A/N: Hey there, everyone! I'm so sorry that this took so long for me to get out. I've been really busy with school and everything, lately. I'll try and get chapters four and five out within the next day or two. No promises, though!
Disclaimer: I'm simply playing with these toys, I don't own 'em. Well, except for Adrienne, Zoey, and the plot.
Zoey and I sat on the plush purple carpet in the living room, giggling with one another over the silliest of things. My back leaned against the cheap coffee table; purple paint was peeling off and exposed the smooth wood hiding beneath the mask. I held my left foot firmly in my hand with the small brush in the other. Three nails had already been painted the soft violet base that was to be on each toe.
Our faces were caked in a mask of mint green goop that cracked and crumbled to the ground as it dried. Laughing was difficult to do as the mask constricted any kind of facial movement, though we still managed to do it.
"You should have seen the look on her face!" Zoey exclaimed in remembrance as our laughter came to a pause. We had been schmoozing for a while now, doing so as we pampered our slowly wilting bodies. It had been so long since I've taken the time to give myself the royal treatment.
"Must have been great!" I replied feebly due to my air shortage from the constant giggles. We were referring to an old pal from the good old days in high school. This little pal of ours thought it was fun to poke fun at my awkwardness in social situations.
Zoey had a run in with her recently; it was eventful to say the least. The busty bimbo had waltzed into the vegetable isle in search of carrots and cucumbers for her romantic dinner of sorts. A subtle scoff of disgust left her plump lips as she looked Zoey over. She wouldn't have this- oh no. Zoey pounced and mauled her pray, making sure to take her revenge on this beast from the past.
Zoey wasn't allowed in the grocery store after that; she was considered a threat to the public.
A vat of ice cream was plopped down on the floor before me- cookie dough. Grinning eagerly down at me Zoey frantically nodded her head, a spoon hanging from her lips and another in her hand. "Let's feast!" She proclaimed, her words muffled from the silver utensil. She tossed the other spoon down at me and sat down excitedly.
"Ah, ah, ah…" I scolded while picking up the ice cream and moved it from her reach. "We watch." My hands motioned towards the decent sized television set. It came accompanied by a sound system that seemed more adequate for a movie theater than a home; speakers were in every corner of the room. "While we eat."
Zoey smiled broadly in agreement to my suggestion. "Deal." Hopping up she quickly made her way to the shelf filled with assorted videos. Azure eyes bore onto the hard plastic covers as she scanned over the titles individually; careful not to miss a single letter. Her index finger tapped lightly against her smooth chin as she debated. "What do you want to watch?"
"Anything is fine with me." My shoulders shrugged as my wrists flicked to the side in a jester of little care. As long as a movie had a decent plot and a good director it was worth my time. If it doesn't though… well, it gets ugly. "No crap, though." I added feverously; I knew Zoey's movie taste well. She watched those horrid corny romantic movies that have not even the slightest hint of actuality. They always made men out to be these perfect creatures that were sent down from heaven to hold and protect. That's a big fat lie- men are pigs, dogs, and other vulgar insulting names.
Zoey gave a mischievous grin as she slid the DVD onto the tray. Her fingers pushed gently- it all seemed to drag, as if in slow motion. Something was very wrong… I could feel it.
Sitting herself beside me on the lime couch, her grin still rested on her elegant features. A sudden panic filled my senses as I thought of what terrible deed she could have done. "What did you put in?" I frantically asked- desperation oozing from my pores. My eyes peered over her face in an attempt to read her. She knew my trick, though, for she kept her face as blank as possible.
"You'll see… you'll see…" She replied malevolently. A deep chuckle erupted from her vocal chords as my demise was being plotted in her sick mind. My knee began to bob up and down- a bad habit of mine- in anxiety. I was anticipating something absolutely dreadful to pop onto that screen; something that would haunt my dreams for weeks to come.
"No, no!" I cried out in anguish as the title graced my eyes. Pride and Prejudice- the worst of the worst, if you ask me. Turning to face Zoey my face held nothing but the look of a tortured soul. How could she do this to me? "Why…? How did this bloody movie even end up in my house?" It was simply impossible that I owned that movie- I would never buy something so pointless.
"Uh- hun, it was given to you as a gift from your not-so-informed mother." Zoey said incredulously due to my forgetfulness. I had never been good at remembering things- they always seem to leave my mind. Except, of course, if I actually want to forget something; then it sticks to me like the plague.
Zoey dug her spoon into the depths of the creamy goodness that is cookie dough ice cream and shoved it into her waiting mouth. She happily devoured the delicious dairy desert as she wiggled around in her spot- clearly she loved every disgustingly corny moment.
Slithering like a snake my hand went towards the remote. It seemed to be glowing in a golden gleam while a chorus sang a beautiful chord as I came closer and closer. First it was piano, soon forte. My fingers hovered over the red button that read 'Stop', just itching to press it. Before I could do so, though, Zoey snatched it out from under my hand.
"Suck it up, you pussy." Zoey scolded as she threw the remote aside. It hit the ground with a soft thud; where, though, I had no idea. Obviously that was Zoey's goal.
"Yes, yes I am a pussy." I replied feverously while nodding my head. Those words rang so very true when it came to moments in time such as this. I had no idea what it was about romance movies, but they always made me so uncomfortable. Maybe it was the fact that I badly want something like those relationships, or possibly the fact that the people seem to be so perfect. I suppose I'll never really know.
"Adrienne… if you need to, you can hold my hand." Zoey cooed to me, a teasing look in her eyes. She outstretched her hand and placed it atop mine in a slightly comforting way.
"Shut up." I snapped before ripping my hand from her grasp. I didn't want her to falsely comfort me; she really meant nothing by any of it. My arms crossed across my chest; sulking solemnly as the rest of the upsetting movie played.
I sprang up from my spot as the ending credits came on. Hissing as if the DVD was burning my skin, I quickly set it in its rightful case and tossed it aside. "Never again shall I watch that horrid excuse for a movie!" I proclaimed proudly, thrusting my hand in the air.
"Oh, Adrienne… I hope I find a guy like that someday." Zoey sighed out in bliss. Her blue eyes glazed over as she went off into fantasy land, dreaming about perfect men and perfect dates.
"Zoey… sorry to disappoint, but- ah, men are pigs and jackasses." I scoffed in disgust. "Well, except for the crazies. They… they are amazing." Now it was my turn to go off into fantasy land. Images flashed before my mind's eye of being thrown against the wall in a violent kiss, blood most likely being drawn.
"Adrienne, you're a creeper."
"Hey! I am not a creeper!" I defended with hurt. This is not creeper like at all- I prefer to call it by its rightful name. Hybristophilia: when one is sexually aroused by someone who has committed gruesome crimes. Oh, yes… I like the violent crazies.
"Yuh-huh, just keep telling yourself that, babe." I began to inch my way towards the couch again; Zoey was giving me a menacing and cheeky grin. Her hands hovered over the nearby pillow, twitching impatiently. Just waiting for the pristine moment to pounce on her pray. As soon as I was close enough she snatched up the pillow and smacked my behind. I gasped at the unexpected contact, but soon recovered and grabbed up my own pillow.
"Do you wish to fight?" I threatened her. Answering my question she smacked me yet again in the bottom, laughing maniacally. "So be it!" I screamed with a loud smack of fabric on skin. So the battle commenced…
Zoey and I lay on the floor with our chosen fighting implements resting in our clutches. Our breathing was labored from running around and beating each other senseless with the cushiony weapons. "Uh…" I grunted out as I smacked Zoey one last time before tossing the pillow aside. "I win." I said in triumph, raising my hands into the air weakly.
"You wish." Zoey huffed out between her pants for breath. She brought the pillow that was in her grasp above her head, ready to attack me. Her fingers were too weak to hold on, though, for it was dropped and hit her in the face. "Okay… you win." She said defeated. We laid in silence for a few moments while our bodies cooled down from our exertions, the only thing heard was our breathing.
Suddenly I turned to face Zoey, emerald eyes twinkling. "We need to do a Ouija board." At almost every sleep over I had in my youth some sort of paranormal activity was done. Since we were going to do the normal sleep over things a Ouija board was needed.
"Uh- alright." She said cautiously.
"Awe… is Zoey scared?" I teased. Now I could get my revenge on her for making me watch that horrific movie. Zoey slowly nodded her head. "Too bad!" I jumped up and searched for the needed items for our little game.
Zoey and I sat ourselves on either side of the purple coffee table; each of us quivering in anticipation. Candles flickered wildly, sending an eerie glow about the otherwise dark room. Breathing and our own thoughts were the only sounds floating through the cool air.
I had done many Ouija boards in my youth; I remembered each and every experience clearly. The way my arm ached so deeply as the spirits overtook it; the way my stomach filled with anxiety and excitement as soon as the planchette would glide across the board to answer our questions.
I remembered the way people cried in fear as a small group and I engaged in this board game. The sobbing bunch of girls begged me to stop immediately for they were horrified of the beings that spoke through it. At first I refused to halt the game, my body filling with bountiful energy and joy while we spoke to a familiar spectre. I finally gave in as their pestering plucked at my nerves like a guitarist to its instrument. In exchange for me stopping my fun I cruelly gave my lovely spirit friend the right to harm the annoying girls.
To my surprise he seemed to have taken up my offer, for the following day someone, whom I particularly had little to no liking for, suffered from an attack of some sort, asthma possibly. I had known it was my doing, but I felt no remorse- rather joy from her suffering.
We delicately placed two fingers each upon the small shot glass, resting so gently on the smooth surface they were barely making contact. Blue met green as Zoey and I glanced at one another, silently telling of our mutual readiness to begin. My lids closed over my emerald orbs as I breathed in deeply, clearing my mind of its daily thoughts.
"Is anybody there?" I asked in a haunting voice, playing into the aura created from this sinister environment.
Our breaths were long and shallow as we sat, waiting for the glass to twitch and glide towards its answer. A few long moments later I asked the same question. Shortly after the planchette jutted to the left, inching its way to the eloquently etched word 'Yes.' A pang of bliss shot through my being, causing my body to jolt suddenly; my arm twitching awkwardly as we placed the glass back in the center.
"What's you name?" Zoey questioned this time, her head cocked to the side in a jester of curiosity. The planchette failed to even give the slightest jump as we waited for a reply. Becoming impatient, she asked another question, "Are you willing to share your name?" A twitch to the right came soon after; hovering cautiously over 'No.' Zoey gazed up at me, obviously uncomfortable with our friend keeping a hidden identity. I could see the question sitting in her eyes, asking permission to quickly end the game.
"Why won't you tell us your name?" I asked in reply to Zoey, my eyes staring into hers all the while. A twinkle of worry glimmered in her azure eyes at my response to her unspoken question and lack of comfort in the situation. I merely smiled at her, a certain cheekiness shining behind it brightly.
The spirit spelled out the word 'Secret' as it flew gracefully over the letters. My interest in this unmentionable being increased as the mysteriousness grew. "Do you know either of us?" I questioned softly, raising my eyebrows with curiosity. Zoey flinched noticeably as the glass landed on the word 'Yes,' taunting us. My heart beat picked up as the excitement seemed to grow with each passing moment.
"Who?" Zoey finally chocked out nervously, fidgeting about in her spot. 'Not you,' the board read, seemingly having a tone of incredulousness and disgust. "Adrienne…" Zoey whispered harshly, both scolding me for this and in shock whilst I grinned ear to ear from the spirits declaration. "Why are you talking to us?" Zoey asked with much distaste. 'Why not?' the spectre responded teasingly, pushing Zoey's buttons oh so joyously.
The glass began to move without us asking a question; this worrying both of us. Despite my experience with this game something like this has never happened to me before. 'Remember last time?' the board asked me. Confusion blurred my thoughts for a moment until realization suddenly hit me. The girl whom I harmed by intention rather than by hand. Was this the same spirit from so many years back?
"Is this who I think it is?" I asked cautiously, hoping that the being was able to get into my thoughts to know whom I was talking about. Zoey sat in silence for she had no clue what was being talked about; she kept herself still as she waited for the spectre to answer my interrogation, though.
The planchette crawled to the right, mercilessly gleaming over the two letter word nobody enjoyed hearing or reading. "Then- who?" I asked, completely baffled by who this could be. The glass seemed to cackle coldly at me as it spelled out the words, 'Think and listen.' Listen? That made no sense what-so-ever. I didn't understand how I would be able to listen to anything with a simple board game.
Wait… I could actually hear the laughter. I snapped my eyes to Zoey's face, searching for any sign of horrid terror on her features as she, too, recognized the bone chilling sound. Unluckily for me she was only mildly frightened and showed no signs of hearing anything out of the norm.
Cold chills shot through my spine as I figured out who had been talking to us. 'Yes' the spirit said in reply to my unspoken revelation.
Nervous laughter erupted from my slender lips as I ran my free hand through my black locks. "That's enough for tonight!" I said quickly, "Goodbye." It made no sense to me. How could he talk to me here? He was just a fictional character after all.
Zoey paled considerably; she knew that if I was scared it to be something bad. The glass began to slide over each letter of the alphabet in a rebellious manner, not wanting to leave me just yet. I snatched up the planchette and placed it upside down over the word 'Goodbye' written on the board. According to something I had read before, he had been trying to escape the small confines of the board to better harass my best friend and I.
I carefully lifted the board from the table and placed it in its rightful box. I discarded the cardboard contraption in the hallway closet; leaving it there to collect dust until the next time of usage; which was most likely not going to happen.
"That was- er, interesting." Zoey said nervously, attempting to lighten the uneasy air about the room. I smiled in her direction as I placed the candle snuffer over the small flames.
"Let's go to sleep, now." I said soothingly, moving towards my sleeping destination. A reassuring smile graced my lips as I glanced at Zoey, her face full of nervous fear. Zoey shuddered as a crawling sensation itched at her lower back; paranoia evading her mind greedily.
I, myself, was only vaguely disturbed. Then again I actually had knowledge of who had spoken to us while Zoey hadn't the slightest notion. Her hands clutched her pillow tightly, holding it as though it would somehow be her protector of the night, warding off the unwanted entities.
Pulling my stuffed creature into my own grasp, I laid down in the small couch. I subconsciously twiddled with the strands of wispy fibers sewn into the duck's head. My free hand clasped onto my childhood blanket, oh so affectionately called my 'bubby'. The pressed and silky edges pushed beneath my long nails, putting pressure on the sensitive skin beneath. This has always been a habit of mine; hard to break though not necessary to do so.
"Adrienne?" Zoey whispered into the dark after a few short moments of silence, us merely laying around in an attempt to calm our ever-present nerves. I turned my head to face Zoey, or at least where I assumed she was by listening to where her voice had come from.
"Yeah?" I asked coolly as my comforting habits began to take affect; sending endorphins through my veins and giving me a pleasant calm.
"Who was talking to us?" She asked innocently, her tone reminding me of a small child. Asking a question that seemed so gentle yet had a hidden darkness due to the horrifying answer that she wouldn't understand. Just as a parent would to their troubled child, I replied as discreetly and soothingly as possible. I doubted she would have believed me if I were to be brutally honest, though. She may have called me insane for thinking it was a make believe man whom filled my fantasies with bliss.
"Someone that I think about a lot." I said, hoping that Zoey wouldn't ask any further questions and accept my reply. To my displeasure she did the opposite, though.
"Then- then why was it being so… creepy?" She asked, again in innocence. I chose to ignore this question and act as though I had fallen asleep, as though I had been sent off into the land of many worlds and creatures. The same land where this feral being lurked, awaiting for the perfect moment to pounce on the innocent passersby, simply entering the mysterious land for short moments of time in the snippets of REM sleep.