Under the Floorboards

Chapter 8: Dark

For a moment, time slows. It'sjust Mark and I, trembling hands together as the feeling of remorse washes over us like a tidal wave. His eyes gleam into mine, the pain shows through them. I stiffen, trying hard to keep my calm. I just can't do it. A tear bubbles in my vision just before it slides down my cheek.

His soft thumb traces my cheek and the drop of water. I can't hold it in anymore. More water swells, gushing out of the sides of my eyes. My lips tremble, my whines scratch out of my throat. He holds my face cupped in his hands, just watching me as I cry. Suddenly, he pulls me towards him and wraps his arms around me tightly. I hugged him back, crying into his neck. I hear his sniffle in my ear as he hides his pain.

"Please never let me go. Please stay with me forever," I whisper to him through my cries.

"I wish I could. I will stay for as long as I can," his voice shakes with each word.

With a buzz, the lights begin to flicker. "It's my turn. I just know it, it's gonna be pitch black in a second," Ivy cries out in fear.

Mark holds me close, never lessening his grip on me. "Are you ready for the dark?" I ask him with a sniff.

"No," he replies just before the entire room goes black.

I can't see anything, I can only feel. I feel my feet on the ground and Mark as I cling to him. Something else touches me. It brushes my arm slowly. It feels rough, but also light. The feeling of soft, cold fingers trace my arm, the hairs stand up with each movement. I feel goosebumps rise as a shiver runs down my spine. It isn't Mark.

The light flickers once more, revealing a shadow-like figure of a woman who is overly tall and slightly hunched over with a bony shape standing beside me, her clammy fingers brush against my bare arm as she stares at me with a wicked grin.

I jump back, screaming and swiping at the figure in a frantic motion. The dim light flickers again, I can feel my hand swipe into an orb of cold air where the woman is standing. My hands slide through her. She cackles through her musty teeth, vanishing into thin air just as the light turns off once more.

Everything is silent, the room is pitch black as we wait for her to appear again. Cole shrieks as the light turns back on. Behind him, she peers from his shoulder as she winks at Ivy.

"Hell no," Ivy waves her hands in the air as she takes a few steps away from Cole. The light turns off again.

I can hear Ivy whimper just before the light flickers quickly. I barely catch the glimpse of the shadow woman running her finger down ivy's cheek, her hunched back towers over Ivy.

"Don't give in, Ivy. Hold on. She will go away," Yvoni whispers as the lights flashes on with a sudden force. The woman's hand still on Ivy's cheek, snaps her face towards Yvoni, revealing her sharp teeth and pulling it into a smile. Yvoni's eyes bulge as she holds her breath.

Ivy shuts her eyes and I watch as she breathes slowly. "Go away," Ivy screams towards the figure. It slowly turns its head back to face Ivy. They stare at each other with an intense glare as Mark tightens his grip on me. I watch helplessly as the woman sinks into the floor with a quick movement, vanishing as the lights turn off again. The buzzing of the light sounds as it flickers once more. A hand shoots out of the floor behind Yvoni, pulling itself from the ground as the light goes out again.

"Yvoni!" Nina squeals with fright as she darts behind Cole.

My jaw drops as soon as the light flickers back on. The woman is in the last place I had expected her to be. She has each bony foot planted firmly on Yvoni's shoulders, her body is in a crouch position as she hovers over Yvoni's head. Yvoni breathes heavily as she lets her hands fall limp with the shut of her eyes. The light still on, the figure turns towards Ivy. Ivy trembles, she begins to cry. The long bony fingers wrap around Yvoni's face and with a sudden jerk, Yvoni falls limp. She is gone. Screams break out as the body hits the floor. I feel my heart drop into my stomach, the acid-like taste fills my mouth as I feel the adrenaline pump through my veins. I cry out, the shadow figure on all fours on the ground. It's hair hangs in its face, it's back is arched like an angry cat. She groans, suddenly running to an empty corner and climbing up the wall. She climbs, still on all fours as she crawls across the ceiling in a quick motion. The lights go off once more.

Ivy stands in the center of the room, I hear her as she breathes. The light flashes back to life, revealing the woman hanging from the ceiling right above Ivy. I still feel my skin crawling, my hands tremble and tears rolling down my cheeks as I accept Yvoni's death. I should be used to death by now, but it just isn't something I can get used to.

The figure looks down at Ivy with a grin, it's charcoal dusty skin reveals bones I have never seen on a person. Ivy glares up at it with anger.

"You don't scare me anymore! Leave now!" Ivy roars at it. It squeals in pain before jumping at Ivy. Ivy's arms shoot up, blocking the figure from landing on her. The lights go out again, for the last time before flickering back to life. This time, the glow is back to normal and the woman is gone. Ivy stands still in the center of the room as she lets her arms fall to her side while she wheezes. Tears gush from her eyes, the guilt is  scarred upon her face.

"It wasn't your fault," I whisper to her, one hand on her shoulder and the other in Mark's hand.

Yvoni's chest rises suddenly as she shoots up from her temporary sleep. Gasps echo through the room.

"You're alive!" Ivy screams as she runs to Yvoni. My heart quickens with relief. Yvoni isn't dead.

"Ow," Yvoni rubs her neck with a groan.

"She didn't kill you?" I ask aloud, I'm amazed and grateful at the same time. It doesn't make sense.

Ivy turns her head to face me. Her tears have dried now. She smiles gratefully as she pushes herself to her feet. I glance back at the rest of my friends. I notice their eyes bulged with shock. They're looking behind me.

"It's my turn," Yvoni screams from a distance, it sounds further away than it should.