The Series of Ash Cole

Ash is Back with: Catwalk Revenge

Ash is Back with,

Catwalk Revenge

"Eleanor White, you will be playing Annie." Mrs. Reiley, the young, brown haired, blue eyed drama and music teacher announces to the waiting crowd.

"Thank you so much Mrs. Reiley!" I jump up and down with excitement.

She laughs softly. "You're welcome, Ellie. Now, why don't you go practice in the auditorium?"

I nod and quickly go down the hall to the auditorium. Throwing the doors open, I'm met with silence. Not a person in sight. I walk onto the wooden stage with my script clutched in my hand. Taking a deep breath, I start rehearsing my lines.

Suddenly, 'We Don't Have to Dance' by Andy Black pierces the silent air as my phone vibrates on the music stand, causing me to jump. I walk over and pick it up before looking at the caller ID. UNKNOWN shines up at me in bold black letters.

"Hello?"

"I'm coming. Better watch out. I'm coming." The rough, raspy voice of a woman floods through my phone into my ear before the dial tone is heard. Strange... wrong number I guess.

The piano starts playing Beethoven's 5th Symphony in C Minor and I jump around, screaming. I slowly creep over to the piano across the stage, thinking my best friends Chase, Jake, Brooke, James, Ally and Hunter are playing a prank on me. When I get to the piano, I jump to the other side yelling "gotcha!" but no one is there.

The music has stopped and there is something crimson on the keys—wet, thick and slimy. I reach my hand out and touch it with two fingers. Yuck. It feels like cold slime. I lift my fingers to my nose and smell. It smells like copper... My eyes widen at the realization and I lean over, throwing up my lunch. Blood.

"W... where did this come from?" I ask in horror and wipe my mouth with my sleeve.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

Blood lands on my hand and the piano keys, splattering onto my new black ballet flats I got for my 14th birthday, one month ago. I slowly look up at the ceiling and see my homeroom teacher, Miss. Hillary's, dog Charki. She brought the dog to school for 'My Pet Day'. Charki's throat is slit with dark red blood dripping down. Who could do that to such an innocent and loveable chocolate lab?! My hands fly up to my face, covering my mouth a moment before a sob escapes my lips. "Help!" I move towards center stage, trying to get away from the blood piling up on the floor.

Snap!

Slide!

Snap!

I hear something coming from above the stage. I look up and nothing seems to be out of place. Something catches my eye and a moment later, I dive to the right to avoid a falling sand bag. It lands with a loud thud where I was standing a second ago. How... could that have happened? They're supposed to be secured so things like this don't happen! I look closer at the end of the rope and see that it's been clawed at. My head snaps up to the catwalk and for a second, I see a subtle blur of a figure.

My heart starts to race and I start to panic. I run towards the door behind stage. Before I can reach it, the door slams shut. I start to run towards the next door, but it too slams shut, along with every other door with a bang! Lights flicker in the balcony and I see an indistinct figure in the illuminated spotlight room. I blink and the figure is gone.

Phone. Where's my phone? I run on stage and pick it up off of the ground. I dial the one person I know will come. After four long rings, he answers.