You Promised

18

Annabelle's pov

The best way I could describe the thing was a robot made out of cardboard boxes. It had a crudely drawn face and was holding what I desperately hoped wasn't a knife.

"Oh hewwo. Awe you a fwiend of Gwegowy's?"

I stumbled backwards and glanced at the photo.
Gregory. It couldn't be. Could it?
"Y-yes I-I-I am."

It's eyes turned red for a second.
"Oh good. You can play hide and seek with us."
It turned its back and began to count.

I quickly took the photo out of the frame. I would ask the guys later. I grabbed Johnny, or I guess Gregory, and ran for it out of the house. Gregory protesting the whole way.

Once we were out the door I pulled him into the nearby woods and pulled him down behind a rock.

"What awe we doing? Why awe we so faw away fwom cawdboawd fwiend?"

"Listen Johnny, Gregory, who ever you are, that thing isn't your friend. It's dangerous and I'm here to protect you."
He was curled up in a ball leaning against the rock.

"Who awe you?"
The look on his face reminded me of Jay when he was little and had nightmares so he would come into my room.

"I'm Annabelle. Now tell me who you are."

"My name is Gwegowy. I'm...," he stopped to think, "I'm six yeaws old."

I pulled the picture out and looked at it. I focused less on who I guessed was Gregory and looked at the other boy Jimmy. I had an idea.
"Can you tell me your last name?"

He was quiet for a little bit. Like he couldn't remember.
"Casket."

I shook my head. I would look into it later, for now I needed to call Toast. Just one problem, I didn't have his number. But I did have the company number. Maybe it could connect me to him.

I pulled out my phone and dialed.

Ring. Ring.
"Hello. This is Johnny Toast of PIE. How may I help you?"
He still sounded hungover.

"Toast. I'm with Ghost but something is wrong. He's acting like some little kid who says his name is Gregory, we're hiding from some demon made of cardboard, and I have no clue where we are."

I heard him say something to who was probably Spooker.
"I'm tracking your phone now. Don't move and keep Gregory away from the demon. This isn't the first time this has happened. Just hold on for a bit."
He hung up.

I looked down at my phone and only now did it occur to me that just a few minutes ago it was dead. Also, now I had two missed calls and a text. All from Ebony. I opened the text.

Dad's out. Left the message. On my way.

I felt a bit better reading that. I missed her so much. Seeing her would be amazing. I looked back over at Gregory. He seemed so innocent and sweet, but something told me not to trust him. Was he possessing Ghost or was this actually Ghost? It didn't make sense.

"Gwegowy!"

He jumped up and was about to run off before I tackled him and put my hand over his mouth. I couldn't let him blow our cover. Why did he like this thing so much?

I heard tires screeching and peaked around the rock. On the road in front of the house was Johnny Toast's pink Cadillac.

"Finally."