The Monster and the Stones

Seven

Many windows are boarded up, doors padlocked shut, giving Alex the feeling that they really should not try to enter the building. The story of the mysterious fire, spreading from this building, and now being boarded up? Clearly it is like this for a reason.

They turn off their flashlights and walk to the other side of the building from where they entered through the fence, walking through overgrowth and some small piles of rubble. When they finally stop Alex is confused. There is no entrance here for them to get into. She sees them looking up and finally finds the way in, a hole in the wall about eight feet from the ground. She stands in disbelief, how are they supposed to get all the way up there? There is no way they will get in through there without a ladder or anything to boost from. While the building seemed to be left to rot and piles of rubble and garbage remained, there was no sturdy object that they could move over to the wall to use.

Sky takes the bag that Zach brought and opens the big pocket, pulling out a strange looking rope, probably around fifteen feet long. "Did this even work the last time?" she asks the group.

Lukas steps forward, "it just took a while to find it. Move it around a bunch until you hook onto it." He gets down on one knee, offering himself to boost Sky up a bit. She takes the rope and tosses it through the hole, pulling it from side to side. Alex wonders what the plan exactly is here, but she waits patiently with Zach and Fleur.

It takes a few minutes, but finally Sky pauses, tugging the rope downward. She clearly caught on to whatever she was trying to catch. She drops down from Lukas, allowing him to test it as well. He pulls it hard, "Yeah you got it." He turns to her, "told you." He smirks. Sky punches him in the chest, then picks up the bag, closes it, and hands it back to Zach. Next, they take turns climbing in, using the rope for support as they walk up the wall and into the window. Lukas goes first and waits at the top for Alex. Once she reaches the top, he helps her in, the rest follow.

Alex feels herself land on a metal platform, but she can't quite tell where exactly she is, the warehouse is pitch dark. Someone lights their flashlight and points it into the warehouse. They are standing in the main area, but on a platform that sits above the ground. It looks like the bottom floor sits lower than ground level, the concrete floor blackened, scarred from its history. Alex can barely see it through the holes in the platform the group assemble on.

Suddenly, as soon as everyone has gathered themselves and scan the warehouse with their flashlights, a loud BANG can be heard in the distance. The five of them jump, Alex grabs Lukas's arm as it is the closest to hers. "Ghost room," Lukas mutters to Alex.

Sky turns to the group, "Okay guys, we are already getting activity. Let's avoid breaking from the group, agreed?" She almost looks nervous.

"Agreed," they all reply in unison.

Alex is still holding onto Lukas's arm, the two notice it suddenly, and Alex pulls away shyly. The two follow the rest of the group down a staircase a few steps to their right. As they proceed, Alex sees where the rope is caught, between the wall and the platform in a crevasse, looks like it won't be coming out any time soon.

Alex walks behind the group in the dark, wondering if she should express her thoughts about following last, but as if he could read her mind, Lukas says, "why don't you walk in front of me? I have a flashlight."

Alex smiles, "thanks," she says. She steps in front of him and continues to follow the group. Now she can see much better with a flashlight behind her, and she surveys the building carefully. Ash covered every surface, there were metal beams that were hanging from the ceilings as well, probably why this place is unwelcome to trespassers. They make it down to the ground floor, now Alex can see rooms surrounding the main area of the warehouse. Alex hears another noise, similar to a scraping or dragging sound. The group doesn't react to it, so she assumes that it is just in her head, probably paranoid after hearing about a "ghost room".

"I thought we would bring an Ouija Board with us this time, Sky," Zach utters impatiently. "Was I supposed to bring one?"

Sky pauses and looks at him, "next time, I don't want to be here too long." They walk through a small hallway crowded with ash, bits of stone, and a metal beam. There is glass all over the floor, graffiti scribbled on the walls; some of it can be described as demonic. The second door on the left has a metal door just like the rest of them, but it is off its hinges and leaning against the doorframe. They clamber through the opening, one after the other, but when it is Alex's turn to enter, she pauses.

She was always unsure of the existence of ghosts, but she didn't feel like finding out tonight. She froze up, being noticed by Sky and Fleur. "You good, Alex?" They ask.

Alex is nervous, unwilling to express her fear to the rest of the group. Once again, it is as if Lukas is in her head. "Why don't you three go ahead? I'm not really feeling the ghost room tonight. I'll show Alex the rest of the warehouse," he gestures to Alex, who feels a wave of relief rush through her body.

Sky and Fleur look at him for a few seconds, puzzled. "Ok, then," Sky says, turning and joining Zach deeper in the room.

Alex sighs, "you okay?" Lukas says to her quietly.

She turns to him, "yeah, sorry."

"Don't apologize, I don't like to mess with ghosts either." He gives her a cheerful smile and nudges her. The two proceed back to the main part of the warehouse.

They're both quiet for a while, Alex feels comfortable around Lukas, like he can secretly understand her, even just a few hours after having met each other. "Why is it called the ghost room?" She asks.

Lukas shrugs, "I guess they just hear a lot of noises come from that room. I hear it too but its an old building, it was set on fire, what do you expect? Anything else that they say happens I personally think they just imagine it and scare each other over it." It's quiet for a moment again. "I'm a huge skeptic," he adds, turning to Alex and smirking.

"Yeah me, too," Alex chuckles. "I don't know if I believe in that stuff, to be honest."

"I have my moments," Lukas says. "Sometimes I think ghosts are real, but other legends? I just don't think they're true." He stops and turns towards Alex. It's awkward, she isn't sure what's going on. Then, Lukas points his flashlight to the floor, and sweeps the ground surrounding them with the light. Alex realizes what he is talking about, now. The floor they are standing on has no evidence of any scorch marks, ash, or even rubble. It is perfectly clean and intact. The area surrounding them is covered in marks but in a unique way. Dark lines form a circular pattern around where they are standing, in the exact center of the warehouse, twisting like a tornado. It is fascinating. Alex circles in place, taking it all in. Noticing the circular pattern of dust and debris in the warehouse. This wasn't any ordinary fire.

"See what I mean?" Lukas says, clearly just as fascinated as Alex.

Alex doesn't have the words to express her wonders. "It wasn't an ordinary fire," Lukas adds.

Suddenly, a loud BOOM filled the warehouse. Lukas moved closer to Alex, clearly shaken. They two turned their attention toward the ghost room, nervously silent.

The three jumped through the hold in the doorway, Sky landing on her stomach and getting covered in ash and dust in the process.

"Are you guys okay?" Zach ran over hurriedly, dazed by the commotion.

"What do you mean, wasn't that you guys?" Lukas asked confused.

Fleur's eyes widened. "No!"

Alex hears the same scraping sound she heard before, this time it sounds closer, and the others seem to notice it too. "We need to get out of here, that was definitely heard outside, the cops might come check it out!" Lukas shifted toward the exit.

"Good idea," Fleur says,hurrying toward the stairs. Lukas allows Alex ahead of him again, and they allhurry to the rope. They get tied up on the stairs, Zach trips, causing them allto gather on the stairs chaotically. Amidst the confusion, Alex looks up in theopen warehouse and sees something, or someone. A figure, standing on theopposite side of the warehouse, watching them all. She quickly turns her gazeaway though, as Zach finds his footing and hurries up the stairs, leadingeveryone out the stone window they had entered through.