Lassoing the Cresent Moon

12. Forgotten

I stood there in the now dark Whack a Wuggy room. I rubbed my arms to warm them up. Mommy's words rang in my mind.

"Scary Pain." I whispered. "Scary Pain" There was something about that. I could almost chant it; as if it were something I had heard before.

I heard a giggle from one of the huggy tubes along with the steps of small plush feet. "W-woah! Hey now. The game is over."

It didn't sound like a huggy. Those things screeched and chattered. The sound of babbling echoed.

Oh god- I swear if I was attacked by some creepy baby toy! That was it. I was done here. I headed over to the archway to escape when I saw something red from the corner of my eye. My legs started to feel weak as I headed towards the exit.

Something kind of smelled good... just like a poppy flower.

My vision began to grow blurry as more of the color red surrounded me. Why was the exit so far away? I could feel my thoughts becoming muddled as my steps grew wobbly. I reached out to the arch, hoping to grab the walls for support, when my body thudded against the ground.

It was so dark here...

But I could see red clouds billowing through the floor.

They were coming towards me...

A small giggling figure crept through the darkness...

Towards me..

___________

I was talking to Terry when Theodore pushed against my shoulders. I looked down at him. He burrowed into me.

"Theo What's-"

"Oh." Terry huffed. "Look." I looked forward to see a girl a few feet from us looking every which way. Her arms and hands shivered as she crouched down softly avoiding the light. "It's Crazy Payne"

"Tch!" I huffed. "Don't be rude. She's just... scared," I said softly. Something about her was unsettling. Her pale skin contrasted her long black hair. Her lips moved silently as her eyes darted around the room.

"Of her own stories?" Terry asked as he raised a brow.

He wasn't one to insult or send others away, but it was hard not to with Marie Payne. She loved telling scary stories. It wouldn't be so bad if she knew when to end them, but she never knew when to stop! It was like she made it her personal mission to convince everyone that her stories were real and that they should always fear for their lives. I frowned as I remembered the last encounter I had with her, where she had made Sam cry.

She would never hesitate to start playing games of pretend at random times. She'd rope in whoever was nearby whether they wanted to take part in it or not. She never took "I dont want to play anymore as an answer." Ever since the day we found Sam crying as he hid behind a cabinet due to "a killer" Marie had warned him of Terry had been calling her crazy.

I always loved his protectiveness, but I couldn't find it in my heart to keep calling her that. She spent so much time isolated, and sometimes, I feared she couldn't tell a story from the truth. Instead, she became a person I always pretended not to see. Things would have been so much easier if she had spent more time having regular conversations...

I would have much rather ignored her from the corner of my eye than speak to her and end up having nightmares from stories I couldn't opt out of. I pointed towards another group of kids. "Let's just join-"

Theodore Squeezed my arm as I heard a step behind me.

"Audrey!" Came a whisper.

I flinched as my shoulders rose. I tensed as I turned to see Marie too close for comfort. I jumped back