Don’t look back

Don’t Look Back

By: Shiloh Jamison and Emily Lotz

The doll

My cousin, Astrid, and I were walking on the abandoned dark street a few miles from my house. “Want to get Ice-cream?” She asked.

“It’s probably not going to be open,” I replied.

She sighed. “Want to do something besides walking on these very creepy streets?”

“What do you want to do then?” I asked.

“How about we go and spend the night at that old creepy house.” She said with a huge smile on her face.

“No way! The last people who spent the night there died!”

“That was a long time ago, please.”

“Fine, one night!” Astrid happily pranced up the hill while I gloomed behind her.

“This is it!” She grinned.

“We don’t have any clothes or food.”

“We’ll just sleep in our clothes and I’m already full from that yummy dinner your mom made.”

“Ok, but how about toothbrush and toothpaste?”

“You can go one night without brushing your teeth Right!”

“Ok.”

“See there is nothing to worry about.” She said while she creaked open the old brownish door. I took one last look into the beautiful night sky and slowly stepped in. Astrid was already looking in the kitchen when I first took a dusty breath of air. I coughed. “Come look in here.” Called Astrid. I rushed in and could smell something spoiled. Then something caught my eye. An old ratty doll with a big crack in the middle of its creepy face. It had a floral dress on and it was holding a note. Astrid snatched the note out of the doll’s hand and read it out loud. “What is your name?” “My name is Astrid and this is Alexia.” I quickly shushed her before she could say “what’s your name”, but she said it anyway. I dragged Astrid out of the room.

“Why are you talking to a doll?” I fiercely asked.

“What, do you think it will come alive?”

“No, I just feel something strange about the doll.”

“Here I’ll show you that this doll isn’t strange.” She dashed into the kitchen and gasped.

“What!” I asked as I rushed in there. There it was the doll sitting on the floor with another note in its hand. Astrid shakily grabbed the note and bolted toward me. The note said “My name is Abigale! Want to play?” The note was written in red ink or I hope it was. I looked at Astrid. She looked at me. “How about we get out of here?” I asked. “Yes!” We bolted toward the door and I turned it a couple of times, but it wouldn’t open. We turned to try to find another door or window, but we only found the doll about six feet away from us. I gasped. Astrid shrieked. The doll wobbly took a few steps toward us and harshly threw a note to the ground. I breathing heavily took a few steps forward toward the note. I snatched it and quickly walked backward toward Astrid, making sure I didn’t lose sight of the doll. It read “WHY AREN’T YOU PLAYING WITH ME!” I looked at the doll and looked at Astrid. We nodded our heads. From that night on we’ve been waiting for someone to make a bad choice of coming into the house so we can be free…….

I, Anne, walk up to an old creepy house with caution tape all around it. I looked behind me and saw my friends giving me a thumbs-up behind a bush. There has been a legend where two girls went to spend the night and disappeared with no trail behind them. I threw myself under the yellow caution tape and slowly crept up the stairs. I went to knock on the door but instead, the door flung open. My heart was thumping like never before. I gulped before I stepped into the old spooky house. I dashed in with the door slamming behind me. The lights were on in the kitchen so I decided to go where there was light. Moths were flying around a lightbulb hung by a string. I looked around and out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of movement. I shrieked. There were three dolls two of the dolls have 2knifes stuck in their heart. I bolted to the front door and tried to open it, but it was locked. I went to the window beside it but it was locked too. I was getting ready to smash it when two dolls were sitting at the entrance in the kitchen. I looked closely and they were the ones with the knives stuck in them. I saw a note in one of their hands and grabbed it. I read “HELP!” I was too scared to look at them so I grabbed a rock or a piece of the ceiling that came down, and threw as hard as I could toward the window. It wouldn’t break. Then I heard a chime of a bell when I turned around I could only see a doll walking towards me. If you go there today, you will find three dolls with knives in them or I mean four including you.

Missing Children

​“Bye, Sofia! Remember don’t answer the door for strangers.” Mom said as she grabbed Carter, my little brother to go to the movies.

“Ok” I mumbled as I scrolled through my pictures on my phone. “Bye!” I said as mom left the house.

I watched as she left the driveway in the big blue van we had forever. I plopped onto the couch and scrolled some more on my phone. Then something caught my eye in the corner of the photo a tall man sat in a chair behind me. I couldn’t see his face which was turned away from me. I scrolled some more. The man was still there in every photo, except he came closer and closer. I decided to get pizza to make myself feel less scared. After I was done ordering someone knocked on the door.

“That was fast! No wonder it’s called fast food” I laughed.

I ran to the door and opened it. There was a little package just sitting there with no clue who left it there. I picked it up and went inside. I opened the drawer to find some scissors to cut it open. After a few minutes of digging my hand through the drawer, I finally found some. I opened the box up and saw a few pictures of people and a newspaper saying missing children. This is probably a mistake. I trotted off to my room still clutching the box and jumped onto my bed. I still was curious who would put these on my front porch. I grabbed my notebook and started sketching in it. A ding-dong came from the front door. My pizza must be here. I looked out the window and saw a pizza guy with a tall unusual black hat. He turned my way. It was a hideous sight. He had half skin and half skeleton face. He put his hand in his pocket and grabbed a camera. He turned to me. Flash!

The man

​The gleam of the fire was shining in our faces as we waited for the tornado siren to be over. My little brother struggled to stay awake as the sirens kept on coming.

“When will *yawn* this be over mom.” Said my little brother, Carter.

My Mom was checking the radar for any tornados coming.

“It looks like we’re clear everyone back to bed.” Said Mom.

“Ahhhhhhh!” said Carter.

“What!” I said as my voice started to rage with anger.

“A…. Man …. Said if I… don’t go out there. . . . He’ll rip my eyes out.” Carter said hesitantly.

“Huh?” I said confused with every word. “Let’s go back to bed. We have a long school day awaiting us tomorrow.”

“Ok.”

He did sound scared. Probably just his imagination though. I stumbled going up the stairs and face-planted into my bed. The siren was still going off, so I better go check on Carter to make sure he has fallen asleep. I creaked open the door and looked inside. Carter was just standing up on his bed. That’s weird, but probably sleepwalking. He started Jumping and saying “No! No!” That freaked me out. I ran towards him and pushed him down on his big fluffy pillow.

“Wake up!” I screamed shaking him to death.

“I am awake!” said Carter slowly with his hands over his eyes. “But I can’t see.”

“What . . . do you mean?” I said slowly but hesitantly.

He opened his hands and his eyes were gone.

“I didn’t do it! I didn’t do it!”

I started to cry. I assumed he would be crying too but his eyes were gone.

“I sense him!” said Carter. “Run!”

I didn’t even think, I ran out of the room screaming with terror.

“No! No! No! Leave me alone! I rapidly screamed.

I felt a tug on my arm and I came to a steady stop. I know I shouldn’t look back but I did. Though it was just Carter with his eyeballs missing. It would be hard looking at him the rest of my life with his eyeballs missing, but I will still love him. I hope I’ll stay alive.

“He . . . said . . . come outside . . . or . . . else . . . pay the consequence.” Spoke Carter quietly. “Be . . . Quiet or He’ll hear you and rip . . . your eyes out.” Said Carter and I could assume he was looking straight into my eyes. I quietly stepped into the kitchen and Carter screamed.

A dark shadow probably a man, but a little taller than my dad stepped towards my brother and grabbed his shoulder.

“Do what I say or pay the price.” The man said in a deep, but raspy voice.

“Leave . . . my brother alone!” I screamed trying to be brave.

“I will, only for a trade. I give you your brother and you give me your eyes.”

My parents should have heard us by then and should have come and saved us. But I have no choice, even if my parents come or not. I have to do this for my brother.

I walked up towards the man and he sawed my eyes out one by one. It hurt a lot, but at least I have my brother.

So if you see this man don’t let him come close, run, run, and run. Don’t give your eyes up, but he still roams around today freely, still tricking children.

The phoenix painting

​My eye is swollen. I got a wet rag and set it on my eye. That afternoon, in the cafeteria, I had a one on one fistfight with Britany aka the biggest bully. She called one of the sixth graders fat that got me in a rage. I was done with her. I swung my hand towards Britany’s face. She was going to get a knuckle sandwich from me, except one of her lemmings (her followers), who took karate classes, swung first knowing what I was about to do. I lay on the floor petrified, but still filled with fury, grabbed Britany’s ankle and she smacked the ground so hard the floor vibrated. She screamed with anger. She sat up and slapped me, which didn’t hurt, yet I started to cry. She gave a hysterical laugh.

“That’s right, Sage you don’t mess with the winner.” Said Britany.

I didn’t want to cry in front of everyone in the cafeteria, but my eye hurt so bad I did it anyway. My best friend, Kira, took me to the nurse’s office. They gave me a rag, which I soaked in the sink. I put it on my eye. My eye stung, but I could feel the rage in my stomach still, burning. I lay there for a while. I stared at a beautiful painting of a phoenix that burned fiercely with fire raging around the outside. I felt like the painting was real. I reached out and touched it, but only dust was on my fingers.

At the bottom of the painting, there was a note. “Whatever you say will come true. Just say it to the Phoenix.”

I thought that was silly, but I would just try.

“I wish Britany and her Lemmings were gone!” I said loudly.

A chill came over me like somebody was watching me. I turned around shakily in my chair. But it was only the nurse filling out some paperwork.

“You may go back to class now.” said the nurse.

I grabbed the paperwork for my parents and headed to class. I had three more classes left till I’d be done with this day. I rushed to the door of math class and peeked through the window. My teacher was setting up a test. I opened the door quietly and I knew everyone was staring and whispering to each other, except Kira. I sat at my desk next to her. She pointed out to me Britany and her Lemmings were not in math class. I couldn’t believe I didn’t notice that. I gave a sigh of relief. I was so glad they wouldn’t be throwing spitballs at me. I started on my test. What does two times x equal? I knew this answer but I couldn’t concentrate. I felt the need to go to the nurse’s office. I slowly raised my hand. The teacher was writing on the chalkboard and didn’t see me.

Someone next to me giggled and told the teacher I raised my hand.

“Yes, Sage?” called Mr. Grew.

“I don’t feel well,” I said grabbing onto my stomach.

“Ok? You may go to the nurse’s office.”

I stood up and instantly everyone giggled. I raced out of the room and headed towards the nurse’s office. The nurse kindly let me in and I sat in the chair, I sat in earlier today. I looked at the Phoenix painting, but something looked off. In his beak he had Britany and in his sharp talons, he held the Lemmings. Faintly I heard Britany whisper “I’ll get you for this.” It repeated in my head many times as I fell asleep that night.

​ The Tree of 4145 Swallow Lane

Brianna and Bobby stared at the endless fields of grass. Bobby was continuing to say, “Are we there yet? Are we there yet?” Brianna didn’t want to sound immature, but she was on the verge of saying it too. Finally, they pulled up to the estate. Bobby was bouncing up and down, excited for a new environment, and adventures. Brianna though sighed. She thought the estate was pretty, she just didn’t think that it should come at the cost of being cut off from her friends, except for days in town.​​​​​​​Brianna looked at the black mailbox; 4145 Swallow Lane. There are swallows here? Brianna wondered. She marveled at the marble columns, the massive but overgrown garden, the intricate windows, and the bright interior. She thought, Okay, better than I thought. While she was thinking that her gaze fell onto a tree. A dark, rotting tree. Brianna prodded her little brother and pointed at the tree. “Isn’t that creepy?” Bobby considered for a moment. “It would be fun to climb!” he responded enthusiastically. “But the branches are too high.” ​​​​​​​​​​​​​“No, they’re not.” After that statement, Brianna carefully studied the tree. The first branch was the perfect height for Bobby to grab. The only problem was, a moment ago Brianna saw the first branch at least twenty feet off the ground. She shook her head. I just need more sleep.​​​​​​​​​​​​​He goes for the door, and Brianna was about to remind him that it would be locked. Surprisingly, the door creaked open, on rusty hinges. Bobby takes a moment to think about it, then decides that looking through the house would be more fun. She runs after him, concerned that if the door seemed that old, the floors might not be stable. She arrives in the living room. Some of the furniture looked beyond repair, some just needed some stitching and cleaning. There was a large chandelier on the ceiling, full of crystals, and old-fashioned wallpaper. After a moment of admiring the room, she rushed off to find Bobby. She found him climbing up the wooden stairs. She trailed after him, the stairs creaking and groaning from the weight of two people after a long time of rest. ​​​​​​​​​When they got to the top of the stairs, her tension was evaporating. “Be careful,” Brianna warned, though not as seriously as she would have a minute ago. They crept through the hallway, along the dark blue carpet. They went into a bedroom with baby blue wallpaper and looked through it. It looked like the most recently updated room that they had seen so far. They walked through the room and quickly realized that it was abandoned in a hurry. “Wait here,” Brianna told her brother, then jogged down the hallway, peering into other rooms. All of them looked as though the people had left in a hurry. Dolls were on the bed in children’s rooms, the sheets were thrown off the bed, and in the bathroom, and it looked like toothpaste had been left on the brush. As she went down the hall, the rooms seemed to have been emptier longer.​​​​​​​​​​​​​She went back to the baby blue room, and to her horror, she saw her brother leaning out the open window. She ran up and snatched Bobby. “What were you doing?” she practically yelled. “You could’ve fallen out the window!” ​​​​​​​“I was just looking at the tree! It waved to me, so I had to make sure it could see me wave back.” Brianna stared down the tree and shuddered. It was just the branches. But Bobby is smarter than waving at branches that move in the wind. Well, I also thought he was smarter than leaning out of the window. “Let’s go help mom with the bags,” Brianna suggested. “But I want to go to the tree,” Bobby whined. She turns back to the tree. “No.”

“Okay! Time to choose the rooms!” their mother exclaimed. “Bobby cannot have a room by the tree,” Brianna blurted. “Okay,” their mom agreed. Bobby was disappointed, but there was a tiny part of him that was unsettled by the tree. “Brianna, I think the best room for you is the mint green room.” “Sure,” Brianna agreed, and she and Bobby proceeded to move their stuff upstairs. When Brianna reached the doorframe, she stopped in her tracks. This is the room near the tree! She looked at the three other options. Hers was the end of the hallway to the right, and the rooms down from there were less recently lived in. She went into the three of them, and her sneeze brought dust swirling up. Brianna almost took one of the other rooms, but then she thought I’m almost a teenager. Not a little kid. I need to grow up, and face the fact that the tree, is just a tree! What is it going to do, break through the window and grab me? I doubt it.​

Brianna went to the bathroom to brush her teeth. When the faucet turned on, all that came out was dark brown goo. Tree sap? Maybe I’ll brush my teeth later.​​​​​Brianna started to change into her pajamas until a tap distracted her. She pivoted on her heel to face the window, and her gaze landed on what had made the tap. The tree. Of course. She did not know why, but that simple tap unsettled her. ​​​

Bobby, two doors down, jumped on his bed. I have too much energy! I can’t go to bed now, he thought. He peered out the window. He saw the tree with a wooden swing swaying gently. That looks so much fun! “Time for bed!” his mom yelled from down the hall. Hmm. So, it’s time to be sneaky. He looks out the window. Time for an adventure.​​​​​Within five minutes he developed a rope out of old clothes and was scaling down the side of the house. I love this house!​​​

​​​​​​​

This house is weird, Brianna thought with a shudder. That tree is creepy. She glanced in its direction, and she saw a flash of movement. Wait a second. Was that Bobby? I should go check. She flew down the stairs and out the front door. She called to her mom, “I need to get something from the car!” ​​​​​​​​​​​“Bobby, get out of the tree! It’s time for bed.” “But it feels like it’s hugging me! And it has a swing,” he protested. Was that swing always there? Brianna thought. “Come out of the tree!” “Can I swing a few more times?” Brianna groaned. A few more swings can’t hurt. “Fine. I’ll be back in a minute.”

This is fun! Bobby climbed and swung from branch to branch. He started a bigger swing and loses his grip. Ow, he thought as he thudded onto a branch. A branch that he didn’t remember being there a minute ago. That’s weird. But that branch must’ve been there before. ​​The tree branches came closer to him. I was right! The tree does want to hug me! Then the branches recoiled, and he saw his sister coming out. He was about to say something until a branch covered his mouth for a moment. So, you don’t want my sister to know? Why, tree? Secrets are hard and I tell my sister a lot of things. Why can’t I talk about this? ​​​​“Why are you covered in bark and leaves?” Brianna inquired. “Umm…” What do I say? “I was on a spy mission and I had to camouflage!” Bobby blurted. She ruffled her brother’s hair. “Next time I’ll play too!” If only you knew, he thought.​

​Brianna brought some bags outside. “Hey, Bobby! I think these would be good for the spy game.” Bobby was playing on the swing of the tree, so he jumped off to look at her. “Yeah! This is going to be fun.” She saw him bouncing up and down with excitement. Huh. Even though last night he was acting suspicious, he seems excited. Maybe he was telling the truth about the game.​ “Well one of us has to be the villain. I can do it,” Brianna offered. “But spies could be bad too,” Bobby explained. She nodded. “I guess I can be the hero and you try to thwart my plans of good.” “My base will be the little ditch,” Bobby told her. She looked around. “I guess mine will be the tree.” They both ran to their bases. Brianna backed away from the tree. If I go at the right angle, Bobby might think I’m close to it. She shivered. How could he climb it? It’s black and dripping dark goo. Like the sap in the faucet? But how would sap get into the pipes? This tree is weird. Actually, this is weird. Like it was abandoned. Brianna shook her head. Just play the game. ​​​​​​​​​​​She started running towards Bobby, pretending to save someone, but then something caused her to tumble in the dirt. Ouch. That’s going to bruise. Brianna looked over her shoulder while rubbing her ankle. What? No way! There is no way that tripped me. Bobby came running over. “Ha-ha! You are defeated!” He noticed that she was on the ground holding her ankle, and nervously looking back. “Oh no! Sorry. I thought you were pretending.” He peered over her. “I don’t know why the tree doesn’t like you.” ​​​​​​​​“I’m fine.”​​​​​​​​​​​​“You can play with your new tree friend. I’m going inside,” she huffed. As she limped away, she thought, did I really just say that to Bobby? I don’t want to have that kind of relationship with him. When have I started acting like that? She glanced back. Oh, I know. It’s when the tree joined the game. ​​​​​​​​​​​​

​

Bobby turned in his bed. The scene kept replaying in his mind, of his sister walking away from him. You know it’s the tree’s fault. His mind whispered. Don’t go back to the tree. Just have fun with your sister. He rolled over in bed as his brain conflicted. But the tree is cool. And it seems lonely. Almost like it wants me to play with it. Have fun with it. Join it. Bobby bolted up. “Did I think that the tree wants me to join it?” Bobby scoffs. “That’s crazy! I need to see Brianna so she can help me.” His brain had other plans. Actually, I should go down to the tree right now! Then Brianna will see the tree is just fine, and the tree will like her too!​​​​​He crept outside. Maybe we will get to play the spy game. Once she knows how awesome the tree is, she will want to play in it too. Then we can play the game with the tree. ​​​He jumped onto the tree’s swing. It felt different. That night, the tree felt desperate. The swing started going back and forth, back and forth. Slow at first. Then faster, and faster.

“Brianna!” her mom called. “What is it?” Brianna asked as she came into the pleasant purple room. “Brianna, I’ll tell you first. Your brother is sleeping,” her mother started. “I think we are going to move again. We wanted to move somewhere peaceful, after what happened in the old town.” Brianna cringed as she remembered the tornado, destroying many homes, including theirs. Her mom continued. “This is not that peaceful place we’re looking for. I did some research at the library and found that a number of people have died here. We are moving three days from now. I need to get the things ready. I have unpacked today, and tomorrow I want to rest for a little.” “What do you think killed them?” Brianna inquired tentatively. Her mother looked around. “I’m not sure.” I think I have a guess. “Could I sleep in here tonight?” I might be a little old for this, but that tree is creeping me out.

Bobby was crying as the swing rocketed back in forth. I can’t come back here. Brianna is right. This tree is scary! He peeked around the rope of the swing, to the dirt below. He jumped off then rolled through the grass. He panted as he run from the tree, from the twigs snaring his shirt.​​​​​​​​​​​​​He flopped down onto his bed and fell asleep with tears trickling down his face.​​​

Bobby stayed in his room that morning. Brianna and mom can’t see my cuts. He fell into a shallow sleep, hoping to escape what had happened last night. ​​​​​​​​​​​​

Brianna was relaxing when she heard snores from Bobby’s room. He hasn’t taken a nap in a long time, she realized. I wonder what happened to him for him to take one again. ​​

Bobby was dreaming about the tree. “Come. I have a swing. Climbable branches. A heart full of love.” If he were still awake, he would have taken the car and driven out of there himself. But, he was asleep. So, one foot after another, he walked down the hall, the stairs, through the living, out the front door, and into the tree’s waiting arms.​​​​​​​

I should go check on Bobby. It’s almost time for me to go to bed, Brianna told herself.​He was not in his room. She checked all over, and she knew with dead certainty. ​

He is not in the house. He is with the tree. Brianna ran to the garage and found an ax. I’m done with this tree. ​​​​​​​​​​​She arrived at the tree, and it had gotten darker. But all Brianna felt was determination. Until she saw it. The ax slipped through her fingers at the sight. The sight of Bobby’s face in the tree. Swallowed, like the tree wanted his life force. ​​​​​​​Tears welled up in her eyes as she picked up the ax. No. This is not how it ends. Brianna slammed the ax into the tree over and over until Bobby was free. She pulled him out and kept chopping. She continued for a long time until it was hacked to bits. Bobby watched the whole time, except the moments when he looked up at his sister with gratitude and pride.​​​​​

They left instantly that night. Their mom had already packed, and she explained that she had because of a gut feeling. They drove for a mile. In the car, Brianna unfolded a piece of crumpled paper that had been tucked into the ax. It told the story of another family who had lived in the manor, and of the parents who built the ax to get their children out. They had never gotten the chance because they were wrongfully arrested shortly after. The last words read;

Avenge Molly

Brianna and Bobby smiled. That’s what we did.

Back at the estate, nature went on. Shifting dirt buried the tree. It buried the tree’s one hidden acorn. An acorn that opened up a few weeks later. An acorn that sprouted. An acorn that began to rapidly transform, into a new tree.

The Curse of Lightning and Thunder

Creak. The door slowly crept open, almost gently. Which was an odd thing, considering what was on the other side of the door, whatever it may be. I didn’t know what it was. It could have been anything, but with the darkness crawling into the room from the doorway, from the feeling of absolute terror worming inside of me – I knew whatever was on the other side of the door was not something I wanted to meet. ​​​​​

What I wanted to do most was curl under the covers and for the thing outside the door to go away. My feet, though, did not agree. I crept to the door, and I realized my second wish, that thing to go away, would not be granted either. I could hear its breathing, which was short and ragged. The floorboards groaned under their weight, but I was unsure if it was light or heavy; the floorboards make sounds no matter how lightly someone trod on them. ​​​

My arms apparently did not want me to live; they reached for the knob on my white wooden door. Right before my fingers made contact with the brass, I realized something. I understood why I couldn’t seem to control my movements: I was in a dream! Often, I wake when I remember that, so when I closed my eyes and reopened them, I was confused why I did not wake up to sunlight filtering through my pale blue curtains. I sighed, knowing​ I would have finished the dream, or at least see what the thing on the other side of the door was.​

I grunted, trying to resist my own arm betraying me and opening the door. Even though I understood that going through the dream was going to be the only way to wake up, I still did not want to see what was on the other side of the door.

A quiet rumble of thunder reached my ears, which was what jerked me out of sleep. It was surprising – storms didn’t often come at this time of year, and the weather report said sun for the rest of the week. A little odd, because our town’s meteorologist was surprisingly accurate at predicting the weather.​​​​​​​​​​

I threw my purple blankets to the sides, and half stepped, half rolled off my bed onto my jungle green rug. I observed my room for a moment. It was messy at that moment, and at most other times too. I loved the color scheme – only cool colors allowed in my room, except for my clothes, toys, and certain photos – but I could see how some others thought it was chaotic. My bedroom walls were dark blue and covered in posters. I had a painting my friend made of a forest in faded greens. I also had pictures of animals – my friends’ pets, animals I have seen on hiking trails or at the zoo. I loved animals. I also had photos of my family and my friends in colorful frames. A teal rug was strewn across the grey, wood floor, and toys were arranged in the formation across the floor, which I liked, but for some odd reason, my mother did not appreciate it. I had a white nightstand that held my fish tank, with my blue-green beta fish swimming in and out of the castle decoration. I did not plan to get a fish with cool colors; he was just the one I liked.​

I slowly opened my closet door, and I was a bit hesitant because I was still nervous about the creepy dream, even though it had nothing to do with the closet. When I was younger, I believed there was a monster in my closet. The door drifted open – just problems with the door – and I heard scratching inside of my closet – mice. Probably. ​​​​​I quickly grabbed my grey backpack. I was scared of my closet for so long, it was hard to shake it off, even at thirteen years old. Boom! I jumped out of the closet and I almost started sprinting down the hall until my brain figured out what that noise actually was. I guess a storm is coming.​​​​​​​​​​​​

I stuffed my bag with snacks from the pantry, and I filled up my neon yellow water bottle. Since I use it for walking in the woods, I wanted it to be a bright color so I wouldn’t lose it. I put on my old hiking boots that I somehow convinced my parents to buy for me, even though they were afraid I would not use them. Their worrying was for nothing. ​​​​

After the door swung shut behind me, I checked the sky. Above me, it was blue with a puffy white cloud. To the west, it was so dark, for a moment I forgot it was morning. Will I beat the storm? It looks far enough away. I could just explore the east side of the property, just in case. Mom and Dad won’t mind. At that time, they were both snoring in their boring bedroom. It was dull compared to my room, anyway. ​​​​​​​​

I walked out a bit then I decided to grab my hoodie, just in case it started to rain. My windbreaker was in my room, and I didn’t want to go back and get it.​​​​​

I ventured out into the familiar woods, the woods that I have been wandering through for eight years. My great, great grandparents were farmers, and ever since the land has been passed down in the family. Forest had grown where the crops used to be, and I was glad it did. Wandering through an ever-changing forest is a lot more fun than walking through fields of corn. Although, it would have been cool to stroll through a corn maze. ​​​​​

Even though new plants grew every spring, and some in the summer and fall, I knew this land very well. I knew exactly where the towering oaks were that had vines crawling up them, the group of bushes where white flowers bud every year. My favorite area was the grove in the middle of the woods, where many iris flowers grew, filling the grove with purple. There were vines cascading down from a few tall trees that surrounded the grove, so it seemed to cut off from the outside world.​​​​​​​​​​​​

It’s a bit funny how irises were my favorite flower because my name is Iris. Ever since I had been playing outdoors, I had loved the flower, even before I knew it had the same name as me. I thought it was my family – this happened to my mother too. Her name was Thorn, and she told me stories about how she was a child. No matter how deep in the woods she went, no matter how many times her mom, when she went outside with her, was poked, my mom was never cut by thorns. It was very strange. ​​​​​​​​

I decided to look around for new animals since it was spring and I wanted to see a baby deer. I was interrupted by another round of thunder. I’ll just look around for another minute, then I’ll go back. ​​​​​​​​​​​​

I didn’t see any deer, but I did see a chipmunk stuffing its face with acorns, so I decided it was time to go back. When I was coming towards the house it started raining, and I thought, why is it starting to rain? The clouds looked far enough away, and I was probably gone for only fifteen minutes. The rain felt nice against the warm air, but I figured I would have to go inside so my parents don’t worry. ​​​​​​​​​​​

I took my shoes and socks off in the garage and squeezed some water out of my hair. About a minute away from the house it started pouring, but luckily the hoodie took a lot of the water. I took it off and hung it on a hook.​​​​​​​​​

I found my dad eating cereal in the living room. I was confused because normally my parents sleep in. I looked at the microwave clock, and it was 7:00 AM. I shrugged it off and thought that maybe the thunder woke him up too. I went to sit down next to him after I made pancakes, the best breakfast food of all time (that was just my opinion, but I really didn’t see how people could argue against it).​​​​​​​​​​

I resisted the urge to scoot my chair away when I saw the greyish pallor to my dad’s skin, and his sunken eyes. Oh no. Is he getting sick? I almost asked if he was okay, but then I heard my mom getting up. Good. She might know what’s going on. When she came in I had to suppress a gasp. My mom looked similar to my dad, with grayish skin and sunken eyes. I tried to think of what it could be, but since I had no – reasonable – explanation, I just had to blurt it out. “Are you okay?” My parents looked at me and smiled. “What are you talking about?” my mom asked. I responded, even though I was worried it might sound a bit rude, “You two don’t look okay.” They laughed and asked me what I was talking about. But their laughter was hesitant and they kept darting their eyes around the room. ​​​​​

I didn’t know what to do, where to go. I was a bit nervous about my room still, and I was skeptical that my dream and my parent’s sickly look were a coincidence. It was raining heavily outside, so I didn’t think it would be a good idea to go to the grove. So, I just sat there in awkward silence while I stared at my parents. After a minute of observation, I noticed they kept flinching at the thunder and turned away at the lightning. Do they not like storms? I don’t know. But that seemed to be a part of it. When the storm lightened for a few minutes, my parents relaxed. Until the rain started getting heavier, and the time between thunder and lightning became less. I heard my dad whisper “It is coming. It must be.” “What?” I demanded, “What is coming? Do I need to know about it? Tell me!” My parents sank down in their chairs, and they nodded. My mother started, “Long before your great, great grandparents settled into this land, there was another family. They were called the Redells. Mrs. Redell noticed that the land that she found was . . . different. It had power. She almost wanted to keep it a secret. She was actually a kind person, but her daughter was dangerous. She told her husband, and one night he was being careless, and the truth slipped out. Her parents made the daughter promise to not use it for evil. She did, but she never kept her promises. So, for three weeks she worked on writing a malediction. Her original plan would not be accomplished, because the land-only has a bit of power, but she rewrote it, and it worked. The curse is . . .”​​​​

My mom never finished the story because a creak in the floorboards echoed, in the now silent house. I didn’t know what to do and judging my parent’s expressions, they didn’t either. Just before the thing came around the corner, an idea popped into my head. I mouthed to my parents “Run,” and I jerked my head near the door. They did not look very hopeful, which frightened me, but we had to try. It was better than letting the thing come to us.​I bolted out the door, which I luckily forgot to lock when I went inside earlier. I started sprinting to the grove, but my parents went in different directions. I didn’t take the time to ask why, I already knew they thought it was a better idea to split up. In horror movies that does not seem to work, but they know more about the curse than I do. ​​​​​​​​

I splashed through the creek that was now waist-deep because of all the rain, hopped over rocks and sticks, and finally I dove into the entrance of the grove. That was probably the fastest I ever ran, but it felt like an eternity. I hid in a bush near the irises. I don’t know why, but being near that flower made me feel safer. ​​​​​​​​​

I was sitting there for almost two minutes when I heard it. The ragged breathing. I think that was the monster in my dream! I almost wished I finished the dream, just so I know what the monster looked like. That might have made it worse, but I would have rather known something scary than know nothing at all. Ignorance is not bliss: if my parents told me about the curse earlier maybe we could have avoided it. I wasn’t sure, my mom had not finished telling me about it.​​​​​​​​​​​​

A terrible thought bled into my panicked mind. What if it had gotten my parents already? I tried figuring out where my parents would have gone and calculated how long it would’ve taken them to get there. My dad would’ve gone to the small cave near the banks of the river. My mom would’ve gone to the area where a lot of thorns grow. I don’t think the thing could have gotten both of my parents and gotten me in that time. It took me probably under four minutes to get to the grove using the shortcut, and I thought I was in the grove for about two minutes. So, it had six minutes. Unless the monster was very fast, I didn’t think it could have gotten both of my parents. If it was that fast, it would have caught them earlier and I would have heard a scream. I hoped. I clung to the knowledge and I hoped I was right. I heard it slowly walking away. It walked quietly, and if I had not noticed the absence of its breathing I would have not known it was gone.

I gasp as I wake up to a flash of lightning. I know I am awake this time. What I am unsure about, though, is my dream. Now that I think about it, I do remember hearing the story a long time ago, about the curse. Of how a monster comes when there is a storm outside. That wasn’t in my dream, so that must have been real. Wait. I hear the rumble of thunder. It’s just a story, right? I lay there for a few minutes. A bolt of lightning strikes right when the thunder crashes. When the noise and light fade, I hear it. The ragged breathing, and the creak of the floorboards. Darkness pools in from the now open doorway. I finally know what it looks like. I wish I didn’t. Oh no. ​​​​