Chapter 1

Passing under the flickering street light I pulled my jacket closer as my breath made small, misty clouds in front of me. I looked up from the side walk to notice I was not alone on the dark block. At the end of the block two children’s costumes blew in the icy October wind as they ran up the steps of an ominously decorated porch. The one light on the porch sputtered on and off with each step of the greedy children.
I crossed the street to avoid an eerie looking house and approached the middle of the block. I was now in hearing distance of the house, and the children were just now ringing the doorbell. The man that came to the door was dressed up like Santa. He did not look the part though. He was much too skinny and was hunched over a little also.
“Trick or Treat,” the girls called out.
“Why hello girls, how are you this chilly Halloween night?” the man’s voice sounded wrong to me, to warm and welcoming. He sounded more like how a sickly sweet candy would taste, overwhelming and a bad taste is left in your mouth.
“Good,” the girls responded becoming impatient for their candy.
“That’s good. I bet you want some candy now,” he retorted, seeing their impatience.
“Yes please,” answered the girls, with an even bigger smile appearing across their faces.
“Girls why don’t you come on inside and pick what kind of candy you would like to have. That way you can warm up also.” As he spoke a sinister grin began to form on his face.
Something about what he was saying made me stop in my tracks. I was still standing in the dark and remained unseen to the porch. I watched as the man escorted the two girls inside, he then swiftly made a sweep of the street with his eyes. When his gaze passed over me a chill went down my back. I knew something wasn’t right as he stepped back inside and silently closed the door behind them.
I then started to walk again when abruptly the all the lights in the house went out, I froze.
I didn’t want to make something out of nothing, but I couldn’t make myself move forward away from the house. I stood outside of the house until I felt I had control of my legs again, but still waiting for the girls to emerge for the ominous house that now seemed to have a face and was staring menacingly back at me. No movement came from the inside of the house.
I didn’t know what to do; should I just keep walking or was there really something wicked happening beyond those walls. My ears strained to hear a single sign of the girls. I unexpectedly heard what sounded like a child running frantically and much stronger steps also coming from the house.
In my mind it was now clear what I had to do. I confidently turned to the house and swiftly took the steps two at a time. As I reached for the door my hand stopped when I heard a loud thud. A scream quickly came from the house but was cut short, and then all was ominously quiet.

Chapter 2

I had no more time left to be scared, I thrust the door open. I found myself in a repulsive living room with dead plants sitting in the corner and a filthy couch pushed against the wall. The couch was sitting across from an ancient TV set. Stairs that were covered with moldy shag rug carpet were on my left, I could not see to the top of them. When I took a step forward a loud squeak came from the grimy wooden flooring. I stood completely still, but I could hear no other sounds in the house. Propped up next to the door was a damaged umbrella stand in which a baseball bat sat. I realized then I had no way to defend myself so I swiftly grabbed the bat and started into the house.
I heard movement above me on the next floor. Looking up at the ceiling I saw dust fall from where the person was walking on the next level. I turned to the stairs and slowly snuck to the top as I heard a door close. A hallway extended before me with mounds of junk piled by the walls. The door closest to me was closed but I could see light protruding from under the door. From the sound of it someone was using the bathroom inside. I looked down the hall to see one of the two girls staring back at me from the last room. Looking again at the door to the bathroom I silently crept by and made my way to the girl.
Once to her I saw the other girl nearby, they were both tied up and had a gag in their mouths. I went to the first girl and saw she had a black eye forming, she must have been the one that tried to run.
I started at the ropes but spoke to them at the same time.
“I’m going to get you out of here but I need you both to stay very quiet or the mean man is going to know I am here, ok” they both nodded.
I had freed the first girl by then and moved to the other. The first girl clung to my shirt as I rushed to get the other free form the ropes. Finally she was free too and we started to make our way back down the hall when the sound of a toilet flushing sounded at the end of the hall.
Our luck had just run out.
I tried to move faster down the hall but the girl with the black eye had frozen in place. We had no time left, I turned picked her up and grabbed the second girl’s hand. Looking down I saw she was dragging the bat with her. We then went down the stair as quickly as we could, but we weren’t fast enough.
The door to the bathroom had opened.

Chapter 3

I didn’t look back to see the man’s shocked face because we had made it to the bottom of the stairs. That’s when I heard him coming after us. I set the girl down and took the bat from the other just in time to turn and smash it into the side of his head. He hit the floor hard and did not get back up. Dropping the bat and grabbing the girls’ hands in one motion we ran outside and away from the unconscious man.
The only thought i had was to get them away from that house, away from that man, away from the fear that now dwelled deep inside me. As we rounded the corner i pulled out my phone and dialed 911.
"911, what's your emergency," asked a tired sounding receptionist.
"Hello my Name is Zoey Cortez and I just rescued two young girls from being bound and gauged by a man dressed in a Santa outfit. i knocked him out with a bat and we left the house," I told the woman in a rush of words.
"Ma'am I need you to slow down and take a deep breath. now where are you?" she said trying to calm me.
"Well the house was on Camp street, by 5th ave. It is a dirty white house in the middle off the street," I recalled.
"Where are you now and are you and the girls ok"
"one of the girls has a black eye but i think that's all. We are sitting on the porch of the church next to 8th street," I replied
"Alright the police are on their way,"she declared
"Thank you," with a sighed put the phone back into my pocket.
I could hear the sirens coming. The two girls huddled closer to me from the icy night. I still had no clue what their names were or who they were, but that could wait till we were safely inside the cop cars that could now be seen turning the corner on the end of the block.

Imprint

Publication Date: 11-13-2011

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