Chapter 1

My voice echoed through the corridor, it sounded as if a million of my own clones were mocking me. Only, instead of hearing “Hello, who’s there”-like I was supposed to, I heard, “You idiot, do you really think that you can escape?”

 

 This can’t be happening. This cannot be happening!  I kept thinking to myself.

 

Footsteps. I heard footsteps. Haunting the path that I just took.

 

Running! I had to start running, and I knew that it would give away my exact position, but I had to get away. Faraway. As I ran spider webs got tangled in my hair, mousetraps snapped at my bare feet, and it was slowing me down. Time was running out and I knew it. I stopped, looked around, but could see nothing. It was pitch black in the god-forsaken place. So for all I knew, I was just running in circles.

 

Moving shackled feet brought my attention back to my follower. A barely audible groan whispered its way down the twisting hallway, it was closer than I suspected. I began to move, this time sprinting. Ignoring all of the pain that shot up through my legs, as I accidently stepped on mousetraps that I couldn’t avoid. I started to recognize some tapestries that I had passed on my way in to this castle. Pure relief surged through my veins, and I lurched forward into motion once again. Not long after that, the grand entry way came into view. I forced myself to move faster. I was just about to open the door that had kept me from freedom, when a deathly ice-cold hand grasped my arm.

 

“Ouch!” I looked back at the zombie. A devilish smile played on her lips like it was a national holiday for the undead. But I only knew that she was thinking that it was dinner time. Lilly’s red reamed eyes were full of hate and hunger. Zombies are always hungry. And get this, before yesterday I had sworn to Winston that zombies didn’t exist. Well if I ever got to see him again, he would probably make me eat those words for lunch. I drew my attention back to her-it- and caught a wicked smile. Alright think, think, what did zombies like most? Flesh. No,no, that wouldn’t work for my benefit. What else? Think, you stupid girl, think!

 

Company. They like company. Crap.

 

Within a flash, Lilly opened her mouth, trying to stick her grimy teeth into my skin. Before she could, though, I wrenched my arm free from her harsh grasp and lunged for the sword that was on the wall behind her. I reached it and saw that it was dull, not sharp. It will have to do. I never thought that I would ever be put into the position of being forced to kill my best friend. I only had a moment to think about what I was about to do, but I quickly dismissed the sorrow that filled me. Without any hesitation, I swung the sword with as much force as I was able to muster.

 

            It was either me or her. I kept telling myself this as I walked numbly to the nearest gas station, which was three miles away, at least. The outside air chilled me to the bone, and it looked like it was about to rain, perfect. I didn’t know how long I had been walking, but I finally gave up and sat down underneath a weeping willow. Plop. Pitter. Patter. Plop.  Rain started falling from the heavens. I let the rain poor down on me, soaking me through. It felt nice, but it soon became so uncomfortable that I began shaking. I looked down at my feet and saw dry blood, caked on. I scrubbed them free of the red, but now they were extremely pink, raw. I tried to wash my face as best as I could. God only knew what I looked like at that point in my life. I washed my hands, washed them so many times, trying to wipe away the guilt that consumed me. I soon ran out of things to clean, so that left me time to think. Not good. Thankfully I saw headlights growing brighter and brighter, a car was coming my way. And they were going to stop for me whether they liked it or not. I quickly jumped into the middle of the pot-hole filled road, hoping that the car would brake in time. I noticed a silhouette of a man or possibly a teenage boy, but either way, I was getting a ride. The brakes screeched in protest as the driver noticed me. I walked over to the passenger side once the car was completely stopped. The window was already rolled down. “Steph?”

 

Out of all the people to find me, it had to be him. It had to be Elric. “Jesus! What happened to you? Do you need a ride?” I looked at him; his face was masked in shadow. I was going to say yes, but then thought better of it. “You know, no, I don’t. Sorry for making you stop. Bye Elric.” School was going to be utter hell tomorrow. “Wait! Stephanie! Where are you going to walk?! There isn’t any civilization for hours! The nearest gas station is like 6 miles away!”

“You don’t need to over exaggerate, Elric. The nearest gas station is not hours away, it just might take me a while, and that is fine. I am perfectly content with walking.” With that I began limping away, feet still hurting from the mouse traps and the extreme scrubbing. I didn’t make it far before I heard a car door open. I tried to walk faster, but I knew it was pointless trying to out run a football quarterback, even if I could walk normally. Once again a hand gripped me, but this time it was nice and warm, and it was placed around my waist. Before I knew it, he slung me over his shoulder like I was a sack of potatoes. “Hey! Stop! Put me down!” I protested loudly. “Something is up with you Stephanie, and that something is getting you hurt.” He paused to put me gently into the passenger seat of his car. Continuing, he said, “Were you sneaking out here to do drugs?” My eyes nearly popped out of my skull in surprise. “What? Drugs? Of course not!” Glancing at me suspiciously, he slammed the door on my face. I could hear him splashing through the rain as he made his way to the driver’s side of the car. The door opened and he sat down, now soaked through as well. “Then what were you doing out here? Especially alone, it can be dangerous.” He glanced at my bare feet. “And where the hell are your shoes?”  I looked over in his direction and his face was now completely visible. His hair was plastered to the sides of his face and his sea green eyes were piercing, staring right at me.

“Stephanie?”

I sighed, bringing my attention back to the ever so pleasing conversation. The conversation that I was beginning to wish would end.

“Why do you even care, Elric?”

“Excuse me?” His tone was laced with hurt, but he knew where I was coming from. “Why,” I asked. “do you even care?” Ignoring my question, he said, “I am not answering any of your questions until you answer mine.” That was when I snapped. “Why should I tell you? Why should I tell you when at school all you do is throw me into trashcans and shove me into lockers? Do you think that I am stupid?! No way am I giving you ammunition so that you can torture me more than you already do!” Instead of stopping to let him defend himself, I kept on with my little rant. “Do you really want to know why I was out here? Fine. I was doing drugs. And I left my shoes at home, so back off,” I lied. I then opened the car door and tried to step out, but fell. Using the side view mirror, I got to my feet, before he could say anything. Before slamming the door, I looked him in the eye. “Now why don’t you go meet your second girlfriend before she leaves your special meeting spot.” His mouth was open in shock and embarrassment. I inhaled sharply and exhaled through my nose, trying to calm my temper. Sounding as calmly as I could, I whispered, “That’s right, Elric, I know about that; but there is the difference between you and me. You would use the information to make my life a living hell, if the roles were reversed. I leave you alone.” I leaned closer to him. “Next time think about what I just said, before dumping me into another trashcan. Just think about it. And don’t worry, this isn’t blackmail, I would never let myself stoop to your level.” With that I shut the door and started painfully making my way to the gas station.

 

Now, I don’t like crying. I hate it in fact. So when I finally arrived at the gas station, you could only imagine my surprise when I suddenly burst into tears. I dug a quarter out of my pocket and went to the payphone; I had accidently left my cell at home. It took me a whole five minutes to dial the correct number. “Hello?” Winston’s extremely British accent calmed me immediately. Not enough, though, to stop the steady flow of tears streaming down my face. “Winston! You will never believe what just happened!” I cried into the phone.

Reviews

[matrixmark]

You opened up the Chapter sharp and already pretty tense.
Mousetraps and spiders - nice touch. I sure wouldn't want to be in this guys position.
'A small audible groan' - this line was perfect for thie setting in the corridor, it kind of reminded me of resident evil in a way.
Another good line 'A devilish smile played on her lips like it was a national holiday for the undead' - A very, very good use of the imagination - I can almost see the smile on your face when you created that line.
Nice scene wth the girl washng her face - I could picture her sitting down by that tree and some heartfelt music playing in the background.
You showed that Steph is strong minded woman as well as a vunerable woman. I like where this story has taken me and I shall be reading on.

Mark.

[Tony Jordan]

Plop Pitter Patter Plop - I like the use of onomatopoeic devices in writing. I'm not a huge fan of the genre though.
:)