Needleleaf Creek

4

Mark was still sleeping in his bedroom. He had been dreaming of many things, including Laira. He dreamt of Laira so many times, that she was beginning to be Mark's dream girl, too. Mark suddenly woke up, rubbing his sore eyes. "Laira is Joshie's dream girl, you know." A warm voice said. Mark looked around, frightened by the voice he had heard. "Is anyone th-there?" He asked, with a frightened face. Not one voice replied. Mark was in relief, he thought that he might be dreaming again, he did dream, but it was about Laira. But Mark thought about what that voice said. Mark shivered. "Laira is Joshie's dream girl?" He said to himself. "But Laira's my dream girl, too." He said. He then stood up from the bed, took a quick shower, and went down the stairs. He started preparing his breakfast, A bowl of cereals to be filled up by milk, a classic. As he was eating, the doorbell rung. He dropped his spoon, stood up, and opened the door. He saw Laira. "Oh, h-hi Laira!" He greeted. "Hi to you too, Mark." Laira greeted back, with a sweet voice, following a sweet smile on her face. Mark was very happy to see her. "Come, Let's eat breakf-fast." He suggested. "Oh, don't worry," She said. "I already ate breakfast." She added. "Oh, just come in, then. Let me just finish my cereals." He suggested. She came in, wearing a sheath dress. Mark was really happy to see her in her in his home. "Wait, how'd you know about my address?" Mark asked, curiously. "Joshie told me." Laira answered. Nice one, Joshie. He thought. "You have a really nice house." She observed. "Well, it's my father's, he just gave it to me, when he left." He replied. "What happened to him?" She asked. "You know, i don't want to talk about it." "Oh, i'm sorry." "It's al-alright." Both of them continued talking to each other, until Mark finally finished eating his cereals. "Come, let's visit Joshie." Laira suggested. "Sure, you said that last night." Mark mumbled, eating his last spoon of cereals. Both of them stood up, with Mark opening the door first, but to go out last. He locked the doors, and started walking to the hospital. As they reached the hospital, Mark felt tired. "It's like a death march." He complained. "Oh, don't be silly, we just walked a few miles from your home." She teased. Reddish colors start to appear on Mark's cheeks. He felt embarrassed. Both of them started to walk up the stairs, towards the entrance doors. Mark turned around involuntarily, and saw the woods. He stumbled upon a bench, and felt something he had felt that night, the night he was kidnapped, just like any kidnapping scenario, he would be taken to an abandoned place, but for him, it was at a gazebo, it was full of lights, and it was too obvious for anyone to recognize. But, he felt something, he thought this might be a feeling of anxiety and apprehension. Laira was surprised, she then helped Mark up, slowly and steady. "What happened?" She asked. "It's a-a-about last night." He replied, frightened. "Don't worry, it'll last for minute, now." She comforted Mark. It made Mark's day, he was very fortunate to have Laira. Joshie, too was very fortunate to have Laira as his new friend. Both of them then walked in the entrance, with Laira helping Mark. She then helped Mark sit down on one of the seats by the counter. "What's Joshie's full name?" She then asked. "It's Joshie Henry Johnson." Mark replied. "But, just Joshie will do, It ain't a common name in this town." He added. "I'll stick with his full name." She replied, and thanked Mark. She went near the counter, and asked the nurse a Joshie Henry Johnson. "He's at the the third floor, room 3436." The nurse replied, with a pleasant voice. Laira was happy to hear a sweet voice, again. She then thanked the nurse, and went back to Mark. "Let's go, Joshie's at third floor." She said. "OK." Mark replied. He then stood up, and both of them went to he nearest elevator. "Here," Mark said. "You go first." "Thanks, you're a real gentleman." She said, in a complimenting manner. Both of them got in the elevator, with Mark going in last, but as he got in, the elevator doors suddenly roared upon him, it was all beside him. He tried to push the doors back but it wouldn't open. "It won't budge, push the open button!" He cried. Laira rapidly pushed the button, but it wouldn't budge, either. "It doesn't work!" She yelled, scared by what's happening. "Get out of the elevator, now!" Mark said. Laira followed, and tried going outside, be as she tried to escape, A figure pulled her, she then looked back, frightened and shocked. And as she turned around, she saw Arch, She quickly pushed him back, but as she pushed him back, Arch grew bigger, and bigger. Laira turned around and closed her eyes. She was very frightened. Mark suddenly grabbed her hand, and pulled her out of the elevator, Mark followed. The elevator doors slammed shut, and the elevator suddenly dropped down the shaft. Laira stood up, still frightened from what she had seen. "Did you see that?" "See what?" Mark asked. "Arch!" Laira groaned. "Maybe you're just hallucinatin'." He suggested. This made Laira frustrated. "But i felt it!" She yelled. Mark was surpirsed. "Alright, alright, i believe ya' now, but we got to visit Joshie." He reminded Laira. Both of them then took the stairs, up until they reached the third floor. "Room 3436." Laira said. 3436? She thought. "Mark," She said. "Isn't 3436 a boat number, too?" She asked. "Oh, don't tell me that Joshie's room number has something to do with the twins." He groaned. "I'm not." Laira mumbled. Both of them tried to find the room, until they reached a dead end. Laira turned around and saw the room number, 3436. "Here." She said. Both of them then hustled towards the doors, excited to Joshie. But, as they opened the door, the room was abandoned. "Great," Mark complained. "First, we encounter an 'attack' in the elevator, now, Joshie's gone?!" He added. "Well, he might be kidnapped while i was gone." Laira suggested. Both of them then started taking the stairs down to the main hall, but as they went down the stairs, a warm voice was heard. "Laira, Mark." The voice called. Both of them looked back, unknowingly receiving a hit on their faces. Both of them felt unconscious. Nearby patients and nurses had heard it, too. They went near the stairs, but no one was there. "Strange." Some patients murmured. Mark was still conscious, despite the fact that he got hit on his face. He felt someone holding his feet so tight, he then moaned in a painful manner. He looked up, to see who was pulling him, he then saw a face so familiar, a face he had met in school. It was Arch. He felt more frustrated, and tried to kick his feet. But, this made the situation more worse. Arch looked back, and frustratedly hit Mark's feet, making him Unconscious. Arch kept pulling their unconscious bodies, until he found another way out of the hospital. "Both of you are coming to papa!" He said. He continued pulling them until they reached an abandoned gazebo, in the creek, where no one can pass through. "This time, no one will be able to see us." Arch said, placing their unconscious bodies beside Joshie, who was tied up, just like Mark. "You see, Josh? I take revenge seriously, and i MEAN it." He said, picking up his bat, and started to hit Joshie. "No, please! NO!" Joshie cried. Arch had suddenly hit him in the head, making Joshie unconscious. "Finally, i got the three of ya'll. This time, i maybe have to kill one o' yas!" He yelled. Arch sat down on the rocks, beside the creek, starting to light up a cigarette, well, despite still being a highschool student, and started to smoke. He stood up, looking back at them. "Bastards!" He cried. He then sat down beside their unconscious bodies, singing. "Q, R, S, T, what's next? You!" He teased, following an evil laugh. He took his jacket off, and used it as a blanket, for it was cold outside. He started to feel it was winter, even if it still was September. Arch felt something, same feeling as Joshie's, anxiety. He kept moving nervously, as if he was in a clanging church bell. He tried taking a nap, for he felt tired. He was able to take a nap, Silence had now taken over.