Running. Running. Running. That was the only thing I could do in the moment of time I was stuck within. I looked over my shoulder and saw them still chasing me. Chasing. Chasing. Chasing. While I just ran. I ran away from them. Trying to escape away from them. But they just continued to chase me. It seemed like they were running so fast. They were running so fast that it was inevitable for them to catch me with ease for the speed which I ran at was that of a mere slug. My legs were heavy and could barely move. It took me lots of energy to lift them up and place them one in front of the other – what a simple task which I could not endure. There was also this bright, white light which illuminated the area surrounding us. That was where I was going. That was my destination which seemed impossible to reach.
I felt a hand wrap around my ankle and I fell face first to the ground – and to my death.
Sweat. I felt sweat all beaded up on my forehead and as soon as I jerked up in bed, it ran down the side of my face. My breathing was heavy so I sat there heaving as I frantically looked around me. I was still in the room which everyone had left me in. In the pitch black darkness.
Darkness.
I began to panic. The darkness swallowed me before continuing to ingest me. It withheld me from breathing and so I began to suffocate. My hands came up to my neck, as if to pull away the blanket which was squeezing it.
I needed to get out. I need to get out of the darkness.
I grabbed my phone from the bedside table and lifted up, bringing it to me. I then grabbed the edge of my comforter and threw it up, giving me enough time to be able to crawl underneath it before it landed on top of me. I tapped on my smart phone, turning on the flashlight. The whole cave I was in lit up and it filled me with content.
No monsters could get me now.
I stayed in my little cave, away from the monsters for hours on end, until the sun began peeping over the horizon. While I was under there, my phone's flashlight sending me vibes of comfort, I thought, maybe Myron was right. Maybe there really was something wrong in Evan's Point. Maybe there was something different this year. Evan's Point definitely seemed different to all the stories I had heard. Never once had I heard of some creature before. Like, ever. Something was wrong and I was determined to find out what is was.
No monster could mess with me.
I was already certain that Allie would help me. She was my best friend, of course. I wasn't too sure about Myron though. He seemed pretty shaken up from what had happened and from that creature. I wasn't sure if he would be in for more. If he would want to help me to find out what was happening in Evan's Point. I was also scared that if I asked him then he would laugh at me. A humiliating laugh like the one he had done when I told him that the creature resembled him. I hated that laugh.
As the sun did begin to peep over the horizon and flood through the windows into my room, I shook my head clear of my thoughts. As I switched off the flashlight on my phone, I pulled off the comforter from over my head. Only, I was surprised to see a figure standing at the end of my bed with their back towards me. I was about to let out an ear piercing scream when they spun around and recognized them as the aforementioned boy. Myron Winters. I let out a sigh of relief that it was only him as after all the events of the past two nights, my body was in full paranoia mode. Myron sauntered over to me and sat on the edge of my bed.
"Why are you up so early?" I asked the dark haired boy. It was true. I couldn't understand why Myron was up so early. I would have expected him to be sleeping all day after what we'd just been through.
"I could ask you the same question," was his only reply. I lowered my head, my lanky dark hair falling before my face. Of course he would say that. After all, I had just been through the same as Myron.
"Monsters," I muttered under my breath before looking up at him with my uttermost courage. Myron gave me a confused look. "The monsters would get me."
I then didn't wait for any reply. I swung my legs off the bed and let my bare feet touch the ground. I braced myself before pushing myself up onto my two feet. I waited for a few moments so that my legs could get used to the weight. As soon as they were, I began walking towards the door. I outstretched my arm and wrapped my hand over the simple door knob. I twisted it a pulled it open. Taking a deep breath, I walked out the room and towards the stairs. It was then when I realized that I was still barefooted so I hastily spun on my bare heels and made my way back to the room. I sheepishly walked in and looked to find my bags piled nicely in the corner. As I walked towards my bags, I saw Myron from my peripheral vision to be smirking. I silently crouched down and opened up one of my bags and got out a pair of flip flops. I slipped my feet into them before zipping up my bag and turning again to rush out the room. This time, I heard the sound of Myron's shoes following after me. I didn't stop for him, though. I just continued to walk down the stairs and towards the front door. I opened it up and I was met with a wave of fresh air. I stepped outside and began walking down the street. One thing was that, I left the front door open. For Myron.
My shoes made their notorious flip-flopping sound as I walked. The only other sound to be heard was Myron's sneaker-clad feet slapping across the concrete as he followed me on my aimless journey. I didn't know my way around Evan's Point. I was just hoping I would end up somewhere nice.
"Avery," I heard Myron's voice call out behind me. I didn't stop though. I couldn't. Not after what I had said to him when we were still in the bedroom.
Monsters.
I had mentioned the monsters to him. I told him that the monsters would come and get me.
How pathetic of me.
I continued to walk, ignoring his feeble attempts of stopping me by calling out me name. I finally reached a park and walked into it and towards the swings. I sat down on one of them and pushed off my legs so I was swinging slightly. I felt Myron come and sit on the one beside me. We sat in complete silence. It wasn't an awkward silence though. Rather, it was quite a comfortable one when two people could just sit and enjoy each other's company. That was until Myron decided to speak.
"You're scared of monsters," he said as if it were a statement rather than a question. As if he were certain I was rather than questioning me about it. In some ways I was glad that maybe he had understood my fear. After all, we all have fears and mine is monsters.
"I've kept it locked up within me," I said.
"Why?"
"You're fears make you weak," was my answer to his question. "If someone knows your fear then you are weak because it is like they have the key to control you. They can easily blackmail you, use you, scare you and who knows what else."
"And you've experienced all this?" Myron asked.
"My brother and sister," was all I needed to say. "My mom and dad hated it. They hated me because of it. Just because I was scared of monsters."
"And you're still scared," said Myron, as if to correct me of what I had said.
"Yes," I nodded my head. "Yes I am."
And with that, I turned to look at Myron to see his gaze burning into me.
"We'll find out what has happened here," Myron said. "I promise you."
