The Haunted Candy Shoppe

Chapter 17-Hurt like Hellfire

I felt the prickles go everywhere. My lungs burned with the need for oxygen. I struggled against the pull of the fish, but I knew I was sinking. I never felt my feet touch the pond's bottom. I just floated there, swatting at the fish that were taking chunks out of me.

I heard a splash at the surface, then three more. I panicked, thinking that my friends were in the water now. I tried to yell at them, but I was already out of air and I took in water instead. I started seeing black spots in my vision as I tried to swim to the splashing.

Then the tiny prickles stopped. I floated there watching the little red lights swim to the surface. My friends were over. Their attempt at saving me was going to end with their blood in the pond too. I then felt another tug, this one at my sleeve. The dark spots were covering all of my vision and I felt myself be pulled higher and higher.

I was dragged onto the bridge and flopped over the side. I felt something sniffing my face. I then felt a sudden pressure on my chest. And another. And another.

I finally coughed up water and kept violently coughing until all I could do ilwas just lay there and groan. The spots cleared from my vision slowly. Once I was able to see clearly again, I saw the little bunny looking at me, twitching it's nose. I looked at all of the girls, who were watching me intently.

"Are you okay?" Julia asked me.

It took me a second to pull together enough energy to speak. I nodded, but even something that small left me dizzy.

Layla and Eva both tried to help me up. I was not able to stand by myself, so I leant on both of them. I got really lightheaded when I was pulled upright. I would have fallen again if I wasn't being held onto.

I looked down at my legs and I saw lots of little teeth marks and tears that were oozing blood. Since I was still wet from my plunge, the blood and water mixed into a swirl of rusty red.

I hobbled along, extremely dependent on the two girls. The little chocolate bunny hopped along beside us. He looked at me, almost like he wanted to apologize. I asked everyone to stop. I tried to go down on a knee, but the bites all over me hurt like hellfire. I ended up falling over with a thud.

"It's okay, little guy," I said, stroking his face. He hopped up to me and put his forehead against my chest. I you have ever heard a small dog sneeze, that's what he sounded like. I pushed him back to look at his face.

He looked like he had chocolate syrup coming out of his eyes. I think that meant he was crying. All of the other girls were seated by then. I looked at each of them. Then I scooped up the bunny and cradled him in my arms.

Some of the scars from that night have gone away, but the love I had for the little bunny never did.