Chapter 2

UNKNOWN CREATURES AND THE MURDERER

"What is that?! Can someone explain what kind of creature is that?!" Sharon asked freaking out.

"We don't have any idea about it either, so please calm down first." Cherry said trembling while approaching her.

"How can we calm down in that situation?! Shen is dead! And something grabbed her!" Maddie shouted.

"Maddie please! We are still not sure if Shen is dead or not", Mr. Lau said.

"Guys, I think I saw someone moving there", Tommy said while pointing down the trees, a shadow was creeping near the tall trees.

"Shen! Please tell us you're alright?!" Sharon shouted then a there was a total silence in the place, then a scream was heard after few minutes.

"Help! Aaaaah!" Shen screamed and a growling sound was heard which makes everyone freak out more.

"Oh gosh! Please stay there Shen we will save you!" Ron shouted.

"Let's go back immediately, we have to save Shen!" Ron said as they quickly ride in the separate cars.

"I will lead the way! There is a better short cut!" Mr. Lau said as he quickly drive going down the forest instead of taking the road.

"Wait Mr, Lau, are you sure this way is safe?" asked Daniel as they grasped while the car jiggle from the bushes and Mr. Lau is trying to avoid the tall trees on their way.

"This is the only way to short cut" he responded.

They quickly stopped the car from the dead end of the road, they followed Mr. Lau as he run from the bushes where the shadow creep a while ago. They saw traces of blood from one of the tall tree, they looked up as blood dropped from above but they can't see anything.

"Shen?! Are you there?" Mr. Lau shouted but no response was heard, the silence makes the atmosphere creepier. All of a sudden a growl sound was heard. The growl echoed all over the place as they all look around trying not to make some noise.

"Shhh don't make any noise" whispered Ron signaling the others to calm down. Suddenly something fell from the tall tree, it was Shen's body and her head was bloody tilted almost torn apart while her eyes almost popped out. Sharon covered her mouth wanted to scream in terror then she suddenly fall down from her knees crying while looking at Shen's murdered body. The others trembled in fear from what happened to Shen but they tried their best not to make some noise while the growling was still echoing in the place.

"No, no no this is not happening, no please", pleaded Ron crying in a low manner as he approach Shen's body. The others cry in silence with such horror on their faces. The growling stops as they heard a footsteps in the woods going away, they waited for the footsteps to vanished then they quickly get Shen's body and drove going on the other side of the mountain but still on the northern area.

"I think the police station is just near this area" Mr. Lau said driving as fast as he can, Daniel look out the window and saw some old houses around.

"Why don't we just asked for help with some of the residence here?" he asked Mr. Lau.

"But seems like the houses are empty, it's so strange" Tommy said looking outside the window.

"What do you think happened to Shen? Did she die because of falling from the cliff?" Sherlock suddenly asked with a trembling voice and a pale face.

"There is a possibility that that is the cause." Mr. Lau said.

"Then how about the creepy hand from the photo? And the unusual growling sound a while ago I think it is related." Sherlock added as they all look at each other with such confusion and fear from their faces.

Mr. Lau stopped the car as he quickly run to knock the police station, but no one seems to hear him. Ron wipe the dusty window of the station and peek inside,

"Guys… I think this place is abandoned" Ron said looking so desperate as he wipe his face in confusion.

Tommy peek inside the window like Ron did and saw bloodstains in the wall as the chairs and tables are wrecked.

"There is no one inside, the place is a total mess" he said.

"Mr. Lau can you please explain what happened in this place?" Daniel asked in an angry tone.

"I… don't have any idea", he responded looking down trying to think for an answer. Ron quickly run towards him and grabbed his shirt pulling him angrily

"We trusted you! You tell us that the place is safe for shoot-out! Look what happened?! Shen!... she just…" He quickly loosen Mr. Lau's shirt as he trembled on the ground and cry.

"What is really happening? There is no one around, and the growling sound a while ago was terrible! Mr. Lau...were...were confuse and afraid." Cherry said while trembling.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what happened in this place. I didn't double check before telling you about the shoot-out… it's all my fault! One of us died because of my recklessness! I'm the one to blame! I'm sorry" Mr. Lau said crying and almost trembling while looking down the ground.

"This is driving me crazy! We need to get back in the city, this place is not safe!" Maddie said as she quickly run towards the driver's seat and started to turned on the engine.

"Maddie what are you doing? You don't know the way out!" Cherry shouted.

"Well then let's go! I can't stay in this place! I don't want to die like what happened in this hometown! Look what happened to Shen! She Is dead!" She shouted then she close the car and started driving, but then Ron run in front of the road as the cars stopped quickly.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Maddie said going down the car.

"You? What do you think you're going?! We came here together then let's get back together." Ron said.

They calm themselves for a while.

"Where do you think the town people go?" asked Sherlock as they sat on the ground.

"I don't know my grandparents died 2 years ago and it's also the last time I came here. This place is peaceful with many children playing around, that's how I used to remember this place." Mr. Lau said but then he suddenly weep.

"What about Shen? I don't know who killed her? I don't have any idea about the growling sound either I just heard it too." He said while Sharon tried to calm him tapping his back.

"Damn! There is no signal in this place!" Ron shouted trying to call 911.

"Me neither, how can we send help we need to go to a place where there is a signal" Tommy said tapping his phone.

"We need to go to the haunted house" Mr. Lau said,

"What! I mean we don't have to go that far! We need to go back in the city!" Maddie shouted.

"Maddie has a point, why don't we just go back before dark?" Cherry asked.

"We can't, it's impossible for us to go back this time." Mr. Lau said as he stand and get back in the car.

"Mr. Lau don't tell us you want to continue the shoot-out?" Sherlock asked.

"Seriously? One of us died isn't that enough?!" Maddie shouted.

"Well then I don't want another one to die!" Mr. Lau shouted. They all look surprise from what he said as well as confusion.

"What does that mean?" Daniel asked.

"The haunted house is my grandparent's place, it's not actually haunted" he responded. Sherlock look at Daniel and think about their bet, but Daniel whispered the words not now to him.

"What's the point in going there? We have to get back in the city now!" Ron said and hopped in the other car.

"Fine! You guys go back and I will stay here!" Mr. Lau said. The rest look at each other trying to decide which car to take. Maddie followed Ron as well as Sharon, the four are still confuse where to go.

"Mr. Lau why do you want to stay?" Daniel asked.

"I want to figure out what happened in this place, besides the city doesn't know the current situation in this area." He responded.

"Are you guys coming or not?" asked Ron while starting the engine. Sherlock and Cherry hopped inside Ron's car.

"I will stay with Mr. Lau" Daniel said.

"Daniel" Sherlock said with such a worried face towards him.

"Sherlock, please send help upon arriving there", he said and Sherlock nodded.

"I will stay too" Tommy said didn't bother to feel afraid, he seems chill and fearless all the time.

Ron's car leave the place and the three of them watch as the car disappear from their sight. Mr. Lau look at Daniel and Tommy standing in front of him.

"Why did the two of you decided to stay?" He asked them.

"Same as you, we want to know what happened in this place." Daniel said.

"And this place seems exciting to explore, like it is full of unknown creatures or something." Tommy said.

"Aren't you not afraid?" Mr. Lau asked. Daniel and Tommy look at each other.

"Never mind let's hurry up and go at my grandparents' place" Mr. Lau said then they started their trip to the so-called haunted house.

"You two seems fearless in a situation like this" Mr. Lau said.

"I just want to know what happened in this place, and like what Tommy said it's kind of interesting to know." Daniel said while Tommy just nodded.

"It's almost 6pm, its getting dark." Tommy said.

'Don't worry we are almost near." Mr, Lau said as he drive faster.

On the opposite side of the road, Ron was driving as fast as he can as darkness covered the forest.

"How can we tell this to Shen's parents?" asked Maddie looking at the corpse's body covered in sweaters and jackets.

"I can still smell blood, I want to forget what happened today but I can't" Sharon said as she covered her ear crying in a traumatized way.

"Sharon, I know it's not easy everything will going to be fine" Cherry said trying to comfort her resting Sharon's head on her lap.

"Sherlock, why did Daniel decided to stay with them?" asked Ron. Both of them are in the front seat.

"I don't know either, but they'll be fine" he said but still he can feel nervousness from their situation. The dark road was silence, while the girls started to feel sleepy. Sherlock saw something on the other side of the road.

"Hey Ron did you see that?" he suddenly asked which makes the others look outside the window.

"What is it?" Ron asked.

"I don't know what it is, it was so dark I can't…" Sherlock didn't finished his sentenced when the car suddenly bumped a huge creature. They didn't saw the creature clearly for the car lose control and fall down the sloppy side of the forest and crashed on the muddy ground while the car stops outside down.

-Haunted house-

"Why do we need to park the car so far?" asked Tommy while walking down the forest panting.

"We don't have a choice, the trees are too tight from each other, and we can't clear a path for the car." Mr. Lau said. They followed him while carrying their loaded back pack, they stood in a huge house with a huge door. It was a two-story house made of wood, although it seems old it is still strong.

"Wow it really seems haunted" Daniel said. To their surprise the door is open, they started to turned on their phone's flashlight. The sound of creaking wood was heard as they step on the floor, every creaked sound makes their heart beat race making them nervous for what will happen next.

"I found you!" Tommy suddenly shouted as he turned on the light switch. The two freaked out from his shout as they pant in relief.

"Geez Tommy you startled us", Mr. Lau said. They turned off their phones' light and look around.

"The place is neath" Daniel said while looking at the table and chairs in the kitchen.

"Are you sure no one lives here Mr. Lau?" Tommy asked while showing him a cup of hot tea which makes a thin smoke in the air, then they heard a footsteps in the basement.

"Shhhh" Mr. Lau signaled them to keep quite as they heard a footsteps again. Daniel grab his backpack and silently look for the gun, he grabbed it and put it in his pocket. Tommy walk straight in the kitchen and look for kitchen knives, he grabbed them and put the rest in his bag as he get the french knife. The silence was broke when they heard the door slammed behind them.

"No!" They shouted as the three of them started to push the door to open but someone locked them inside.

"Damn! Who the hell lock this?!" Tommy shouted as he keep on kicking the door.

"Tommy calm down, I think there is a back door." Mr. Lau said as they followed him going on the opposite side. He turned the knob but it's locked.

"What the hell! Were locked!" Daniel said and run upstairs,

"Hey Daniel you have to be careful!" shouted Mr. Lau who tried to kick the back door while Tommy went back to the kitchen to find an axe.

"Guys! Come up here!" Daniel shouted as his voice echoed the entire room. The two went upstairs and saw Daniel standing near a big door.

"Can that door lead us outside?" Daniel asked, Mr. Lau slowly walk towards the door and slowly turned the knob again, to their surprise the door was open. But all they can see is darkness, Tommy turned on his flashlight as they saw a wooden ladder leading them down. Daniel and Tommy should supposed to go but Mr. Lau stopped them.

"Wait, I think that ladder will lead us to the basement. I think someone change the path. This room used to be my parents' room when I was still young." He explained.

"Maybe the person who locked us is inside the basement." Daniel said then Tommy suddenly shout

"Whoever is down there?! You deserve to live in the basement you asshole!" his voice echoed in the whole place as he slammed the door.

"Tommy I never thought you are such a bad tempered boy" Mr. Lau said as they chuckled.

They followed Mr. Lau as they enter in one of the room, there are four doors upstairs. As they enter the room they were shocked when they saw a lot of bloody clothes scattered on the floor.

"What the hell happened here?" Tommy asked,

"I need to check the cabinet" Mr. Lau said as he quickly walk towards the wooden cabinet in front of them, he was shock and confuse when the cabinet was full of fire arms and axes.

"Mr. Lau, are those yours?" Tommy asked and picked one of the axe.

"I've been looking for this in the first place to open the door" he said as he check how sharp the axe was.

"This are not mine, it doesn't belong to the house either." Mr. Lau said.

"But we can get them, it's a big help for us to survive" Tommy said. Daniel saw a paper clipped in the table, he get the paper and saw a picture of a bearded man wanted. He was maybe in his mid-50's and he look familiar to him, he stared at the picture and remembered the murderer which his father always talked about.

"No way" He said still looking straight at the picture.

"What was that Daniel?" asked Tommy and approach him.

"Wanted? Do you know him?" he asked.

"He was the murderer I was talking about, the one who almost killed my father." Daniel answered with such infuriation in his eyes.

"That means he is the one who lives here?" Tommy asked as they both look at each other.

"What's the matter? Why do you look so pale? What's that paper?" Mr. Lau asked as read it.

"George Girhel wanted?" he said and look at the two being silent for a while. Then they heard a heavy footsteps and a sound of a metal being drag on the floor coming upstairs. Daniel grab his gun and walk towards the door but Mr. Lau stopped him.

"Daniel wait, we have to hide first we have to make sure that he is really the wanted George, maybe it is another survivor" he said and they quickly locked the door and hide themselves. Tommy hide under the desk near the bed while holding an axe and Daniel hide beside him and flick the gun, Mr. Lau hide himself in the small space on the edge of the cabinet holding the riffle. The footsteps stopped in front of the room where they are, the door was lock and he can't open it but they startled when they heard the door being smash into pieces. Tommy take a peek to see if the man entered the room he was shocked in terror when he saw a tall and huge man smashing the door with a huge axe.

"It was him, the murderer!" Tommy whispered to Daniel. The smashing sound stops as they heard the man approach the wooden cabinet where Mr. Lau is hiding on its side. Daniel and Tommy take a peek on Mr. Lau's situation, they saw him hiding just an inches near the murderer he signed them to get back from hiding. The murderer opened the cabinet and found out that the weapons are gone and to their surprise he laugh in furious manner, the laugh echoed in the room which makes the atmosphere creepier.

"Do you think I didn't notice you in the first place?!" he shouted, Tommy and Daniel look at Mr. Lau with such a worried faces. The murderer suddenly grab Mr. Lau's shirt and pull him nearer to his face.

"You damned rat!" The murderer shouted as he suddenly wave his axe suppose to kill Mr. Lau but a gun shot was heard and the murderer groan in pain as Mr. Lau scape from his grasp and Tommy help him to stand. Daniel was pointing the gun towards the murderer pressing his shoulder bleeding, and decided to shoot the murderer for the second time.

"BANG!" the gunshot echoed in the whole place as birds flew from the sky.