The Rift

Chapter 4: The surprise guest

The creature controlling the body of James Prawly returned home from taking care of business in the woods.

"James where have you been." James's wife asked.

"Taking out the trash." Prawly replied.

"Listen about our fight the other day." His wife said. "I'm sorry about calling you a parasite."

"Parasite?" Prawly said, a metal spike extending from his hand. "Lady you have no idea."

...

"MOM!" James's Daughter screamed when she saw her mother's body on the ground, and Prawly standing over her.

Prawly looked at the little girl and smiled. "Don't worry kid, it's going to be alright." Prawly moved in on the little girl.

...

It was a couple days into the summer now.

It was midafternoon and Lincoln was playing video games on the couch. The door bell rang.

"I'll get it!" Lincoln announced. He got up to answer the door.

The person on the other side of that door was not someone he expected to see.

"Surprise!" Said the visitor.

"Ronnie Anne?" Lincoln said. "I thought you were living in great lakes city now?"

"I am." Ronnie Anne said. "But me, my mom, and Bobby are going to stay in Royal Woods for the summer."

"Oh, why hasn't bobby told Lori about that?" Lincoln asked.

"We wanted to surprise you guys." Ronnie Anne said. "So wanna hang out?"

"Well I was going to hang out with another friend today." Lincoln said. "But you're welcome to tag along."

"Great!"

...

"My friend and I were going to meet at Gus's Games and Grub." Lincoln said as they reached the front door of the arcade.

They opened the door and walked inside.

"Oh, hey look my friends here." Lincoln said.

"really?" Ronnie Anne said. "I don't see Clyde anywhere."

"Oh, no this is a new friend." Lincoln explained. "Come on I'll introduce you!"

...

"Ronnie Anne, I'd like you to meet Stella." Lincoln introduced Ronnie Anne to the new girl who would be hanging with them.

"Oh..." Ronnie Anne said. "Your new friend's a girl?"

"Is that a problem?" Lincoln asked.

"Not at all." Ronnie Anne said, a twisted forced smile spread across her face. "I'm just sssooooo happy you made another... FEMALE friend."

Lincoln raised an eyebrow. "Well I'll let you two get acquainted. I have to pee."

"So, you're one of Lincoln's friends?" Stella said.

"Yeah, I used to go to school here." Ronnie Anne said. "Lincoln and I were, REALLY close. I'm sure he's told you a LOT about me."

"Actually, he hasn't really mentioned you." Stella said. "Ronnie Anne, right?"

"Oh, he hasn't?" Ronnie Anne said through gritted teeth, her eye twitching.

"Well it's a pleasure to meet you." Stella said.

"You too." Ronnie Anne growled.

"Do you have to go to the bathroom too?" Stella said. "You seem... distressed."