Warning: Don't Read at Night

Drawings

Bobby was known throughout the whole town of York for his drawings. They weren't like your usual paintings of flowers or pretty scenes. No, Bobby drew dark, sad pictures of stormy skies or depressed strangers. But somehow, they were beautiful.

The townspeople found the drawings strange at first. People would comment awkward statements on his latest work whenever he posted a drawing on Facebook. They'd say things like, "Oh, how interesting." or, "That's neat."

After awhile they got used to the strange pictures. People actually began to buy some. Sometimes Bobby would take requests.

One quiet afternoon, Bobby took out his pencils. They were his tools of the trade. "Huh, looks like I'm in need of some new pencils," he mumbled to himself. So Bobby grabbed his wallet and headed out the door.

As Bobby was walking down the street, he noticed a new store on the opposite sidewalk. He crossed the street in the direction of it. A sign above the door read, "Antique and Used Art Supplies". "Perfect! Surely used pencils are cheaper than new ones," Bobby thought as he stepped inside.

"Hello and welcome to Antique and Used Art Supplies! Tell me if you need any help," an old lady said to him from behind a counter. Bobby walked around the store and eventually found the pencils. There were your old Rose Art and Crayola colored pencils. Then there was the huge kits missing pieces here and there.

After digging through stacks and piles of boxes and bags, he found some suitable pencils. They were in a little wooden box decorated with twirly symbols. The pencils inside looked barely used, as if the previous owner changed their mind about them. Bobby brought the box of pencils up to the counter where the lady sat.

"You sure you want these?" She questioned him.
"I'm quite sure," Bobby replied.
"Those squiggly symbols? They're Enochian. Not a very good-spirited language."
"Yep, that just makes it all the more cool."
"4 dollars and 25 cents please."

Bobby paid her with a five and after getting the change, left with box in hand. He didn't get home until late, due to rain. Bobby immediately went to drawing with his new pencils.

"Lets see. A little darker here, and, no, lighter here..." He grumbled, furiously scribbling onto a paper. Bobby was trying to finish a drawing of a group of souls, drifting around a cemetery. "There, finished. Now for some grub," he said, getting up to go to the kitchen.

While Bobby was making himself a sandwich, he started to hear voices calling his name. They started out soft, but gradually becoming louder as if they were getting closer. "Wh-who's there?" Bobby stammered.

A glowing light appeared to come from Bobby's office where he drew. He took a knife out of a drawer and walked towards it. The voices became louder, now calling him to the light. As Bobby stepped into the doorway of the room, he saw it was his paper glowing. The drawing seemed to be coming to life!

Bobby stood frozen in fear, not knowing what to do. Hands slowly rose out of the paper. "Bobby...." the paper moaned. He took a step closer to it, daring to peer at his drawing. The souls he had drawn were the voices calling him. Instead of a cemetery in the background, now stood a gaping hole.

Bobby attempted to turn around and run, but for some reason he couldn't move his feet. The hands extended towards him, revealing arms covered in scratches and cuts. They stretched out to him, the voices now becoming so loud Bobby had to cover his ears. He squeezed his eyes shut and crouched to the floor.

Cold, papery hands touched his arms and head. Bobby screamed, only to have the hands grip onto his neck. He slowly started to be lifted off the ground and towards the drawing. More hands appeared and beckoned him closer.

Finally, with one last snap of his neck, Bobby was pulled into the drawing, leaving behind his knife. A strike of lightening flashed before the hands and arms disappeared.

The next day, police came to Bobby's house. He was reported missing after not showing up to an art show. Investigation showed that Bobby's drawing had turned into a picture of him, screaming out to whoever was looking at it. The police also found a box of pencils, covered in strange symbols. The pencils were all coated in blood.