Cold Moon High

Cold Moon High: The Doll

Chapter One

The year was 1987 and Nikki Barnes was walking to school. She clutched a book to her boobs she wished she had. Her blue eyes shone like wet marbles. Her red hair shimmered with a sheen so brilliant it could blind passersby. She wobbled a bit while she walked. She could smell wet leaves as she walked. Orange leaves clung to her tennis shoes.

Nikki wiped her feet before entering Cold Moon High. Black lockers lined the hallway. She walked by the trophy case. It was filled with trophies won by people she never knew and for sports she did not play. She passed Marnie Miller in the hallway.

“Hi Nikki,” Marnie said giving a gentle wave and a warm smile.

“Hey,” Nikki said.

Nikki passed John Waters, the quarterback of the Junior Varsity team. He was a sophomore like her. He has green eyes and brown hair. He walked with confidence but also as if he was still trying to figure things out. He had a rocket arm but lacked accuracy. Devin Baker was the main quarterback on Varsity. He had great precision but no arm power. He was a scrambling quarterback. They were two and eight this season. He was previously a junior and was coming back for his senior year. He walked with a strut. All the junior and senior girls were in love with him. The other girls were always whispering to their friends.

Nikki entered the classroom. She sat near the front because she desperately needed to see the chalkboard. Her best friend, Lisa green, sat next to her.

“Hey what are your plans tonight?”

“I’m baby sitting tonight,” Nikki whispered.

“Why are you whispering?” Lisa asked wrinkling her brow. Nikki’s eyes shifted back and forth.

“I don’t want anybody listening in.” Lisa chuckled and shook her head.

“You’re such a nervous Nelly.” Nikki blushed.

“I just don’t like people knowing my business,” Nikki said.

“Who are you babysitting tonight?” Lisa asked.

“Jamie and Alan Raven,” Nikki answered.

“Don’t they live atop the hill?” Lisa asked.

“That’s the one.” Nikki nodded. Lisa bit her lower lip.

“Don’t they have a cemetery behind their house?” Lisa said. Nikki nodded.

“What’s the big deal?” Nikki said.

“It’s Halloween,” Lisa stated. Nikki raised an eyebrow.

“What’s your point?” Nikki said. Lisa’s eyes shifted back and forth.

“The veil is always the thinnest between the living and the dead, on Halloween night.

Their place could be haunted.”

“Be serious, would you?” Nikki said.

“It could be,” Lisa said. Nikki let out a sigh.

“Don’t put that thought in my head,” Nikki added. The teacher walked in; everyone fell quiet.

When the final school bell rang Lisa and Nikki walked home together. Nikki’s eyes occasionally fell to Lisa’s tight pink sweater. She filled it out well. She was what her mother would refer to as a full-figured girl. She had a round tight butt. Also, Lisa wore pink ribbons in her blonde hair. They came to Lisa’s house first.

“Bye,” Lisa said.

“Later,” Nikki said.

The doorbell rang and Erica opened the door. She greeted Nikki with a bright and genuine smile. She stepped aside and let Nikki pass. Erica called up the stairs.

“Alan and Jamie, Nikki is here.” Tom Raven entered the room with a serious expression on his face. He gave Nikki an acknowledging nod as he fidgeted with his cufflinks. Nikki averted her gaze from his. He had a stare that could intimidate a grizzly bear. He was a CEO and had no problem dealing with cut throat people; he had no problem looking through somebody.

“We’ll be back around midnight,” Erica said. “I want Alan and Jamie in bed at ten.

“No problem,” Nikki said. “Have a good evening.” The Ravens said their goodbyes as they headed out the door. The house seemed larger without Tom and Erica.

Alan and Jamie came down the stairs. They practically took the steps two at a time. Jamie is seven and Alan is ten. Jamie is wearing bib overalls and Alan is wearing sweat pants and a black t-shirt. His smirk indicated he was up to no good. Jamie held her doll. The black hair is braided and her green eyes seemed to follow Nikki where ever she went. It’s slender porcelain face wore a mask of civility and quiet dignity. The doll wore a proper bonnet and a yellow dress. She had a red ribbon around her neck.

“Hi guys,” Nikki said, smiling and waving. Jamie squeezed her doll’s tummy nervously. Alan slapped Nikki a high five. Jamie looked up at Nikki with big eyes.

“Did you want something?” Nikki asked. Jamie thought about it for a minute. She shook her head.

Next Jamie and her brother headed into the living room. The boy turned on the television and sat on the couch.

“What’s your doll’s name?” Nikki asked.

“Lily,” Jamie answered in a voice as sweet as rain.

“Hello Lily,” Nikki said. She shook the doll’s hand and made Jamie giggle. This made Nikki chuckle as well.

“Made you smile,” Nikki said. Jamie covered her mouth and shook her head.

“You tricked me,” Jamie said.

“I didn’t trick you Nikki said. Jamie stuck out her lower lip and started pouting.

“Stick that lower lip back in or a wood pecker will peck it off,” Alan whispered. Jamie put her lower lip away retracting it immediately.

“Don’t scold your sister,” Nikki scolded. Alan rolled his eyes.

“I was only having fun.” Nikki folded her arms across her chest and raised her eyebrow.

Nikki took a seat in a nearby chair, the recliner. She pressed the lever and propped her feet up. A movie started playing; a man walked on to the stage. His hair was black and he wore a tuxedo. He carried a ventriloquist dummy. The sea of people observed the ventriloquist. He seemed to be pausing for dramatic effect. The crowd held their breath. A smokey haze filled the night club on tv. He began his routine. Soon the place was rolling with laughter. The kids even found themselves laughing at the movie as well.

A rain began to batter the house. Nikki raised an eyebrow.

“The rain seemed to come out of nowhere,’’ Nikki said. The sound lulled Nikki into a sense of security. She listened to the sound of rain pelting the house. It made her think of car rides with her parents to r grandmother’s house. Three knocks jostled her out of a daydream. Nikki turned her head; she was almost contemplating on whether to answer it or not.

“Don’t be lazy she mentally scolded herself as she headed to the door. Three more knocks rang out.

About halfway to the door, it swung open. A floating pighead drifted toward her. Her mouth pop open in shock. She grabbed a fire poker and swung at it. The weapon went through the pighead.

“Pig, I banish you back to the cemetery,” Alan said. The pighead vanished. Nikki dropped to the floor, she curled up into the fetal position, and began crying. Then Jamie raced over and shut and locked the door. She leaned up against the door and let out a relieved sigh. Nikki sobbed and trembled like a wet poodle. Her sobs were gentle but audible. The boy knelt down and gently patted his babysitter on the arm.

“He’s gone,” Alan said.

Nikki looked and everything was seemingly back to normal. Alan helped her up.

“What was that?” Nikki whispered.

“The cemetery behind our house is active,” Alan stated. “The dead tend to wander.” Nikki stared at the boy as if he had three heads.

“What does that mean?”

“Spirits and zombies will try to get into our house,” Alan explained.

“How is that possible?” Nikki asked. She hugged herself.

“That cemetery is a portal to the spiritual world,” Alan said.

“Why didn’t your parents tell me this?” Nikki shrieked.

“Mom and Dad probably didn’t think about it,” Alan said.

“It seems like an important detail to forget to mention,” Nikki groaned.

“Don’t get mad at our mom,” Alan protested. “It’s not like you would have believed her anyway.” Nikki waved her hands in the air.

“You’re right about that,” Nikki said. “She still could have told me not to open the door.”

“Fair enough,” Alan said.

“I just hope no grabbers got in the house.”

“What’s a grabber?” Nikki asked.

“They take over a personal body and possess you,” Alan said matter of factly.

“Oh my God!” Nikki exclaimed. “Why do you guys live here?”

“We don’t mind,” Jamie said speaking for the first time.” Nikki looked at Jamie and a couple of thoughts crossed her mind.

“How can you not mind?” Also have you ever been possessed?”

Alan and Jamie exchanged looks.

“Our dad was once,” Alan said.

“How long did it last?” Nikki wanted to know.

“Four hours,” Alan said. “He chased us around the house threatening to kill us in Aramaic.”

“Oh my God,” Nikki said, her mouth drying out.

The phone rang and Nikki answered it.

“Hello,” Nikki said. There were a few moments of silence at first.

“It’s Erica,” she said. “How are the children?”

“They are fine,” Nikki said. “Would you like to speak to them?”

“That won’t be necessary” Erica said quietly. She hesitated for a moment.

“I had forgotten to mention it; don’t open the door for anyone.”

“Alan already told me,” Nikki replied while rolling her eyes.

“Good,” Erica said. “Talk to you later.”

“Yep, bye. They hung up.