text: It was the third time this week that I was there, staring at the overgrown fence around the old Hawkins place. A sign with 'Beware of Dog' inscribed on it, peaking out from the foliage. The old place had been empty for a long time, longer than most of my and my friends lives. All kinds of rumors surrounded the place. The dad lost it and killed his entire family and himself and that it was haunted by their ghosts. Or that it was built over an old burial ground and the dead chased the Hawkins out. Suffice it to say, nobody knew for sure, and those that did weren't saying. Something about the place always drew me in, like a magnet, but I had never gone through the fence. My parents told me that I shouldn't go near the place, since it was old and broken down even when they were in school. I had, for the most part at least, been able to avoid it. My curiosity while itching at the back of my brain, was mostly quiet. That is, untill Halloween came around. Was riding in my friend Billy's car, and as we passed, and he said,"We're gonna find out what happened." "What did you say?" "That we're gonna find out what happened. That place has sat there rotting for what? Forty or fifty years? People have been scared shitless for ages, and it's stupid. You, me, and a few of our friends can scope it out. We'll film it all, and when we prove the place is just old, some contractor can tear it down. And we get a sweet finders fee." "Dude, I'm not sure that's a good idea. Think about it. That place has been sitting for ages, and I doubt you're the first to have that thought. And yet here it sits. Suspicious is an understatement. Not saying I'm not curious, but everybody says to stay away. Has to be for a reason." "Come on dude, you're seriously going to wuss out on me? What'll everyone else say when you don't show tonight? Man, Steve really is a pathetic mommas boy! Bet he can't even wipe his ass without her say so! You really wanna deal with that shit?" "Well, no, I guess not. Ok, ok I'll do it. But if we find even one weird or freaky out of place thing, we're out. Ok?" "Of course, cross my heart. Anything weird, we get out," Billy said with a winking grin. ... *Creak* *Creak* *Crunch* "Viola! Open sesame! All that magic word shit," Travis said, brandishing his crowbar. Holding the newly freed boards, he laughed,"Lady's first." "Oh, what a gentleman," replied Katie as she elbowed past him. She was a bit of a tomboy, and our group's only girl, and I was in love. She was just cool, ya know? Never could work up the courage though. "Wait for me! I've got the flashlights," squawked Slime. He was a bit nerdy, and he always smelled like paint, but he was ok. Bit loud, but in an endearing way. Our fearless leader, Billy soon followed, with myself and Travis bringing up the rear. Glad Slime had brought the flashlights, cause it was fucking dark inside on account of the boarded-up windows. "So, what do we do now?" I was kind of hoping to just hang out in the lobby, but I wasn't holding my breathe. "We're going to snoop around, stupid," Katie giggled. "Kinda why we're here right?" "Yeah, I get that, but what do we do first?" "We go to the basement, of course," whispered Travis. "That's where I'd hide the bodies." Slime was wincing, which just made Travis laugh. *Creak* *Creak* *Creak* "Sounds like footsteps upstairs. Spooky," said Billy. "Hey Slime, lets go check it out." Hearing a crack behind us, Slime had already bolted back outside and was full-on sprinting down the street. "Well, at least he left his flashlight." Leaning down to pick it up, I noticed something. The floor was broken down, but spotless. Not a speck of dust. "That's weird," said Katie, leaning over my shoulder. "Guess the old place wasn't quite as abandoned as everyone said." The creaking continued upstairs, almost like some one was pacing up there. "Since Slime has decided to leave early, who's going up with me? Come on, don't make me go solo here." I was just about to stand up, when suddenly Travis started saluting Billy. "Lead the way, Cap'n!" Sighing, Billy started up the stairs. "While we're up here, why don't you lovebirds check the ground floor." I barely stammered out ", Sure Billy." Katie shook her head, laughing. ... So, what're we hoping to find, loverboy?" "Well, I'm not sure really. And don't call me that. Was just Billy trying to lighten the mood. Let's just check the rooms over here." "Oh, relax Steve, I already know you like me. Didn't think I noticed all the wistful, edging toward slightly creepy glances? Look, I'm flattered, but I've got baggage." I was about to say that I was strong enough to handle some baggage, but stopped myself. Would've come off stupid and desperate. What did come out was a quiet,"Okay." Searching, we found a mostly empty living room and a kitchen on the right side of the house. The kitchen was a wreck, cabnet doors barely hanging onto the hinges and plates and cutlery strewn everywhere. But no dust. Working back to the entryway, we had just begun to enter the left side, when yelling came from upstairs. Stepping back out, a loud crash followed as the door behind us slammed shut. Travis came bouncing down the stairs, closely followed by Billy. They were both white as sheets. "What the hell iz going on?!? What happened up there?!?" My nerves were on edge. Something didn't feel right. Travis, wiping some blood from his forehead, stuttered out," Someone up there. Something, don't know. It's what was screaming. Billy continued,"We found a nursery upstairs. Somebody was in a rocking chair, facing the wall. Travis went up to them, and it just started shrieking. He flew back and hit his head. I dragged him out, and the door slammed shut." "The door over here slammed shut too. What the hell is going on?" "Look, maybe we just leave ok? Just come back tomorrow, during the daylight," Billy asked. "Come on, lets go." But as he tried to push the boards out of the way, he just kept struggling and swearing under his breath. "The boards are stuck. Steve, come help me push!" Before long, all four of us where fighting to get out, but the boards just wouldn't relent. It was like the nails grew back. Even Travis' crowbar wasn't enough. We were stuck, in a possibly haunted house, on Halloween, at midnight. Great. ... "What the hell are we going to do?" "I have no fucking idea, Steve! Hadn't planned to be stuck in here." Steve was getting short-tempered. Suddenly, I heard a voice at the back of my head. "Oh, it is lovely to have guests. It has been so long since the last explorers came through." I recoiled, freaking out. Everyone turning to look in my direction. "Didn't you guys hear that?" "No." "What're you talking about?" "Don't joke, Steve. Things are shitty enough!" "Oh, Steven, they can't hear me. Only the ones I've chosen can, and I have chosen you," the voice whispered. I slipped back into a corner, turning to face away. "Why? What do you want from me? From us?" "Just some companionship, Steven. You and your friends will keep me company, for I am so lonely." "Will you let us go later?" I could hear a laugh in the voice. "Oh Steven, you know I won't do that. You and your friends belong to me now. Just as the Hawkins and all the curious explorers after them." "Please, at least let Katie go. Let her go, and you can keep me and the others. Please." I was on the verge of tears. "Oh stop crying. What good will it do? Other than waste time? Alright, I will take your offer. Katie may go, but the rest will stay. Do we have a deal?" "Deal." ... I took everyone to the place the voice said Katie could leave. I didn't tell them about the voice or the deal, just that I saw a spot Katie could climb out. It wasn't much more than a crack, but I could catch some of the light from the streetlamps, or so I thought. "Ok Katie, I'll give you a boost." With a heave she was crawling through. "Alright guys,I made it through, but this is still inside the house? Thought you said it went outside Steve?" "I could have sworn it did. What do you see?" "Not much, just more dark room absent of dust. Wait, what is that?" All of the sudden, I heard her scream, screaming bloody murder. Her scream was cut short by a wet snap, and something hot and wet hit my face. I fell over backwards, scooting on my ass away from the crack. I howled, "You promised! You promised you would let her go free!" No I did not my dear Steven. I said I would let her go, but you didn't specify where. This would be a good lesson for making sure to soeak clear." The voice snickered,"But we both know there won't be a next time." Travis and Billy just stood there, mouths agape, looking back and forth between me and the crack. "What the fuck Steve? What the fuck is going on? Whoe the hell are you talking to?" Steve was scared, and confused. He stalked toward me. "The house, it talked to me. It said it'd let Katie go, of we stayed. But it lied. It lied, and now Katie's dead. Oh God. No." "You fucking sold us out? You sell us out, and you didn't consider telling us first? Also, the house talked to you? You know how insane that sounds?" "I had to get Katie out. I had to make sure she was ok." I was cutled up into a ball on the floor, constantly repeating "had to make sure she was ok" like a mantra. "You piece of shit," and that's when they started to kick me. Over and over, but I deserved it. I had sold us out, and Katie didn't even make it. I heard a wet sound, followed by a sickening thump. I opened my eyes, to stare straight into Billy's deep blue eyes. I also saw his body, lying a few feet away, lying in the other direction. Travis had stopped kicking me as well, and was slowly stepping back, hyperventilating. He was staring at something, not Billy, but something just past him. I felt hands lifting me into a sitting position, and a hand caress the back of my head. The voice returned, but this time, it was from outside my head. "I will not allow guests to harm each other. That is my job." I looked up, and saw nightmare made flesh. It was a humanoid thing, made of ebony shadow. It was casually approaching Travis, waggling its finger at him accusatory. "Travis, Travis, we can't allow such a good deed go unpunished." With a flick of its wrist, Travis hit the wall. It grabbed him and stood him up. It flourished its right hand and the fingers grew longer. It then pinned him to the wall with them. It lowered its hand, and still Travis hung there. It proceeded to stab him, over and over. Till his shirt was stained a deep crimson, his blood slowly pooling beneath him. The creature stood back from its handiwork and stretched. It spun on its heel and slowly sauntered to me. "Why? Why are you doing this?" It squated down before me, leaned foward and wiped the tear from my face. "I was lonely, Steven. But after playing with your friends, and with your company, I will be feeling much better. At least for a time. I think I'll keep you for now." Rising, it patted my head, almost affectionately. Stalking to the closest wall, it walked through it. I couldn't stop crying.