"And they say that even to this day, if you listen carefully after the sun goes down..." I watch as Ringabel leans forward and I can't help but follow along in the action. "...You can still hear the scraping sounds of the creature dragging itself along. Searching for it's next victim!" I can't help but cringe a little at hearing the end of the story. Maybe I should have thought this idea through. Our group is staying in an old abandoned farmhouse at the moment and to be honest, it's beyond creepy. I'm not frightened of things like ghosts or that kind of stuff...I just don't particularly like them. Ringabel seems to love these kind of things while the girls on the other hand, seem unfazed.
I must have looked funny as Edea lightly touched my arm, making me jump a little. "You okay there Tiz? Was the story a bit too much for you?" She chuckled as I feel my face heat a little. "I'm fine...I'm just tired. I think I'm going to turn in for the night." I push myself up from my seat alongside the others and make my way to the back of the room. There was a few blankets and our gear all piled up under the most secure looking portion of the ceiling. I pull one of the blankets loose from the pile and scan the ground for a suitable spot to lay. Choosing a spot tucked away by some surrounded debris I curl up quietly, resting my head on my arm and pulling the blanket close. I can hear the others talking quietly, no doubt about my abrupt departure. I pull the fabric up over my head in an attempt to drown out the noise. I feel myself slowly drift off and before I know it I'm asleep.
Thump.
I'm pulled rudely from the sweet embrace of sleep by something odd. A noise I cannot place. I sit up, curious, and notice that the girls are both no more than a few feet away from me. They must have gone to sleep not long ago as Edea has yet to invade on the rest of our blankets. I strain my eyes and look around again. Ringabel is nowhere to be seen. Pure instinct makes me throw the blanket aside, shooting into a sitting position. I feel my heart beating incredibly fast, my eyes darting about in hopes that he's just hiding someplace. Even after a double take over the room I see no signs of Ringabel aside from his small collection of gear that's been piled up by my feet.
Thump.
I hear the noise again and I'm on high alert. Something feels off about everything that's happening, but I can't seem to figure out just what. I don't want to wake up the girls, but I don't want to be on my own right now either. I scoot my way over to Anges's side and steal a glance, a small part of me hoping that she'll have her eyes open. No such luck however as the even sound of her breathing tells me she's out cold. Normally, I would feel relaxed with this in mind, but I can't help but feel my breath draw in when I hear it again.
Thump.
I listen carefully this time, hoping to pinpoint just where it's coming from.
Thump.
Sounds like it's coming from outside...But do I really want to wander out to see just who or what is making all the noise? What if it's a monster? My foolish mind immediately runs back to the ghost story that Ringabel had told us just before I had gone to lay down. For half a second I asked myself if it could be true. The youth in me was painstakingly curious, but the reality of it all pushed the more 'grown up' side of my mind to take over. "Probably just something being pushed by the wind..." I whisper to myself, pushing myself to lay back down in my corner. I pull the blanket over me once again but I can't seem to close my eyes. I don't want to. I can't.
Thump.
This time, the sound is louder and I can't help but flinch. I manage to squeeze my eyes shut but it just makes things worse. I'm clinging to the blanket so tightly that my hands are starting to numb. My breathing is so jumpy and shallow that anyone who might have been listening in would assume me crazy or dying.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The noise is getting louder and louder. Closer together each time until it's almost as if something is knocking on the door. If I wasn't so scared I may have called out 'who's there?'. The jokester in me quiets as I hear the door creaking open. I won't look. I swear it I wont' look.
Thunk.
Scrape.
Thunk.
Scrape.
It's just a bad dream. I tighten my grip on the covers and pull them up over my head like a frightened child. I'm just going to wake up and see everyone okay. All of them asleep where they should be.
Thunk.
Scrape.
Thunk.
Silence.
It's stopped. I'm sure it's right next to me though so I don't dare look. I can hear it's breathing, loud and raspy. Lukewarm air is beginning to heat the spot of my blanket that's covering my ear. It's right next to me, whatever this thing is. I can't help myself. I crack an eye open just a tiny bit, trying to get a glimpse of what it is. I can only see the impressions of fingers putting pressure on the blanket, grasping at it slowly. My body is cold out of pure fear and I silently beg the thing to go away. To wake up. Anything. The blanket is ripped violently from my grip and I'm greeted with a dark figure looming over me. I let out a loud yowl, shoving the figure as best I could while also trying to scoot further into the rubble.
"Huh?" I hear Edea grumble, rustling about a little ways away, but I'm still focused on getting away. "Ringabel!" Anges's scolding tone reaches my ears and I open my eyes curiously. Sure enough, Ringabel is in front of me. He's rolled back onto his rear and looks like he's about to cry from laughing so hard. Edea looks between me and Ringabel before reaching out and smacking him upside the head. She scoots over to me and pats my shoulder lightly, chuckling lightly at the situation. I'm unable to do anything other than stare as Ringabel is given possibly one of the sternest talking-tos from Anges.
I'm finally able to calm my heartbeat down to a steady pace when Ringabel pulls himself over to sit by me. He's still laughing and I feel my cheeks turn pink irritably. "Why would you do that?" I hiss at him, both angry and upset. "I'm sorry Tiz! It's just...You got so freaked out by the story alone! I couldn't help it! I -had- to do it!" He starts laughing hard again, and I just scowl at him for a short time. Eventually I feel myself becoming less and less angry with him, especially when his laughing brings honest tears to his eyes.
"Do it again and I'll beat you."
I may not be the bravest person alive, and tend to find myself in company of someone with a terrible sense of humor. But despite this, I do it over and over again. He may be a brat but it's always a bit fun to see just what he'll try next. Even if my heart gives out at that point.
Author's Comments:
It's been a bit since I last updated this one. Been busy and sick and working. Lots. Not too fun but hey. It's life.
The main idea behind this particular chapter is all thanks to my kitten. Whom I am certain is trying to kill me. I love scary movies, scary stories and all that jazz. I enjoy them when I'm all on my own in my home and often times it's not a good idea as I am also jumpy and tend to startle easy. Now add that with my kitten who loves to hide in the shadows of my home, and run out at me from the middle of nowhere, attack me then run back into the darkness. Wonderful little creature he is.
He's almost killed me many times. I'm shocked I'm still alive and have not been at least injured yet.