Patches - A Short Story

            It hadn’t rained for months; the rivers and lakes were dry and the land was parched. The trees were looking haggard and naked without leaves. Many of the farm animals died of dehydration and Silver city was almost a graveyard. Many of the farmers and villagers had abandoned their lands and moved out… Everyone except Mystique and her two brothers along with their farm animals stayed back.

            One blistering hot night, Gordon couldn’t fall asleep and came down for a nightcap. He heard strange rustling sounds and the wind was gently howling. He heard bending and crackling sounds of twigs and straws in the cornfields. He gently peered through the kitchen window and beads of sweat trickled down his temples as his heart pounded in fear. He gasped in horror as he saw Patches, their scarecrow, twitching and stretching itself as if it was coming to life.

            Just then, its black beady eyes rolled like giant globes in the dark and Gordon knew that Patches was looking straight at him. He yanked out the stick that was restraining him in the air and flung it towards the house angrily. He started marching towards the front door.

            Gordon raced upstairs. He was frantic. He yelled out Mystique and Richard’s names whilst he looked under his bed for the sniper.

            Half asleep, Mystique and Richard followed Gordon down the stairs. Gordon didn’t have to say anything as Patches was almost halfway through the door, ripping it with his straw hands. They tried to get out through the back door.

            “Stop! It’s pointless guys. Look…” Mystique pointed towards their farm animals. They were all bulldozing their way into the backyard. They were in a trance-like state. Richard’s mouth dropped open as Patches grabbed him away from the others. In a split second, Richard lay on the floor lifelessly.

            Mystique and Gordon watched helplessly as their brother died and stood there motionless as Patches gently waltzed towards them…

  

Haunted House - A Short Story

             Luke Kendrick parked his old Range Rover under the oak tree and started unloading the car. His wife, Kylie and seven-year old daughter, Claire, were too impatient and ran towards the lake without helping.

            This was their first time leaving the big city and moving into a quaint neighbourhood that was a two-hour drive away from the nearest town. The price they paid for this lakeside villa was way below the market price and the Kendricks grabbed it immediately… But little did they know that they wouldn’t be alone.

            The furnishings were covered with heavy drapes and a thick layer of dust on it. Claire sneezed a number of times. The musty smell was overbearing for their city noses. Kylie started cleaning up and unpacking whilst Luke went to pick up some hardware from the basement. Claire was making a mess with her toys and raising Kylie’s temper.

            “But Mom … Mack wants to play too. She’s bored and lonely,” Claire pleaded. Kylie paused a moment and glared at her. Just then, she caught Claire’s reflection in the mirror; she was not alone. There was a small girl a few years younger than Claire sitting next to her. She had dark circles under her eyes and her gray eyes were staring at Kylie and her chin lowered.

            Kylie’s jaw dropped along with the steel bowl she was polishing. That instant, the reflection went missing.

            That night, they had prepared an extravagant feast, hoping that The Pandolfos would join them. Unfortunately, they picked on some cheese and crackers and hurried off with just a glass of wine each. Luke and Kylie were puzzled by their bizarre and odd behaviour; they kept staring at the clock and left just before the clock struck seven.

            Luke and Kylie were kept awake all night by the creaking sounds, water droplets and the owls’ hooting.

            Kylie was up early to pick some fresh blueberries from their garden and was planning to make warm pancakes for breakfast. As she walked back in with her basket full of berries, she dropped it and started trembling.

            ‘THE GAME HAS STARTED. YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS TO HIDE’ was scribbled in blood on the mirror. Kylie shouted to everyone to hide. She heard Claire and Luke scrambling everywhere.

            She immediately ran to the bathroom and hid behind the toilet seat. Kylie tried her best to pant silently. She saw Claire running in too, and instructed her to hide behind the door.

            A few minutes later, she saw the same girl walk in. But this time with a lady who looked like she was in her thirties. They both wore a white nightgown with lots of dried blood on it. They held hands and walked towards Kylie. The little girl had a small knife and the lady had an axe in her hand.

           

“Do it, Mommy, do it!” the little girl screamed in excitement. The lady raised her axe and looked around for people. Kylie cupped her mouth to prevent any sound. They walked around. Claire, who was hiding behind the bathroom  door, let out a horrifying scream in fear.

            They both turned at once. Eerie grins spread across their faces. They lifted their weapons above their heads, whilst the mother’s axe buried itself with a sickening crunch in Claire’s head. Blood spattered out forming an arc on the wall behind her. The little girl, with a satisfying grunt, pushed the knife into Claire’s mouth, severing her spinal cord. Kylie watched as the knife became visible behind her back.

             Claire fell like a rag doll to the floor. The blood congealed as Claire’s eyes clouded over.

            Kylie’s eyes opened wide with fear. She watched them approach her, eyes fixed on her. She closed her eyes. And waited. And waited…