The Encounter

I stood up from the ground where I was pathetically sitting on and felt my legs buck under me, I felt like I've been in a coma for years and just started my first therapy session. What the fuck! I'm a fucking grown six foot football player! How could that bitch do this to me!? And I hated that I am walking on a zigzag manner, my head still spinning, I gritted my teeth. Now finally seeing the barn in the distance but still seeing two, I went on. I was sweating like a pig at this point with the effort that it's taking from me just to get my foot ahead from the other and to remain standing, not to crash on the ground is costing me immensely.

Where did that bitch thing go? Behind me? Checking behind my back I squinted my eyes to see better in the dark. I have to hurry and get out of here. Don't get me wrong, I'm not scared just practical. Hearing Audrey's scream made me almost jump out of my skin. Now with urgency and eyes focused on the barn, I jogged to it. Finally reaching the door which took me longer than I would've liked. I kicked the wooden double door open, only the darkness greeted me.

"Babe."

Cursing myself for not switching on the lights first, I reached for it and flicked it on. The only thing that I know is that, that thing is not human. Right, she could've been wearing a costume but I fucking know what I saw! Or maybe, It's just someone with a grudge against my family and wanted to get revenge, planning on burning our god damn crops, It's not the first time I caught one. A faint sound of someone or something gurgling or choking was heard on my left.

"Shit! Audrey!"

I hissed out as I approached where I think the sound came from, keeping it low and quiet, prepared for any sudden movements but no amount of preparation could prepare me from what I saw next. A gaping hole that wasn't there before was situated in the middle of the room with Audrey gripping on the edge for dear life drowning with her own blood escaping from her mouth and nose. I remained still.

"Audrey."

I whispered shakily, afraid that if I went any octaves higher the thing would pop up and jump-scare the shit out of me. I went closer to the hole sideways like how a crab would, cringing as the sound of soil scratch the sole of my shoes echoed through.

"Help."

She croaked. I put a finger to my lips signaling her to be quiet, I reached out to her slowly, her sob in response ricochet through the barn or maybe even in the whole fucking field, I glared at her momentarily, looking from left to right in alarm.

"C'mon, give me your hand."

I urgently whispered. Thanks to her dramatic display the fucking thing might've just heard her and now is somewhere in here. I saw her hand slowly reach out to mine. I cursed and almost rolled my eyes in annoyance. Can't she go any slower? I went to grab her hands myself but before I could wrap my hands around her dirty bloody ones, she was yanked down the hole by a rope or something wrapped around her neck. It happened so fast I barely registered Audrey was gone. I remained still, not knowing what to do. I didn't hear any more sound or peep from Audrey down the hole. As everything started to sink in, I screamed and stumbled out of the barn yelling and screaming hysterically as I run far far away from this place, god! Anywhere but here!

…

Huff Ann Griffo

I felt the tip of my fingers grown colder as they shake. Why are we heading to the exit of the town? Where is he taking me? Only one way to find out… slowly I peeked at the rear view mirror. I nearly screamed like a girl which I am, from what I just discovered, but it came out as a hitch of breath. The moment when I saw my fathers eyes in there I knew he's no longer my father at least right now.

What happened to his face and how he move is exactly just like Mr. Shawn. Their similarity scares me, the unfocused and unsynchronized eyes, the inability to talk and their destructive tendency, that means… I am in deep shit right now. I can't just murder my own father! even if he's trying to kill me. What happened to my father? What is going on in this god forsaken town of ours? One thing is for sure, what happened to Linda's dad is happening to my father as well, but who is doing this? or is it a 'what'? was Jack right all along? that a creature is the one behind this all?

My thoughts was cut short as I saw something from a short distance in front of us. I squinted my eyes to recognize the slightly familiar figure wearing our school's football team's jersey jacket. My eyes widened seeing Clinton Gardner waving like crazy to catch our attention. What the hell! Can this day get any weirder?! But I have no time to freak out, this dude will definitely get ran over if he doesn't move his ass over in time.

"Move away!"

Opening the backseat's right side mirror I screamed over and over till he get the hint while waving my hand frantically but so did he. He is one stubborn motherfucker! Seeing the distance closing in I jumped on the drivers seat but got thrown backwards as my father pressed on the gas, determined to ran the football player over. I got down on the floor, using my foot to boost me in one final leap, I yanked the steering wheel to the left a little bit too late but thank goodness the dude saw ahead and jumped away in time. Our car went to the side fast and hit the foot of a billboard, sending me almost out of the car though the now bloody windshield with my head sticking out of it. Just thank goodness the billboard didn't gave in down over us by the impact. I groaned, struggling to get my head out of the restriction of the sharp broken glass round my neck. Finally freeing my head I observed my surrounding and the casualties, my blood was thankfully not everywhere like I expected it to be and only stained the glass shards here and there and my father with his seat belt thankfully on strangely enough and only got the side of his head wounded. I heard running outside as it stopped on the right side of our car.

"Oh my god! If this is a fucking nightmare please wake me up!"

I heard him talk, voice hoarse and breaking. Seeing him through the window, he's on the ground hugging his knees with his face buried against it. Poor guy, this must've gave him the scare of his life. Hearing me get out of the car and shutting it behind me made him perk up looking at me with alarm in his eyes.

"H-h-how? How the fuck are you still alive?"

He stuttered, stumbling backwards. I don't know what to say and where to begin, he looked really shaken as he should, just another proof he is normal and is just another victim of a wacky night.

"There is something wrong with our town."

That is all I had managed to say: summing all of this crap up, that is the conclusion. He sprung from his perched position as soon as he heard me talk.

"How can you talk?! What the fuck!"

He continued to step back away from me. I looked at him questioningly.

"There's a sharp glass shard sticking out of your neck! Don't you feel it? Holy shit! I think I'm going mad!"

He continued to freak out as he started hyperventilating while going round in circles. I immediately yanked the glass from my neck and thew it behind me, no wonder my neck was stinging.

"Chill out… look at me."

He stopped his pacing and finally looked at me. He was still breathing heavily but seems calmer now.

"See it's gone… No wounds, I'm not bleeding to death, it wasn't deep."

My reassuring words seem to work as I tried to persuade him to calm down as his shoulders seem to sag but if I'm looking for an ally then he needs to know my ability to regenerate.

"Actually, it was deep… I should be dead by now."

Looking for the glass shard I just yanked out, I showed it to him. His eyes widened and mouth hanging wide and color draining from his face

"Listen to me, something is wrong with our town and I will need your help to save everyone."

I though Clinton Gardner would laugh and make fun at how ridiculous I am sounding right now but instead he only remained silent as he space out, staring eyes wide into nothing in particular.

"Audrey…"

I tilted my head in confusion. Looking at him closely now, he looked like he went through an apocalypse with his sunken eyes, dirty clothes and how beady his eyes looked right now, I observed.

"I saw her got dragged down in a hole by some strange… I don't know, creature."

I watched him struggle to describe something he saw. Hole, creature… Now, everything's falling into place!

"Hole? Me and Jack just found one before he jump inside it looking for Linda!"

"What? That fucking retard!"

He laughed and I cant help but to laugh along with him. Jack Harrison indeed is an idiot. Now the sun is peeking, emerging from the corner of the morning sky making Clinton and the cornfield around me glow gold as we sobered up as the seriousness of the situation finally sunk in.

"We need to save that retard."

I muttered.