WHEELS

2

Morning was here and it's supposed to be all lively with birds chirping here and there,dogs barking or children running around but this morning things were very different. Sirens could be heard could be heard everywhere as police and investigators flocked the Malena’s mansion. They digged around for any clues but all they got was that pool of blood Infront of Mr. Malena's house but no body could be found. Whoever it was that owned that blood had disappeared without a trace according to those police officers. “ Where could she have gone?” asked worried Mr and Mrs. Malena as they were approached by one of the investigators.
“ I need some details of your daughter that would help in the search sir,” said the investigator.
“Leila Malena, 16 years of age, I don't know what else you need,” answered Mr. Malena as he received some forms to fill out from the officer.
                                     
                                                  *****
Back at Slige High which was the best highschool in this town and where Leila schooled from, halls were filled with gossip as students wondered where Leila might have disappeared to. Others claimed she was kidnapped and others even brought their dirty thoughts and claimed she was making love to her boyfriend and that everyone should even stop worrying but that was not the case. Her friend group which consisted of the nerdy boy of the school which was Allan, the two twin sisters Amanda and Mandy, the leader of the football team called Eric and finally Leila's best friend, Adriana, were all sitted outside in the school compound worried and trying to figure out where their friend is. “Those crazy bullies have already spread rumor to the entire school that Leila is busy sucking... yeah,” Said Eric.
“The nerve and for all we know she might be even dead,” added Adriana.
“ Cut it out, I just hope she's alive and well but either way we need to find her.”
“ My house at 7pm, it's going to be a sleepover so that we find out what's happening here,” said Adriana grabbing her bag and heading for class as they all dispersed.

Classes that day were rather boring so time passed by so fast that it was finally night and the friends were all gathered at Adriana's house ready to get all detective. Adriana's mother had cooked for them a palatable meal that had them tempted to lick the plates and their own fingers as they all headed one by one upstairs to Adriana's room which was quite big enough for all to fit. They sat around in a circle and got to work immediately without wasting time.
“ So we need to find places that Leila treasures most or rather would go there if in danger or something,” said Amanda drafting out a list of Leila's favorite places in town. She had jotted down at least ten places most likely to find Leila. “ We shall visit them one by one till we find her so first place on the list is ‘ The Bajur Dine’ so stand up and let's get moving,” she added. All five friends looked at each other for a moment and were confused.
“What?” asked Amanda
“ You want us to go out at this time?” asked Mandy
“Yes dear sister, remember during the day Leila's likely to start moving from place to place again and it'll be hard to find her so it's better to look for her now because I know she's afraid of the dark outside and will limit her movement at this hour.”
That being that they slowly sneaked out of the house through Adriana's bedroom window hoping that her mother wouldn't hear them. They eventually made it out successfully and started walking down the empty silent streets that lead to the dine. “But what could have made Leila to run away and hide in the first place, not forgetting the police found a pool of blood in front of their house,” said Mandy looking at her friends who had worn worried looks on their faces. None of them answered as they hoped for the best. They had walked about 20 minutes before reaching the dine which apparently was closed at the time and that area was also dead silent. “Well, we are five so why don't we group ourselves in twos then I'll go alone. I know the area so I'll be cool alone,” said Adrian before dispersing into different streets and searching for Leila. Mandy and Amanda were together so they started with the dine itself and searched around that spot while Allan and Eric searched one of the streets around that led to the main part of the town and Adriana searched another different street.

“ I heard there are some new students in school this term you know, you should get yourself a girl you know,” said Eric teasing Allan who just chucked and ignored him. “ Why don't we check that old bus over there, she might be hiding there
,” said Allan pointing to an old rusted school bus parked by the side of the road opposite the house of the school president  of Slige high. They slowly approached it but stopped in their tracks when they suddenly noticed Dan, the school president, walk out of his house. The two boys quickly hid in some bushes just beside the road and carefully peeked to see what Dan was up to. “ Why's he walking in that funny manner? Wait, is he sleepwalking?” asked Eric.
“Shhhhhhhh!” replied Allan looking all frustrated as they watched Dan approach the bus and stop just in front of it. The bus lights flickered on and Dan immediately woke up to find himself Infront of this bus. “What the...” he said but was cut short as the bus suddenly shook like someone was inside and what he saw had him and the two boys in the bush eyes wide open in shock and still as if paralysed, paralysed by fear. They saw a man, the same man whom Leila saw on that fateful night. They all looked keenly and they could notice that this wasn't just a normal man but this was something else like a beast. It had protruding horns from the back of its head and a long old and rugged coat. They were not able to see much of this person since he was inside the bus and the seats hid him from their view but at this moment what they had seen was enough to get them on their feet and run. Eric and Allan jumped out of the bush, ran across the road and grabbed Dan, who was still in shock, by the hand. The three dashed back into Dan's house as fast as they could and shut the door behind them locking it with a padlock and stood away from the door. Less than a minute later, an axe went flying through the door and landed just right Infront of their feet. It had sliced through the door and left a gap in which they could see the beast approach them in slow steady steps. It gave out this deep guttural growl that sent shivers all over the three kids’ bodies. “ Basement!” shouted Dan leading Eric and Allan to their dark and lone basement. At this time Dan's parents had already heard the commotion and had woken up heading downstairs from their bedroom. Dan's Father ran downstairs hastily and made it down just in time to catch this murderous beast knock down their door and stand at the entrance. He stood frozen still as if rooted to the ground upon seeing this figure at his front door. The beast walked in slowly and his eyes met those of Dan's Father. The beast and all it's features could now be seen more clearly. It's eyes were pitch black and full of malice. It had this piercing gaze that brought a sense of discomfort to Dan's Father. It had long sharp claws and was “ Darling what was all that noise?” asked Dan's mother who had just arrived at the scene and stood beside her husband. She too saw the creature and was speechless as it gazed at her. She slowly started walking backwards followed by husband who would not take his eyes of the creature. “ In exactly five seconds we’re gonna run back upstairs as fast as we can and we are going to lock our room. Five...four...three...two...one!” whispered Dan's Father as they swiftly turned around ready to run upstairs but the creature was way to fast for them and before they could run back up it picked up it's axe and sent it flying through the room directly fixing itself on Dan's father's head. It had sliced through the thin layer of skin on his bald head and made its way through the skull. It was an instant death as he dropped down and blood spilt all over the staircase and dripped down to the foot of the staircase. It was a stream of blood. Dan's mother on the other hand had made her way up to her room and locked the door immediately. She was in shock and still processing what was happening. Her husband was dead and she didn't know what's happening with her son.

Meanwhile Dan, Eric and Allan were locked inside the basement and trying their best to keep it quiet hoping the creature wouldn't find them but how were they going to keep it silent when Allan was trembling, in panic and had even peed on himself. Eric was sitted on the floor motionless and just staring at the floor all confused. Dan was the only one a bit sober and on the look out. He could hear heavy footsteps moving around the house and just when he thought and hoped all would be well, that's when the real deal started. The footsteps seized just right Infront of the basement door and Dan could clearly see a shadow underneath the door. “ Oh Dan! I can smell your fear and you know why I am here,” said the creature in a very demonic voice as it growled. Apparently whatever this was it could also talk. “ You're time is up!” added the creature before busting the basement door open and grabbing Dan by the neck. Eric and Allan let out ear- splitting screams that have never been heard from any man before. Dan tried to throw kicks and punches at the creature in an attempt to free himself from its strong grip on his neck but all attempts were to no avail. The creature shifted it's eyes to look at Eric and Allan who were hidden in a corner. Their souls had left their bodies the minute this creature walked into the basement. “ You're next,” said the creature directing its attention to Eric only before ripping Dan's head off of his body like a piece of paper. Dan too like his father died on the spot. The creature took Dan's body with him and left the premises. All that was heard next was the ignition of its bus as it drove away.