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Post by Kentucky on Apr 14, 2019 21:00:25 GMT
Magnetism
Anthony
“Home-making paintings for poor-quality porn flicks…” - Earl Sweatshirt, Hoarse
Take it. You’ll feel better. You’ve never been hurt by just one hit before.
A flicker of fire followed by the whisper of smoke. His room was dark, the blinds drawn, all of the lights off. It made him feel better, he supposed. Anthony was never sure why, but it always did. He drew the joint back to his mouth and sucked in a breath, his eyes watering and his lips quivering. He released, blowing the smoke through a toilet paper roll covered in dryer sheets, a device he devised with the help of the Internet and a growing paranoia. He laid back onto his bed, grabbing his forehead and wiping sweat off of it. “Oh, fuck.”
He stared at the ceiling fan. “Oh fuck.” Music in his ears played softly, a sterile earbuds cord twisting over his neck and into the loving arms of his nightstand. He watched the smoke dissipate with gloomy eyes, slowly wincing before stuffing the back of his head into the pillow.
Anthony had ended classes just three hours ago then took the bus back to his apartment. A lonely ride; it was only him, the bus driver, and three girls. He stole glances at them and his thoughts ran wild. You’re sick. Sick in the head. He had never seen women that way until he got to college; he considered the idea that maybe his dad was right, that these worldly institutions would lead to worldly wants. But who gave a shit what his dad thought? The congregation? The flock? Anthony wasn’t apart of that, so it didn’t matter. He could partake in whatever he wanted now that he had a job, a cheap apartment, and a roommate. No more living off his parents; it was finally time to live.
He had always thought that escape would stop the frustrations, but it was only exacerbated. He moved his attention past the ceiling fan to the ceiling. “One, two, three… one, two, three…” He whispered. Anthony took another drag before picking up the cardboard tube to soften the blow. He laid there for another minute or two, rubbing a hand through his curling hair, before a battering rapped at his door. His eyes drug themselves through his sockets to stare at the door. He didn’t want to get up; yet he did. The boy shuffled across the carpet, a brittle rug that burned his bare feet. He ran a hand over his eyes and blinked in rapid succession, then opened the door.
A big man wearing a man bun, a beard, and a button-up t-shirt stared at Anthony from the other side. Though, man was perhaps hyperbolic. Scott Moore was but a year older than Anthony at the ripe age of twenty. His beard was full but had yet to reach its full potential, and his tan skin was but a show of his outdoors prowess. Anthony supposed he himself would have the skin to show for it too, had he not already been a black kid birthed out of a farmer-preacher from Virginia. Scott had always been the tall, broad, white one. Anthony had always been the average, skinny, black one. Not like he cared too much; Scott only had a few inches on him, Anthony at 5’11 and his compatriot standing at a grand 6’3.
“Hey man.” The typical greeting between the two roommates. Anthony got a good glimpse into the living room, eyes on the horizon of a futon, an old plasma television, and a young yellow dog sitting on the carpet beside a wooden coffee table. “Yo, whhhaaaat’s up?” Anthony slurred, grinning while his eyelids sagged down. Scott looked past him; undoubtedly towards the bottle of Budweiser still on Anthony’s desk. He grabbed Anthony’s eyes again. “I got some friends together to go on a camping trip tomorrow, if you wanna come.”
Anthony winced. His posture straightened and his gaze focused. “Camping? Uh, who all’s going?” He hadn’t been camping in... forever, really. Hell, he couldn’t remember the last time he went hiking besides taking Tucker down the street towards the campus. Scott’s response was near instant. “Nathan, his girlfriend Kat, Gracie, Davis, Vince.”
Anthony’s grin faded into a toothless smile. A satisfied smirk, almost. “The usual crowd and then some, then.” Scott’s eyes raised. “Eeeyup, the usual crowd and then some. Figured you’d wanna come since you’re super into hiking and shit.” Anthony nodded in response, eyes darting over to the dog. “You mind if I bring Tucker? You know how he is, little fucking pussy.”
Scott’s own tempo picked up and the simper turned to him. “Sure, he’s a cool dog, I don’t think anyone else’ll care.” He shrugged and turned to leave, but stopped mid stride. “Also, you’ll need to bring your own tent.” Anthony laid out finger guns towards Scott, still smiling. “Nah, I’ll just sleep out in the open,” his accent changed into mock Southern, “like a man.” Scott rolled his eyes, crooning a response back. “Yeah, alright dipshit.” He paused, but had more to add. “Hey, and I think you and Gracie get along pretty well, know what I’m sayin’?” His grin was that of a devil’s and Anthony’s eyes drooped. The corners of his mouth caved inwards, a wrinkled frown sagging onto his lips. “Yeah. Maybe. Thanks for inviting me.” His voice was deadpan as he closed the door and fell onto his bed. Something pounded behind his temple. A fucking headache. His fingers ran up to caress the aching pain but they were of no use.
Another bad trip.
The wind wove through his fingertips and the sky fluttered over his eyelids. It was a beautiful day for a drive.
Anthony laid his head back, arm around Tucker while Scott chauffeured them towards the campsite. He couldn’t help but wave his other hand out the window to the beat of the radio, swerving the melody into his stream. “You having fun back there?” Scott glanced into the rearview mirror before his eyes edged back on the highway. “You know it! I think I was born to backseat drive.” He watched as Scott’s hands tensed up on the wheel; he never had been good under pressure. “Hey, don’t forget your turn signal on the lane change up ahead, I know you miss it pretty oft-”
“Fuck off!” Scott interrupted while Anthony giggled in delight, dragging his hand out of the cold air outside. “It’s fucking freezing, can you roll up your window?!” Scott cried out as Anthony held down the button to do so. “I thought it’d be funny! Now I’m shivering, so I guess I’m just fucking stupid.”
“You guess?” Scott started, grinning. “Well, I-”
“Yeah yeah, you know, motherfucker.” Anthony swung back, leaning up between the two front seats. “Fuck, my hand.”
“What did you think was going to happen? It’s forty fucking degrees out, man.” Anthony rolled his eyes. “Look, maybe if you hadn’t been playing those entrancing tunes, then I wouldn’t have felt the need to embody the rhythm.” Scott shook his head. “Oh, I see, you’re blaming this on me now? No respect for your superiors. And you’re shameless, too.”
“Oh, sorry massa! Forgive me please! Not the whip again!” Anthony sunk back into his seat, the two in the car laughing at their own stupidity. “Word.” Scott cooed back, Anthony laughing even harder. Ironic slang had since become a mainstay in their vernacular, loosing words like “radical” and “tubular” into conversations whenever they wanted to. As the two of them said, 90s slang was astonishing in how universal it was.
After a little bit more of conversing, the car was silent. Anthony’s mind wandered to a year ago. Party. Drunk. Natalie.
“Gracie… that’s Natalie’s friend, right?” He near whispered. His voice had grown weak and small. Scott nodded. “Yup, that’s her. What about it?”
Anthony’s eyes dodged to Tucker. He grabbed him with one arm again, the dog panting and slobbering onto the seat. “Nothing, just wondering.” His tongue ran over his teeth, checking each one individually. It was silent for a few more seconds before Scott broke it. “Oh, come on man. You fucked her a year ago, nothing came of it. Don’t be so fucking weird over one girl.”
Anthony was no longer looking forward. Instead, he rested his chin on Tucker’s back as the dog allowed, now staring at the trees passing them by. They had gotten off the highway fifteen minutes ago; the campgrounds were sure to be close by. “I guess.”
They cleared into the forest ten minutes later at around five o’clock; they were the first ones there. Night would be upon them soon.
The clearing they picked out was soft. They had driven several miles into the forest before Scott had gotten out and invited Anthony with him, dragging Tucker out and unleashing him. “Okay, you little bastard. Go run around, take your time.” Anthony sang to the dog, who sped off into the clearing and dove into a patch of flowers. Soon enough, he was rolling amongst the field and sending dandelion seeds floating through the air. The two students headed to the back of the sedan, pulling out bundles of chairs and tents in each arm. Anthony found his own strength faltering, especially in the midst of Scott who was able to pull more with considerably less effort. He struggled against the strain of the weight, but pushed on to the clearing.
They dropped the bags into the clearing and Scott turned around. “Hey, you mind getting the stuff set up while I get the rest of the bags?” It wasn’t a question. “Yeah, sure.” Anthony mumbled, looking at the bags. Scott knew, didn’t he? He had to know that Anthony was the weak link. They probably all knew. They talked about it behind his back, didn’t they? Anthony talked about people behind their back, so did Scott, why wouldn’t people talk about him behind his back? That guy, yeah, he’s the skinny one. Remember what he did to Natalie? That was fucked up. That’s what they were saying. Oh yeah, Anthony. You know the way he looks at girls? Hell, dudes too. I saw him checking me out yesterday, like I wouldn’t notice. Creepy as hell. They all knew what he was thinking, didn’t they? It was a ridiculous thought, next; but what if they could all read his mind? That boy doesn’t even believe in God anymore. I tried my best to help him… I can’t help but be disappointed.
The headache was back. He shivered in the light and let out a gracious breath. “Jesus.” He grabbed the cuff of his windbreaker’s sleeve and toyed with it, sniffling as dandelions ran over his face.
“Hey, Anthony, chop chop man. The others’ll be here in like thirty minutes.”
Scott. Behind him. Anthony turned around and faked a smile. “Sorry. I was thinking.” Scott raised an eyebrow and frowned. “There’s instructions in the bag. You’re not that stupid, right?” Anthony’s false grin turned authentic. “I’ll have you know, I graduated summa cum laude of my tent making class, valedictorian. Full honors.” Scott fact checked him quickly. “Yeah, fuck you.”
They had gotten the tents set up eventually and Anthony had tied Tucker’s leash to his chair. The dog tried to follow him multiple times, until Anthony was forced to stake the chair into the ground. The others came eventually, all in the same car. Nathan, the tall, fit one of them. Kat, that hipster gal from down the street. Gracie, Natalie’s… friend. Davis, that fat WASP shithead. Vince, the lanky Mexican kid who’d never had a girlfriend his entire life. They were Scott’s friends mostly, but Anthony knew all of them. Anthony knew most people; he just figured he liked it that way.
Nathan and Scott shook it out while Vince, Davis, and Gracie headed straight for Anthony. “Yo, yo, yo whassup my man?” Vince crooned, going in for the classic bro-hug he always did. Anthony wondered if he was doing it right as they did the hand slap and felt he had missed the mark; whatever. “Hey, man.” Davis slapped him on the back after it was done and Grace herself walked up and waved
Get away from me. I’m sick and you know it, why?
He half-heartedly waved back as the group finished their greetings. She knew. Of course Natalie would tell her what happened, of course she would. “How’s it going?” She asked, trying to smile, but her eyes deceived her. She knew. “Pretty alright. Just getting the chairs set up. Uh… how’s it going with you?”
She answered eventually but he knew that she was queasy in his presence. It was deserved, of course. The way he thought, the things he’d done, all of it… he deserved this. If anybody deserved this, it was him.
“So, you didn’t go to graduation?”
“No, I was playing a gig. I just completely forgot about it.”
“How do you forget about graduation?”
“I dunno man. Luckiest shit of my life though, fuck graduation.”
It was Vince and Nathan talking this time; the latter being the one to forget graduating. Vince had never been the brightest, which was probably why him and Davis made two peas in a pod. Davis was the biggest redneck you’d ever see, yet probably the smartest between the entire group. Anthony envied it. He had always been of average intelligence at best, maybe a little smarter if the odds called for it. But other than most of them seemed to outclass him in one way or the other… Vince had more life experience, Davis was smart, Nathan was just better, Kat was more knowledgeable in obscure garbage, Scott was taller, and Gracie was… watching him.
He looked over to her in a frenzy but her eyes were focused on the conversation. Had she just moved them? He swore he saw her staring at him from the corner of his eye. Fuck off. Just leave me alone. Anthony winced and changed his tune towards the conversation, taking a sip of alcohol. “So you just got it back in the mail, then?”
Vince nodded as his friend Davis spoke and the conversation carried on. Anthony followed along the best he could, but the marijuana smoke grew and the beer bottles drained and Anthony was lost to himself.
Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he… he climbed up in a sycamore tree, for the Lord he wanted to see…
They were talking about something but his vision was blurred. Shapes formed into blobs and blobs formed into abstract bits, all passing him by. He heard Tucker bark once and then a gaggle of laughter erupted near a group of people who had moved away from him. And when the Lord passed that way, He looked up in the tree…
“Anthony. Hey, Anthony.”
His vision cleared momentarily. Kat stood above him, shaking him awake by the arm. “We’re playing BS if you wanna join.” Groggily, he looked up into the sky. It was pitchblack now, the only light being that of the fire. “What time is it?” He asked, the girl checking her watch. “I think it’s like, nine.” Anthony scoffed. “Well… let me take Tucker out to the woods first, he probably needs to use the bathroom.”
Kat smiled wearily and nodded. “Alright, hurry up, we’re almost done with this game.”
“Sure.”
She walked back to the table where most of them were laughing. Davis was nowhere to be found, but Anthony caught sight of a light inside one of the tents. Why did Scott bring them tents? Why didn’t he bring me one too? Anthony winced and looked over at them; none of them made any indication of looking at him. He sniffled and started untying Tucker’s leash.
Tucker was fast asleep as well, but started to wake up as Anthony tugged on his collar. “Come on buddy, let’s go use the bathroom.” He whispered and the dog’s tail started wagging. You can’t understand a word I’m saying. At least you like to hear me talk. A grim smile came to him and he started leading Tucker away. “Hey man, where you going?” He heard the familiar voice of Nathan calling to him; Anthony turned around to face him. “Just taking Tucker out for a bit. I’ve got a flashlight, I’ll be right back.”
They waved him off and he pulled Tucker alongside of him into the forest. He stuck the anglehead flashlight to the shoulder of his coat and flicked it on. The murky forest was illuminated by dim light; Tucker’s eyes shined in the glow, reflecting into leaves and trees while the dog took the lead. They walked for about five minutes before Tucker found a good spot. He stood next to a tree, circled once, then laid down.
“Tucker. Come on buddy.”
He tugged on the dog’s leash but he refused to budge. “Tucker. Oh my God, don’t do this now.” Anthony’s face changed into that of a grimace and he groaned. “Fucking hell.” He pulled the leash tighter and Tucker whimpered in response. Anthony’s voice broke in an instant. “No, no, I’m sorry buddy! I didn’t mean to hurt you, but come on, please.” He pleaded with the dog and put a hand under his collar, tugging more light now. Still, Tucker would not move. As he reached down to touch Tucker’s bare fur, he found the dog shivering in the leaves, still whimpering even when he stopped touching him.
“It’s okay buddy, don’t worry.” Anthony’s mind escaped him. He was just seeing a deer or a rabbit, scaredy cat. Unless it’s a bear… do bears live in these woods? Ask Scott. You should ask Scott. Anthony soothed his dog and ran his fingers through Tucker’s golden hair. “Come on buddy, let’s get out of-” He was interrupted as Tucker jolted upwards and then spun around. The air changed around them. All of the air left Anthony’s body and he was sent reeling to the ground. He gasped for anything; and then it came back to him. He tried to yell but found he couldn’t, now hearing the spinning legs of a dog distancing off into the night. ”Tucker… He wheezed, pulling himself up. His eyes darted across the forest; lucky enough, his flashlight gave him just enough view of a yellow tail speeding into the dark. His feet started forward after it, breaking into a light jog at first before his breath came back. He started running through the trees, jumping over roots. His ankles deceived him as they strained, sweat running down his brow. “Tucker!” He called out, this time actually in standing to do so.
In that moment, he listened. Anthony’s ears perked up as his senses thickened. No birds. No more wind. He couldn’t hear Tucker anymore either. There was something. Footsteps colliding with his own, following almost the same pace, but off by just a few beats. He didn’t dare look behind him. The boy kept running, a stifled cry dribbling from his lips. The top of his foot collided with a tree and he nearly fell, but managed to keep himself up by running his hands along the bark. Wood chipped off and the footsteps behind him continued as Anthony got started back up again. Step step step step step step step step step step
Anthony emerged into the clearing.
Tucker was there, barking wildly at the empty card table. Anthony kept running towards them before eventually spinning himself around. There was nothing behind him. Of course there wasn’t; he was going crazy. He expected the others to be there, to chastise him for running in like he was, for his dog getting everyone scared for no reason. No one did.
There was no one there to do so.
Anthony looked around. It had gotten darker, it seemed. He pulled out his phone and checked the time; nine thirty-eight. “Hey, where’d you guys go!” He called into the night and his throat tightened. Were they doing this on purpose? A joke? Why would they?
He looked over at the card table. It was covered with the entire deck, the box for it nowhere to be found. Anthony was certain all fifty-two cards sat on that table, sprawled about like nobody’s business. Why would they do this? I’m not picking it all up, if that’s what they fucking want. This has to be a trick.
“Look guys, something chased me out in the woods.” It was probably Vince, wasn’t it? He probably chased me through here that fucking asshole. Scared Tucker too. I should just fuck off.
Their bags were all still there, sitting outside of their tents. They couldn’t have gone far, could they? But what if something was out here… what if something was coming after them? What if something had chased them off, like a bear or something?! Anthony spun around and shone his flashlight through all of the trees around him, but alas, nothing came.
The fire was still going, at least. Anthony approached it and looked down at the beer bottles that littered the area. They were going to need to clean that up in the morning, didn’t want some poor animal to come across one of these. He was going to turn away, to go to Tucker and comfort him the best he could, but then a crack and pop burst from the fire and Anthony jolted back. He yelped and gawked the blaze, seeing just exactly what laid amongst the logs.
An inferno of phones sat wedged between the wood, melting into one unrecognizable mass. He could make out six distinctly; he knew exactly whose they were.
“What?” He muttered, before Tucker began a storm of barks and howls again. Anthony spun around and saw him pointed at the forest, the light gleaming off a figure behind the tree line. It was large and broad and Anthony couldn’t see its face; just the shirtless body it courted, dancing behind a tree before disappearing. It had been a human chest, but it was too large to be any human. The proportions were off, the legs long but not long enough, veiny and bulbous under the weight of its flat chest. “Who the fuck is there?!” He called out. Maybe he was just seeing things wrong; not a monster, just some fucking freak in the woods. The others had gone off to do something, that’s it, and then some fucking freak had come out and set their phones on fire. But why would they leave them if they were going to leave? Maybe there were multiple freaks… inbreds? A cult? What the fuck was going on?!
Anthony pulled his phone out and dialed 911.
No signal. He must’ve been too far into the forest. “No, no, no…” He held up his phone and dialed again but got no response again. He could’ve sworn their phones were working just a bit ago, before he’d left with Tucker… something pressured his ribs, pushing them against the meat of his chest. He could hardly breathe.
Maybe if he got out of the forest he could get the cops, get them to come check it out, find his friends. He knew that Scott left his keys in his bag and the bags weren’t ransacked, so he could get them the fuck out of there. Then again, maybe it was all just a dirty trick. Something rotten was in the air and Anthony couldn’t tell what. He swallowed hard.
[Take Scott’s car to get help]
[Wait for your friends at the camp] |
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Apr 17, 2019 13:46:33 GMT
Oh man, that was a great start! I really like the atmosphere here. Personally, I always find horror hard to write, but you did it amazingly, it was creepy, yet also very entertaining. This is going to be good. Anthony is already an interesting character and I look forward to learn more about those strange forest dwellers he encountered there.
[Take Scott’s car to get help]
Yeah, no. Don't make the typical horror mistake of waiting at the camp all alone. While I doubt Anthony is in danger of actually dying here, the smart choice would be to just get the hell out and try to find some help. Wether he finds it or not, that remains to be seen, but I think this is the smarter thing to do here.
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Post by Kentucky on Apr 19, 2019 7:17:10 GMT
Choice between embracing Spooksville in camp, and hoping for some semblance of reality in a vehicle? Much as I'd love to watch a stranger and his puppy get eaten by warped woodland wackos, I'm thinking car. Maybe he can pack a tent in the trunk, as payback. Oh yeah, despite the circumstances, Anthony will still be looking for some form of revenge, even if said revenge is more... subconscious. Oh man, that was a great start! I really like the atmosphere here. Personally, I always find horror hard to write, but you did it amazingly, it was creepy, yet also very entertaining. This is going to be good. Anthony is already an interesting character and I look forward to learn more about those strange forest dwellers he encountered there. [Take Scott’s car to get help]Yeah, no. Don't make the typical horror mistake of waiting at the camp all alone. While I doubt Anthony is in danger of actually dying here, the smart choice would be to just get the hell out and try to find some help. Wether he finds it or not, that remains to be seen, but I think this is the smarter thing to do here. I'm glad you liked it! I had a lot of fun trying to keep Anthony's regular life just as oppressive as life in the "Pocket," so I'm happy the atmosphere ended up being good. It's always a struggle to write horror, due to so many different factors clashing together. Anthony probably won't be in too much trouble either way, but this'll certainly determine his situation when things get really serious. I definitely think you guys made the right choice, which'll be touched upon in a later part of the story. Which brings me to of course saying that voting is closed. Anthony will take Scott's car to get help. I may be jumping the gun a bit, but I don't know how many votes I'll get later and I'd like to start writing the next part as soon as possible. Speaking of, the next part will once again follow Anthony and his attempt at alerting the authorities of his friends seemingly untimely fate. Once I get more characters submitted, I'll certainly be including their (likely interlinking) stories as well, so look forward to that! The next one should be up pretty soon, tomorrow or the next day at most. |
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Post by Kentucky on Apr 22, 2019 21:28:29 GMT
Anthony
He ran for Scott’s bag without a second thought. Rummaging through it, he found them; glistening keys that sparkled off of his flashlight, a twinkling sear against his eyes. He hurried and put them into his pockets then zipped the bag back up. His gaze found the void of the forest again, yet nothing awaited him. Tucker was still howling and growling, his leash bouncing around with his hurried hops of utmost fury and fear. Anthony grabbed Scott’s bag, then moved towards Kat’s bag and scooped it up in the same arm. You fucks won’t take this too. The cops’ll come, find Scott and them, and then I’ll give them some of their stuff back. There were non recoverables in the bags, after all. Pictures and drawings and journals of all kinds. Perishables. In thirty seconds he had grabbed Scott’s, Kat’s, and Davis’, throwing his own bag onto his back. Content and feeling the strain of the luggage, he whistled loudly; it wasn’t like he was trying to hide at this point. Tucker had barked a violent onslaught their way, so they knew where he was. A boy and his dog, tasteful delights over a roast fire…
If that’s even what it is. What if it’s just an elaborate prank? The phones are fake, they get some puppet out in the woods. That wouldn’t be too hard. Anthony clenched his teeth as Tucker’s tail dove between his legs, and the dog scurried after him. The lust of companionship drove them both as they ran through the woods, Anthony near tripping over himself with the six bags.
The footsteps came back.
The clicking of a tongue echoed across the forest. A thick and sloppy thing that spit with the sound and Anthony could perfectly picture it. Edged at the end, pooling saliva and bulging with boils that made up each taste bud. It made his legs criss cross and he spun into a tree. One, no, two bags went flying into the dirt below and Anthony let them loose. He darted away from the tree as Tucker ran full force past him, a cautious gasp escaping the boy. An anxious shuffling was met with Anthony’s cry, an eager spirit closing in on him. He darted forward and broke into a sprint again, and had barreled into the car soon enough. Tucker was there, paws on the passenger window, pawing at the glass and whimpering. Anthony hurried around and grabbed the door, but it refused entry.
Locked, locked you fucking idiot!
He reached into his pocket and fiddled with the keys before ripping them out. Leaves crunched in the darkness as his fingers reached the key fob and pressed on the unlock key; instead, the car’s horn began blaring and its blinkers flashed with a vibrant violence to them. “Fuck!” He startled himself and turned off the alarm, finally unlocked the car and tearing the passenger door open. Tucker clambered in and Anthony sent one of the bags soaring onto the console before slamming it shut. More footsteps. They had turned into stomps now, likely pushing holes into the dirt wherever that thing’s boots landed. Anthony scrambled around the side and threw the driver’s side door open. His backpack was the first to go in, hitting the howling dog by accident. The boy fell inside, just near pissing himself as he shut the door and shoved the key into the ignition.
The engine roared on the first turn of the ignition and the headlights sprang into view. There was nothing but dirt path ahead of him and as such, he floored it. Tucker began to rift about the front seat, churning and turning through, before jumping onto the bag in the floorboards. The wheels crunched against the rocky terrain and spun out at first, dirt and gravel spitting into the air as a spray. After a few more seconds, the beat up sedan sped into the night.
Anthony glanced up at the rearview mirror; because of course he did. He could have sworn he saw a tall (it was so tall) yet wide figure dashing out of the brush but it faded from his view just as quick. A rock. Something. Nothing was chasing you. Just your footsteps echoing. Yet sweat poured down his brow. He glanced over at Tucker as the dog attempted to climb back up in his seat; it was then that he noticed just why the lab couldn’t. His leash was trapped in the door, clamped between metal that would near cut it in half. “Fuck, no!” Anthony near sniffled as Tucker began to choke against the strain of his collar. Anthony reached towards him, bending down and taking his eyes off the road for a split second; he gave the leash a tight pull but it was no use. He shifted his head up and found the road again, adjusting course to make certain of no veering. He reached down again, grabbing the choking dog’s collar and unclipping the leash from it. Immediately, Tucker jumped up and under Anthony’s arm, sending him reeling back and spinning the wheel.
“No, fuck!” His heart skipped a singular beat; the car swerved and the headlights cast beams into the forest. A blurred face was but one of the illuminated sights out there; an unseemly grin on the otherwise unknowable face. In that second it arrived, it had also left; Anthony gripped the wheel with both hands and steered back to the right, then to the left, the back wheels slipping through the insecure gravel. Two more tries and he had gotten the car back on track, back on the straight and arrow. Tucker nuzzled against his side and Anthony pushed the dog away. “No! Not now, not now!” He screamed, his dog drawing back and yelping in the seat. It didn’t matter. The light at the end of the tunnel was near completion, and Anthony did not intend on missing it. Tucker was tough; he would get over it eventually.
The trees careened over them, branches swaying over the car in violent shakes. Leaves dispelled, some hitting the windshield and forcing turn the wipers on in a hurry. Some sort of distortion came through the woods; he wasn’t sure if this was some bird or animal or some human or something else entirely. It was a high-pitched, crooning type of noise. As if whatever it was, it was longing for someone else. Mating call. But it’s Fall. He clenched his teeth so hard he felt he could draw blood. Animals fuck in the Fall. After all, aren’t you one? The thought came to him and it immediately felt wrong. These weren’t his thoughts, were they? Comparing himself to some primal beast in the forest, surviving to only reproduce or pleasure one’s self. His eyes were growing blurry with the sweat that covered him, palms to legs to hair.
The headlights did not falter in their goal. They guided Anthony’s way down the trail, longer than he remembered. Did I go the right way? Don’t tell me I’m lost. There were no turns before, I know there were no turns before! Alas, the trail continued on through the night, cold and bitter frost glossing over Scott’s car. Then, the beams revealed a break between the dirt and leaves into asphalt; the service road. Anthony spun into it, tires squealing under the blanket of night. The chassis of the car bounced with the sudden change in elevation and Anthony was nearly driven into the steering wheel. He stayed steadfast and born through the pain as his chest caught the brunt, the horn letting a beep off and the car spinning into the middle of the service road. Trees still surrounded him, but it was just a little ways to the park ranger’s station that was so close by.
He reached a hand over and scratched at Tucker’s head. “I’m sorry buddy, I’m sorry, it’s okay, it’s okay.” The attempt seemed to work at least a bit, as the dog leaned into his hand and closed his eyes. It was fine, then. Everything would be fine. The road continued to lead them down until eventually a sign came into view amidst a road crossing; to the left was the ranger’s station, to the right was the exit. He turned left, speeding down the road until he was swerving into the parking lot. The smell of burning tires caught his nose as took up two spaces, leaving the car running as he jumped out and slammed the door behind him. He could see lights on in the building, a brick rectangle with one story and glass doors. Anthony hurried to them, opening the doors and practically sprawling himself in.
There was no one there.
He looked behind the front counter and there was no one. An empty seat confronted by an old desktop and a landline phone. He tried the back doors but they gave him a fatalistic impression; locked. No. Why would the lights be on?! He tried his own phone again, but nobody on 911 answered. Maybe the lines are just broken. Or maybe your phone is just busted. Did mom and dad pay for the data plan? Maybe they cut you off because they hate you, they always hated you, you thought they were in absolute love with you but they hate hate hated you just like the rest of their children didn’t they
He tried his phone again. The ranger station’s phone number was plastered to a bulletin board that sat on the right wall above a grouping of waiting chairs. Amongst it were other papers, mostly just forest fire warnings and notices about bear, coyote, and cougar guides. Smokey the Bear glared at him as he dialed in the ranger station’s phone number, one claw extended towards his face. Only you…
Anthony waited a few moments as the phone started up… and the landline phone began to ring. His head did a full turn, a paced one, but a wide-eyed stare was on the phone. He shook at the sound, wincing every time it rang. The boy approached the phone and reached over the counter, pulling it up. “Hello?” It echoed through both phones and he dropped the landline. No. Phone works. He tried to call 911 again. No voicemail; did 911 even have a voicemail? Ten rings and then a click. That was it.
Anthony put his phone into his pocket and stared forward. He sat down in one of the waiting chairs, the window to his back. His hand was now on the anglehead flashlight still attached to his shoulder; he twisted it around and flicked it on and off. This wasn’t possible. None of this was possible. His phone worked, but nobody was answering. He tried a couple more contacts; Brian, mom, dad, his brother, Eva, Logan, his sister, but no dice. Nobody answered. It didn’t make sense. The Rapture? Was dad right? But that didn’t make any sense. Wouldn’t Tucker have been taken? And his friends were all the same as him, worse than him, he thought. Why would they get raptured if he didn’t? Animals don’t have souls. They don’t get raptured. He swallowed, doubt filling his throat in a lump. And maybe God doesn’t only take Christians, he loves the sinners after all. It’s what’s inside that counts; and you got nothing, don’t you? You just want to fuck and drink and smoke and this is where that got you. Remember Natalie? Remember what you did to her? You’re disgusting. You’re a fucking pig.
His hands caught his face, fingers stretched around bulging eyes. Not like this. I’m not just that… I make music… The inner voice called drilled into his skull again. No you didn’t. Like you’d ever make anything… like you’d ever finish anything. Fuck and drink and smoke. Anything you want, when you want it… good try, preacher boy. His head shook in his hands, snot dripping from his nose as his eyes watered. Tears dripped down his hot cheeks, sizzling against his dry face. ”No! No no no! Fuck! No no!” He stood up and screamed, slamming down on the desk with open palms. ”Please God, I’m sorry! I’m so sorry God, please take me, please take me God I’m sorry, please oh dear God oh please dear God, take me back, I’m sorry, I’m sorry for everything I’ve done, I didn’t mean it, it wasn’t my fault, please, please, I swear, I didn’t know… I didn’t know…” He cried in the ranger’s office, Tucker still sitting outside alone.
Anthony was lying on the floor. It had been fifteen minutes since he’d broken down. His eyes were boring holes into the light; he wished the optic balls would melt so he wouldn’t have to see anymore. I’m alone. There’s nobody else. He blinked. He didn’t want his eyes to melt. Not really. He was just a giant pussy in the end of it all. He rolled on to his side and started to get up. Where could he even go? Home? The apartment? Nobody would be there for him. They were all good people, they’d disappear too. If he were lucky, the only people he’d find were just assholes. The rest would be murderers and… whatever else. People worse than even him.
Tucker started barking.
Anthony shot up off of the ground and ran for the door. The lights on the car were turned off so he could only see a vague silhouette of Tucker in there; struggling and jumping around like a maniac. He saw somebody running across the the parking lot with their back turned before they dropped to the ground. Anthony leapt the three steps onto the sidewalk and switched his flashlight on; he only caught the back of its head.
A big creature that moved like an ape. It had no hair, only globs of flesh that amalgamated its mushy dome, stretching down towards a bulbous neck. It waddled into the forest and then it was gone. Not even the flashlight could catch it.
Anthony’s breath hitched and he walked backwards towards the car. There was no way he was chasing that thing into the woods. It was a person, he was sure; but something wasn’t quite right. It was a fool’s game to wonder that now, he thought, and he spun around in all directions to make sure no more of them had begun to flank out of the woods.
He was alone.
The walk back to the car felt longer. The engine was still running, puffing gas out the exhaust and into the night. He wasn’t sure what time it was, the moon still covered by a mass of trees. He didn’t remember that many trees, not last time at least. They didn’t used to cover the fucking moon. He moved towards the car, turning off his flashlight as the headlights gave him just enough light to see the side… and the sticky note taped to the window. He tore it off and stared at the writing in the little bit of light he had.
What? He dropped it instinctively and looked behind him; nothing there. Anthony stomped on the note and kicked it off to the side, throat clenching as he hurried back into the car. As he got in, Tucker snarled and snapped at him before drawing back, all in the same second. “It’s me! It’s me!” Anthony’s voice shook, grabbing his dog with an arm and hugging him. “It’s me… it’s me…”
They drove off into the night. The highway was found eventually and the moon finally returned to view. The highway was entirely empty. No cars, no people… nothing. Just an empty drive full of nothing but empty fields and empty forests and empty… everything. There was nothing left, there was nothing left. He cried as they drove until his tear ducts were empty and there was no sound except for the groveling of asphalt beneath his tires. Tucker made no sound the entire trip. It was fair enough; it wasn’t like Anthony wanted to talk much, especially to something that couldn’t even talk back.
They arrived at his apartment in due time, pulling into the parking lot. There were other cars actually there which gave him some semblance of hope. Sure to be squashed in mere moments, he was certain. This time he did twist the key and let the engine turn off, taking Tucker outside with a leash. He let the dog sit there for a moment while he tossed the bags into the trunk of his own car, ditching Scott’s there. Familiarity was better than driving Scott’s car, a car he had been in all of five times in his life. He took his access card out as he approached the front doors of his apartment building, Tucker’s leash in one hand. To his luck and surprise, a green light and a beep followed a single swipe and he entered the building with his dog in tow. The door shut and locked behind him, the hairs on the back of his neck tensing up.
Nobody at the counter. Nobody in the lobby. He creeped towards the elevator, hovering his finger over the down button. What if I go up this and it locks up in the middle? Nobody will be able to save me. I mean, I might be able to climb out, aren’t there ladders in elevator shafts? But I won’t be able to bring Tucker with me… His finger lifted from the button and he turned away. The stairs were his best bet. He climbed them, taking a break after his legs turned to jello on the third floor. It wasn’t that he wasn’t in shape; he just felt nauseous as all hell right now. By the time they reached the sixth and final floor, him and Tucker were both panting and sputtering towards him and Scott’s room. They made it eventually, Anthony putting his key in the lock and pushing the door open. He half expected it to stay still, one final fuck you from God himself. Yet, it sprang free of the lock and stayed open.
The living room was still unremarkable. Anthony set Tucker free and slammed the door shut behind him, a shudder rippling down his back and through his stammering legs. He fell onto the couch and Tucker curled beneath his feet. He could turn the TV on; the thought occurred to him that he had never even touched the radio. His hand fell for the remote and he pulled it up, stabbing the power button with his thumb. It sprang to life, and…
NO SIGNAL.
The two words fluttered about the screen. Of course there was no signal. He checked the input; it was cable. The cable television they had been given with the apartment; shoddy normally, now it no longer worked at all. NO SIGNAL.
He sighed and stood up, approaching the window and staring out at the countryside. The apartment building was a tiny ways from civilization; close enough to the campus he could walk down there in around thirty minutes, but a good twenty minute drive from the city. He scratched at the back of his head. You could just dive out. Smash your head against the pavement.
“No…” He closed his eyes and grabbed his mouth, scared of his own voice at once. “No…”
He had to find more people. He had to.
[Check the nearby town for people]
[Check the college campus for people] |
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Apr 26, 2019 1:24:55 GMT
This is actually getting super scary! Seriously, you are doing an amazing job with the atmosphere. That note, the footsteps, seriously, this is a story I shouldn't read with my lights out and I don't think I ever said that before about any other story, be it one from here or something I read elsewhere. And yes, I enjoy every moment of it!
[Check the nearby town for people]
I think whatever is happening, the town is the better bet to find people. It's larger, so there really should be a greater chance for success. Sure, it is farther away and that makes it a bit of a risk, but I believe it is the better option. That being said, I am scared for what will happen next, this is already shaping up to be downright terrifying.
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Post by Kentucky on Apr 26, 2019 3:59:52 GMT
This is actually getting super scary! Seriously, you are doing an amazing job with the atmosphere. That note, the footsteps, seriously, this is a story I shouldn't read with my lights out and I don't think I ever said that before about any other story, be it one from here or something I read elsewhere. And yes, I enjoy every moment of it! [Check the nearby town for people]I think whatever is happening, the town is the better bet to find people. It's larger, so there really should be a greater chance for success. Sure, it is farther away and that makes it a bit of a risk, but I believe it is the better option. That being said, I am scared for what will happen next, this is already shaping up to be downright terrifying. Wow, I didn't expect this but thank you so much! This really does mean a lot, I'm very very very happy the story is unnerving and that it's enjoyable to read! I know there's not that many readers right now, but honestly, this is enough to keep me going in itself. The note will become very important later, of course, but I can't say much else about it then that! Also, interesting choice on the town. I'd have to say I agree with your reasoning and I think you'll like just what Anthony finds there. Working on the third part now, which'll introduce the second PoV of Act I. Georgia Marshall, piano player and poet, meets up with some old friends and heads out on a road trip. We'll see what happens to her from that point onwards, of course. |
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