The Night Chap 7

A breeze began through the dense wastrel woods. As time passed the atmosphere became cooler and cooler. No soul in sight. Here and there Amy heard the soft rustling sound of the leaves and sometimes a jackal or rabbit would zip across the bushes that laid there. The Moon was playing hide and seek. At one time the muddy road will be illuminated and the mystifying light would shine on the panic stricken face of Amy.

"Where are you Jim...?" Amy asked as she moved her hand through the evenly trimmed grass of the nature.

A series of questions began running through her head. All due to her tension of such arduous situation.

"Will Jim make it? What's taking so long? Is he lost in the woods? Is he safe or... dead?"
"No he can't be dead. He will surely come."

Amy swayed from side to side and her velocity only further increased with every passing second. Once she looks up to the sky hoping the dark cloud would pass, then she glances into the crow pitched darkness ahead, wishing Jim may pop up.

"Amy?"
A voice came from the distance.
"You there Amy?"
"Jim is it you?" Amy asked.

No answer came from the other side.

"Jim is it you?" Amy questioned again.
"Yes it's me!" replied Jim.
Amy gave of a sign of relief as she was now over the moon knowing her friend had come to the rescue.
"Where are you Jim?" Amy asked.
"I am here, just in front of you. Come forward." Jim answered back.
"Okay! I am coming. Wait." Amy exclaimed.

Amy started walking towards the woods. The cool breeze picked up speed as she started running towards the darkness ahead. A smile basically of relief spread over her face. She had the hope of now leaving this place.

"Bam!" a loud sound spread across the woods.
Amy was stopped in her tracks as she fell down as she hit someone. Looking up she could see very little of the person that stood ahead. Slowly the person came ahead. Under the soft light that fell from the heavens above Amy recognized the face.

"Jim! You are here!" cried Amy as she jumped to her two feet and hugged him tightly. "I knew you would comeback Jim!"
"How can I leave you here tell me?" Jim asked.
"Did you see him?" Amy queried.
"Nope no sign of that guy anywhere" Jim replied. "Better get going Amy."
"Yeah right" Amy said. "But should we leave Josh here?"
"You want to get killed Amy?" Jim asked suspiciously.
"Yeah i guess not. Let's get out of here Jim." Amy said.
"We go north from here. Which is left. We will reach there safely and soon enough." Jim said pointing to the specified direction.
Amy walked along with Jim feeling a weird instinct that something is not right.
"Hey Jim!" Amy said softly.
"Yes Amy?" Jim replied
"How did you know the direction?" Amy inquired.
"I have visited this place many a times. Not first time with Josh and you guys you know!" Jim replied back.
"What's that blood strain in your shirt?" Amy shouted.
"Quiet girl! He might find us! Ran into a wooden pole. Just a cut. Hopefully will go to the medics after this and we will check it out okay?" Jim replied smiling.
"Yeah... I guess so. One more thi..." Amy was interrupted by Jim before she could even finish the sentence.
"Are you a police mademoiselle? Why so serious interrogations? Calm down. Let's go home first. By the way, what about your boyfriend Patrick?" Jim asked.
"He died in a car accident i told you remember you could not make it to his funeral since you had to give the job interview?" Amy answered back
"Oh yes! Silly me always forgetting! He died at Long Beach right?" Jim said smiling.
"Yeah..." Amy replied
"Oh look we are here! The main road is not too far. We will take a car from there. Hurry up!" Jim said with a jubilant smile.

About 80 minutes of more walking Amy and Jim finally were officially on their destination to go home.
"We will take any car that comes this way," Jim said.
"Uh... ha," replied Amy. "Hey Jim sorry about Jack. It was all my fault."
"What? No! come on! It's all cool. He was a bad guy wasn't he? You think he got the punishment he deserved?" needled Jim.
"I was with Patrick in sixth grade and he knew that. The way I beat him up along with the other boys was bad I know but..." Amy was once again interrupted.
"What's gone is gone. He was a good kid you know. Hard working in studies, a brilliant student. You know what surprises me the most? People do something bad and then expect it won't happen to them. How he lost everyone he loved. Newton's third Law is his favorite, remember?" Jim said with a grin on his face. "Hey a car. Amy can you stop it?"
"Yeah sure," Amy shook off trying to understand what Jim meant as she whistled for the car to stop.

The car came to a halt in the near distance. Amy ran up to the window and was greeted by the driver that sat there.

"What you doing here young lady?" driver asked.
"We need a lift back to village of Mount Kisco. Me and my friend..." Amy replied as she turned back her head.

In shock and horror she saw Jim was not there. The whole place was empty. Nothing was ahead of her except the broken and eroded road that lead to the woods and the damp moist air above.

"He was just here!" Amy said shaking.
"Girl you were all alone. No one was here with you. Listen up the place is dangerous. Get into the car. Let me drop you home," replied the driver.
"But...but..." Amy stammered.

The driver opened the door for her. For one last time Amy scanned through the place. Nothing was visible or heard other than the exhausted sound coming from the old car engine. Amy no longer waited as she understood something was wrong. She at once got into the car and slammed the door shut. The car revved up and after two or three failed attempts successfully initiated it's journey.

What had just happened to Amy was a question to be solved. Amy looked out through the window. The cool northerly wind beat her frightened face. Her brain was confused about the events that took place. She could not solve her maths on this occasion. How did she survive? What a nightmare she had! Where is Jim? Is he really dead? Many more questions swarmed through her brain which could not at all send impulses to solve the riddles of these queries that arose.

She was put off from her deep thoughts when the car slammed shut.
"What's wrong sir?" asked Amy.
The driver kept on honking as he pointed out to Amy.

As Amy cleared her eyes and looked ahead. There he stood. That red eye, gleaming towards Amy. The mask varnished with blood, along with the malefic smile. All though remained same he was wearing different clothes this time. Clothes of Jim! As the man took off his mask Amy gaped at shock towards him. A smirk spread over the Jim's face. He tilted his head and pointed the knife towards Amy and spoke out three words...

"YOU ARE NEXT!"             

The Night Chap 6

"Jim! Jimmmm!" shouted Amy.
"Amy? Where are you? Amy?" shrieked Jim.
"I am right here. I am right he..." sobbingly she said.
"Amy don't cry. Stay where you are! I am coming" Jim replied.

"Oh God where can she be? This is so dense and dark. I can't see a thing. Also very chilly. I should have brought a coat with me. Woo..." Jim was talking to himself.
"Crack.."
"Who's there?" asked Jim.

As Jim walked closely forward his eyes caught attention of something lying there on the ground. Jim loitered along the rustling leaves coming closer and closer to the unknown specie.

"Oh a rabbit! Phew! I was scared. You could have given me a heart attack poor fellow." Jim said.

The rabbit looked up to Jim, blinking occasionally. It got up from its furry ball like structure and stood on its hind legs. Sometimes so often it would open its mouth for a second showing a glance of its two pairs of incisors and its peg teeth.

Jim knelled down and stroked the rabbit's skin, gently.
"You are quiet big for a rabbit you know? What are you doing out so late at night at such a desolate place, huh?"
The rabbit stared at Jim and moved its head from one side to another.
"Oh yes you are a rabbit! How would you answer? Dumb me. Haha!" said Jim.

Suddenly the rabbit's fluffy ears began to move. With a push from its hind legs the rabbit oomph-ed through the spot.

"Bye Mr. Rabbit! Was a good mate. Oh yes he won't doesn't talk I forgot again."

Have to find Amy quick and get out of here. Jim strode along the road hugging himself.
"Amy!" Jim shouted.
No reply.
"Amy!" Jim shouted again.
Once again no reply.

"Why isn't she replying. I hope she is not... No no that can't be. I won't be able to do this alone. Also I don't know how to drive a car. So I need to find Amy. She is strong. Yeah yeah, she is. How hard she punched Jack at high school. He lost a tooth. At least she taught him a lesson then. This creep is easy for her to beat. Bet she can handle herself before I find her."

As Jim strolled along talking to himself it was then he noticed someone sitting in the distance sobbing.
"Amy! Finally! I was looking for you so long!" Jim said joyfully.

Jim walked towards Amy and touched her.
"Why are you so wet Amy? Listen everything will be alright okay? We will make it out of here safe and sound. You and me! Then we go on with our usual lives. I need you okay? We need to assist one another if we are to survive. Come on let's get out of here" Jim said.

Amy started crying more profusely now all of a sudden. Her cry ran through the deadbeat woods.

"Ssh... he will hear us. Don't cry! Everything will go back to normal." Jim said.
Jim replaced his hand from her shoulder to her head, patting her softly.
"Wait, Amy! Where is your hair? How, what, OH MY GOD it's you?"
0
The cries stopped abruptly. Slowly the head turned up. The gleaming red eye stared at him. That sinister smile on the blood splattered face of the mask. Sitting there he tilted his head and glared into Jim's eyes.

Jim knew he had to run, but it felt as if he was frozen. His whole body was numb. A dried throat.
Now he stood in front of him. Breathing tediously over Jim's face. His hot warm smell of fresh blood from his clothes and mask flew into Jim's nose. Jim could hear the soft ominous laughs from behind his mask.

As the man opened his mask, Jim stared at him with shock and said,"YOU!"

 They say some people can feel when they might die. As cruel and sad that is Jim knew his time was well over.    

The Night Chap 5

"Listen guys we will make a turn around that bend you see there to your left. I guess there will be a way to get past this swamp," said Josh confused.

"Now you are guessing? Tell me one thing you know perfectly without guessing!" shouted Amy.

"Hey guys!" breathed Jim. "What's that over there?"

There under the luminous pearl stretching its heavenly light, illuminating what stood ahead of them was a man. Thatched t-shirt with long sleeves and two pockets, with black leather belt and long pajamas was his clothing. He wore a mask possibly of a clown, which had various scratch marks and a wicked smile staring into you. One of its eyes red gleaming in the dark.

As he approached them it became more visible of the deformities he had in his skull. Tip-top, tip-top was the only noise that spread through the cold, serene night. On noticing carefully Jim pointed out that blood was dropping from his belly. Dead and silent like a grave, not even a breeze was there from the upper heavens.

There he stood few inches away. Breathing heavily under his disturbing clown mask. Gawking into their eyes.

"I think... guys... we... should... ru.." a knife ran through Josh even before he could finish. The man tilted his head and with that ugly smile on his clown mask looked at Amy.

"Jim run!" Amy shouted.

Flashing ahead Amy saw Jim already take off in pursuit towards the woods well before her orders.

" The woods! Quick!" shrieked Jim

Amy started to run towards the woods. The man swiped the knife across her. Missing by only a whisker Amy felt a zip of wind passing her face. Amy galloped towards the tress that lay ahead. It was a pitch black dungeon. She took a glimpse behind just to see in her horror, that Josh sat there on knees shaking tremendously with blood spilling profusely out of the newly slit in his throat. As the man looked behind, Amy could see his mask all covered up with red. He tilted his head and pointed his knife towards her... as if to say...

"YOU ARE NEXT!"       

The Night Chap 4

"Have you seen Serena, Josh?" Amy asked.

"NO!" came a solemn reply from Josh.

"I bet as always she decided to be the odd one out!" Jim giggled.

"It's not funny Jim! Maybe we should go look for her. After all she is our friend," Amy replied.

"No one is going anywhere to look for anyone!" said Josh calmly.

"Yeah Amy we told her to come with us right? She did not! It's her fault." said Jim.

"You guys are so cold-heart-ed.I can't believe that you are my friends. Someone from our group is stuck out there. God knows where. She might be weird but in the end she is our friend dammit. Have some sense let's go look for her!" yelled Amy.

Josh stopped in his tracks and looked back at Amy.

"You know what you are right! We should go search for her!" said Josh

"I knew you would understand Josh. Thanks. Let's go find her" said Amy.

"Yeah sure! But you go alone! I won't and I bet Jim won't too! Isn't it Jim?" replied Josh.

"Yeah... Yeah... I am not going!" Jim said.

Josh turned around and started walking back on his way. Jim followed him. Amy glanced once into the dark mist and foggy ambiance behind her. With a long sign she dropped her head and started walking with Josh and Jim.

"How much longer Josh?" asked a worn-out Jim.

"Not much longer! Just by the end of the curve" replied Josh. "You did right Amy, coming with us. Whatever you did was the best choice. The woods are unforgiving and the nights turn out to be really out of sorts with unknown conditions filling up the horizon now and then. You did GOOD!" said Josh.

Amy did not utter a single word. She kept on walking with them quietly.

"Wait!" shouted Josh.

"What? What? Whoa... A river?" replied Jim surprised.

"No a swamp Jim. This wasn't supposed to be here. That's strange." whispered Josh.

"Oh great! So we have lost our way now? We have lost our family and now you tell me you don't know where your house is!?" exclaimed Amy.

"No I am pretty sure this is the path to the cottage of mine. Last time I checked there was no river here!" mumbled Josh.

"And when was that last time Josh? Sixth grade?" questioned Amy.

"Stop wailing Amy! I bet Josh knows what he is doing. Right pal? You know how to get us out of here right?" said Jim

"I guess!" replied Josh...

      

The Night (Chap 3)

There stood the man. Half of his face could only be seen as the other half hid behind his hood. His face had various scars. The only eye that was even visible seemed to pop out of his sockets. A grin or probably his usual overall look spread over his face. The man wore a long robe like dress. His hands were also covered with gloves. He held a lantern in one of his hands and a mini knife in the other hand.

He began speaking in his hoarse voice, "If I were you I would have left this place immediately."
"Pathetic!" Josh replied. "We came all this way for nothing!"
"Yeah he is right Old man!" added Jim.
"Perhaps, he is right guys we should go back home!" said Serena with a frightened voice.
"Serena we won't do that. We will go to our destination any way as possible. I have been waiting for this vacation so long." replied Josh angrily.
"Listen kid! I am telling you for your own good! Go away or it will be very bad for you guys here!" said the man.

Josh looked at his group once and turned his head as he started walking into the darkness.
"Follow me or do whatever you like peeps! I ain't got time for these nonsense!" Josh shouted out.
"Hey wait for me!" Amy shouted.

Soon after Jim followed her and Josh to the woods.
"Be wise Serena!" Jim shrieked out.

Serena sat there still trying to make out what to do. As she looked ahead through the front of the car window she noticed them vanish into the fog and darkness that lay ahead. Her deep thoughts were disturbed when she heard the hoarse voice. 

"Remember I told you so!" as much as Serena could understand, the voice came from the old man.

Serena jumped out off the car and started walking into the black pitched darkness.

"Hey guys!" Serena said lowly. "Guys you here?"

There in the fog her eyes caught attention of someone.

"Is that you Josh?" she asked.
No reply came from the direction.
"Haha Jim that's you right? Good try now come out." Serena said softly.
With the fog being dense the person was less visible to the eye. Serena walked up slowly to the person to get a better look.
"That's you Jim I just know it. You are just trying to scare me like always. I hate it a lot you know that!" said Serena taking in a gulp.

She stood there so close to the person. Still not sure who it was. Her hand slowly reached out towards the person.
"Jim?" she said sobly. "I am terrified Jim. Please help me!"

Serena's hand touched the person. She could feel the torn and tatched clothes. As she moved her hands her hands dug deep in some places as if there was no skin there. The person's body felt so cold so dead. "Jim... come....o..."

Even before Serena could have finished the sentence a tingling sensation ran through her body. She stood their silent with her hands and feet as if paralysed.

"Who..." that was the last word she spoke after which her body fell down up on the soft marshy ground with a bang. She laid there not being able to move her body an inch. She knew it was over for her.

The Night (Chap 2)

As Josh made the way towards the car front to check if something else went wrong he could clearly hear the bleating of the two who had not yet come to a conclusion.

Josh opened up the hood and inspected the engine with a hawk eye.
"Nope all seems to be okay here!" shouted out Josh. "Weird, then where did the fuel go?" Josh murmured to himself.
"You done Josh? This two won't stop fighting looks like"  Amy asked.

Josh stared straight into Amy's eyes. He looked awestruck. Something that was not usually associated with him. Not having a clue what to do Josh bent down to his knees to have a peek under the car.

"Wow..." Josh giggled. Finding the funny side of such a freakish incident.
It was then when he discovered that petrol was leaking out all this way. Strangely yet again this did not seem to be the case at the last station. The car looked fine, rather tip-top. How did it even happen. Well a question that Josh himself cannot answer.

"Hey guys! The fuel is all over. Guess we have to walk now. About 2 to 3 kilometres from here." Josh said gloomily.
"Was there a leak?"asked Jim curiously.
"How did you know Jim?" Josh replied dumbfounded.
"Um... I did see a man middle aged... well not a man... but looked... Um... like a man... I mean..." Jim stuttered.
"You mean what JIM?!!" Josh asked angrily.
"A man. I mean a man. Fiddling with your car. Did not know what he was doing. By the time I would have caught that thing... it ran away." Jim replied.
"Wow Jim you knew it all along. What are you scumbag? Are you even useful for anything? It's all because of you we are stuck in the middle of, God knows where." Serena exclaimed.
"Oh please shut up you drama queen. I am better than you!" Jim replied.
"Ohhh... you better take that back sweetie!" Serena said angrily.
"Or else what? You will call your boyfriend?" Jim replied laughing.
"Guys stop... okay? Please stop...! We need to start walking. The place will get colder by the night. Also we are left with no food in the car..."
"Yeah Serena ate most of the food. She even had my piece of custard tart!" Jim interrupted Josh.
Just as Serena jumped out off her seat to reply, Josh screamed angrily for the first time.
"Stay put you two! Sit down now! (Jim and Serena sat in their seats after that without uttering a single word). Listen to me carefully everyone. Take your belongings and let's start walking. We need to reach the place quickly. Last thing you want would be a ghost trying to kill you!"

As Josh finished his words a hoarse voice spoke up from behind. "No, not a ghost! But a killer. A mad killer. You might have just met him..."

A lantern glow spread through the dark night. There stood someone holding the lantern. Very little could be seen of him in the dark but it was not much later when the person started walking towards them and his face...

The Night

The cool air surrounded the horizon. Jim kept on breathing heavily.

"Hold on Jim. We will reach there quickly!" said Josh.

"It is just a cold, calm down. Nothing much!" Jim replied.

"Yeah! Told you not to have ice cream before the trip. You don't listen to us at all retard!" Serena cried. 

"Shut up Serena! That's why i tell you never bring her to trips Josh. She talks too much!" exclaimed Jim. 

"We would not have to stop at every gas station to take a hot cup of tea for you otherwise. You are the trouble here Jim!" shouted out Serena.

"Sure whatever, douche bag" whispered Jim.

"Seriously guys stop talking. Let Josh concentrate on his  driving. It is 3 at night and i find your arguments on cold, quiet pointless here!" shouted out Amy.

With the moon playing hide and seek and the fog covering up the whole area very little could be seen ahead. Josh drove the car with difficulty but he had driven on much horrific roads before, well that is what Josh says about himself. The Los Caracoles Pass, the Stelvio Pass even the Skippers Canyon Road, he is said to have conquered them all. So we were in professional hands hopefully...

"Are we going in the right direction Josh?" asked Serena.

"Josh knows what he is doing, so i believe it is better if you would let him drive" replied Jim.

"You don't need to be so rude you know Jim! I was just asking!" Serena said

"Don't start again you two!" Amy screamed.

The car braked suddenly, as Jim fell and hit the woodwork in front of him. 

"What happened Josh?" shouted Serena.

A moment of silence spread through the car. Josh looked amazed for once. Serena asked again but this time louder in tone. It was then Josh opened his mouth and squeaked, "We are out of fuel!"

"Now what? What will happen now? Oh no! my nightmares will come true! I will die in a forest in the middle of no where. No one will come to save me! What will happen to Tom? He will die without me! We had a Prom date after the trip!" Serena exclaimed.

"Lucky Tom at last he will find someone better in life!" giggled Jim

While those two got into a fist of their own with Amy being the silencer, there sat Josh in his driving seat trying to find out a possible solution to this weird problem. Why weird? Well because the last station they stopped which was about 4km away Josh had completely filled up his tank. Something was wrong. This was not suppose to happen.