, such action they had not done in days. And he gently moved his arm to rub Carlos's back softly.
The teen's body calmed and stilled and Carlos sunk into a deeper relaxation.
He looks so peaceful, Logan thought to himself with a smile, I'll wait till morning.
Kendall woke up stiff. His body had to be contorted into a wildly uncomfortable position in order to fit among all the sleepers. For a moment his aching body and how painful stretching himself out was, was all he could think about.
Then he turned to Logan, and remembered.
Carlos and James came to life a few minutes later, along with some others sleepers in the lobby. Camille was one of them, and she gave Kendall a helpless look as soon as she did.
She knew it hadn't worked.
Kendall could only reply with a sad sign. He was about to go back to working on stretching his body out when the door flung open.
Tired, and well bitter, Mr. Bitters walked in. His eyes were red with bags undernneath, he smelled quite strongl and it looked like he had missed a couple of shaving sessions. But he was nontheless triumphant, in his hand was the 10000 worded evaluation he had finally completed.
All the pride and accomplishment leaked out of him as soon as he realizd what had become of his lobby.
"What the heck is going on here!?" he roared, snapping all the rest of the sleepers up instantly.
None of the boys felt the strenght or care to anwser him, so they remained silent as he continued to rant.
"I go home early one night, just to work ten hours typing up this darn evaluation form and this is what I have to come to work to!" he vented, clearly intended on going on for quite awhile.
Katie sighed, knowing the only way to shut him up, "You finished the evaluation?" she asked in sarcastic interest.
It worked like a charm, "Why yes I did." he smiled, almost forgoing his anger, "It took ten hours, and was so big I couldn't even save it onto my computer." he bragged proudly, ad placed his precious form on his desk.
"But it was worth it, with the money I make I can replace all the crap they expect me to work with, like the cheap cofee maker, this wobbly desk, " he continued patting the desk, "And this dam paper shredder that never shuts off." He explained gesturing to the shredder on the right edge of his desk.
Katie rolled her eyes as Bitters continued to go on and on about what he would do with his raise. In the meantime Guitar Dude took it upon himself to gather his precious instrument he'd left by Bitters desk.
However in doing some, he bumped into the desk, causing it's right legs to buckle down and send the form sliding perfecting into the shredder.
Bitters barely had the chance t gasp and try to grab it before it was torn into pieces. Although he was much too late and the malfunctioning machine happily ate ten hours of work.
Everyone was shocked silent, staring at both the shredder and the manager, whose face had contorted into one of disappointment and confusion. Then someone laughed.
It was one person, and it wasn't an obnoxious laugh either. But it was quite amused, like a belly laugh.
Kendall, Carlos, and James exchanged looks, it was a familiar laugh, but something they hadn't heard in a very long time. Slowly they dared to turn around, confirming what they thought it was.
"Now that was good!" Logan cried between his laughter, knelling over and nearly quite.
For a second everyone was quite. Then a giant smiled broke through Carlos's face and he hollowed a wildly happy cheer.
Before Logan could react Carlos tackled him into a tight embrace, laughing madly himself. This snapped all others out of silence and the whole lobby seemed to cheer, Kendall's and James's being the most prominent. They quickly joined Carlos and Logan, and soon Logan's three best friends were squeezing the life out of him. But he didn't mind, in fact he'd never been so happy.
Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see Gustavo, giving him an approving small smile.
AUTHOR'S NOTE- Well he's finally out of it folks. Now all we have to do is put the cherry on top, ice the cake, or however you see it. I'm just going ahead now to say what a blast I had writing this, and how thankful I am that you put the time into reading it, especially if you reviewed. Speaking of which, please do, I can;t say it enough I love your opinions!