text: [Themes: horror]
  
  School is just getting out and your three best friends, Julie, Robert and Jack come running up to you yelling your name over one another as if they want to be the first to bring the news. "Mel! Mel! Mel! Guess what?" Their words spilled over each other and all you could make out was 'sleepover', 'out of town and' and 'abandoned house'. You know exactly what house they are talking about and just the mention of it made you skeptical, but you had to hear them out.
  
  Apparently, Jack's parents are out of town longer than they planned and that meant Vicky is going to be "watching" after him when in reality she really doesn't give a damn what he does--worst babysitter in the world. Anyways, Jack is planning to have Julie, Robert and you over for a sleepover. Since his parents are out of town we would be able to get away with a lot more. Of course, Jack came up with the genius idea to have a sleepover and sneak out to the old abandoned house on Maple Hill. The old house on Maple Hill has been abandoned for decades and left to rot after the former couple was murdered in their sleep. The murderer was never caught and rumors say that is wasn't even a human that killed the couple. The legend is told that the beast that killed them wears all black and to this day still wanders in the woods waiting for mindless humans to venture their way right onto its menu. You thought, "Okay this is going to be fun. We'll explore and have a good time," but no that was not the case. Your ne'er-do-well friends had the idea to bring the spray paint and express themselves all over the old house. Something you were definitely not down to do, but you couldn't let them think you were a coward so you had to go.
  
  [Author's Note: This story is about four teenagers who one day after school decide to have a little fun. Fun for these teenage ne'er-do-wells consists of vandalizing old "abandoned" buildings. Yet something terrible lingers within the house that has now been disturbed and is awfully hungry.]
  
  > go have a sleepover with your friends
  Later that night after you all ate you met up at Jack's house packed and ready to go. Of course, you told your parents that you are spending the night at Jack's house so your parents are obviously unaware of your intentions. As you hop on your bike to head to the allegedly haunted house on Maple Hill, butterflies swarm your stomach and climb your throat like a ladder.
  
  Not the good kind.
  
  These butterflies seem to be yelling, "Turn back! This is a bad idea!" You can't let your friends think you're a pansy and go home just yet. You ignore the vexing feeling and continue to pedal.
  
  As you reach the house it is sunset and the house seems to have blazing red flames that are licking up the sides of the house sending chills down your spine. This is the only structure on the entire hill for miles and you are the only ones up there. The house looks intimidating and you hesitate before stepping off your bike to check the house out. Your friends are too busy on the lawn unpacking supplies discussing matters of vandalism to notice you. Just before entering the house you notice a shadowy figure looking down at you from the second story window. The second you blink it vanishes. You want to tell your friends so they know what they're getting into, but they'll probably just find it amusing and decide to check the house out anyway.
  
  > tell your friends
  You panic. "Jack! There's something in the house! It was there in the window just a second ago!" But he doesn't believe you and says, "Maybe you should just go home so you don't get scared by any mice now, Mel. We can have fun without you."
  
  You should've just kept it to yourself.
  
  > go with your friends
  You enter the house with your friends.
  
  It's a disaster! It looks like a bomb blew up in the house. Broken floorboards and shattered glass lay strewed all over the floor and furniture remains in shreds. Mildew fills the air along with the overpowering stench of pneumonia effervescing from the gaping holes in the floor.
  
  Must be cats.
  
  > investigate the house
  The bedroom must be upstairs, considering you have already checked everywhere downstairs. Sure enough, there is a long staircase leading upstairs to an open door where there appears to be an old bedroom.
  
  Bingo.
  
  The stairs creak and moan with every pound of weight added to the ascending flight of splintered steps. Your flashlight sputters little beams of light. The light goes out and everything is consumed by the dark of night. Uneasy butterflies return and you begin repeatedly smacking the ass end of the flashlight on the palm of your hand to somehow revive it.
  
  Suddenly, a bright beam emits from the bulb aimed directly to the top of the staircase and illuminates something that makes your heart fall to the pit of your stomach. A lanky black figure with sagging flesh is awaiting at the top of the steps. Haggard teeth jet from the gaping mouth and eyes lifeless. Gasping you slap your hands over your mouth and shut your eyes. Blood runs cold through your veins and you freeze in your tracks. If this is what's going to kill you, you definitely do not want to watch it happen. Five long seconds pass and you peek your eyes open.
  
  Your heart is racing.
  
  The figure still standing at the top of the stairs unmoving but now breathing heavily. Taking cautious steps, you slowly begin backing away. Nearing the end of the staircase you turn and bolt down the stairs as fast as your legs can manage without failing. The figure lets out a horrendous shriek and barrels after you. Your heart is ready to break through your chest. You see your friends on the lawn digging through their bags for the right color spray paint and run for them as fast as you can. Looking back, you realize the figure is gone. You slow your pace and jog to your friends.
  
  You ask them if they heard that horrible noise that came from the house they look at you like you're insane. You try your best to convince them but it is to no avail. They suggest once again if you would like to go home but you refuse to leave without them. You're unsure if showing them where you saw the figure is a good idea or not but you lead them to the stairs.
  
  Jack being the macho guy he thinks he is stomps up the stairs and looks around but there is no one there. He says, "Mel, maybe you're just stressed out or you saw a ghost."
  
  Maybe you did see a ghost.
  
  You join your friends and go back outside to help them spray paint but you are not in the mood for breaking the law so you revoke. You keep watch in case anyone happens to come break up the party.
  
  You see the shadowy figure again, but this time in the tree line of the forest. The figure seems to be grinning and holding something that catches the light of the moon. Your eyes focus.
  
  It's the chains to your bikes!
  
  > tell your friends
  "Jack, Julie, Robert!" you yell. Panicked, you sputter words about the thing in the woods with your chains that make no sense. "Black monster thing in woods has bike chains!"
  
  The fiend in the woods is gone now so you probably sound crazy. Julie, Robert, and Jack examine their bikes and ask you where they are. Obviously, you know whatever that is in the forest has them so you try to explain to them what happened, but they aren't buying it. They seem to think you are pulling a prank on them and are getting a little short tempered now. They ask you the last time where their chains are stating that this is not funny. No shit this isn't funny! There's a friggin monster or demon or whatever it is in the forest and it has disabled the only mode of transportation you had besides your legs.
  
  Better knock on wood.
  
  Who knows what it's going to do next.
  
  Eager to find their chains, Robert opts to go look for the chains in the woods and Julie and Jack agree. "Mel, you can come with if you swear not to pull any more of this monster BS." Even though their accusation is false, you concede. Although you don't want to be left alone so you follow.
  
  You make your way through the yard and approach the forest. All of you stop in your tracks before entering. The forest is pitch black and a lot scarier looking than the house. Tiny rays of light push through the cracks within the bushy branches of the hemlock trees. None of you want to enter so you play straws. Whoever pulls the shortest piece of grass from the lawn goes into the forest. You all pull grass and measure with one another.
  
  Robert has the shortest piece.
  
  You are saddened one of your best friends has to enter the death-defying forest, yet ecstatic it is not you going in. Because after all, you do know what is in the forest and it is nothing you want to run into.
  
  The three of you wait as Robert gathers enough courage to enter the forest. Soon he disappears into the somber forest. Five suspenseful minutes pass and worry overcomes you. You begin calling Robert's name into the forest but hear no response. The sound of heavy breathing gets closer and closer. You can smell the breath.
  
  The stench of death.
  
  Rotten decaying flesh.
  
  Robert's decapitated head tumbles from the dark forest before your feet. Julie faints and Jack's jaw drops. You look at Jack as if telling him you weren't lying and he nods.
  
  Not waiting for the beast to make you his next meal, you begin to weigh your decisions.
  
  > help Jack save Julie by carrying her to the house
  Second guessing your decision, you help Jack haul Julie's limp body to the house. Cracking branches and huffing is coming from the forest and now for you. Robert was just an appetizer and you are next.
  
  Running as fast as possible, you make it to the house within a minute that seemed to have had lasted a century. Whatever is chasing you is not far behind and time is screaming by. What's the creature going to do when it gets here?
  
  > run for the hills
  You panic and your judgment becomes rash.
  
  You decide your chances of surviving are greater if you book it the hell out of here. You run faster than you ever have before, but the figure notices you trying to escape and changes courses in your direction.
  
  This is it.
  
  You are devoured by the creature. Ripped apart and entrails lay spilled in the grass. Your accidental sacrifice was just enough to draw attention away from Jack and Julie. Jack thrusts Julie over his shoulders and makes a break for it while you are being used as human finger paint in the lawn. Julie and Jack successfully make it home and you now lay in the lower intestine of the beast.