THE FEAR OF FEAR ITSELF

VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED

The girl with the Sari dress jumps off her chair. She leaves the library quietly. Now, she's outside the building. Once out, she looks to see if Angel is still outside.

Her eyes surveil every scene. She spots Angel going through some bushes. She yells, "Angel!" He did not respond and kept running deeper into the bushes. It led him into a dark forest.

The girl follows him. Desperately trying to stop him. "Angel! Stop! Don't go any further. I need to tell you something important!" The girl loses sight of Angel. Throughout the tome she ran, she was now in the middle of an open field of grass.

No one is there. The field looks empty and dark. Not even the sound of wind howling. Oddly enough no birds chirping.

All of this seems rather strange to her. This place reminded her of a certain past she had. A past in which she would no longer like to remember. She looks up at the sky to notice stars were not present. As if she was not horrified enough, the moon was not in the sky either. 

"Hello?" She asks horrified. She did not hear the feedback of her voice wave. Nor did she hear an echo. "That's strange," she whispers. Her voice did not change to a lower tone as she whispered.

She hears a maniacally evil laugh. It sounded like an evil clown's laughter She looked to her back and saw a creepy and horrifying clown. She turned her body away and back. The clown was gone. 

"Whoever is out there, stop! This isn't funny!" As she says this, she hears the evil laughter right behind her. This triggers her nerves and she instantly runs. She runs and runs. It led her to the same place. Over and over again. "Okay... Okay... It's just my anxiety, just my anxiety... maybe you're just hallucinating."

"What if you're not hallucinating?" A voice from afar asks. "You better stop this bad one!" "Bad one?" The voice asked. The voice continues, "Why, I'm not the one that's giving you disturbing images in your head. That would be my partner." 

"P... p... partner?" The girl asks. "Why yes young Lady." "What's his job!?" The girl asked terrified. The voice says, "Well I'm glad you asked. Grieve, come out. I'd like you to meet someone. Do it your way." "With pleasure sir!" Grieve says as he appears out from the bushes.

"Hello. The name's Grieve and-" Suddenly grieve turns on fire and is screaming in pain. His skin turns from one disturbing image to another. As he burns, he looks like a dark figure. Then, he looks like pink c*****e burning.

Lastly, he looks like a creepy clown. A clown with a horrifying looking puppet. The clown's face was painted white. His eyebrows dark black. A blade scar across the skin of his right eye. His right eye was black. "Does he even have a right eye?" The girl whispers to herself.

His b****y red lipstick dripping out of his mouth. His hair was a black mess. Along with green highlights. He had a tall, black, wide stovepipe hat. His suit was funeral black. Along with a glowing green tie. He had black fashionable shoes. The girl had fear of it. The scary looking clown was still on fire. Although, this fire was black.

Grieve in he form of the clown kept on screaming. He pretended as if he was dying. The girl witnessed everything with a traumatized look on her face. Grieve was now on the ground. Black fire still surrounding him. With curiosity, the girl approaches Grieve. 

As she approaches the fire, Grieve gets up instantly. He laughs as he still burns. He then grabs the girl. "Oh, why are you scared of me little one? All I ever wanted to do was make children happy. I wanted to make you happy, but I saw how scared you were. That made me so sad. But now, it's time you remember your childhood. Don't you remember the first time you met clowns?" 

The clown takes out a couple of black cards. He says, "Flip only one. Hopefully, you choose the right one and win!" The girl picks one and it was a picture of when she visited an amusement park. 

She then noticed that the clown in the picture had a full resemblance to the one standing close to her. (Goosebumps can be seen on her arms).

"Why don't you come to my funhouse?" asked the clown. "What if I don't want to?" "Well then, I'll just drag you to it." 

He opens up a flaming fire from the ground and drags her there. She resisted. "Come on. I can change your past." "You... you Could?" "Why yes, let's help heal your past and-" 

The girl cuts Grieve off. She says, "No! you won't take me!" Grieve then brings out the two shadows dress like creepy clowns. "I'm the nice clown," Grieve says. He then throws out another black card. This time it was a picture of her mom and dad next to the creepy clown. 

Inside the picture the clown moved and smiled. He took out a black card and placed it on her mother's mouth. Then he took out another one and placed it on her father's mouth. His back covered his evil acts, but the sound of choking from both their parents could be heard. The only clear horror she could see was blood sliding down their neck.

Once they were revealed. They had turned into clowns as well. Blood dripping from their mouth. A white pale face. The only difference they did not smile. They looked dead. With their mouth open. The words the girl heard from her parents was, "Come join us daughter. you need to be perfect just like us." The girl screamed. Such dark scenery was horrifying to her. 

The girl he looked at the two shadows dressed as clowns once again. Such scenery was turning her a little psychotic. If she were to see more, she would fully turn psychotic. The shadow clowns have all kinds of t*****e weapons. They're getting closer to the girl. If the girl were to resist one more time, they would kill her.

Suddenly, the rustling of leaves can be heard from close by. The shadows heard it in two different directions. The shadows separated to find out where the sound is coming from.

Once separated, one of them was close to a tree. He looked all around. No one was there. Within a flash, something picked up the shadow from above the tree. Then, the shadow got dropped on his head. A bone c***k can be heard as he was dropped on his head.

The other shadow came up to him and said, "Hey! Stay with me. Who am I?" The shadow with the cracked skull on the inside had said random words. He was not well anymore. 

"YOU DAMN SON OF A b***h! SHOW YOURSELF! I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOU! FOR YOU HAVE TAKEN AWAY MY BROTHER'S MENTALITY!" 

The shadow tried to carry his brother. "Everything is going to be okay. We'll get a secret doctor to fix you up. Come on little brother. I can't believe this is the life I picked for us."

As the shadow struggles to pick up his brother, something came from behind. Whatever came, stabbed him and pushed him onto a nearby river. Both shadows were now flowing away with the current. 

The one fully conscious managed to get a glimpse of what or who pushed him. He realized who it was. "You're going to pay for what you have done to my brother!" The shadow yelled in ferocious anger.

Grieve witnessed how quick everything happened. He almost had the girl in the pit of fire. He pulled her harder. Part of her skin was on fire. Grieve somehow got kicked on the right side of his face. 

Whoever kicked him spoke and said, "I said no damn clowns in this kind of story!" Grieve let go of the girl unintentionally. Now, something else was dragging the girl. 

She desperately resists. But, whatever was dragging her was stronger than Grieve. "No! No! Please! I don't want to be a victim! Let me go! Please! Don't take me!"

Her feet were resisting from right to left and left to right. The girl says, "I think I've been through enough. Please don't take me! Such horror! Such horror!" "Be quiet! It's me!" He says as he's still dragging her. "Who's me?" The girl asks. Finally, the girl was out of the field. 

It turns out the person that was dragging her out was Angel. "Why the heck did you scare me like that!?" She yells. "I said be quiet!" "You just want me to be quiet like nothing happened!? You have a lot of explaining to do!" The girl kept on yelling. 

"Shut up!" Angel shouts. This time the voice did echo. "I want to know who turned into a creepy looking clown! Tell me this instant!" "Hell no! Never! Figure it out yourself!" 

The girl looked at him. She wanted to cry. "Why are you crying?" "I'm just glad that you saved me. I never thought I would've been that close to death. I thank you." "Don't ever mention it!" 

Slow and loud claps can be heard coming out of the bushes. "Just great!" Angel says. Grieve says, "I see you're getting closer to fear. You're much stronger now. You've progressed from nice and sweet to stubborn and mean. Everything annoys you now. You don't even care that you saved her. I still don't get why you couldn't save your mother or father." 

"Asshole! All you ever did was bring problems into this city! I'm starting to think you killed my parents!" "I'm liking the new you-" Angel cuts Grieve off, "Save it prick!" 

"For kicking me in the damn face, I'd cut off another chance from you. But, because of your progress, I won't. I'm... somewhat fair. Although, if you leave, there will be consequences. What choice would you like?"

"Do I have any?" Angel asks. "Well, If you leave with the girl, you have eight chances left. The girl might also be killed when you get to one. The other is giving the girl back to me. If you give her to me, you will not die. Joyce will not die either. In fact, I'll make her love you again. I suggest you choose the second one."

"Why the hell do you want the girl for?" "She's important! She knows too much. I suggest you ask her what she is hiding from you. She has a little something that I need." "So... there are consequences in either choice?" All Grieve did was smile for a disturbing amount of time.

"I'll just get to one. You're weak Grieve." "It is you who is weak! I will win this time!" Angel picked up the girl off the grass and left. 

"Very well. Eight chances left. Don't get to one!" Grieve said as loud as he can. Angel gets farther and farther away from Grieve. He thinks to himself, "What does he mean by this time?" 

Back to sync and Lexie... They were outside the school library. Sync looks at the school. The whole building was on fire. More and more explosives could be heard. 

Sync and Lexie give each other nods, ready to go in and search the area. As Sync goes in, he wraps his shirt around his mouth and nose. (Lexie had two shirts on. One was a full shirt and the other was a T-shirt). 

She wrapped around the full shirt just like Sync did. (Lexie still had her T-shirt along with the armor over it). "So that's why you looked all strong this whole time," Sync says.

"Hey, I'm still strong! Now! You ready to save whoever could still be in there?" "Ready as I'll ever be!" Sync and Lexie searched fourteen private classrooms thoroughly. They did not find any students in the classrooms. 

This must've meant that the students evacuated quickly out of the classrooms. (Both of them stayed together to help out one another). Eventually, they searched in the lunch area. 

No sign of any lunch ladies there. More explosives could be heard. It was bringing down the whole building. "There's no one here Sync!" "I agree with that!" He shouts. "Let's get out of here!" "Already on it!" 

They're just about to leave when they hear a voice shout, "Help! Help! Please help!" "Who could that be?" Lexie asked. "His voice sounds familiar," Sync stated. "Help! I'm in my office!" The voice shouted desperately.

"It's principal Will!" Sync shouted. "We got to get to him quick!" Once Lexie had said this, they both went running to principal Will's aid.

They finally made it to the door. It was jammed. Something on the other side was blocking the door. Both of them slammed the door harder and harder. 

They thought about pushing it but knew it would do no good. Lexie searched the area to find anything that could be used to knock down the door. No equipment whatsoever in sight. 

She then realized she had grenades. She thought about it but realized it was no good either. She knew she would end up blowing the whole building into pieces. She says, "Sync! I need you to get my two axes!"

"Lexie! Axes are heavy. I won't be able to leave and come back quick enough." "Well figure something out!" Sync nodded and left the area. Meanwhile, Lexie grabbed a knife she had hidden in her vest and started cutting pieces of the wood. Her progress was slow.

10 minutes have already passed. Lexie was sweating, coughing, and her face filled with the smoke of the fire. "Where the hell is he!?" As Lexie had said this, she heard a motorcycle. "i***t!" 

Eventually, Sync came with Lexie's motorcycle. "Why would you bring the motorcycle!?" "You said to bring the axes." "Don't you remember that gas blows up!?" "Your motorcycle said it can withstand heat over 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit!" (2,204.444 Celsius). 

Lexie whispered to herself, "Wow! Should've known most of the equipment in the garage was unusual." "It's a really unusual motorcycle," Sync states. He continues, "Anyway let's get this door down." He picks up Lexie off the ground.

They both get the axes and start breaking down big pieces of wood. Along with a huge cabinet that was in front of it. "We're coming Principal Will! Just hold on!" Sync shouts loudly. 

"Help!" Principal Will repeated. "We're almost there!" Lexie shouts. After some heavy axing, they make it inside Principal Will's office.

They looked everywhere. All they found was a tape recording and no sign of the Principal. "What the hell?" Lexie said. Sync looked closely at the recording box. He had fear in his eyes.

"What's the matter, Sync?" "That's not just a tape recording!" He states. "Well, what is it then?" "Have a look at yourself." Lexie comes in closer and sees that it has a timer. "It's a bomb!" Lexie shouts.

She continues, "What will trigger it?" "I don't know let's just get out of-" "Wait Wait!" Lexie says as Sync is just about to step outside. "What?" "Put a slight part of your foot outside again." Sync did as she said. The explosive beeped faster.

"We're stuck in here, aren't we?" Sync asked rhetorically."I believe we are," stated Lexie. She continues, "What should we do now?" "Just wait for the bomb to go off, or wait until this building burns us."

"There has to be another way!" Lexie states. "There is no other way!" Sync Shouted. He continued, "This is it! We're done for! No one can help us! Why can't you understand that there-" 

Sync was cut off by something that grabbed him quickly and took him out of the area. "Sync! Sync!" It did not take long for Lexie to lose hope. The fire was partially the reason as to why she felt abandoned and alone. Lexie stayed there. She did not cry nor did she lose her calm. She did not care what was to happen either. No one could come and save her and she knew that. She just sat there, not wanting to know anything anymore. 

She was losing consciousness. Her eyes were closing. That was going to be the end for her. Her eyes got blurrier by the second. With blurred vision, she could see a tall looking man getting close to her. 

Someone was behind that man. Whoever that someone was knocked out the tall man unconscious.

 That someone picked up Lexie. Once she was picked up, her eyes closed completely. Did Lexie die once she closed her eyes? And where was that someone taking her? 

Back to Angel and the girl... "Let me go!" The girl demanded. "I did and look what happened. Now I only have eight chances left!" "Look, I have some details that should explain certain preparation you need. If you would just give me four minutes of your time!" said the girl with the sari dress. "You've done enough explaining by even getting close to those shadows!" Angel replied in anger. "Your lover left you, didn't she?" "That's none of your concern! It will and should forever only be my concern! Do you understand?" "Look, You need to get back to her." "Such a listener you are! I'm trying! That's what I have been doing!" "Okay, that means your still good." 

"GOOD!? YOU THINK I'M GOOD!?" Angel's voice got louder and angrier. "Do you even know what good means!?" Angel says as he grinds his teeth. The girl shouts back, "I'm trying to be nice by telling you what will be your kismet! Look, People always take advantage of my kindness! I just want to help you! Please! Is that too much for you?" Angel is not calm, but interested in knowing. 

"What do you know!?" "I know that if you were to turn into fear, consequences will happen. Very stygian consequences. If you don't turn into fear, you will go down to your last chance." "Either choosing leads to consequences?" "I'm afraid so." "Which choice is preferable?" "That's for you to decide."

"What other important information do you have!?" "Have you ever had someone helping you along the way to find your love?" "Yes." "Well, you need that person to help you." "Lexie and I are not fond of each other anymore." "That's what you think. You're friends with her, aren't you? Friends know how important apologies are." "I don't need apologies! I need answers! What else you got?" "Have your parents given you the notes?"

"My mother only gave me one note." "Have you checked your father's note?" "My mother did say to find my father's note. But I have no clue where it is." The girl says, "Well find it and read it. One warning though. Once you've read it, you have to kill him!" "Kill who?" "The bad one!" 

"Are you talking about Grieve!? Do you work for him!?" Angel says as he takes out his blade. "No! No!" I read it in a book!" "A book?" "Yes! kill him by any means necessary. Don't let your emotions or history with him hold you back. He has hatred over you for something you did not do a certain night."

"How do you know about the specific night?" "The only information I know is that your mother and father died. The bad one or Grieve as you call him was there that night."

"Could it be possible he killed my parents?" 

"The book doesn't clarify that. But yes, more than possible. "Why was he even there that night?" "The same reason as his name! To make you Grieve." "But why hatred against me out of everyone?" "Because he's-" The girl was cut off by eerie sounds near the area. 

"We've got to get you out of here and into a safe place. Stay close to me." He starts to walk with caution. "Angel," the girl whispers. "What?" Angel asks quietly. "I forgot to tell you that Joyce might be at school. Do not throw any anger at her. Once you see her, treat her with respect." "I always have. Why are you saying this?"

"Because ever since she saw something she wasn't supposed to... she's not that well anymore. You have to be careful with what you say to her. Right now, anything can trigger her emotions drastically. Even worse, there might be more consequences. More than your mind can think of."

"Are all the consequences aimed at me?" "Well, you kind of put her into this mess." "How?" "For not reading your father's note." "It doesn't matter right now! What matters to me is saving Joyce." "Angel, I still need to tell you that Grieve is y-" 

The girl had been cut off again."Damn! The whole building has tumbled down!" Angel says. The girl says to him, "I think Lexie was in there. She came looking for answers. She had found some. Although, I know more." "Which only leads you to danger!" Angel stated.

"Why would you even find secret information about me?" He asks. She responds, "I needed that information. It puts fewer people in danger. By the way, find Lexie!" "Why?" "I need to talk to her." "Well, let's see if she's still alive!" 

Angel was rethinking his decisions. Maybe he shouldn't have gotten mad at Lexie. He makes it down the building. He looks everywhere and shouts, "Lexie!? Where are you!?" 

He hadn't gotten a response. No one was near the area. "Lexie! Lexie!" He extended the -E as he said her name again. "She was in there the last time I saw her," the girl says as she points at the school building.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier!?" Angel was furious. The girl responded, "because you ran off! You should've listened to me." "I'm sorry." Angel's stubborn attitude faded. At least for now. 

He examines the floor thoroughly. (The girl followed every direction Angel went). He saw a small scrape of blood. He touched the blood with his hands. "Still warm," He says. "Does that mean she's still alive?" "Possibly! But she might not be safe."

He looks to another side of the ground and saw tire marks. "Strange! Lexie did not take her motorcycle. She never leaves without it," Angel whispers to himself.

He continues to whisper to himself, "She didn't leave alone. She left with... Someone... But who? Each of us threw a fit, so none of us would've helped each other." "Then what happened?" the girl asked. 

Earlier that day... Lexie had woken up on the ground. With blurry vision, she sees that the building has tumbled down. She had been lying down for about forty minutes. She tilts her whole body to the right. Once turned, she saw Sync on the ground. "Sync!" She yells. She could not hear due to the loud explosion. All she heard was a loud ringing in her ears. There was no response from Sync. Not even the slightest of movement.

She tries getting close to him leaving a small scrape of blood. Before she could reach him, something or someone picked up Sync. Once picked up, that someone threw him next to Lexie. Whatever that something was now dragged them by their arms. As Lexie was being dragged, she still saw Sync unconscious. Hopefully, he was considered unconscious and not dead. 

Lexie tried shaking off a knife out of her pocket, but it fell out. It was the main knife she used. She tried shaking off another one, but this time that certain someone realized what she was trying to do.

That someone now tied Lexie's hands and feet. "No!" She yelled. She continued to yell, "Help! Help!" In a horrific voice, she yelled, "Stop! Please! Don't take me! Don't... Angel!" 

Word count 4,000