Chapter Four: The Prickly Hairs on the Back of Your Neck
His back aching, Cole sat up. He was surrounded by tall, black trees, and fear struck him. His first thought was to just climb back over the wall. Groaning, he got to his feet. This was all so stupid. Why could he have just left whatever it was alone? But he'd had a feeling... It seemed like he was doing the right thing, but now he'd trespassed, and he'd get into trouble on top of everything else. Cole was almost to the fence when
something grabbed him from behind.
Asside from the yelp he made when seized, Cole tried to make no sound. This thing felt human, at least. It held Cole with two arms wrapped around his chest, and judging from what Cole's head lay against, it was tall.
"What are you?" whispered Cole.
No reply. It breathed shallowly and quickly. Seemingly thinking, it loosened its grip.
Cole ran, not looking back.
The thing bellowed, and gave chase- Cole could hear it pounding against the muddy ground. Forgetting his destination out of pure dread, Cole turned unexpectedly and raced toward a nearby tree. He heard It waiting, listening. Summoning all of his courage, Cole turned around.
What he saw bewildered him.
Standing upright was what appeared to be a six-foot tall monster with porcipine quills on its back. Slolwy, it turned around. It was faceless. There was a black hole were there should be a head- it was a grotesquely frightening mask. A red cloak covered its shoulders, flowed from its back. It was like some sick Halloween prank reserved for a haunted house.
"HELLO!" Cole screamed.
It stood a little taller.
Wind whistled through the trees, and Cole knew the answer then, because he could see his breath, he could see it clearer than any time before.
("It gets cold when they're mad.")
Whoever it was had died in here.
(.."cold when they're mad.")
The monster made another yowling sound, took a step nearer.
("You know those prickly hairs on the back of your neck?")
Cole should have never gone here. The monster was raising up its claws threateningly. Who in their right mind would dress in something like this and chase people? Were they just having fun out here before they died? It didn't seem like fun. It seemed serious.
It was coming toward him now. This was a bad ghost. There were bad people, sick people, and they became tormented ghosts. Cole needed to leave before he got hurt.
("that's them.")
Another furious howl came from beneath the creature suit.
In his last moment of bravery, Cole took a step forward and pulled the crimson hood back.