From the Darkness

14 years ago: The Beginning "Gracie! You ready?!" "Almost, Martha!" "We have to go Eric and Kalob are waiting on us!" "Just one minute PLEASE!" "UGH, Fine!" Grace admired herself in the mirror, twirling in her white sundress. Martha chose a subtle yellow dress that flowed freely about. She grabbed her sandals, and darted downstairs to start their walk to school. It typically took about fifteen minutes, but today was such a pleasant day that the two girls decided to take their time along the way. Mrs. Bishop waved them on from her rocking chair from across the street. It had all of the makings of a normal day. "The guys should be by the sign today." "If not, they will probably be next to Eric's Chevy.", Martha chuckled at the thought of the two. Gracie nodded as they continued on in a comfortable silence. As they grew closer to the school, the sounds of panicked whispers began to fill their ears. There had been an awful car accident turning in by Johnny's Drive In. They immediately started weaving through the crowd to make their way to the sign. No one. They tried to scan the parking lot for the old blue Chevy they'd both grown accustomed to, but they were too short to see over the groups of people. They ran, practically pushing through them to look for them. The truck wasn't there. They were never late and had even offered to pick them up that morning, but their father refused. He felt they needed to walk today since they had a squabble the day before. Gracie took off her sandals, and darted through the parking lot to the left while Martha went the opposite. Grace fell to her knees when she didn't see their goofy ass smiles waiting for them. Had Martha found them? The thought made her jolt up and begin running back the way she came. The two girls ran into each other, with tears pouring down their faces. No. It can't be. Then, came the confirming gasps from around the school as the principal made their way to the flagpole to address them all. They immediately ran home, no longer concerned with school itself. The run home felt like a leftime as they burst through the front door. "Girls! Are you alright? What happened?", their mother exclaimed at the state of them. "We need to go to the hospital! I-it's the guys..Th-they..." they stuttered. "Slow down, Eric and Kalob?" They could only nod, their mother pulled them both into a hug before walking to grab her purse. The drive to the hospital was only filled with the sounds of quiet sobs. Their mother felt her own tears slowly fall from watching how heartbroken and scared they both were from the rearview mirror. After the car was parked, she could barely keep up with the girls as the ran into the emergency room. Upon entering, they saw the guys' parents huddled together in the waiting room. They both fell to their knees. Kalob's mother looked at Gracie before kneeling to embrace her. "H-how bad i-is it?", she choked out. "My sweet girl, my boy is gone," she barely whispered. Together they sobbed for what felt like hours. Martha had been informed that Johnny was in surgery and they were unsure of the outcome yet. He had confirmed broken ribs, pelvis, and a head injury that they were unsure if it would affect his brain in the upcoming days or not. She felt guilty for feeling relieved. Gracie and Mrs. Flannery finally moved to a few chairs in the corner, not daring to let go of the other's hand. Almost as if, they did then it would all be real. A doctor wearing a grim expression, stalked towards them. "As the next of kin, Mrs, Flannery, you have the right to see your boy, but I must warn you that it isn't a pretty sigh ma'am." She nodded, "I want to see my baby.". "Mrs. Flannery, may i- can i come as well?", Grace stuttered. Mrs. Flannery's eyes widened before softening, "Sweet girl, this wont be easy. Are you certain?" Grace looked to her feet before looking up and nodding. Hand in hand, they followed the doctor into a blood soaked room, with a single stretcher in the center. There he was, covered in a white sheet, unmoving. She dropped to her knees, Kalob's mother gave her hand a squeeze trying to remain strong for her. Unbeknownst to Grace, he had planned to propose today. His mother slowly walked forth as the doctor moved the sheet from his face. It was cut from the windshield when he was ejected from the truck. She had warned, nagged, and begged him to please wear his seatbelt. However, as all teens, he knew better. His dusty blonde hair was now stained with a dark tint of red. Grace gasped and covered her mouth as she saw him. It all felt like horrible dream, she needed to see him for it to sink in. That her Kalob was really gone. He was never going to come behind her in the hall and cover her eyes, they'd never just drive around listening to the radio laughing as she laid her head on his lap with her feet out the passenger window, no more late nights in the truck bed looking at the stars in the park while planning their future, because he is gone. Gracie clung to his mother before running out of the hospital completely. Martha and her mother looked as she ran, but they understood that she needed space. She would come back to them when she had time to process. What started as such a normal morning had turned into the most horrific nightmare. A doctor came from the back covered in blood towards Mr. and Mrs. Mask. Johnny had made it, but there would be a long road ahead. Including, extensive physical therapy to get to where he once was. However, he may never be as he once was, at least not completely. The air felt heavy. They headed home, where they were met by the girls father. Where's Gracie?, he asked looking behind them. They froze. She didn't come here?, her mother asked frantically. He shook his head solemnly. They got into their vehicles and started driving around looking for her. They stopped at every friends house, everywhere Martha knew she and Kalob liked to hang out, and eventually to the police station. There was no sign of their youngest, after filing the police report they made their way home to make phone calls. They all hoped that she would come walking through that front door. Hours turned to days, days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months, and months turned in years. She never returned. Over the years, the police received calls and tips here and there about a girl fitting her description, but could never track her down. The last report her parents and sister received was that she had been spotted with a cult that dabbled in satanic rituals in the North.