Little Kid's Horror Stories

Chapter 2

He crouched in the darkness behind the screen, the taste of warm blood still on his lips. The faint silhouette of the man shouting on the stage drew his attention, and he watched as another shadow left the stage and climbed down to the side. Abruptly, in front of where he crouched, he could here the curses and grunts of another person.

Creeping forward, he saw one of the young ushers struggling to raise the bar on the fire door. Instantly, he sprang. A shout from the projection booth was followed by the aisle lights, flickering to life, and the red exit sign blinking on in the dark area beside the stage.

"Heddy's cheer was choked off as she and Penny stared open mouthed at the scene in front of the exit. The limp body of the usher was hanging from one arm of the hunched figure; the other hand was raised to its mouth. In the red glow of the sign, the girls could see the burning eyes and the snarling face, and in unison, they screamed aloud, grabbing at the boys and shoving their way into the aisle.

**********

"Look, our kids are in there and we want them out." Hair dripping wet, Uncle Ted was pushing up against the restraining arms of the policeman who was trying as calmly as he could to explain that an orderly exit was under way. A large throng of worried parents gathered in the pouring rain to pick up their sons and daughters. Jim Foster grabbed his brother-in-law's arm and pointed; a small crowd of children was pushing their way out of the theatre, stumbling back as they felt the pelting rain.

They're coming out now." The two fathers watched anxiously as parents hurried forward with umbrellas and hats to gather in their children.

"Always last," Ted groaned.

"Tell me about it." Jim agreed.

**********

The jam in the lobby entrance was too great, and looking back, Penny could see the figure staggering up the aisle behind them. "Quick!" She shouted, this way." She pushed the others in front of her and they scrambled up the stairs to the second floor. Too late, they realized that there was only one door-and it was locked. Downstairs the yells and screams increased and over the din, they could hear the manager shouting vainly for the police.

"I have to go pee." Justin complained.

"I'm afraid not," Penny said, peering back down the stairs nervously.

"But I have to GO NOW!"

"Shhhh! Shhhhh! Heddy, help him will you."

"Help him! Help him how?"

"Shhhh! Dill, speak to your brother, tell him to be quiet."

Dillard threatened him with his monster toy, growling. Justin punched him on the arm. "He hit me!"

Penny slipped down a few steps, listening carefully. The noise had wound way down and a new sound reached her ears.

"Don't go down there!" Heddy hissed.

"SHHHHHHH! Will you be quiet!" She listened again, shuddering at what sounded like a wet chomping, and then she jerked upright as a shadow appeared at the foot of the stairs. Whimpering a warning, she darted back up, pushing everyone back against the door. Thunder crashed again and the children yelped loudly in response, banging against its wooden panels.

A cracking noise sounded, and they looked down to see that the wood had split. With a brief glance back down the stairs, Penny ran at the door, kicking as hard as she could. "C'mon, help me!"

Four pairs of frantic feet pounded at the door finally splintering the bottom panel with a loud crash. Quickly, they wrenched the shattered wood aside and Penny began pushing Justin through the ragged opening.