Dared by the Game

Dared by the Game

Cheryl could barely see the end of the hallway. She as if it was throbbing with an unseen dark force. She should have taken Mellissa’s cry of terror serious. “Don’t be afraid. It’s only you and me now.” said a high pitched voice. Cheryl wanted to cry, she had lost so much because of a game, a cruel, cynical game. She took slow, confident steps toward the voice. She felt as if a little girl was calling her towards the darkness. “Let’s finish this game. Take me out of my misery.” Cheryl said with finality. She heard a dark giggle echo off the walls of the rundown, humid, and abandoned high school. Cheryl’s brain automatically thought back to the hour before.

“Stop playing around Cheryl!” Mellissa, Cheryl’s best friend said. Cheryl laughed, a fun and carefree one.

“Come on, love! It’s just a game. The guys played it and they’re fine. “ Cheryl said excitedly. She pulled her friend towards the eerie trees.

“They didn’t play it in the middle of of a dark forest near an old and abandoned school!” Mellissa snapped.

 “Melissa, please the movies aren’t real. Now let’s get started!” Cheryl said rolling her eyes.

They sat down in the middle of the dark forest, in front of a black, muddy, and musty tree stump. Unseen by the girls, there was a warning sign that sat a few feet away from the stump. They dropped a big, worn down box with the word ‘Haunted’ written across it on the tree stump. Around them, the wind blew softly though the trees causing leaves to rustle and fall. The bright and white moon stared down at them. The large oak trees towered over them casting creepy, human-likes shadows.

“Ok, let’s see. The instructions say to separate these weirdo dolls from the pins, then to repeat this passage.” Cheryl said reading the instructions. 

“Ok, I guess, let’s just get this over with. I want to leave soon.” Mellissa looked at the box wearily.

“Tonight for fright. I give my soul and my whole being to any who hears. Let the game begin!” they chanted. All of a sudden, the leaves began to circle them, it flew in a black and grey mini tornado of sticks and dead leaves. The ground shook underneath their feet slightly. The wind howled like something was coming, something unhuman. Melissa screamed when they say their two best friends floated out of the darkness with dirty brown bags around their head. Their hands and feet were constricted by a thick rope. The two friends were struggling and shouting but it was useless. Then a voice spoke, this voice was light and innocent. It belonged to a little girl, who no one could see.

 “You made a mistake coming here. Asking to play a game that you will never win.”  The voice said in a condescending tone as if talking to a child.

 “Um…ok real funny guys. I’ll play along with you dumb prank. What are we supposed to do?” Cheryl asked trying to shrug off the nagging feeling.

“I don’t think this is a prank, Cheryl!” Mellissa shaking with fear. Looking around frantically for an escape or the girl.

“Don’t fall for their party trick. It’s just a game. As soon as we do what they say, they will jump out and be like gotcha” Cheryl said doing a poor imitation of a boy.

 “Grab the dolls and pin them to the sacred tree!” The voice shrilled angrily. Cheryl walked to the tree and picked up what looked like voodoo dolls. Cheryl scoffed, what a cheesy trick! She jabbed the pins through the dolls’ hands and stepped back. She looked at her handiwork then up at her friends. Only to be shocked. Her first friend, Emma, was slammed into a nearby tree. Screaming in pain and fright. Something wet and bright red seem to be slowly trickling down her hands. The large oak tree grew around her, muffling her pleas of help. Not a single scream or word was said. Everyone was silent, staring in terror at what had happened. It wasn’t until their second friend, Millie, was shoved into the tree behind her. Melissa shrieked popping Cheryl’s eardrums. They stood their frozen with fear, only looked as their friend fell to the same fate as Emma.

 “Oh my God! Stop it! Whoever you are, I’m sorry!” Mellissa cried, tears running down her face.

“So naïve. Perhaps getting rid of you is the next part of our game.” The young girl said as if this was an everyday thing. Melissa then fell to the floor, her hands frantically scratching the air around her hair. Which looked like it was being yanked on by someone or something. She was dragged by her hair into the gloomy forest. Melissa desperately tried to grab at anything on the ground to save her. She shrieked for help but Cheryl was too busy trying to call 911.

“This is a waste of time, finish her!” The voice exclaimed. Melissa’s head was then jerked to the side in a painful position. She collapsed to the ground and went still. Cheryl gaped at her body, realizing what had happened. Cheryl sobbed “Please, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it! It was just a dare, don’t hurt me!” Her chest shook with sobs. She had lost all of her childhood friends who had been there for her through thick and thin. She sobbed even more when she realized that she was next.

“Run…” The voice whispered. Cheryl spun around, giving herself whiplash. She ran as fast as she could to get away from the horror that happened. The trees loomed over her as she sprinted. She reached what looked like a school. “Thank God!” Cheryl cried in relief. She ran into the school not seeing the caution tape lying torn on the dirt floor. The school had an eerie feeling. It was as if no one had taken a step into for years. Cheryl slammed the doors open, walking slowly when she felt safe.

“You’re a brave one! I think I’ll let you go for being the last one to survive.” The voice congratulated. Cheryl sobbed with relief. She was thankful for the second chance at life, although she knew what happened tonight would scar her until her death. She turned around about to step away. “Not so fast!” the girl said teasingly. Cheryl felt unseen hands cover her mouth and wrap around her body. It dragged her into the darkness of the school hallway. “Don’t play games you can’t win.” A short pale girl with black irises and a bright red pupils, in a ripped bloodstained white dress said stepping out of the darkness.

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So what do you guys think?? My first ever finished short story. So comment below what you think, then go ahead and click that vote and fan button. Thanks my bros and broskis!