Splinter Lane 2

We closed the closet doors in the vain hope that it may somehow offer an element of safety from when whatever the God awful, unearthly thing that had claimed the lives of our friends came for us too. I could hear George's whimpers and ragged breathing, Derek sat stock still next to me to my right. I had to struggle to hear his breathing, shallow as it was, it was almost as if he was trying not to breath so he would remain unheard. The horrid noises continued to resonate from all around us. I lowered my head silently praying that the noise would start so we might have a chance to run and escape this awful house. When I looked up I notice George had drifted in to unconsciousness from shock due to the pain in his mangled hands. His skin clammy to the touch, his complexion pallid. I shook his shoulder lightly trying to bring him back around but sadly  he remained unconscious. I shook him a bit harder this time and quietly called his name. Derek called to him too, but still nothing. I continued to shake a bit harder with each passing second, panicking that maybe we'd lost yet another friend. He flopped over like a sack of potatoes, justifying my alarm. I moved to try and hear and feel if George was still breathing, looking up at Derek in fright for reassurance.
Is he gone?
I shook my head 'No, but his breathing is very shallow. We have to get him to an emergency room, we need to get down stairs to call 911 or he is going to die'
He nodded his head in agreement but then seemed to think better of it as horror seemed to fill his features again.
'How the noise hasn't stopped and one of us is sure to be the next victim to whatever evil lives here.' I felt a sudden pang of guilt at a fleeting thought of leaving George behind to a gruesome fate while Derek and I escaped, mentally berating myself for thinking such a thing. I'm better than that...
I knew he was right, but it was also a risk we should be willing to take to get George to safety.
'We have to try, Derek, or he is going to die. I can't take him by myself, he's too heavy for me, it would be like dragging a dead weight.'
Derek sat contemplating for what seemed like forever before he finally spoke.
'Okay lets do it, I'll carry him over my shoulder and you lead the way.' 
I moved aside so he could maneuver around to pick George up. Once he had him safely up on his shoulders, I slowly opened the closet door and cautiously peered out. When I didn't see anything, I pulled the door open a little bit more, looking back, to give Derek a nod to let him know it was okay. We ran out of the room and down the hallway and to the staircase onto the second floor. One floor left I thought, anxiety mixing with adrenaline as my heart pounded in my chest. I was just getting ready to shift at the crest the staircase going down to the first floor, I heard Derek groan. I looked back to see him gently put George down on the floor. He was breathing heavily. S**T!!! What the Hell is he playing at? 
'He is heavy, sorry I need to rest a minute.'
'Rest??? You can rest when we get out of here!!!' I quickly bit my tongue and apologised, realising I was letting my fear get the better of me. I closed my eyes, trying to block out the horrible noises that were getting louder still all around me. I took a deep breath in an attempt to calm myself, but when i re-opened my eyes Derek was gone. George was just laying there on the top of the stairs and Derek was no where to be seen. I called to him, yelled and screamed, not that anything living or dead could hear me. Despondently, I realised our efforts were futile. George began to stir, so I quickly hurried over to him, trying to stabilize him as he tried to sit up. In some ways, as much to distract myself from our plight. For the second time, I felt that familiar guilt pang at thoughts of leaving him behind so I could get away. I swallowed hard, seeing he was still heavily in shock but he was becoming coherent so maybe things were starting to look up.
'We left the closet, why?'
'You passed out, Derek and I were worried about you and knew we had to get you to a doctor.'
He looked around again. ' Where is Derek?'
I paused for a minute. I wanted to cry, scream or roll into a ball but I had to keep it together...
'Umm I don't know, I closed my eyes for a second or two and when I opened them... He was gone.'
George shot me a worried look through his obvious pain.
"We can't leave him here Mar you know that. I know you want to get out of here and so do I, but we can't leave him here. We would be signing his death sentence.'
I was very annoyed now, I wanted to slap him. I huffed and said 'Don't you think I know that? We have to find him whether he is dead or alive.'
I stood and started to stomp away when George screamed my name. I spun around and screamed 'WHAT!' 
He was attempting to hold on to the top banister of the stairs with just his palms trying to stand. "you can't go by yourself!'
'Why not? You are in no shape to go looking for him. Look at you, you're piss useless... So I guess that leaves me... Sorry, this is all really getting to me'
I walked back and helped him up, still very annoyed but desperately trying to keep my temper in check. He Looked me in the eyes
'I am coming with you. I won't leave you alone to die.'
'Just then Derek's voice broke in. Going with her for what?'
George and I looked at each other with joy, my anger subsiding momentarily. I ran over to Derek and hugged him, not wanting to let go.
'I thought you were dead, I was just going to go searching for you.'
I had to go to the bathroom, I tried to tell you but I guess you couldn't hear me over all this s**t.'
George came over a bit wobbly and said 'I'd shake your hand but I am afraid I have pain issues.'
We both snapped out of it and Derek said
'Right then, lets get you to a doctor. Shall we blow this evil pop stand?'
George and I both gave him a smile and nodded in agreement, feeling a hope we'd feverishly missed.
We started to slowly take the stairs, one of us on either side of George, careful to both his and our own discomfort. We'd almost reached the bottom of the stairs now and so close to freedom, we could taste it. We all let out a collective breath of relief. Suddenly Derek shrieked and doubled over in pain. Leaving all of George's weight on me as he dropped to his knees. He was heavy and I could feel myself crumpling under his weight. All I could do is watch as Derek still doubled over, stumbled to his feet and walked down the stairway alone. I tried to follow quickly but with George hardly helping and most of his weight on me, I could only go so fast. George yelled
'Derek what is wrong? Where are you going? Man, snap out of it!!'
I gave it a try too, as loud as I could
'DEREK!'
No sound came. Derek either didn't hear us or couldn't answer. He just continued walking doubled over howling in pain. He crested the bottom of the stairs and disappeared around the corner. George and I continued to follow, but as we got to the bottom of the stairs and rounded the corner, Derek was no where to be found. George and I screamed for him, over and over as we continued to move forward in search of him, when suddenly, an earth shattering scream came from the ballroom. It didn't sound like derek. It sound like a cat was being tortured. We made our way to the doorway of the ballroom. Standing just outside both George and I took a deep breath. I slowly turned the door handle with my free hand. What we saw when I opened the door fully, no one could have been prepared me for. Derek lay in the middle of the ballroom, hand strapped up above his head, legs spread out and a saw had come out from the floor and literally torn him in half. His whole body split into two separate pieces, the saw had seemingly stopped but the blade still spun coming up from the floor and the other half of the saw spinning while still in Derek's head, spraying blood and brain matter to the surrounding area. I threw up on the floor beside me, the sound of the saw grind on bone, the last straw in a night of horrors. George and I watched as the blade slowed more and more in Derek's head, til it was just the tick of the saw's teeth on his scull causing his head to nod with each tap. And as if he got a burst of energy, George turned to me and yelled 'LETS GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE!" shuffling out of the door. I looked back at Derek one final time with tears welling in my eyes. George Yelled again 'NOW MER!!!"
I didn't hesitate this time. we hurried out of the ballroom snatched up our backpacks and climbed through the window from which we came in. We walked down the long drive way in deafening silence. George stopped suddenly and asked
"Do you have matches?' I nodded my head, unable to speak and dug into my bag and brought out an unused pack of matches. I took one and lit a cigarette and waited for George to tell me what to do. 
'Burn the EVIL b***h of a house!' I was shocked, yes and even a bit worried but none the less, we both walked back up the drive and stood in front of the house. I struck the match and lit the whole book with it. I tossed the burning book of matches into open window we had come out of...
The old, dry wispy curtains  caught first. We backed up as the flames began to grow and spread throughout the first floor. We made our way back down the drive, til we reached the end, the only thing that we could see were the flames and smoke rising into the sky. As we walked on we could hear the horrible screeching, scratching sounds of the house start up again. We dared not look back..............