Chapter 10
Michael’s arms tightened around me like iron bars. I was pressed up against him and could feel his heart beat racing.
The sound of scratching got closer and closer until I panicked. Breaking out of Michael’s grip I spun and blasted light where the sound was coming from. Silence followed and immediately Michael put his arms back around me.
I was panting, not knowing what to do. All of a sudden the light bulb came back on, showing the closet once more. On the back wall there was nothing except for a burn mark where my light had hit.
I leaned back and tried to look at him, “What was that?”
I felt him shrug, “I don’t know, Haila, probably just our imagination.”
I gave a nervous laugh, “Some imagination.”
He held me tighter, “Well, we were both scared, it was pitch dark, and that made us think the worst.”
Sighing I said, “I guess. I hope that’s all it is.”
Gently getting out of his grip I went out to check on the others. I found them in the living room all sitting on the three-seat couch. They all looked up at the same time and Ashley asked, “Now what?”
Not a second followed when Courtney shoved her off the couch, causing her to land on her rear end on the floor.
I looked at the stove clock which read two o’three. Shrugging I said, “Anyone up for Target?”
Getting the car we managed to fit everyone in, with Michael sitting shotgun, Ashley and Courtney both taking up the window seats in the back, and the three kids squished in the middle.
On the way there we got stuck in a bit of traffic. Slowing down to a crawl to match the traffic I turned my windshield wipers on high and heard Courtney ask, “What do you think happened?”
I saw her face peering out of the window in the rear view mirror. I shook my head, “I don’t know. From all this rain maybe somebody couldn’t see.”
When we were nearing the accident we passed a little ice cream store which caused all of the kids’ faces to light up. Josh looked at it excitedly, “Can we get some ice cream, Haila? Please?”
I sighed, “Sorry guys. We’re almost there. We’ll get some to take home.”
Pulling into the parking lot I picked the closest spot I could find so we wouldn’t have to go too far in the pouring rain. We got out of the car and ran to get inside.
Getting through the doors the three kids tried to take off in different directions. Stepping in front of them I went, “Whoa! You guys aren’t taking off. If power goes out we need you near us.”
With that I grabbed a buggy and we all went off to different isled, picking what we wanted. In the first isle we found some donuts, but only in single flavor packs.
Courtney and Ashley each picked up the one they wanted and started saying which one they should get. After a few banters they looked to Michael and Courtney asked, “Which one should we get?”
He held up his hands in defense and walked over to where I was. I told them, “Just get both. They’re on sale anyway.”
After they tossed them in the buggy we went around to the next isle with cereals, cookies, and other kinds of snacks.
All of the three kids ran down the aisle, picked a box, and ran back to me begging to get it. Aaron was holding a box of Honey Comb, Josh had Cocoa Puffs, and Jenn was holding up Lucky Charms.
They were nothing but a chorus of, “Please, please, please!”
I held up my hands, “Find a cereal you all like, and we’ll get two of that.”
They ran off and came back with two boxes of Cocoa Puffs. After they were in the buggy we continued our shopping for a bit until it was half full of food and snacks.
When we reached the last food isle Jenn turned to me, “Can we get a movie to watch?”
Checking my phone we had plenty of time to get home; we haven’t even been here an hour.
Walking over to the dvd isle we could hear the splatter of rain on the roof. Courtney, Jenn, Michael, and Ashley were looking at the videos behind me and I was looking at the others with my Josh and Aaron.
We were getting into the comedy movies when there was a click and the lights went out. Immediately I grabbed both of my brothers’ hands and said, “Jenn, take one of their hands.”
I felt a hand against my back and Michael’s voice, “It’s me.”
I was beginning to wonder how long this power outage would last would I heard quick tapping of nails along the floor. I felt Josh being yanked from me and I quickly said, “Michael take Aaron.”
I gripped Josh’s hand tight with both of my hands, “Josh what are you doing?”
He called out, “Hailah help me! Something’s got my leg!”
He grabbed my hands with his other hand. I tried to get both of my arms around his body but I couldn’t pull him close enough away from the thing that has him. I took one hand off him and blasted at the floor where it might have been.
The light the shot from my hand lit up the area for a brief second, showing an outline of a huge mutated bug like thing, but I got nothing more than a glimpse. The thing gave a low thick shriek and I was able to grab Josh in my arms.
The power came back on and I could see Jenn holding onto Courtney and Ashley’s hand, and Aaron was clinging tightly to Michael’s arm.
I looked back up at Michael, “Okay, now I can officially ask, what was that?”
He shook his head, “I have no clue.”
Ashley looked at me, “That thing isn’t normal.”
Courtney added, “Only if libraries had things on weird creatures, but they probably do.”
I thought for a moment, “I think I have something better than a library.”
Ashley caught on, “No, you’re not thinking of him are you?”
Courtney seemed lost, “Who?”
I started pushing the buggy, “One of the smartest people I know.”
