Shhhh

Ensared in fear

I stepped out into the backyard, flashlight in hand. We had searched every room there was in that house, every inch, every corner, every shadow, yet nothing was there. At least not anymore. Whoever was watching me wanted to drag on this torturing suspense.

     I looked back at Bane who still stood, frozen in fear and glued to the doorway of the backyard. I sighed and walked up to him, though he paid to mind to me, his gaze was fixated to everything but me, the one thing that would make him feel safe in this situation.

    " Hey, " I began in a soft tone and placed my hand on his shoulder, that earned me his attention. He pealed his gaze from everything behind me and looked directly at me instead, I could see the fear in his eyes, clear as day.

     " You don't have to come out here if you don't want to, Bane. You can go back upstairs. " I said, I didn't want him feeling so uncomfortable in his own home, it pained me to see.

    " Upstairs ? " he streaked in a terrified tone. " No. No no no no it could come back in ! And if it does what could we do then ? " Asked Bane, speaking in a high pitched tone and nearly too fast for me to comprehend.

    " First of all, this it you're talking about, is a he. And second of all, he's not in the house. We checked every corner of every room, remember ? There's no where he could possibly be hiding in there. Just go back inside and lock all of the doors and windows. And do. Not. Open them. " I instructed in a serious tone. This was no game, and Bane knew that, but he was too scared to think straight right now and he needed guidance.

     Bane looked at me with a terrified expression. " Don't open them ?... " he asked. " But then...then how would you get in ?... " Asked Bane, merely getting a blank stare in return. " You're coming back inside right ? " He asked, raising his voice slightly.

     " Look, Bane, if this guy is out here then we can't risk letting him into the house, he could easily fool you into thinking he was me. And if he isn't here, then you're safe, and I could go to the closest house and get help. You'll be okay, I'll be okay, everything will be fine. "

     Bane watched me with consideration, though he made up his mind quickly. " No. I'm not leaving you out here, M. I want to help you. " He said in a firm voice, there was no changing his mind. I nodded and patted his shoulder.

" Thanks man... " in all honesty, I was relieved that he hadn't left me out here to fend for myself. I don't think I myself could ever do this alone, and I had been alone for so long. It was nice to have someone that actually cared about me enough to have my back. It meant more than words could explain right now...

Bane gave a small nod, seeming a lot more confident about the situation with the normal gesture. But all of that fell away with one single sound...

Crack

The sudden sound that broke through the short but content silence startled both Bane and I. We spun our heads in the direction quickly, both of us tensing immediately as if preparing ourselves for the worst.

Crack

Came the noise again... Though this time from the opposite side of the house. I looked from one place to the other, no one could be seen hiding in the trees, no animal prancing around the forest, completely oblivious to the events of tonight.

Despite the complete impossibility of it, I knew this person was responsible for both noises, somehow being unseen while causing both of them. Surely there wasn't enough time to get from one side to the other, Bane's house was huge and the backyard was unreasonably big, but it was him. He was trying to separate us from each other, Bane was terrified, and I was weak. He knew we wouldn't have a chance. And he was right...