Hush

> Chapter Five <

Paige

I sit alone on the bus, as does Raine. I'm staring out the window, watching the houses zoom by, and thinking. I'm considering dropping out of the Spelling Bee, just so Raine can win and stop acting so weird. Because I know that if I do this, I won't be able to stop myself from doing everything I can to beat her. I wouldn't normally do that, but that thing inside of me is something I can't control. I want to go to Fellhollow.
          I need to go to Fellhollow.
          But why?
          I don't have time to contemplate that thought, for the bus has pulled to a stop in front of my house. I grasp the handle on my backpack, stand, and shuffle down the narrow aisle to the open bus doors. Stepping down the three little stairs and out onto the sidewalk, I wave to the bus driver and turn to walk to my front door. When I reach it, the bus is idling down my street to Raine's house, which resides around the corner.
          I walk inside the house, leaving my shoes on the doormat and heading to my bedroom. I enter it, and drop my bag on the floor. The first thing I do is pull my Samsung out of my pocket and text Raine.
         Me - U alright?
          She doesn't answer right away, but when she does, I know she's lying.
          Raine - Yeah
          Me - U don't seem alright. U were acting weird, what's up?
          Raine - It's nothing really
          Me - It's not nothing, R
          Raine - I don't wanna talk about it, ok?
          Me - U aren't avoiding this forever
          Raine - I will as long as I can
          She never texted back after that, no matter how many times I messaged her. I wish she would just tell me why that thing that's making us go to Fellhollow is so much worse for her. What's happening to my best friend?

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I decide to just watch TV for the rest of the day, and I end up going to sleep around 10:30 p.m. I don't have very nice dreams.

I awaken in the dewy grass. Opening my eyes, I am greeted by the full moon above me. Its glow lights up the clearing I lay in, allowing me to make out the shapes around me. Towering shadows loom over me, revealing themselves to be trees. The clearing is perfectly circular, with those tall trees lining the edge. All is silent except for the small chirps of crickets. Not even the rustling of leaves can be heard, for there is no wind to rustle them.
          "Where am I?" I whisper to myself. This place looks awfully familiar, but I can't quite figure out why.
          "Fellhollow Forest, my dear." a soft voice echoes throughout the clearing. I look around, trying to find the source of the sound. Fellhollow Forest...I'm in Fellhollow, then. But how did I get here? I don't recall winning the draw, or the Spelling Bee for that matter. I thought it was still Wednesday!
          "Why?" I ask no one. I still haven't located the person speaking.
          "You belong here. Here with me. Won't you come to me, Paige? I would love it if you did. We can be friends!" the voice says. When I really listen, I can almost be certain that it's female.
          "Who are you?" I call out into the night.
          "My name will only be revealed once we have formally met. Come see me in Fellhollow, dear. We can have great fun together. Raine and I always do..." the voice giggles as it fades away, and with it, the world around me.

          I wake with a start. What was that all about?
          I check the clock on my phone, and it reads 5:09 a.m. I don't have to be up until seven. Should I go back to sleep? I decide against that and open Instagram, scrolling through my feed. All the while, I think about what that voice had said, right before I woke up.
          "We can have great fun together. Raine and I always do..."
          Raine knows that thing? And, more importantly, what have they been doing?