Her vision blurred, the ground sweeping below her in an array of dizzying colors. She saw greens, browns, blacks, and even the flash of white every now and again. She could hear the heavy pants of whoever was carrying her. Strangely, she didn't care she was dizzy or being carried away somewhere by a complete stranger. What really scared her was the horrifying laughter that still echoed away in her ears and that hideous smile of the demon who's laughter it was. Her mind only focused on that and a single question.
When had everything gone so wrong?
Three Hours Earlier...
The Charger rolled up to the house and Shane jumped out through his sun roof. Jeff grinned at his friend and followed him while Emma went through the door like a normal person. The windows of the house were flashing with bright colors and silhouettes of dancing bodies. She had just stepped out and already she could tell this was one of those parties where someone sneaks rufies into the punch or food and someone else wakes up in the morning with tears on their face and blood on their sheets.
Maybe they shouldn't have come.
"Come on, Em!" Jeff called over his shoulder, halfway inside the house already. How had he gotten there so fast and she not noticed?
Emma took one last glance at the car, to the thought of safely being at home with a book or something, turned back and began walking up to her brother as she pulled her hood down.
"Jeff," She began, looking around as he pulled her inside and closed the door. "I don't have good feeling about this anymore.." The music was blasting in her ears and she wondered if he even heard what she had said.
"Oh, what! We just got here and already you wanna leave? Come on, sis. Just loosen up a little bit and have some fun!"
How was it her brother was always in such a giddy mood? When they were twelve and he had broken his arm during soccer, he was cracking jokes with the nurses the entire time he was at the hospital. It was almost scary how much Jeff didn't seem to care about things, but it was just the way he was born.
"I'm surprised your mouth hasn't froze with how much you smile," Emma watched as her brother's grin only got wider, nearly all of his teeth showing as he shrugged.
"Just feels good to smile, ya' know?"
She just rolled her eyes and sighed. "Whatever.."
Jeff was pulled away by his friends and left Emma alone by the door, she glanced around before moving. Her footsteps were silent against the pounding music as she made her way by the stairs where she stopped for a moment. It was descent sized party, adleast nearly 50-70 people within the house alone. She quickened her pace and shot away from the stairs as the all too familiar sounds of rough sex began to descend from the wooden steps.
Everyone there was older then she and her twin, they weren't even fifteen and all the other party goers had to have been in their early 20's. She really didn't like this.
She bumped into a tall, blonde haired man with nothing but his jeans and vest on. She quickly stammered an apology and made an attempt to escape before his hand was on her shoulder. She could smell the beer on him along with the pungent odor of Skunk. He grinned down at her, eyes bloodshot and his equilibrium shot off to Hell.
"Hey, ain't you a little young to be here?" He slurred. He wouldn't remember anything so she quickly nodded. "Oh..cool, hey you want some?" He held out his cup to her and the strong smell of alcohol attacked her nose and she shook her head, pushing his hand away.
"No thanks..I had a soda on the way over."
He shrugged and gulped down the rest of his drink before throwing the cup carelessly over his shoulder. His hand was still on her shoulder and she picked it off. The blonde's attention was suddenly back on her and he grinned again, though she could tell there was something hidden behind it as he leaned closer. His hand was braced against the wall as he pinned Emma in the corner, smirking.
"First party, right? Figured. Hey, why don't we take this upstairs and get to know each other a little better?"
She swallowed hard, her blood rushing in her ears, her hands were suddenly on his chest and she shoved him away. "Rather not.." She turned to leave before a thick arm was around her waist and she yelped as she was pulled back.
"Now that's not nice, you bumped into me, kid," She heard him growled. Now she knew she never should have come.
"Y-Yeah, but I said I was sorry!" She struggled in his grip, only to have his arm tighten on her.
"I think you should show me how sorry you are."
Chilling fear gripped her and refused to let go as he took a step closer to the stairs. She dug her heels into the floor to stop but it prove fruitless against his strength. Then she was suddenly let go as the man was shoved forward. Emma didn't stick around and bolted off the floor and through the patio door to what she hoped was safety from the party.
Had she decided to look back, she would have saw the blonde man pick himself up and glare at the other behind him. His head was down and hood up with strands of black hair falling over his forehead. The blonde shoved at him and cursed him out how he "made him miss a good fucking!" His drunken mind was too slow to focus as the other man's eyes raised to his, black rings around and bloodshot from never being able to close. He never even registered the way his smile was stretched all the way across his face, just his voice as he said, "I think it's time for you to go to sleep.."
Emma rushed out onto the patio, panting softly and watching as her breath froze in the air. The music could still be heard but it was not as obnoxious as before. She sat down with a sigh, the cement cold under her jeans causing her to pull her hoodie around her tighter and shivered. Dew was just beginning to collect on the grass and she swept her hand over the soft blades of emerald, not really caring as the freezing condensation collected on her hand and turned her fingers numb.
She wiped off the water and stuffed her hands in her front pocket, curling up on the steps and looking up to the sky. An scattered puzzle of stars glistened above her head in the heavens, waving down to her as they brought beauty to the night air. Emma heaved another sigh as she dropped her gaze and looked on to the forest line just a few hundred feet away.
She wished to be back at the Orphanage. She wished for Miss Jackie to be back and alive so that she could sing her to sleep.
She was pulled from her thoughts of home by the buzzing of her left pocket and she pulled out her phone. A text message from that blocked number as before.
I told you you shouldn't have come. You're welcome.
Her nails rapped against the back of her phone as she forced herself to calm down, taking a deep breath as she typed away at her screen.
How did you get my number? Who are you? And HOW did you know my name?
She waited for a tense second. A minute. Maybe they weren't going to text back, why would they? Maybe it was just a scam set up by the phone company.
Her phone buzzed again.
I know many things about you and Jeff, Emma. As for who I am? That doesn't matter.
She pushed down the fear creeping up her spine and she was about to reply before they sent another.
You never should have come here. Neither of you should ever be out at night.
Oh Yeah? Why should I listen to you? I'm just gonna stay out here for as long as I want.
She blew her bangs out of her face as she huffed, crossing her arms and staring at the screen, just waiting for his reply. The wind picked up and grabbed at her sweatshirt and hair, the growing feeling of unease stronger now than before as she glanced about. For some reason, she stared at the forest, for whatever was giving her this feeling was hiding amongst the trees and shadows.
Her phone vibrated against her leg and she was terrified to look away, but she slowly looked back down to her phone and to the last message glowing dimly against the blackness of night.
Emma...
Get back in the house. RIGHT. NOW.
The light on the side of the house flickered violently, flashing black and white until the bulb popped and shattered. Emma yelped, watching in horror as all the other light bulbs around the house followed the same as the first and she was soon encased in darkness. She was trembling hard against the stone steps as ice cold terror stole her bravery. She glanced about, the temperature beginning to drop and she could feel the frost settling on her cheeks.
She didn't need to see for her to know which direction was the forest and she turned her head towards it. She nearly jumped in fright as she felt a light shock in the back of her eyes, a tingling sensation that shot back into her head.
Someone was staring at her and through the darkness she had met their gaze.
"H-Hello?" She called out timidly, pulling her sweatshirt tighter around her. She prayed for silence, that it was all her imagination.
To her horror, she was met with a deep chuckle resounding from the forest and the snapping of a twig. Emma was frozen where she was, unable to move as her soon to be murdered came out of the woods.
From somewhere, she didn't know where, came a beam of flickering light as if from a candle and she got a true look at him. At first she saw his eyes, glowing white and surrounded by black rings. His smile was grotesque and revealed rows upon rows of sharpened teeth. His skin did not look like skin at all, more like plastic or rubber with dirty black hair matted and clinging to his shoulders.
He was a clown. Patchy black and white clown outfit with striped sleeves and socks. His arms hung past his waist and gave the impression that he might have been boneless.
Tears were beginning to rise up in her eyes as he came closer, his laugh growing louder.
His voice would forever haunt Emma's dreams.
He spoke and it was like a living shadow had crept into her brain and opened up every single fearful experience and put it all into one, long armed clown.
"Hello, Emma. It's so nice to finally meet you.."
Her heart was pounding in her rib cage, adrenaline roaring through her veins and giving her the instinct to run yet she could not. She could not physically move from her spot on the steps and could only watch in terror as he moved closer, claws reaching out for her throat. The sickeningly sweet smell of popcorn and cotton candy wafted it's way to her senses, the joyous sounds of children laughing in the back of her head as the danced around their clown friend.
She was finally able to find her voice, yet she wanted no claim to the fear that dripped from every word. "W-Who are you?"
The clown chuckled again, her terrified expression reflected in his glossy eyes. She could already feel the cold grip of his claws around her neck, the sharp tip pressing into her skin and threatening to slice open her jugular. She was about to die at the hands of something that was suppose to bring children joy.
"JACK!" She heard the other voice from far away, unable to take her eyes off her killer as he suddenly looked up and his eyes widened. Another black and white blur shot over her head and tackled the clown away from her. Emma took a sudden gasp of air, falling back onto the main patio as the ice running through her blood melted. The light was gone but her eyes had adjusted and she could make out the two wrestling on the ground. One was irrefutably smaller than the other but he was somehow able to pin the demon balloon animal maker on his back and slam his fists into his face.
She wasn't sure why he was mad at the clown but she didn't care, she scrambled up and took off running for her life, around the house and out into the empty street. Her sneakers slapped the concrete as she panted, forcing herself to only look ahead. She tripped on the curb, yelping as she went crashing down the hill. Sharp rocks dug into her skin as she rolled, coming to a stop with her back against a tree. Emma gasped in pain, heaving herself up on weakened arms and pushing to her feet.
She glanced up to see the one who had helped her come sliding down the hill with ease, however closely followed behind was the devil himself and she screamed. Emma turned and ran into the forest, the branches reaching out and slapping her face for disturbing their peace. Cuts and scrapes were forming along her face, neck, and hands as she pushed forward and the branches away.
It was too dark. She couldn't see! Pain exploded through her face as she slammed into the twisted arm of an old oak. The ground became her pillow and her vision spun rapidly, splitting agony radiating from her skull and warmth began to seep from her nose and down her cheek.
Emma moaned in agony, her palms flat against the ground as she tried to push herself up but strength and will were gone. She waited for either the clown to come and kill her or for unconsciousness to come and steal her away.
She couldn't tell if the concussion had done something to her hearing but she heard the faintest sound of snapping twigs and then the trees parted. She was in enough pain, even moving her eye balls hurt! She didn't dare look up, closing her eyes to avoid looking at whoever it was if it may be the clown. There was the frantic sound of footsteps coming closer and she relaxed on the ground, ready for the cold grip on black claws.
Whoever it was was panting hard, muttering a curse when he saw her. Her wrist was grabbed and she expected a sickening twist and snap, but to her surprise, she was hoisted up and thrown over their shoulder. She risked a glance down to see the earth below along with black jeans and the back of a white hoodie.
Was she looking at herself?
His grip on her tightened as he started running again, she didn't need to look up to know the clown demon was close by.
Present...
How long had he been running? Emma couldn't quite remember but she had to give it to him, she wasn't the lightest of people and anyone who could run long distance with her on their back was pretty impressive. His strides were getting slower until he was at a slow walk, neatly hyperventilating. He repositioned her, holding her princess style with her head lolling against his shoulder.
There was something hanging in the air, something foreign to the smell of nature and wet grass. It was harsh, strong, and coppery. Blood. She was smelling blood. Had they actually gone at it hard enough to draw blood? The clown barely got a hit on him!
He stopped, and Emma felt herself being lowered until the bark of a tree was lightly biting through the fabric of her sweatshirt. Her head fell over her right shoulder only to be tilted back and examined by him. Was he making sure she was okay? Who was he anyway? She struggled to open her eyes, her vision blurring and all the colors merging into grey. But at the center of her vision she saw white and black, but mostly white. She tried to squint, to see clearer but his other hand came up and shut her eyelids. "Shh..just go to sleep, Emma."
She didn't need to be told twice, her mind already slipping away and her muscles relaxing. He spoke up again, but she was unsure if she had heard right.
But if memory served her correctly, she could have sworn he had said, "It's alright. Just go to sleep, Daddy's right here.."
