I was walking down the warm summer air street on my way home from work. Normally I would catch the bus, but I had to work overtime today. I was really exhausted and just wanted to get home and take a nice, steaming hot bath. I looked at my watch. The clocks hands were moving towards twelve a.m. I can’t believe I worked an extra four hours.
The streets were completely abandoned, especially since this isn’t a well-populated area. The street lamps were on and glowing bright. All the stores surrounding me were closed with their owners at home in bed; which is exactly what I should be doing. I crossed a side street and continued walking. I was just about to pass the towns favorite store; the Ice Cream Parlor.
My thoughts went immediately to the alley that came right after the parlor. Everyone in town has heard the stories that were said and if you didn’t then you were new. The scary part is all of the stories matched each other, normally if something was just a rumor than there would be differences in each one. This one though, there wasn’t. Every single story I’ve heard has been the same and that really scared me. You’d think as a twenty-eight year old woman I wouldn’t be scared, but damn if I wasn’t. Everyone was.
I did what everyone else would do before they crossed it. I prayed; prayed to God that the spirits living there wouldn’t hurt me; that they would let me go on in peace. I started nearing the alley and I felt my heart start to race. I walked slowly and oh so carefully not to disturb any of the angry spirits that live. I heard noise come from the alley. I was so afraid to pass it I almost stopped and turned around. I convinced myself that I was just hearing things, so I kept on walking. I saw the corner of the alley come into view, then came the opening. I peered my head around the corner and down the alley to make sure nothing was there. That’s when I saw it. Five figures standing in front of two other ones, but for some reason they didn’t look like spirits; they looked real. I squinted to try and see who they were, or at least what they were doing.
It seemed like they were arguing for some reason; a reason I didn’t know why, a reason I didn’t want to find out. I turned my head away and was about to begin walking again, but the noise froze me. I turned my head and look down the alley again. The two guys were on the ground with the five other ones hovering over them. Suddenly the five guys were swinging their arms and kicking their feet. The two on the ground were trying to defend themselves, but it was useless; they over powered them one hundred percent.
I stood there frozen not believing my eyes. I didn’t know what to do. A part of me wanted to run over and help them, but another part, a smart part, told me that I would just get the crap kicked out of me as well. That wouldn’t help the guys in anyway. The only way I could help them was getting other help.
The bad thing is there wasn’t a single person for a good two miles. I wasn’t going to be able to run for help, so I would have to call the police and wait for help to get here. I moved away from the opening of the alley and put my back against the brick wall. I pulled my cell phone out of my pocketbook and dialed 911. The ringing stopped quickly.
“911 what’s your emergency?” The lady answered.
“Hi, yes, I’m at the alley. There are these five guys beating up another two. I can’t stop it myself. Please hurry.” I spoke quietly, afraid that they were going to hear me.
“Help is on the way.” I didn’t even have to specify what alley, it was the only alley in town and everyone’s heard of it.
“Okay, thank you.” I responded before I hung up. I slid my back along the brick wall until my bottom met the ground. I sat there for a minute praying, praying to God that I wouldn’t be seen. When I was ready I started to crawl up to the opening. I popped my head out from around the corner and glanced down into the utter blackness. My eyes adjusted and I was finally able to see clearly. What I saw froze me.
There was nothing. Everyone was gone. My eyes widened in fear. I stood up abruptly. I needed to get out of here. Afraid that they would find me I ran. I wasn’t going to stop running until I was safe in my house. It was so dark out I didn’t notice the things in my way until I tripped over them. A few times I fell hard onto the ground, scrapping my hands in the process. I could feel my hands getting hot, a burning hot. I felt the blood spilling out. I was in pain, but I had to keep running.
I saw my house in view and I ran even faster. I climbed the steps and fumbled to get my keys out of my pocketbook. Finally I found them. My hands shook as I tried to find the right key and put it in the whole. I missed a few times, but finally it took and I turned the knob. The door swung open and I slammed it shut. I triple locked my door. I finally felt safe, so I bent over to catch my breath. I looked at my hands, they looked exactly as how I predicted. I washed them off in the sink, bandaged them up and then decided to go to bed. I didn’t want to remember this night and I was hoping the sooner I fall asleep the more likely I’ll think it was just a dream.
