A/N: I'm so damn sorry this is late! I need to catch up with my writing…
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October 31, 2019.
Halloween.
"Francis!"
"Fwanshish!"
"FRAN-CI-HIS!"
"FRANCIS!"
"WHA-HUT?!" He yelled at the voices screaming for him around the home. At first he tried to ignore them all, and continue to watch a movie Zoey had started while lazily thrown back on the sofa. But he could hardly hear the audio now, and turning up the volume didn't help. With the calls growing louder and Jeepers Creepers flashing across the TV screen, Zoey watched from next to him, eating a can of sweetpeas as Francis jumped up and twisted around with annoyance etched on his face.
He moved around the couch and headed for the next room. "The hell do you all wa-" Francis stopped, startled to see someone falling down the carpeted stairs; and landing in a heap at the bottom with liquid splashing out of a mug they held.
"Again?" The large man grunted. Zoey winced at the sight, as he stepped over and crouched down to help them up.
"Never mind, I got it Francisco!" Louis yelled in the distance.
"Are you alright? Yer gonna kill yourself in this thing." He said, ignoring his friend and pulling the black mask of the costume off. The costumes they wore all night and day. Even on a quick run to town. It was quite amusing to see the survivors killing infected in their outfits to him. Almost like a TV show about heroes fighting villains.
Stunned, Kayla just stared at him with an ajar mouth and half-lidded eyes. Until she raised the cup, jiggled it and upon hearing a small swishing, weakly smiled before sipping what she had left of hot chocolate. The majority of her beverage was staining the walls and stairs, making Francis laugh softly.
"What do you mean again." Zoey wanted to know.
"She fell down a flight of wooden stairs one time and didn't let go of 'er coffee. C'mon on your feet." He pulled her up as she went limp in his arms.
Next Amber appeared from the shadows. Jumping across the living area and punched her arms repeatedly in the air. She spun around kicking a leg out, connecting with a lamp and sends it flying across the room. The lightbulb sparked when it broke against a window. Causing the place to dim.
Zoey had thrown her arms up to shield herself from flying shards. "Amber the hell you gotta do that for!" She exclaimed. Giving her an exasperated look.
"I'm practicing hand to hand combat." She replied and continued to strike. "Anything can happen tonight," she paused and pulled the shemagh down from her mouth. "Our luck there's probably something coming for us right now. You know how it is, everything's fine one minute and the next we're fighting the entire fucking state."
"...I mean, you ain't wrong." Francis agreed with a scrunched eye and a shoulder shrug. Zoey shrieked as he said this, while Beth and others were still shouting his name. She flailed her arms, peas flying about and looked around as Amber resumed her training.
"Uh?!" The biker whine-shouted, dropping Kayla.
Beth came through, walking by lit jack o lanterns sitting on night stands either side of the entrance, with an angry expression and holding a beanie in one hand, and a scarf in the other. "What is this, why were they on the counter!" She boomed.
Zoey held the board game up. "Louis it's time!"
Francis look from her to Beth, "I was getting hot." She squinted, and laid the beanie on his face. Sighing he took it to put it back on, and raised an eyebrow as she smiled.
"Time for what." Louis asked as he too walked inside. Holding a bowl of candy.
"Ouija. Still wanna play?"
He shifted his eyes on the game, sucking on a jolly rancher. "Oh. Sure I'll still try it." He went over and got himself comfortable by the opposite side of a coffee table, and placed the bowl down as Zoey unboxed it.
She sets it down between the two.
Both players observed it carefully. Letters, numbers, greetings and words marked its flat vintage-like surface, with a sun and moon on either top corner. As the moon glared aside, the sun stared up with a cold smile.
They shifted their eyes on each other until Zoey pulled out a planchette. Setting it down as well. She and Louis placed their fingers on it.
"Alright. Are there any spirits who would like to talk with us?"
"Pretty cliche way to start." Louis snorted.
"That is how you start."
The others randomly assembled around the table from different parts of the house. Jordan snuck up from behind Beth and swept her off her feet. He carried her over and sat down on the sofa, with Keirstan folding her arms and watching the two disapprovingly. "Don't say we didn't warn you if anything comes through." She snarked.
"I hate ouija boards." Francis groused.
They waited for an answer, however the planchette didn't move. "Is there anyone here. If so, we don't welcome any negative or dark spirits. And we mean no harm or disrespect." Louis spoke up.
Nothing.
"Is this house haunted." Zoey paused for some seconds. "If it is what sign would you give us?"
"On the ceiling it writes, 'I am a ghost.'" Ian joked.
He earned some short laughs as Amber slapped his arm. "No it comes out with a sheet over its head." Jordan commented. "Or twerks its way out."
"That'd be you no doubt." Beth corrected, and Bill smiled, shaking his head as they all laughed more.
"We've caught paranormal activity guys!" Ian exclaimed, holding up an invisible camera. "And it'd be you twerking in view with that bedsheet on."
"Wanna find a camera?" Jordan kept it up.
"I said we mean no disrespect! Ya'll go deaf on that?" Louis scowled, glaring around the group.
"Yeah seriously. Don't…" Keirstan mumbled.
Everyone snickered until they grew silent. Zoey thinned her lips trying to keep from laughing again, and exhaled quietly.
The planchette sat still.
"We're sorry about that." Louis apologized.
"They probably don't wanna talk now." Francis guessed, his arms resting on the back of the couch. "Doubt anything's here anyway. Yer gettin' nothing."
"It takes a little bit." Zoey replied.
"You do know what not to ask it right?" Keirstan leaned closer to Zoey with tense untrust in her eyes. She returned the gaze with a bored expression. "I know Keirstan. Relax."
"Maybe Francis' right and they don't want to talk." Louis looked at the two with disappointment. The biker shrugged. Resting his chin on his arms now. "If I were dead I wouldn't wanna speak to ya either."
Unsurprised, Louis answered, "no kidding. You'd just pull all kinds of shit on me and the only thing I'd hear from you is laughter."
"Damn right you would."
"Why not put it away for now and try again later." Amber suggested. Her eyes trailed over the spirit board. Studying the patterns.
Taking in her words, Zoey frowned and leaned back a little. Her fingers rested on the planchette, still waiting for the slightest bit of movement. She opened her mouth to speak as Louis reacted to something. He slanted his eyes and took a closer look at the board, then back on her.
"I guess we co-"
"Quit moving it!"
Zoey locked eyes with him in surprise. So did the others. Her lips shaped as he continued. "I can feel you pulling it away Zoe."
"I'm not moving it."
"Yes you are."
"No I'm not!"
"Ah yes," Kayla mused. Crossing her arms and watching the two. "So begins the cliche mindfuck of who's moving the planchette."
During this excitement grew. Although Francis remained in his position where he was. However, his face slightly lightened in wonder as the pair argued. He leaned over for a better look, and all could see it was really sliding around. Slowly, barely noticeable, but moving.
"I ain't pushing it either." Louis defended.
"Oh sure, dick around and yell at me pretending you're not doing it."
"I'm hardly touching it!"
"So am I." Zoey shrugged and laid her eyes back on him.
He went to raise his hands to show he wasn't the culprit, just to be interrupted by two of the girls. "No don't do that!" Beth and Keirstan yell in alarmed unison with both shooting forward, trampling across Ian and slamming his hands down. He was shoved into the table as Zoey leaned away. "You have to say goodbye if you're done." Beth instructed with grave seriousness in her voice.
"Fine." Louis wheezed as Ian sat up from being run over. Amber had moved aside in time and was now chuckling softly, while he stared in a daze.
Jordan tucked his legs up before he pointed at the board. "Ya'll I think it's gonna spell something." He guessed, watching as it inched towards a letter.
"Biker dude! Quit being useless and find some paper." Zoey instructed.
Francis scrunched his eyes while giving her a cold look. He rose, grumbling something about uselessness and headed for the game room.
'H.'
"Hurry up it's spelling!" Ian called, turning his head and keeping his sight on the board. "It's on H."
It had stopped for several seconds, until it began to move again. Kayla rested her cheek in her hand watching it, as Beth and Keirstan exchanged uncertain glances.
"Francis!" Louis hollered.
"Will you calm the fuck down." Francis growled. Lurking back in the living room with a pad of paper and pen. He held it up in a sarcastic manner to show it was written while plopping himself on the couch next to Jordan. Crossing a foot over his lap, he waited for what was next.
'I.'
"Hi." Amber confirmed.
The players kindly returned the greeting. "It's nice to see you're willing to talk with us now." Zoey said in a gentle tone. "I'm Zoey. Do you have a name?"
"Uh, I don't think it's wise to introduce yourself to it." Jordan cautiously said in a low voice. He shifted in his seat and glanced at the college student uneasily.
"I wouldn't…" Bill solemnly agreed. He went over to settle down on the recliner and watched in wariness.
Louis stared at her as she shushed them before Keirstan and Beth could say a word. "It's fine." Zoey replied with confidence.
At this, Beth held her hands up half-way to her chest and shook them in frustration. "This is not fine you don't know what you're talking to!"
"Let's just stay calm so we don't excite it." Ian suggested.
Beth irritatingly sighed as Keirstan shook her head, shifting her orbs from the board to the players until both returned to their spots. And the game continued.
There was a short silence as Louis bit his lip nervously. "So uh...do you have a name spirit?"
They soon felt the planchette shifting once more. Francis, who waited in quiet impatience, resumed writing what it was spelling, looking back and forth between the pad and game so he got it right. As he did Kayla moved to squeeze between him and Jordan to watch what the messages spelled out, Beth doing the same from over his head. Resting her chin on top of it with large eyes.
'...I...do...n't…'
"Remember." Francis read outloud.
Louis shrugged lightly. "That's alright." He replied, Amber staring in suspicion. "Are you male or female?"
They waited. It didn't move. After several minutes, and with both Louis and Zoey asking again, it still didn't move.
Amber shifted closer to Ian and rested her arms on the table. "Doesn't want to say I guess."
"Could've left." Keirstan said hopefully.
'Still….here…'
"Or not." Jordan stated, his eyebrows raised with his cheek resting against his knuckles.
It continued to shift around, slightly faster than before. As if waiting eagerly for the next question.
"How did you die?" Louis voiced, eyes up at the ceiling. "And how old are you?"
Francis leaned forward and wrote quickly. "Um…" he tapped the pen against his chin afterwards, reading the message.
'I can't remember anything. sorry.'
"No need to apologize." Zoey said after he passed it along. "It's perfectly fine. You're welcome to say whatever you want or need to say."
In response, it slid across the board. Everybody watched as it hovered above each letter, and slowly inch to a stop once it was finished.
'...You're...nice Zo...ey. I like...you…'
She smiled softly. "That's kind to know. Thank you." Zoey looked up at everyone, finding all nine of her teammates staring back with doubt etched in their faces. "I'm just being polite."
"To something that won't tell you what it is." Bill grunted, resting back in the recliner and crossing his legs.
With the thought in mind, Louis spoke before Zoey could reply. "Are...you human…?" He asked with hesitance.
Once more it didn't reply.
"Where are you?"
'…'
'...'
'...On the stairs.'
Francis stared at those three words, as Bill shifted forward again. Both looked towards the flight with some of the others, just to see nothing there. The biker gazed at the old man, who continued to observe the steps.
It ignored Louis when he asked a second time if it was human. "Guys I think this is a good time to stop." Amber advised. "If it's not answering what we should know, than it's probably not a good sign."
"I um, agree." Ian nodded. Earlier he was so curious of what would happen, but the more he saw it was keeping its identity as low as possible, he realized something was off.
'I like you Zoey.'
'Put it away!' She saw Keirstan mouth tensely through gritted teeth. Beth was watching with concern in her eyes, and Kayla and Jordan were growing uncomfortable. Their body language read the emotion, and the girls kept close to their brother as he held a grave expression at what he was seeing.
Zoey bit her lip. Her fingers curled in a little bit on the planchette. "Alright," she gave in. "It was nice talking with you, but now it's t-"
'Don't go zoey. I don't want you to.'
Francis was no longer writing down its responses. The group was carefully watching what letters it stopped over at a much more brisk speed. It was so quick most hardly caught what it was saying. 'Don't leave Zoey I don't want you to go, please don't leave, don't leave I'll be lonely ZOEY DON'T GO I like Zoey I want to be like Zoey, I don't want you to go.'
'Don't leave.'
'Don't leave!'
'YOU CAN'T LEAVE.'
The aggressiveness in these messages, the speed and intensity, sparked an onslaught of frightened excitement among them. Exclaiming over each other as Beth and Keirstan hollered at the players to end it. Louis anxiously gazed at his partner, and Zoey wasn't doing anything but staring at the frantic planchette in complete astonishment. She was visibly shivering now, he could see it clearly.
'...You're...scared...'
"Say goodbye already!" Bill yelled, jumping out of his seat and throwing a hand up over Ian, Amber and Jordan's heads.
"Holy shit…" Jordan muttered, his face washed with bewilderment.
"Goodbye! Goodbye!" Louis shouted repeatedly, soon Zoey was joining him. With both yelling the greeting, to their increasing shock the planchette refused to slide over. So they force it down to the word.
The players let go, looking at it until they gazed at everyone else. Who were equally amazed and startled as they were. Noone said or did anything for a long time.
Finally, Zoey shook out of it and got up. Collecting the board, planchette and shoved it into the box. "How do you get rid of this thing." She questioned, each word trembling out of her mouth. Her hands shivered from holding it.
"Normally people burn them. Or just throw it out." Beth informed. "But seeing it didn't want to say bye, we should burn it."
"Father Doug would be perfect for this job." Kayla stated in a bored tone, stretching her arms and body and cracking her back against the couch. Amber shot her a strange look as she said this, while Francis, Beth and Jordan broke into laughter. Bill scrunched his eyes with his arms folded, and sighed during their reactions.
"Yeah he would be." Francis chortled, "shit he'd be perfect for dealing with the vampires out there too." He added, stabbing a thumb towards a window.
"Who's father Doug?" Ian questioned loudly.
He was ignored as Zoey gave a stern nod. With Louis in tow, she ventured for the backroom of the kitchen. Both threw on their jackets over their costumes, grabbed their melee weapons, flashlights and headed outside.
"I think they enjoyed that." Jordan chirped, the backdoor slamming shut while he spoke and Keirstan walking towards the kitchen sink. She looked out to see the two drop the board in a trash can by the shed. Then Louis pulled out a set of matches from his pocket. Soon the inside of the bin flashed orange, and they stood by to watch it combust.
"Maybe she'll make a better choice next time she sees one." Keirstan snarked, looking over her shoulder at her friends. "If you ask me, I think it was a little unnerving how badly she wanted to use it." She continued, turning her hips to lean against the counter.
"She probably won't touch one after that. Weren't the most horrifying thing but it was scary enough." Beth replied. She then turned around and grew suspicious of her sister upon seeing her slink away. Tiptoeing clumsily but silently out of view.
Francis watched them go and followed. He peered into the next room and found the older sibling rummaging through her bag while explaining to Beth what she was planning.
"Did you know she's doing this?" She asked, throwing her arm out at Kayla who held her stashed weapon over her head in excitement.
He lazily blinked and nodded. "I was gonna stop her, but I wanted to see how this plays out." He confessed with Kayla brushing by him and running through the house. Still holding it over her head.
"What are you doing now." Amber sighed seeing her friend charging towards her. She didn't answer and sped by. Leaving Amber unfazed.
"I was about to say go back in the living room that'll freak 'er out for sure." Francis snickered soon after. Beth walked beside him and looked across the kitchen in time to catch a glimpse of Zoey and Louis heading back inside.
"Here they come!"
As Beth yelled, Kayla was carefully setting the prank where everyone was gathered. A sly expression washed over her face as she did so. Upon hearing the warning, she scrambled to finish then scurried out of sight as the door creaked open.
"Ain't doing that again." Zoey confirmed as she stripped off her coat.
"Same." Louis nodded. "And yes, we've learned our lesson." He declared to Keirstan who raised an eyebrow. Giving him a look reading, 'told you.'
He sighed through his nose as both reentered the kitchen, with the others quietly doing their own thing now; trying to shake off the eeriness lingering in the place.
Zoey made way for the living room once more to clean up the peas she threw around. She didn't notice Amber watching her pass with a tense look in her eyes. She had taken a look to see what Kayla was doing, and was worried what the idiot's fate was going to be afterwards.
The college student bent down to pick up the first few peas she saw. She cleared her throat and looked around the area for more of the vegetable. She trailed her sight onto the recliner, the sofa. And then, the coffee table.
She stopped moving. Eyes widening Zoey dropped the peas and her skin paled. Her mouth gaped open in horror.
A sharp scream ripped through the home. Grabbing the survivors' attention throughout the house. Alarming them all. They barreled from where they were excluding Francis, Beth and Amber. Who stood by to watch what would happen as they tore into the living area.
"The hell's going on?!" Ian screamed in bewilderment, looking around in panic as Zoey, still screaming, flipped the coffee table. She sent what was on it flying with a loud crash while pointing in a wild state until Bill caught her in his arms. "Hey! What's wrong what happened?" The veteran exclaimed. He gazed at where the object landed as Jordan and Keirstan hurried over to take a look.
"What the fuck!" Jordan cried, Keirstan jolted with a gasp when he flipped it over. From behind the two Louis and Ian wandered over demanding to know what it was.
They fell silent, and felt their bodies heat up when they laid eyes on an ouija board.
"We burned the fucking thing!" Zoey yelled in disbelief. They turned to her as she pointed outside. "The fire's still going how the hell is it here?!" She was sweating and shaking now, with Bill looking on in shock.
He snapped out of it when Jordan moved closer and bent down. "No, no, no! Don't touch it!" He barked, waving his hands at them to back off while Zoey went to kick it away, but Keirstan pulled Jordan off when he went to pick it up. Louis was running a hand over his head nervously from beside them. He was scared, but was unsure of what to say or do.
"Anyone find some holy water so we can tell this thing to fuck off." Jordan called, gazing about the room.
A noise emitted from Ian's lips, returning his gaze on his partners from staring at the thing. He opened his mouth to try to say something with everyone continuing to react; until all finally heard a hysterical laughing. Muffled by their onslaught of confusion and fear. The group quiet down and turn to where it was, recognizing it was Kayla. Beth, Amber and Francis were also roaring in a fit but they remained focused on the culprit hiding in the game room.
"Where the hell did ya get a second board you sadistic bastard!" Jordan howled. He stormed towards the entrance while Zoey's face fell from terror to bitter fury realizing it was a mischievous act.
"This was you?! Way to start a fucking freakout! That was uncalled for!"
"But it was damn funny to watch."
"Bill's heart could've stopped he's so old!"
"Excuse me? Yours will stop long before mine will if you ain't careful."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You three knew about this, didn't you?!" Louis called the trio out. He pointed at them dramatically. They kept cackling like mad as Jordan was about to reach the doorway. The moment he did, he was thrown out of the way by Zoey, who ran up on him at the same time Kayla scrambled out of the room. He crashed against the recliner with a mighty yell and flipped it over as the girls ran off. "Do it again you little shit, I dare you do it again!" Zoey bellowed in rage.
She laughed, pumping her arms and legs until they entered the kitchen and ran for Francis. He looked down in surprise as the two rushed and fought around him. Arguing over each other as Kayla used him as a barrier and he tried to break it up by putting his arms between them.
"Alright, no one's gettin' hurt over this it was a joke." He reminded, pushing Zoey away.
"No one yet-maybe Jordan-"
"I'm ok!" He announced.
"But she deserves an ass kicking!"
"An ass kickin' over a small prank. Sorry darlin' but that ain't happening." Francis replied sternly. Blocking his sister from getting attacked.
"Ok let's get rid of it before she has an aneurysm." Ian voiced as she glared at Kayla. The older survivor gave her a thin, wicked smile before Zoey backed off. Mumbling to herself while she went inside to pick up the mess.
"That was a good one." Francis smirked as he turned around and fist bumped her. Beth was shrugging and spreading her hands out either side. "I wish we could've got that on film." She chortled, "then we'd have something to watch and tease her with."
Amber nodded with a grin. "And next time we see one, we'd pull up the video and be like 'you wanna try again? Remember this well woman!'" She pretended to hold up a device. Chuckling hard in her chest.
"Alright I get it!" Zoey yelled in irritation over the next burst of booming laughter. Keirstan, Louis and Ian shrunk back from behind her as Jordan struggled out of the recliner. She stormed away from the group, flipping the table on its legs and grabbing what she could from the floor; then marched down the closest hall. "Thought ouijas were a serious thing and nothing to laugh about." She groused as she went, while Bill breathed a short laugh through his nose.
As they cleaned up and Zoey left the room, nobody noticed a small Z being slowly carved in the wall.
…
Francis was washing his machete from old dried blood in a bathroom. Sounds wafted from the TV since everyone had quiet down for the rest of the night. He figured whatever they were talking to had come and gone since they had gotten rid of the boards. Because nothing else happened after the excitement the game and prank had caused.
He rinsed off the soap from the blade. Diluted blood and suds flowed down the drain until he turned it off. Next he grabbed a hand towel and dried the weapon before tossing the cloth away.
He found Bill and Louis settled in the cushioned seats watching another movie one of them put on. The biker watched a scene and heard voices outside. Turning his head, he saw the kids out back with a light on, chatting away and relaxing in each others' company. Francis smiled a little before deciding to sit down with the men.
"Ya'll know what I'm gonna do when the infection ends?" Kayla declared, holding onto a Bird feeding post and spinning around it.
"You're not starting a pirate fleet." Amber shot down, folding her arms narrowing her brow.
"You can't stop me," she retorted, snapping her fingers. "I've got goals bigger than you realize."
Amber sighed. "Well, good luck with that."
"How do you know any pirate will listen to you huh? They're worse today than back then." Ian challenged.
"I fuckin' hate today's pirates. Most likely all dead now anyway."
"Then…?"
"Anyway!" Jordan clapped his hands, as Keirstan and Beth looked over the yard for anything possibly coming their way. "While she fantasizes of getting slaughtered by pirates…"
Something caught Beth's eye as Jordan kept speaking. Something partially hidden behind the shed. It was shifting in and out of view, almost as if it couldn't stay balanced where it stood.
"...Hey." Beth voiced quietly, nudging Keirstan's arm. Keeping her gaze on it. Keirstan flicked her eyes on her, then to what she was looking at when she pointed it out.
"Huh?" Ian chirped, all taking a look for themselves.
"Infected behind the shed." Keirstan replied, with Beth aiming her rifle in the direction.
"Special or common?" Jordan specified raising his gun as well.
"Can't tell."
The figure shifted once again. Then it stumbled into full sight.
Upon seeing it clearer Beth lifted her head and opened an eye from straightening her aim. "Neither. It's Zoey." She identified, able to see the familiar red jacket under her winter coat. Illuminated from the back lights that filtered across the lawn.
Zoey clumsily fixed her pony tail before she continued to shuffle across the yard. Her posture was hunched, arms swinging limply. Her head tilted back as she carelessly kicked up leaves from her uneven steps. Ignoring the group when they called out to her.
"What the hell's she doing?" Kayla groused. "Don't know. Maybe she was gonna try and scare us and screwed up." Amber guessed, rubbing her chin.
Ian chuckled, "she's acting a little too tipsy to be trying to scare us. Hey Zoey! Where'd you find the booze! Is that what you disappeared for? Share!" He waved a hand with a grin.
She continued to ignore them.
"Why would she be out here drinking? That's real smart and safe." Beth scoffed.
"Get yer ass back here! I ain't sorry for scaring you!" Kayla overlapped in a demanding tone.
No response.
"ZO-EY! ANSWER! US!"
The older survivor shrugged, spreading her hands out from cupping them over her mouth in frustrated confusion. As her companions exchanged glances and murmured to each other in wonder.
"You alright Zoe, where are you going!" Amber exclaimed, as Ian raised both hands above his head, pretending to shoot flares where he sat next to Jordan until he dropped one of them.
"Let's get her she probably doesn't hear us if she is drunk." Jordan suggested. Placing his gun aside and readied to get up from the stairs.
"Who the shit are you hollering your asses off at? I'm in the basement! And I'm not drunk!"
At the sound of Zoey's voice coming from behind them, everyone slowed. Then completely froze from what they were doing. Their faces fading, and blood running cold.
Together the survivors spun around at an egress window that was cracked open. "Ya'll must be the drunk or high ones, cause I'm not outside."
The kids took in what she said while staring at the window for some long seconds. Next, dauntingly, they turned back to the figure in the yard. All watching in silent disbelieving fear. Ian dropped his other hand, allowing it to fall in his lap with a thud.
'Zoey' was now dead still. Staring at them in return.
Keirstan's lip trembled as she tried to talk, only to choke on her words. "...Wh...what the...fu…"
The thing slowly raised its own arm. Held it in the air for a moment, and it jerked around. As if to pop the limb in a mock wave.
"Guys?" Zoey called. "...Hello?"
It allowed its arm to fall to the side again. Twitching where it stood.
"...He...hheellll...lllllllooooooooooooo...!?"
A voice, grated and distorted, ripped from its throat. Twisting into the most unholy loud scream any of the survivors heard and causing them to wildly scramble for the threshold. They burst inside, some of them crying out as they shoved into each other before tripping or staggering in the kitchen. Francis came running from the other entrance with Bill and Louis close behind. Anxiety and puzzlement on their faces, which grew deeper from hearing the excitement to seeing the distress overwhelming the kids.
"What happened? What's going on?!" Louis shouted with Amber slamming and deadbolting the door shut.
Francis gently grasped Beth's arms from seeing how pale and disturbed she was. "Talk to me, what's wrong?" He asked in a calm voice to keep from invoking the situation.
After Zoey ran up the basement stairs, her expression wild with distraught looking around the kitchen, Beth pointed a shaking finger at her. Then outside. He could tell she was trying to say something, as nervous sounds quivered from her lips when she tried to respond.
"There's something out there and it looks like Zoey." Keirstan answered. Jordan set down his gun on the counter and retrieved his left over ammo from his jacket's pockets.
"Jordan I don't think that's gonna work." Ian criticized. He had quickly pulled the blinds down around the kitchen and turned around to see him readying the firearm.
"It's a way to defend ourselves if we have to Ian." He shot back.
"Like her?" Bill overlapped the bickering in a loud voice. "Are you sure you're not mistaking it as an infected?"
"It's not…" Beth started in a weak whisper. "...We don't know what it is...it...looks like her, and it spoke!" She finally exclaimed, tears in her eyes with Louis briskly moving over to take a look for himself.
The college student gazed at everyone in growing dread. Frozen in place by the basement, biting her lower lip.
With the disturbance rising, the entrances and windows being double checked for securement, Francis shifted his attention from his sister what what was going on in front of him. He pulled her away from the windows to Kayla before he went to join Louis' side. He noted his mouth was ajar, how large the analyst's eyes were; unblinking and completely focused as he held the blind with an index finger open enough to where he could see clearly.
"They're surely mistaken. Just looked at it wrong..." Bill expectantly dismissed, speeding over to the sink. Francis ushered Louis away, jolting him out of his dumbfounded state and he stiffly moved from the spot for the biker to step in.
To his disbelief it was her. And it was much closer to the house now. Still motionless in a slouched position. The clothes it wore were hers. But dirty and tattered. The head was tilted like its neck was having a hard time supporting the weight. The skin was bruised and sickly white. While its dark brown hair, falling out from that familiar ponytail, was a wild mess around its sunken in face.
And its face…
The way its jaw hung agape. Those chilling, blank eyes devoid of any emotion…
It was Zoey. But 'she' looked dead. The presence visibly sent a shock through Francis' body and he had to stop himself from taking a step back.
"What's it doing? Let me see!" Zoey cried. She ran through to look, but was interrupted when Bill, astonished of seeing the horror in the yard, blocked and shoved her back. She fought against him, "Get outta the way! What do you mean it looks like me?!"
"Stay over there I don't want it to see you." He commanded, holding her arms away.
"No Bill let me see!"
"Zoey stop!"
Her panicked faint voice, and the others' voices barely hit Francis' ears.
As Francis slowly pulled away from the blinds, he could feel heavy, dark fear rain down onto him. His brain struggled to understand what was just beyond their thin barriers. It was something unknown, unexplainable. Leaving him unable to say anything. He tried to, but couldn't.
Deep in his core, something was telling him to run. To get everyone away from this thing. This...entity. It was Zoey, but she was inside. With them. It was disguising itself as her. And he didn't know why. He didn't want to know why.
Cautiously, very cautiously, he pulled the shade open again in hesitation. It remained where he first saw it. Soon though he watched as it held up an arm a second time. Flailing it uselessly, until it grew violent when its body began to convulse out of control.
Francis threw the blind closed once more. The large man turned to the others with Kayla being the first he sees. Her blue-hazel orbs were low. She was quiet and shivering.
"Get in the living room." Francis ordered. He stalked over and pushed her with his arm. Startled out of her shocked state, Kayla held on while backing up until Beth bumped into them and he lead both into said area. He retrieved his own weapon afterwards where he left it next to the heater, and looked at Jordan who nodded his head.
Amber came inside next, nearly covered in sweat. "Jesus Christ...what the hell was that?" She stammered, shaking as well.
"You don't think…" Louis' voice trailed off, looking about the group.
"Don't think what. Finish your Goddamn sentence." Francis blurted, shooting the analyst a cold glance.
Louis winced under the glare. "That this thing is…"
"Whatever came through the board?" Keirstan finished in a small voice. Holding her arms and leaning her shoulder against a wall.
Everyone went silent hearing the theory. Zoey flicked her eyes around until she kept them down, staring hard at the floor.
"...I told you." Keirstan broke the quiet. Francis proceeded to head back in the kitchen with Jordan. "You shouldn't have touched it."
Before Zoey could respond, Bill recoiled and covered his nose. His forehead and eyes wrinkled and he stiffened in disgust. "Oh...God, do you smell that?!" He exclaimed, repulse dripping from each of his words.
They looked at him quizzically but were soon met with a sudden foul smell. It quickly grew stronger, and smelled like sulfur. Francis stopped in his tracks and pinched his nose the worse it got, growling in discomfort; Jordan bumped into him but did the same. As did the others, all reacting appropriately. It made some cough from inhaling the putrid stench before they hastily covered their faces. Stinging their eyes and nauseating the pits of their stomachs.
It was too much. Amber stumbled for the nearest trash can sitting in the game room but didn't make it. She gripped the back of the couch and hunched over, vomiting all over the floor.
"Shit, Ambee!" Ian cried running over to her. His voice muffled from his shirt as he had it covering his nose and mouth. He held her as she vomited again. She started to gasp as the smell invaded her lungs when she was done. The young survivor replugged her nose the moment she had a chance to with Ian raising a hand to do so for her. He quivered with concern, bending down to her level.
"Where the hell is it coming from damn it!" Beth yelled in frustration over the groans and hacking. It felt as though it lingered for far too long. Even with their noses pinched and lips pursed, the survivors could taste the smell in the back of their throats.
Louis hurried to the first air vent he saw in the wall, reaching an arm up to open the register. That is until he slipped on Amber's baseball bat. He hadn't seen it lying in the middle of the floor and it rolled under his foot. Louis threw his hands out to catch himself on a night stand where he inhaled what he expected more of the hot, rotten scent. He scrunched his nose, bracing for it to hit him again.
Slowly, however, the analyst felt his muscles relax. Tension released from his body when he realized it was fading away.
"It-It's going away." Louis rasped. He twisted around at the group, taking in another breath to be sure. There was a hint left, but it wasn't nearly as horrid as it was seconds ago. "Guys," one by one a few of his teammates glanced at him. "It's going away."
"You sure." Kayla hissed.
"Ye-I wouldn't be standing here breathing it!"
There was thumping outside as they did so with hesitation.
"Is everyone alright," Bill called out. "Amber, are you alright?"
"Jordan let's go take care of this fucker." Francis snarled, glaring darkly at the back entry. Amber nodded as an answer whilst Beth, Ian and Keirstan met eyes with each other.
"Francis don't!" Kayla exclaimed, briskly blocking their path with an outburst of "don't be stupid!" From Bill behind the three. She stared up at him with determination.
He returned the gaze. "Move."
She stopped him from pulling her inside by backing up and repeatedly pushed his hand away. "We don't know what it is. So as Ian's said guns probably won't work!"
"It's better than doing…" Jordan stopped when the team heard something else.
The men turned their heads as Kayla traced her eyes at the windows by the front of the living area. Beth had paused from assisting her sister, as a high-pitched noise caught their ears.
It sounded like a Dog whining. Mixed with a little kid who was about to cry...the whining changed in tones, as it trailed over to the front door.
Francis shifted his vision where it was going from over his shoulder. The curtains blocked it from sight while a long, drawn-out groan replaced the whines. It stomped heavily up the steps at uneven, slow pace. Keirstan scrambled away with a frightened whimper and passed Zoey when she broke from the group, scurrying for the casement. She had to see.
"Get you ass back over here!" Keirstan hissed through clenched teeth when she double looked at what she was doing. Beth went after her, though both were ignored when Zoey inched the curtain open. She peeked out while being sure whatever it was wouldn't notice her.
And now, she wished she would've just listened.
Beth caught up to Zoey and noted her demeanor changed like theirs had. She pulled her away when she locked up, then sat her on the sofa. She stared at the floor once again, her hands trembling and breaths shallow.
As the entity slammed and scratched at the door, it released another noise. And by listening carefully, the team could make out as pieces of words. Broken, harsh words. It whined, although kept trying.
"...Je...u...s...Chr…"
Worst of all, this was Amber's voice.
"Wha…hell...was...th...at…?"
Same accent, same tone of fear.
Alarmed everybody looked at her to find her backing away, emitting a distressed cry and watching the entrance with unspeakable overwhelming terror. Ian once more wrapped her in his arms. Placing a hand on her head as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. Ian's lip trembled, glaring at the doorway.
"Get out!" He screamed. In a tone of horror noone has ever heard come from him. It especially startled his college mates and only deepened their fear. "In the name of God, leave us alone! Get the fuck outta here!"
"Ian…" Keirstan squeaked.
His voice alone ran chills through each of them as the entity dragged its nails down the wooden barrier. "Get...out…"
It no longer sounded like Amber. It slowly faded from hers to match Ian's. Its last word deepened into a dark, menacing snarl.
"Out…"
Bill started praying. His hands folded together with his head bowed as it started slamming into the door over and over at an increasing pace. Repeating those two words in a loud tone. Roaring angrily in the young survivor's voice.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
"...Get out!...Get out!...Get out!...GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT!"
The door shook in violence as it psychotically screamed without purpose. Zoey threw her hands up over her ears and curled into a ball, tears leaking from her corners as Keirstan sank to the floor, her own streamed down her cheeks.
"GeT OuT gEt OuT gEt oUt! GeT oUT!"
WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!
"GGGGGGGEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTT OOOOOOOOUUUUUUTTTTTT! GGGGGGEEETTTT OOOOUUUUUTTTTTT!"
Banging. Pounding. Scratching. Shrieking. The sensation of impending doom loomed over the survivors whilst it continued the assault on the door. Like it would break in and take them all.
Francis had enough. With his partners recoiling and moving further away from the entrance, shouting and crying in protest, he stormed towards it in a furious pace. Intense anger fresh in his expression. Jordan stopped pursuing him and watched in astonishment as the large man tore the door open.
A loud shotgun blast boomed in their ears. Deafening them all for a moment, when ringing took over.
Silence. Dead, still silence.
Finally, Beth uncovered her ears and opened her eyes when it faded. She stared at her brother who held his firearm in a stone grip. His body language reading he wanted to rip this thing to shreds.
She brushed by a startled Jordan and carefully peeked outside pass Francis' arm.
The shell laid at his feet. When she looked up, she saw nothing there. Nothing at all. She gazed around while holding onto his shirt in sight for what was attacking them.
Whatever it was, now completely absent. Leaving no trace that it was even there.
She thought so at least until she glanced at the entry. And found blood splattered across it.
Francis exhaled a shuddering breath as he stared outside. His gun still raised for another long moment.
He lowered it and twisted around at the group. His skin in a cold sweat as he placed a hand on Beth's shoulder.
"It's time to go." He sighed. Breaking the stunned quiet. The biker nudged the door away and walked through while taking Beth's hand.
"Is it gone...are you sure it's gone…?" Zoey stammered, sniffling loudly. She looked up with wet puffy eyes. Her cheeks flushed from sobbing in fear for her life.
He nodded solemnly. "It's gone."
"Wh-where are we going to go...in the middle of the night?" Louis pointed out.
"You wanna stay here." Francis replied without looking at him. He glanced at Bill instead.
It was far too dangerous right now. At night, traveling in the dark with the worst of infected lurking in the shadows.
As much as he didn't want to, Francis knew they had to leave. Wherever it went the entity could come back.
Bill's features darkened in daunting bitterness. Having the same thoughts as the biker. Noone wanted to possibly encounter it again.
"Right. Let's move. We'll find a vehicle. Go from there." He said in a low tone.
The younger survivors watched the two before exchanging brief glances at one another again.
It didn't take long though, for everyone undress from their costumes and proceed to collect their belongings. Stuffing them in their packs and gathering canned food and bottled water. Muttering to one another, double checking if they had everything.
As Kayla walked through, she looked up from carrying and digging through her bag to see Zoey staring at something on the wall. "You ready. We're leaving."
She remained quiet. Kayla noticed another wave of fear on the college student's face when she came closer, then followed her gaze.
Zoey's first initial. Carved in claw marks over their heads.
Kayla lowered her gaze, and back on Zoey. She was shaking again.
"C'mon." She nudged her gently. Spooking her out of the trance. "Let's get the hell out of here…"
…
With flashlights low the family crept pass the ruined buildings. As he does, Francis made sure the sisters were right by his side. Keeping guard of them from the front, Jordan in the back.
Ambient noises of the infected, moaning in the dark made their presence known. Those who decided to pick a fight or were in the way were taken out right then, while looking for a vehicle big enough to carry all of them.
It took some time searching. Many vehicles were smashed, burnt or completely dead. Soon though, they came across a large chrysler. Sitting alone on the sidewalk.
Amber tugged on its sliding door. But was able to get it open eventually. Francis and Bill checked the exterior as the others climbed inside. Louis taking the front. To their luck, he found a set of keys in the ignition. Now he just had to hope it would turn over.
With the inspection confirmed it was alright, the last two hopped in. The door was firmly slammed shut.
The engine spluttered from lack of use when Louis twisted the keys. He tried a couple of times, until it hummed to life. The dash beeped, and the gas tank read below half full.
Louis pulled out and began the drive to whatever they could find as a refuge for temporal safety.
They all stayed quiet. Noone wanted to look at each other. Instead, out the windows or at the floor.
Francis did the same. His two sisters pressed against him, but not engaging. Just for a feeling of security and comfort. And he held them as if they would fade from his embrace.
He watched the scenery they passed through. Unable to get what had happened to stop haunting his thoughts. He assumed the others were having the same thoughts as him. Wondering what in the holy hell it was.
The messages from the board. It wouldn't say what it was.
The dark, malicious, nasty vibes.
The smell. The fear.
And how it just suddenly disappeared.
It pretended to be a sad lonely spirit. Tried to at least. Because it wanted to be Zoey. It targeted Zoey, since she showed it kindness.
It went for her, because she showed weakness.
As he thought the events over, he could only come up with one possible answer.
'Demon.'
He shivered. Still watching the outside.
Louis had checked if there was anything in the CD player, and turned up the volume in an attempt to make them somewhat feel better with some music.
Francis didn't hear the lyrics. Or register if anyone reacted to the noise. All he could hear in his head was the thing slamming against the door.
And its bloodcurdling wails. Screaming at them to get out.
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A/N: Inspired by a horror story I once heard. Future chapters will be shorter!