Mentally Deranged (a.i.)

Chapter 1

"I dare Reese to go into the coal mine," Jordan, one of my few friends dared me.

We were always told not to go into the tunnel. The last person who went into it was never seen again. People have different theories about it. Some people say there are blood sucking demons inside, others say that it probably just drops off and he fell down into an old shaft.

"But Jordan, you know that we aren't allowed to go inside," Josie complained, sounding a bit worried.

"Oh c'mon! None of that shit they tell you is real, do you really believe in those stupid ghost stories?" He cackled, throwing his head back as he did so.

"I'll just step inside, then step right back out. It will be fine," I reassured her, as I started to the entrance.

I suddenly felt like this wasn't such a good idea. The butterflies in my stomach grew larger, my fingers started to get a numb, tingly sensation, and I had a strong feeling in the pit of my gut that told me to just walk away, but I was determined to ignore it.

Once I was right in front of the entrance, a cold breeze came blowing out from deep in the cave. It gave off an eerie feeling, and silence filled my head. I turned and looked at my friends, it looked like they were shouting and laughing, but no sound came from their mouths, I couldn't hear anything.

Then I stepped in, and was immediately forced to the ground. My head came in contact with the railway tracks that thread deep through the tunnel. My head started to throb, and I could feel a pulse in my ears, quickly my vision became blurred and dark, and I very slowly lost consciousness.

* * *

When I opened my eyes, the sun was shining through the entrance, and my friends were no longer there. The weird thing was, that I felt the need to stay. In some odd way it made me feel safe and comforted. But I had no choice but to leave, my family and friends are probably worried sick about me.

I got up from my place on the on the cold, dirt floor and started walking towards the entrance, but my muscles had a strange heaviness to them and my feet stung like I was walking on nails. I got the feeling that I wasn't going to make it. I felt like 1000 pounds.

"You're not going anywhere," A low hushed voice whispered from deep within the mine behind me.

I took off, running as fast as I could to try and escape this hellhole. I just wanted to go home, and forget this ever happened. I should have listened to my gut, and my friend.

"I told you, you're not going anywhere," The voice screeched, creating an echo against the damp rock walls. Then I felt something cold wrap around my ankles, they didn't feel like hands but that was the least of my worries. They tugged me hard and i collapsed harshly to the ground, only my hands protecting my face from the gravel. They started to run, grasping my ankles harder.

I dung my toes into the ground, and my nails were scrapped raw by the cement under my body. I let out a loud, high pitched scream as my shirt lifted up exposing my skin to the sharp rocks underneath.

The further I was dragged in, the heavier the atmosphere felt. After a while my muscles relaxed as I found no point in fighting the force that was wrapped around ankles. It felt like a metal wire was digging into my tender skin.

Then it stopped and my legs were shoved to the ground. The heavy feeling drained from my body, and my ankles, stomach, and hands were left raw and sore.

I could no longer see the light at the end of the tunnel, and was left in complete darkness.

"What do you want with me?" I chocked out, as I stumbled to my feet and spun around in circles hoping for a response, flipping my long, blonde hair into my face as I did so. I desperately wanted my eyes to adjust to the darkness.

There were no answers, all I heard was the faint sound of wind that traveled through the rock walls of the structure.

I didn't know what to do. I couldn't leave. I was so afraid, my legs refused to move, and I could feel the hot tears rolling down my cheeks.

I stepped backwards into the wall and slid to the ground. I hugged my knees to my chest. My breath was shaky.

Somehow, in this cave with darkness blanketed over me, I managed to fall asleep. But sleep wasn't an escape. It was filled with horrifying nightmares of what could be in here.

* * *

I was awoken by a bright light. It was like that moment when you are happy to know that whatever dream you had happened was only a dream and nothing else, and the light was the sun seeping through your window. But when I opened my eyes,the only resource of light was a lantern that was lit a few feet away from where my head had fallen on the ground.

I pushed myself up without any struggle and rubbed at my ankles, I looked down and noticed that there were two abnormally large bloody handprints wrapped around them. I pressed my back into the wall, and squeezed my eyes shut tightly.

"This isn't real," I kept whispering to myself, trying hard to believe that this was nothing but a extremely vivid bad dream.

"Oh, this is very much real," I low, Australian accent filled the air.

My eyes flew opened to see a boy that couldn't be more that 22 years old, with knotted, curly, brown hair and glossy hazel eyes. He had dark circles that looked like someone punched his eyes. It looked like he hadn't slept for days, and his clothes were ripped and torn.

"What do you want from me?" I asked, my voice shaking .

He let out a raspy laugh, and slowly walked towards me from his place opposite to me. He grabbed my arms and pulled me to my feet, pressing me against the cold, rock wall.

I screamed thinking about what he might do.

"Shut up! You're going to make Them angry!" He whisper shouted, slapping his large hand over my mouth muffling my cries.

My shouts dimmed down to heavy breaths. He then smiled at me. It made him look innocent, almost comforting.

"I'm going to remove my hand from your mouth now, Reese, and you're not going to scream, understand?" He asked nodding his head, as he yanked slightly at my hair, with his hand that was holding the back of my head.

I nodded slowly wondering how he new my name. More tears rolled down my cheeks. His eyes never left mine as he slowly removed his hand, placing them on either side of my hips, pinning me against the wall using his chest. He towered over me looking down at me in dominance.

"It's been so long, so long since a girl like you, innocent and defenceless, has wandered into my cave. The last one screamed so much that They took her, and ate her, bones and all," he whispered, as the bristles from his stubble scrapped against my cheek. "You're perfect, long blonde hair, beautiful green eyes. There is no way I'm letting you go."

"Why?" I whispered, holding tears back.

"I told you," he smirked, tipping his head to the side slightly to make eye contact again, "you're perfect."

Then, just as fast as he came, he ran deeper into the mine, leaving me here alone.

"Don't leave me!" I yelled, ignoring his references to "Them" or "They".