When Darkness Dawns

Chapter 2- The Poison Pen

              Andrew turned the key to unlock the door to his home. Once it clicked, he gave it a push and it swung itself open with an eerie creak. 

             "Geez, that thing needs some oil." Jack criticized, following his friend into the house. 

              Andrew tossed his backpack on the couch and was just about to settle down when suddenly, he heard something - It was the sound of dishes clattering in the kitchen. 

             He stood back up and cast a glance at Jack who also looked incredibly confused.

             "Mom? I thought you guys were gone awhile ago. Did something happen?" He and his companion walked cautiously through his living room.

             The clattering stopped and Andrew realized the footsteps he was hearing were heavier than ones that would belong to his mother. He looked down. He was holding the pen. The Pen.

             "Andrew," it was a menacing whisper that felt close to his ear." His parents weren't home. He knew that now.

             His hand started to tremble as the shadowy figure who had just spoken took a step into the light.

             It was a woman. Her eyes were an icy blue. Her hair and skin were nearly as white as the dress she wore. But, she didn't scare him. There was some sort of calmness in her presence.

             "Andrew," she repeated, advancing towards him with a smile. "Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you. I'll leave just as soon as you give me the pen."

             Andrew felt a sinking feeling in his stomach as the pen felt heavier by the second.

             "Jack, what do I do?" his question came out almost in a whisper.

             "Just give it to me," Jack whispered back, almost inaudibly. I'll hide it."

             "Do you really trust Jack?" the woman's sugary tone was almost hypnotic. "In fact, do you trust any of your friends? How do you know that one day they won't just...stab you in the back?"

             Andrew's eyes shot away from the woman and averted towards the ground as pain shot through his body. Where was the blood coming from? Everything had switched into slow motion. He couldn't breathe. What was happening? He blinked and looked at Jack who held the pen in one hand and a knife in the other.

             Jack smiled tauntingly. "You really didn't see that one coming, huh? When are you ever going to wake up, Andrew?"

             "WAKE UP ANDREW!" Jack tossed a pillow at his friend's face and took a step back as the younger boy tumbled off the couch, gasping. "Bro you must've had a really bad nightmare. You were like yelling in your sleep. Are you good?"

             "Yeah," Andrew groaned sitting up on the carpet as reality sank in. "I'm sorry. I just keep thinking about the pen." 

             "You have it though," Jack gestured at Andrew's hand. "It's safe."

              "Gosh, I fell asleep with it in my hand?" Andrew looked down, disoriented. One of his hands had clawed the thick carpet beneath him so tightly that his knuckles had turned red. The other hand had itself wrapped into a fist around the mysterious object that had to have been the reason for his chilling dream. He tossed the item on the table and sighed.