I would like to thank the following people for Favoriting, despite the fact that this story hasn't gotten too far ahead yet.
So thank you to;
ShadowCat98
Leah-Shaina.
Iminika
And for Alerts, I yet again thank;
ShadowCat98
Leah-Shaina
inuneechan
Iminika
And to all that read my story, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter, I really do. I'll try and make it longer for future chapters. c:
Now, for chapter two
Chapter two; First blood.
After getting in my light blue pajamas, with small duckies printed all over the warm sleepwear, I sat by the fire next to Collin. I watched him place a white puffy marshmallow on a branch and hold it over the flames. Derrick helped me to do the same and soon my mouth was filled with graham cracker, chocolate, and warm gooey marshmallow; as I was making my second one Derrick sat down in the fold out chair across from Collin and I.
"Hey, wanna hear a scary story?" he grinned at us, causing Collin and I to huddle closer together. We both didn't like scary stories, well, me more than Collin. He did listen to a few of Derrick's stories, but I was so paranoid, I hated scary stuff. Well, I did at the time, now I adore all things terrifying.
"Which story is it this time Derrick?" Collin asked as he blew out his marshmallow, which had caught on fire due to not paying attention. I tried to ignore them both and just focus on my marshmallow, twisting the branch that it rested on.
"its not one you've heard before, trust me. I just read about it myself."
"What is it called?"
Derrick gave a wicked smirk and an erie breeze blew around us, probably just my imagination at the time, but an uneasy feeling ran through my gut. Dammit, I should have listened to my instinct then... But if I did, I wouldn't be who I am now. After pausing for a bit, Derrick got into a creepy voice, his signature voice for telling stories.
"It's called..." he paused once more, "The Rake." This caused Collin and I to pause before laughing.
"Really Derrick? a Gardening tool?" Collin choked on his Marshmallow as he spoke.
"Hey! Guys it's not that, it's called the Rake because when it kills you, that's what it does to you!"
"It makes you into a gardening tool while it kills you?" I asked through giggles.
"No Nicole! Ugh! do you want to hear the story or not?!"
"Fine, fine~... Continue..." I began to make another s'more as he began the story of the Rake.
"Well, out in the woods here in Tuscaloosa there is a creature, unlike any other that we've ever seen. It's body is like a normal humans, but it's skin, is so pale the veins can be seen from underneath. It's bones press against it's skin as if they were trying to escape the creature themselves. The creature's fingers, are sharper than any knife, and he can rake through anything, rip them apart and slice them open. On clear nights like this, when you can see the sky above our heads you can hear its inhuman howl as it searches for its next victim!"
he threw his head back and let loose a loud strangled Howl causing me to jump and drop my marshmallow, as I quickly mourned the loss of my delicious treat I decided to just nibble on the chocolate bar for my s'mores as Derrick continued speaking.
"Normally, the Rake will hunt for animals, but when unlucky campers hike up deep into the woods, into its woods... The Rake cannot help, but feel the hunger grow within it's belly before it stalks its prey and then... RIPS THEM APART!" he growled out the last part causing Collin and I to scream in fright as he laughed at us.
"Derrick! You're such a bully! Now I won't get any sleep!" I cried out at him, his howl and growl scared me a bit more than the story, but it was... the least to say, unnerving.
"I'm sorry Nicole, Collin... You two are just way too easy to scare. Now, come on... Bed time for everyone."
Unnerved and clearly frightened I made my way to the tent with Collin, gripping his arm tightly as we went inside. I screamed when I heard Derrick make that stupid howl again.
"Derrick! Enough already!"
"Uhum... Nicole, that... really wasn't me." Derrick looked up after he put out the fire and gathered up the s'more stuff. "It's probably a wolf, stuck in a bear trap... Some hunter's still use those, ya know?" I numbly nodded and crawled into my sleeping bag, which was positioned next to Derricks, with Collin on Derrick's other side, my sleeping bag was a dark green with light green on the inside, Derricks was black with silver on the inside, and Collin's was Navy blue, with a lighter blue on the inside. I brought my pillow, which had Mickey Mouse on it, and rested my head on its comforting softness. Collin had finally gotten in his sleeping bag when Derrick entered the tent, quickly closing the zip flap behind him before zipping the windows shut as well.
"Hey, Derrick! Why did you close the windows?"
"Shh!" he pressed his finger to Collin's lips, "Stay as quiet as you possibly can... something is out there, it... might be, hopefully, a wolf... if it is I can kill it and keep us safe."
"Why... did you say Hopefully...?" my voice wavered slightly.
"Just... trust me, and go to sleep alright?" he smiled softly at us and Collin and I both nodded before snuggling deep into our sleeping bags, unaware of the impending danger approaching the dull-orange tent.
Much later, after a restless sleep, I awoke to the sound of heavy breathing and a shadow being cast on the side of the tent. It was the shape of a hunched over man and I almost screamed had Derrick's hand not suddenly come and cover it. He whispered a soft shh to me, letting me know to be very quiet.
"D-Derrick…?" I softly spoke, my voice trembled as I spoke.
"Just stay quiet Nicole… I… I don't know if it knows we're in here. Maybe I can chase it away…"
"No don't!" my voice cracked slightly, a bit too loudly which caused Collin to wake up with a loud yawn.
"Mm, Derrick? Nicole? What's going on, what-" he yawned again "-time is it?"
Derrick suddenly looked panicked as we looked at the noisy Collin, he slowly turned his head back to the silhouette of the hunched over man, only to find it was gone. I heard him take a sharp breath before he slowly got up and rummaged through his pack, pulling out his emergency hunting knife, its serrated edge glinted in the faint light. Silently he stood up, giving Collin a look to stay quiet as he slowly opened one of the tent windows, only opening it a small crack. Seeing nothing out there he went to the opening of the tent, giving us both a stern look.
"Both of you need to stay here, don't leave this tent until morning if I go missing, got it?"
Being scared and confused, we both nodded numbly trying to hide our childish fear from our older brother. He smiled a little before quickly undoing the flap and exiting the tent, closing it back up afterwards. Collin and I moved to one of the windows to keep an eye on him, being careful not to be seen by him, or… whatever was out there. Collin noticed it before I did, and sadly; before Derrick did. The naked, hunched over man, leapt at Derrick, knocking him to the ground, it screeched in shrill howls as it tried to claw at his face.
But that was when I realized the sickening truth. The creature attacking out brother, was the same creature from the story. Pale skin, stretched across frail bones, completely naked and claws… long needle-like claws on its hands. Derrick struggled to fight with the creature, slashing his hunting knife at its frail arms, making long gashes on the monster.
All looked well for my brother, until the Rake got upset. It released a loud, strangled howl and slashed at Derricks chest, easily slicing away the flesh, causing him to drop the knife and scream in pain. Collin and I trembled from inside the tent, but we couldn't stop watching; how sick of us. Seven year olds, and yet we couldn't look away in fear, remorse, or in sadness at the loss of our brother.
His screams got louder the more the creature sliced his flesh, eventually it got bored of slicing aimlessly at Derrick's chest, before moving to slice its long fingers into his tender belly, wanting to feast soon upon the tender organs. Derrick's body was shaking from pain, his screams were loud and agonizingly painful to listen to. His screams were cut short by the monster however; the Rake bit into Derrick's neck, fangs piercing his jugular and crushing his windpipe as he let out gurgles of pain, blood spurting from the wound, filling his throat and mouth with blood that he attempted to cough up.
With a sickening squelsh-like sound, the Rake had ripped out Derrick's throat, leaving his eyes—which were so full of emotion—to cry out for him. He spotted us peeking as the light began to dim from his pain filled eyes, and a few tears had fallen down my cheeks as he did one simple thing.
I love you both…
That was what he mouthed to us before the light left his eyes and the Rake was left to indulge in its fresh, hot meal. It let out a howl of triumph and unable to get Collin to move, I zipped the window shut and slowly moved us to Derrick's sleeping bag, pulling us both inside the large warm sleeping spot. It felt like he had barely even left his spot. Collin began to break down, soft sobs filled the tent along with the sound of flesh being ripped from bone. I tried to stay strong, just for him, I tried very hard not to break down and I partially succeeded, but something inside of me, died that day. And when Collin finally fell asleep with my arms securely around him, I realized. I was no longer a child. At the age of seven, my mind suddenly grew up on me. And I knew I had to take charge.
I knew I had to get Collin out of the forest, and I knew; I was going to succeed. And I was going to get some help from my new friend, Der Ritter.