Unknown

Hide or Peek

She hid behind the rocks as she heard the chilling scream.

“Look out! It is behind-“

There was a loud c***k and she heard the scream cut off suddenly. She looked up and cursed the sun. If only it hadn’t been the most beautiful day. She thought fearfully as the sound of rock on rock came closer to her spot.

Earlier that day

“Come on!” Called Juno as he looked back at the other five of the group straggling behind him. “The sun won’t stay up forever. Let’s use this light while we have it.”

The others came to where Juno waited by a rusted fence.

“Why are we going to the old lab?” Pat asked as she shrugged off the backpack containing half of the camera and film equipment.

Juno sighed irritably. He knew that something bad had happened at the lab, his father had never come home from it but that wasn’t the reason he gave.

“The school paper needed an engaging story for this month’s issue and the lab is the perfect story. No one truly knows what happened. It’ll send chills down the spines of anyone who reads it. It might even be sent off to compete in the county wide tournament. Imagine what we could do with such recognition and the payday!” Juno spread his arms out wide as he looked at the faces of his five friends who all nodded at the thought of getting to split the $6000 prize.

Juno smirked to himself. It was easy to convince them to do things they weren’t comfortable with doing. They all wanted either money, fame or a platform to start off their writing career and he knew going to the lab would give them all three.

Vesa shuffled her feet as she moved to Juno’s side. She looked at him the way a puppy looked at its owner. She pushed her glasses up as she began. “You know, I haven’t told anyone this but, I have some manuscripts under my bed at home. If we do make it to county or farther, it will really give me a chance to publish them.”

Juno flashed her his most charming smile and leaned forward. “Then we best get to the lab, Author Vesa.” The girl flushed pink and nodded, backing away to rally the rest of the group. Though she was a quiet girl, Vesa could be very outspoken and commanding when she wanted to be. With a little prodding from Juno along with some much-needed attention, she was proving that she was willing to do anything for him.

Nat rolled her eyes at the pair, wishing she could enjoy the trip without wondering if Juno had any secondary plans that he’d not told them. His answer to Pat’s question had been satisfactory to the group but Nat still had doubts. She looked at their surroundings and wished they could get this over with so that she could enjoy the rest of the beautiful day.

Juno waved the group onward after Vesa’s little rallying speech and they all passed through a gap in the rusty fence. Nat grabbed her camera as the group crested the hill that overlooked the “haunted” lab. Nat wasn’t one to believe in the supernatural or let superstition get the better of her but the deadening silence and broken-down buildings did give her the creeps.

She walked over to where Juno was giving the twins, Cal and Al, instructions about the shots he wanted while Pat and Vesa began doing some voice recording for the substance of the article. Nat waited patiently while Juno finished and sent the twins on their way.

“What is it?” He asked turning slightly towards Nat, his eyes gleaming in an unsettling manner.

She gripped her camera a little harder to not slap the look off his face as she responded. “I just wondered where you wanted me. I’m not used to working in a group.”

Juno nodded. “Ah, yes, the outlier. I’ll have enough shots for the paper’s article.” He gestured at the two groups that were working away at getting the perfect shots to up the creep factor of the lab. “But I do need you to help me with something else.”

Nat gulped as she looked at how far away the other teens were, if she screamed, they’d hear her slightly. She didn’t like her chances and slowly edged closer to where Vesa and Pat were hoping they would help as fellow women.

“And what is it you need help with?” She eyed Juno who was an impressive size and was strong enough to have his way with her.

Juno’s demeanor changed and he smiled shyly while scratching the back of his head. “I haven’t finished that bio project and was wondering if you could help with that. There might be some intact vials of the experiments done here which would make for an interesting read. I’d like to get a good mark for this final project.”

Nat smiled to herself. What was she thinking? Just because Juno was a strong, big jock, didn’t mean that she could give him all the negative stereotypes of jocks. She nodded her assent and the two of them walked off towards what looked like to be the main building.

They tried to open the front door but it was locked. As the two teens went around the building, there were no windows big enough to crawl through. Juno let out a string of obscenities as they turned the last corner of the building.  Nat felt the hair on the back of her neck rise as she looked at the wall. There in between black smudges, two words in red stood out.

Turn Back

Juno snickered as he touched the red letters. He showed his clean hand at Nat as he explained.

“Probably some kids thought it would be cool to spray paint some cryptic warnings on the buildings to scare anyone who came.” Nat nodded but felt a little uneasy by the paint job and the hurried scrawl of the letters. She was so invested in her own thoughts that she jumped when Juno touched her shoulder.

“Sorry,” He took a step back to show that he meant no harm. “Just thought we should check out that building over there.” He gestured to another building that was apart from the rest. To Nat it looked like a prison with its non-descript walls and heavy door.

“I don’t know about this, Juno.” She turned to look at the building as Juno walked up behind her. She felt him touch her hair in its loose ponytail but said nothing, feeling so entranced by the building.

“Come on, sweets. Just a little peak.” Juno’s voice whispered in her ear, now all husky and held a hypnotic tone to it. “I promise I’ll make it worth your while.” She felt herself nodding even as her mind shouted no. He kissed her earlobe and grabbed her hand, taking Nat to the building ahead.

Juno tried the door, it was locked. He looked around the perimeter of the building and found it. A window large enough for him to climb through.

“Nat! Over here!” He called to the girl. He was still amazed it had worked on her. It barely worked on Vesa and most other people but with her. . .. He imagined the possibilities as Nat turned the corner. He gestured to the window. “We can get in through here. Come on, help me up.”

Nat did as she was told, heart beating as she helped Juno through the window. Once in he turned around and stuck out his hand, motioning for her to climb up as well. Her treacherous body did as he commanded and soon, they were in the building.

Nat’s body shook as she thought of the outside, so prison like in its appearance. What were they trying to keep out? She thought as she looked around at the sketches she found on a table before glancing up to see where Juno was. Juno was quickly collecting what looked to be samples and taking pictures. The sketches showed a bipedal creature with long skinny arms and a big head. Nat, not liking the look of the sketch, turned the page to see a hastily written warning.

Don’t blink! It will

The rest of the warning had been smeared with a red substance not letting Nat know what it will do. She shook as she thought of the implications the author of the note could mean and she didn’t like any of them. Suddenly, she heard Juno calling her name.

“Nat!”

Fearing the worse, she bolted to where Juno stood in front of a cage that appeared to have been put through some wear. Nat’s eyes focused on the bloody hole the size of a human being.

“We should go.” She advised Juno as her eyes darted around the dark room.

“Agreed.” Juno shakily pushed her in front of him as they followed a beam of light streaming from the door ahead of them. There was a sudden breeze that caused Nat to bolt. The building was sealed tight enough to not let a breeze come through which meant that something was in here with them. Juno followed closely behind her as the sound of cement grinding on cement echoed through the building. As they ran, Nat finally understood the building’s purpose. It wasn’t to keep people out but rather, something in. Something that had gotten out of its cage.

Nat ran into the door and felt for the handles. The little light allowed her to deduce that someone had blocked the door by pushing a metal bar through the looped handles. She shoved the bar but it barely moved. Juno came to her side and helped her push it off, grunting with the effort.

The awful sound of cement grinding on cement crept closer and closer to them when the teens finally pushed the doors open. Nat fell out into the sunlight and saw Juno step out when a skeleton-like hand grabbed his neon orange shirt and pulled him back into the darkness.

“Juno!” Screamed Nat as she backed away from the menacing building. There was no answer from inside it. She heard the other teens run towards her.

“What happened?” Al or Cal asked.

Nat burst into tears as she tried to explain. “W-we-we went inside to gather what Juno needed for his bio project but something was in there.” The tears blurred her vision as a figure stepped into view. Nat wiped her eyes as she saw Vesa’s scorn filled face close to hers.

“He finished his project last night. Stop lying and tell us what you did with him.” The girl’s irritating voice rang out.

“I’m n-not lying. I swear.” Nat looked at the other teens, willing them to see her honesty. They all looked skeptically at her as Vesa ranted about how Nat always lied. Nat looked passed the kids to see the warning on the back of the main building. She squinted and made out four words, two of which had been smudged with a black substance.

Don’t Turn Your Back

Nat whipped her head to see Vesa looking squarely at the group.

“Now, where is he?” She asked, tapping her foot. “Don’t tell me he is hiding in there.” She gestured behind her to the building.

“Don’t turn your back.” Whispered Nat as she crawled away from the building.

“Oh, so you two tried to scare me? Well, it isn’t working.” Vesa huffed as she walked backwards towards the open doors. “I’m so sick and tired of his adoration of you. I’ve done so many things for him but I don’t compare to you in his eyes.” She glared once more at Nat before being pulled into the building.

The remaining four gasped as they heard Vesa’s scream stop suddenly. The twins bolted, leaving all their equipment behind as they headed for the fence. Pat rose to do the same but was stopped by Nat.

“What are you doing?” She shrieked at the other girl. “Don’t get me killed like you did Juno.”

Nat looked at the panicking Pat and ground her teeth. “If you want to get out of here alive, you need to do as I say. Now link arms with me and don’t blink, the creature can’t kill you if you stare at it.” Pat nodded tearfully and did what Nat said. Soon they had linked arms with Nat looking at the building and Pat looking towards the exit in the fence. The girls slowly moved towards the exit when something flew through the air and landed at Nat’s feet. Pat paused.

“What was that?” She asked hesitantly. Nat swallowed her bile as she looked at Vesa’s bloody and decapitated head.

“N-nothing, keep going!” She barked at the girl who began to move again but stumbled, causing them to unlink their arms to stop their fall.

Nat cursed as she whipped her attention back to the building, seeing the faintest of blurs leave the doorway. Pat screamed as she saw the head of her friend and shut her eyes.

“Get up!” Yelled Nat, tugging at the girl a she scanned the horizon for any sign of the creature. Her skin began to crawl as the bright sunbeams showed no sign of it. “Get up unless you want to end up like her.” That statement got Pat up though she refused to open her eyes until Nat threatened to leave her unless she opened them.

The girls darted towards a group of rocks that was near the exit when a strangled cry emanated from their left. Pat turned towards the sound when Nat jerked her back.

“Leave them, it is too late for the twins.” She barked at the girl who had shut her eyes once more.

As they neared the rocks, Pat pushed Nat away and ran straight for the exit. Nat stumbled but kept her eyes open as she looked for the creature. The faintest sound of cement grinding on cement floated to her ears as she ducked behind the rocks.  Nat kept her eyes open as she looked for where the sound had come from when she heard.

“Oh, Cal! Are you alright?” Pat’s voice asked. Nat strained for a look but saw nothing.

“I’m fine!” Called out the remaining twin. “It got Al!”

There was a pause when Nat heard a strangled cry from Pat.

“It got Nat too! Let’s get out of here.” Nat cursed to herself as she began to rise and leave her safe place when the back of her neck prickled. She hid behind the rocks as she heard the chilling scream.

“Look out! It is behind-“

There was a loud c***k and she heard the scream cut off suddenly. She looked up and cursed the sun. If only it hadn’t been the most beautiful day. She thought fearfully as the sound of rock on rock came closer to her spot. There was another cry from Cal that suddenly was cut short and then silence.

Nat trembled as she waited but nothing happened. Minutes passed by and the deadening silence did not lift until she heard the slightest whisper.

“Come on out, my sweet.”

Nat shook her head. She must be going crazy! There was no way that Juno survived.

“No.” She whispered, trying to resist her body’s movements. She was soon outside of her safe place behind the rocks. There was a blur of orange and in front of her stood Juno with a bulbous head and long dangling arms with skeleton-like hands that were covered in blood. Nat looked up to see other creatures behind Juno, many with torn lab coats. One came beside Juno and clasped a claw-like hand on his shoulder.

“Are you sure about this one, son?” The creature asked. Juno only nodded and produced a needle filled with what the vials at the building had contained.

“No longer will we need to play this game of hide or peek, sweet.” Juno’s arms blurred as he grabbed hers. Pressing the needle into her skin, he smiled a grotesque smile. “Welcome to the family.” 

Well, I hope you don't have the nightmares that I will have after that story! Sweet dreams!