The Haunting

Chapter Eight

I sat in my cell, contemplating why in the hell I couldn't leave this place. I had talked to the guard stationed at the door, and he said, rather cryptically, "That I need to check with the boss," I checked what seemed like five minuets after and he still wasn't there.

I grumbled about not being able to do anything, when I heard the door click. It reveled a stout man in his forties, with a pot-belly and thinning gray hair.

"Ah, you must be Chloe! I've heard loads about you!" He said this all with a faint British accent. "I am Nigel. I am to be your escort. Where would you like to go?"

The answer was so obvious that I was questioning his sanity. "I want to go see Derek. Is that okay with you?" I asked the question meekly, to make him think I was an innocent little girl. Sometimes my petite stature, blonde hair, and big blue eyes came in handy. He seemed to take the bait because his eyes softened just a little around the corners, and his smile a little less strained. His look was one of amusement, as if I was a kid that wanted to get a lollipop, and he was going to give me one. Humoring.

"Of course, dearie." He said as we walked out of my cell. I shivered as I stepped out of the room. We walked down a series of halls, I tried to keep track, but we took so many twists and turns, by the time we got to Derek's cell I was completely turned around. I opened the door to his cell and, well, it looked like he had been upgraded just like me. The walls were standard, sterile white and it smelled vaguely of antiseptic.

I looked around the rest of the room only to notice three cameras, one twin bed, and a scowling Derek. Then he saw me and he leaped off the bed and bounded over to hug me to death.

"I'll leave you two kiddies alone, then," and thank God he left.

"Derek...AIR!" He leapt away from me, looking sheepish.

"Ah, sorry, I am just so incredibly happy to see you!" He was literally bouncing, and he had a huge smile. I grinned at his child-like exuberance.

I sighed 'cause I had to ruin his happiness. "Don't you just love peaches, Derek?"

He stopped bouncing, and his face was smoothed into a mask of neutrality. "Nah, I like strawberries better."

"Derek, you do like peaches though, right?"

"NO, I like strawberries better!"

"Get over it Derek, because I have peaches and you are going to like them, got it?"

"Well, I've got some strawberries, and you are going to eat them all up," he practically growled at me.

"Well, I've got Cottenball involved, so you can't do anything to not eat peaches!"

"Cottenball? Really? Why not Deedee or Zen with Cottenball?"

I didn't know what to say for that so I just made an "o" with my forefinger and thumb and stuck my finger through the hole. His eyes widened.

"How?"

"Later, Cottenball is helping me eat the peaches now, with Ball and Zippy!"

"Fine, just tell me later about Deedee and Zen."

"Fine."

"I love you."

I looked up at him. "What did you say?"

"I love you"

I looked up at him. "I love you too, Derek."

Then he swept me up in a kiss.

Just then someone knocked on the door. I heard a muffled voice say, "You almost done in there Chloe?" I broke away from Derek, and muttered about worst moment ever, and shuffled to the door.

"I'm ready to go now," I yelled at the door, I looked back at Derek and gave him a smile. I turned and left with Nigel.

As we made our way back to my room, I noticed something was off. The smell. Something smelled...wrong. And my stomach started to cramp up. As I continued to walk I noticed the smell was getting stronger. Just then I tripped over something, and fell on my face. Classy, Chloe, veeeery classy, I thought to myself. I was getting up when I noticed that Nigel had fallen over too.

I looked closer and gasped. Nigel had the creature, which looked vaguely like a bunny, firm in his grasp and his mouth was latched onto it's throat. I touched his shoulder, you know, to make sure he was okay. Biiig mistake. Nigel's head snapped up, and he hissed. His canines were lengthened to small translucent daggers. His eyes glowed a rusty shade of red, almost like dried blood. Then he dropped the rabbit and grabbed my foot.