I first met Ashton in year 9.
He lived just down the block. He was much older than me, which was intimidating.
He used to ride his bike up and down the block daily. Three times around.
I would watch him, just wishing I could find some courage to say hi. But that never happened.
But one day, I was forced to speak to the boy.
He was riding, it was his second time around my house. He was sweating like a pig under the summer sun. His skin was practically glowing red, and you could see his heavy breathing.
He was about ten feet past my house when a dog jumped in front of his tires and flipped his bike. He landed back first on the hot pavement below. Then his bike toppled on top of him.
He struggled to get the bike off. I of course ran to his aid and pulled the yellow hunk of metal off of his limp body.
His nose was bleeding along with his scrapped knees. I helped him off the ground, and carried him to my house on my shoulders.
My mom attended to the boy and I watched. He was starring at me. He smiled, "Thanks kid."
Everyday after that, Ashton would stop at my house and we would chat a little before he had to be home.
And now, I feel the same adrenaline from that day only worse. Ashton is missing. In a house full of mutilated and vengeful ghosts.
He's probably scared and bleeding..
I pushed my thoughts away, trying to be strong for the other boys. There wounds weren't as bad as we assumed. Michael had three gashes on his back and Calum's ears had adgusted.
I was fine.
"Do you hear that?" Calum said, pulling me back. We all stopped abruptly.
Erie giggles filled the air. Footsteps, like piter-pater on hardwood floors surrounded us.
I could hear them singing.
"Ring around the roses, pocket full of poses, ashes, ashes, let's spill their blood.."
The air was cold, so cold that I could see my breath before me.
The voives started to sing again.
"Ring around the roses...pocket full of poses...ashes...ashes..."
They stopped. But I still felt their presence.
Suddenly, we heard a blood curling scream come from the room over.
I ran, leaving the boys behind.
Ashton..it has to be Ashton..
I swung the doors open as quick as I could.
And stopped dead in my tracks.
Nothing..
Then my phone rang.
I looked at the two boys in the room over. Terror filled their eyes.
I pulled out my phone, and checked the caller I.D.
Ashton..
I immediately placed the phone to my ear.
"Ashton?"
There was silence.
And then I heard a little girl giggle.
"Let's spill their blood."
Then another scream into the phone but this time it was Ashton. I knew it.
The call dropped and I felt a rush of fear spring through me.
"ASHTON?!" I yelled. I ran. I didn't know where I was going, but I ran.
The boys followed me. The sound of the footsteps were enough to drive me insane.
The giggling...the singing...
"Ring around the roses...
Pocket full of poses...
Ashes, Ashes..."
I ran up the flight of stairs.
My head was pounding.
"Ash?" I mumbled to myself. "Please...don't die..."
Then I spotted his bright red bandana laying across the top stair.
I stopped. Only for a second to pick it up.
"Ash.."
The giggling stopped suddenly. The singing was on pause. There were no more footsteps, none other than my own.
"Lu - Luke.." I heard a soft groan from the next room over.
It was Ashton.
I entered the room, only to see my best friend sprawled out on a bed. His clothes ripped to pieces, along with parts of his skin.
He looked like he had been mauled by a werewolf.
His cheeks were covered in blood and tears. He was sobbing at this point.
I ran to him.
"Ash..Ash," I said, "Breath... Stop moving. It's just going to make it worse."
He kept moving.
"It's here, Luke. It's in the room with us. You have to leave. It will kill you," he spat out, blood spewing from his lips.
His eyes were full of sorrow and pain. I couldn't leave him.
"Ash, what's in the room with us?" I asked. He shook his head, "Luke, go.. Please.." He began to beg.
I shook my head, "Come on, Ashton. We'll get you out of here and you'll be alright..."
"Luke it's coming..."
He stopped moving. He didn't dare to blink.
"Ashton, what is coming?"
The room was cold and quiet. I watched Ashton's eyes move from me to the ceiling and then the doorway.
I followed his gaze. Nothing..
"Ash, come on," I grabbed his arms gently, and attempted to lift my limp friend from the bed. He fought back.
"I can't leave Luke. None of us can leave. Our time is ticking."
I starred deeply into his eyes. Their usual green pigment was gone. Now all I could see was gray.
And the black shadow standing behind me.
Ashton gave me a small grin, "I love you, Luke. I'll see you soon."
I started to cry, unable to process what was happening. He took the bandana from my hand, "Thanks kid."
Then he started screaming. He wrestled himself in the bed. Clawing at his own skin, shredding it apart.
He grabbed at his eyes and pulled his hair. He screams.
Blood gushed from every open wound. He screams.
His eyes are now red and his lips don't move. And eventually, he takes his last breath.
"Ash...Ashton...No...Please..."
I begin to plead, hoping that this is a dream. I pinch my skin and wish to wake up, but I don't.
Because this nightmare is reality.
