Short stories

Its so dark.

                      Natalienccky

I didn't expect it to turn out like this. I never thought it would have gone awry, askew. It was just a party. It was supposed to be fun. But now it's dark. It's getting warmer by the second. Where is everyone else? Where have they gone? Why am I here, by myself? All alone.

Flashback

It's raining outside. It's cold and wet. And inside, it warm, cozy, safe. Yet I can't help but feel something's off.

The sounds of the party are loud. Booming, covering the sounds of the thunderstorm outside.

Nick and I had planned this party for my 17th birthday. He wasn't here though, and the party had started half an hour ago. There was however an uninvited guest. No one knows who he is, though he claims he's Nick's friend, his name is Seth and that Nick had invited him.

Something rings out, through the air. So loud it could wake the dead. Everything goes black, as though all the light has been sucked out of this small arena of the woods.

'Let the hunt, begin!' Seth yells, holding something I can't quite make out. There's a hole in the wall, right above my head.

Lightning flashes, and I see what it is. Panic floods through me. I had never realised how much of a life or death situation you'd need to be in for a fight or flight reaction.

Right now, every part of my body was screaming, RUN.
I wait though, hesitate. He can't mean me. I've always been curious, but now that idiom, 'curiosity killed the cat,' makes sense to me now.

Seth smiles sadistically and points the gun at me.
'Run, run, run.' He says in a sing song voice.
I feel the adrenaline rush through me and I allow my body to take control.

I run out the front door, stumbling a bit when the wind hits me. I'm running and I know I won't be able to outrun them.

I'm heading for the lake. It's not far and there's quite a bit of cover, there and along the way. It's so dark. The rain's not helping either. I'm tripping and stumbling at every step.

I'm nearing the lake, when I finally stop to take a breather. There doesn't seem to be anyone behind me, so I take out my phone and try to call Nick. There isn't any reception though.

There's a cluster of rocks near the side of the lake, forming a small shelter. I'm sure I can fit in there. The rocks curve together to make a enclosed space that would make for a good hiding spot.

I've misjudged the space a little bit. It will be quite the squeeze going in between the rocks. I managed to fit, barely. It's crammed but I have no other choice.

There's two exits. So theoretically, I might be able to get out one way if they are on the other. It's a long shot though. It might be pretty obvious where I am.

It's freezing here and I'm soaked to the bone. What is going on? I haven't had had the time to let everything soak in.

I can't help but think, if Nick had shown up this wouldn't have happened. And that, he wouldn't have shown up. Everything would have been fine.

There's people approaching. Two of them. They're not making any effort to be quiet. I can hear their footsteps, breaths over the loud pounding of the rain.
The snapping of twigs stop and time seems to slow down.

'Over here. This is the only other place she could be.'Someone I know is speaking and it's not Seth. But it couldn't be........

I shuffle to the other side of the enclosed space. I can make it out. I can make it out. I chant, over and over in I'm head, as though that will help me.

I'm out of that tiny, enclosed space. Halfway to the trees, when a voice stops me.

That voice... It's sending shivers down my spine. The rain's stopped. That means the dangers over. Right?!
I turn around slowly, which is probably the dumbest thing I have ever done in my life.

It's Nick. I blink a couple of times then look again. No, look again. You're hallucinating! I tell myself with desperation.

Nick's shown up, The stupid little voice in my head murmuring, filling up every bit of my body, my soul. Shut up, I think drowsily.

'Say goodbye, Rina..' He's so different. Was everything before an act? A facade. A sham. He's taken off his mask. I can't believe I ever liked him.

He's holding something. Metal. Silver. Reflecting the moonlight. A gun. A cold fist grips my heart as I realise what this means for me. But he's hesitating. What's going on? Just do it! I plead silently. Just do
it...

'Do it!' Seth growls. His voice is so low I almost thought I imagined it. He's not even slowing down, concerned. Which makes me wonder if they have done it before.

Nick's index finger moves slowly to the trigger.
'I'm sorry.........' This is to big to forgive Nick.....
Everything around me is screaming. The trees, the wind.

There's a boom. Loud as thunder. I can't feel anything. There's a weird sensation. As though I'm floating.

Everything is fading. The trees around me. The colour of crimson on my hands, on the ground. The scent of something coppery covering the smell of leaves that have just fallen and mud. The sound of rain pelting the ground.

Its cold. Freezing. It's dark. It's so dark. It's so, so dark.

When I wake up again, there's a soft glow emitting from the hallway in front of me.

I'm really confused at this point. Hallway? The last thing I remember was Nick...... Oh no. Nick. He couldn't have possibly. It had to be just a dream. A nightmare.

Something to haunt me for the rest of my life.
What life? Something's nagging at me in my head. My life. I think back... My life.

I'm staring at the hallway. I've been staring at it for a long, long time, when curiosity gets the better of me.
There's a newspaper on the ground. What a weird thing to keep at the end of a hallway.

It's in my hands now. I don't remember picking it up.
The title says Girl Found Dead At Lake In Woods.

There's a picture underneath it. It's so familiar, but I somehow can't place it.

Then I realise.

It's me.

Yay! First story is out. What did you think? Was it good? This book is a collab between me and my friend Jamiejpts . Go give her a follow! It will be greatly appreciated. We'll be writing short stories and posting them over the course of time. Updates probably won't be regular though.
See ya next timeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. 😘😘😘😘😘