Monster.

Chapter One

I was sitting on the park bench, the worn wood of the seat pressing up against my thighs. The abandoned playground surrounded me, broken slides and dangerously teetering tetherball poles filling the empty lot.

No one was here but me.

This place was my sanctuary. It was my home away from home. Twenty years ago when the school was closed down and everyone forgot about it, this small, once fun, area was turned into a wasteland. Broken beer bottles and smashed cigarettes littered the floor.

It was a dreary place, the faded reds, blues, and yellows of the equipment giving off the sense that it was something out of a horror movie; as if a clown or ax murderer was going to jump out from behind the ball-wall at any second. You’d never want to come here alone, as the feeling of being watched followed you everywhere you went and the smell of smoke flowed with the breeze.

It was literally out of a nightmare. But it couldn’t compete with the nightmare that lies within the realm of my life.

I stand up, my worn converse crunching against the broken glass from the teenagers that came here to drink and smoke.

It was evening, the sun slowly sinking, the air growing colder by the second, adding to the eerie feel of the park.

I walk towards the empty schoolhouse. Its ceilings were caving in and most of the walls lay in piles under the overhang. Stepping into the small school, I gently brushed my hand against the few walls that remained, dust and dirt wiping off onto my small hand. I wandered around for a bit, not taking any notice of the precariously drooping ceiling. The many times I had been there, I had never worried about it falling on me; I actually hoped for it.

I’d rather die than live the life I do now. I could never being myself to commit suicide. I just couldn’t even fathom taking my own life. But I wouldn’t mind if I were to perish by some ‘freak accident’. Say I was walking across the street and a drunk driver was to drive right into my path. I wouldn’t run, I wouldn’t scream, I would stand there and let it kill me.

I step into one of the small classrooms, seeing the grime covered walls and a chalkboard. If you looked closely, you could see what seemed to be a math lesson, with hastily scrawled numbers and formulas.

I lean against a wall and tumble back as it breaks right under me. I jump forward, spinning around to see a sizeable hole. I smirk to myself.

I keep walking around, looking through each classroom and each office, the cafeteria and gym, everything hundreds of children from Kindergarten to sixth grade roamed for years. It was fascinating, really.

I had lost track of time, actually enjoying myself. When I looked through one of the broken down walls, I saw it was extremely dark and a few stars were showing themselves. I needed to get back ‘home.’

I turn around and walk down the hallways, finding my way to the front doors. I look one more time into a classroom that I found my favorite. With its colorful walls and pretty floor colors, it was obvious it was a kindergarten classroom. It reminded me of when I was younger and happy. I smile to myself as I remember everything.

Then I shake my head, knowing that it was useless to wish for those things once again. The smile fell from my face and my body slouched. I turn to walk out the door and back to my ‘home.’

“Going somewhere?”

I choke in a scream, whipping around to see a boy leaning against a wall behind me, his hands in his pockets. He had a cocky smile traced on his face.

I look between him and the door quickly, planning my escape.

“Don’t even think about it. You aren’t going anywhere.” The boy smirked. He got up from the wall and took a step toward me. On instinct, I took a step back, nearly tripping over a fallen beam.