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magicxc · 6 months

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Hills and Valleys

Synopsis: Legend has it that Halloween is strictly for the scares. With ghouls and goblins, vampires and werewolves, witches and broomsticks, who could disagree?

However, all this friend group wanted was a little trick or treat. Sprinkle in a few party favors, loud music, and a cabin in the woods, the myth was bound to come true.

Lurking around the corner is danger like never before, eager to bring this night to a bloody finish.

So join these friends as they fight to make it through a Halloween they’ll never forget, proving that "the scare" is more than just a fantasy.

Word Count: 2640

Warnings: gut punch....right in the feels, lots of blood this chapter

Chapter 4 - Stephanie’s POV

Series Masterlist

“Shut up, all of you,” Jason yelped. “Every minute we spend here is a minute more that sick freak has the upper hand, possibly plotting.

“And unless one of you can squeeze through those bars, the only way we’re getting out of here is through that door,” Em chimed in.

“Lorenzo, think man, does your family keep a spare key anywhere around here?”

“Uhh ye- yeah, I think so. Hell if I know where it could be at this point Jason.”

“Where is it usually?” Em asks.

“By a rack near the back door.”

“There were no keys when I checked back there,” Jason pointed out. “Fuck, we need to get moving NOW.

Honestly the only thing I feel is pure, white, hot rage pulsing through my veins right now. My anger has seen many people on the receiving end of my quick witted insults, and Lenny was no exception tonight - though I have to make a mental note to apologise later. Clearly I'm not level headed, even on a good day, and this high stress situation is only making it worse. Im not the friend for logical thinking, Im the friend that fucks shit up; so I murmur a quick thank you to the military man for rounding us altogether and making things a little more seamless.

Quick to dish out orders, he directs Lenny to the master bedroom to try and get some signal, Em to the second bedroom, himself to the kitchen and living room, me to the bathroom and any miscellaneous closet doors, while Lynn works on picking the deadlock.

I all but race to the bathroom, flicking on the light switch to get an idea of exactly what can help us in here.

Rummaging through the cabinet for anything sharp, I can’t even remember what it is that I’m supposed to be looking for - my mind aimlessly wondering about while my body ransacks this poor bathroom.

Pill bottles flying in the air, creams toppled over, and shower curtains screeching open, it’s only until my fist lands against the wall does it dawn on me that all I’ve done is trashed the damn place.

One of my best friends is lying face down in a watery grave and I can't even keep it together long enough to do something about it; it’s pathetic really.

For as long as I can remember I’ve always been unfazed, anger rearing its ugly head in place of the rest of my emotions. And this time is no different. There's a literal animal out there hunting people down and I'm supposed to what, sit down and cry about it? No, that can come later. Just this once, I’d like to help my friends out the same way they’ve helped me. My walls have been crumbling since the day they walked into my life, so the very least I can do is find us a way out of here.

Head planted against the bathroom wall, I take a couple deep breaths in and slowly blow them out, repeating this a few more times. I'm no good to anyone in a state of fury but I’ll be damned if five people cant find a way out of a fucking house - what type of looney toons shit is that.

Sliding my fist down the wall and at my side, I take a careful look around for something that could help us open up the door, keys be damned at this point.

Is ammonia strong enough to melt the bars, I think to myself. Shaking my head, I put it back, noting that all I'd do is suffocate us. Taking on another search of the room, I come across more cleaning solutions, soaps, and tissue boxes of sorts.

Fingertips drumming against the counter tops, I try to think of a way to freedom with a tube of toothpaste - throwing it in the trash bin when I come up empty.

Frustration threatens to rise once more and for the sake of it, I march toward the tub just to make sure every base is covered, stopping dead in my tracks as I hit what feels to be a goldmine. There’s a small window in the wall of the tub, bar-free and screaming out to me. How didn’t I see it before is beyond me, but now isn’t the time for questions.

Lips curling upward, I muster up a small smile at my new revelation and get inside to check it out.

Stepping in the tub, I notice that it’s a bit smaller up close, somewhere around 24x18 if I had to guess. Hands gliding across the smooth panel, I reach for the latch and pull it across to see if it’ll open.

Eyes crinkling at the corners I almost let out a happy dance right then and there; small bits of breeze whipping against my clammy skin in newfound hope.

Sizing up the window, I edge closer to the pane, standing on tippy toes to assess the outside. From the angle of the house, the bathroom lines up with the kitchen which is right out of view of the front yard. So, if whoever hurt Julez is still lurking around, they’re more than likely focused on the front and back doors, giving us somewhat of an element of surprise.

Dammit, all those leaves on the ground are sure to give it away though, I sigh. There’s nothing that cuts through the quiet quite like that.

Maybe we can form a bit of a distraction, I think. Have Lynn and Jason make lots of commotion at the front door while two or three of us sneak out the window.

And then there’s the height, another thought creeps in. This window is shoulder length at best so whoever climbs through will more than likely need a boost. And not to mention the small size. It’s not ideal for the average person to squeeze through.

"Ahhhh fuck," I screamed; palm slamming against the damp wall.

It's like we take two steps forward and four steps back with this shit. And the lake house? Lenny’s parents are gonna have to see me personally once we get out of here cause what the actual hell is the point of barricading oneself inside like this? Even though Lynn was dead ass wrong, it does make you wonder what exactly went on in here.

Fuck it, I didn't just find possibly the only way out of the house just to squander this opportunity. Someone is gonna fit through this window and get us the hell out of here come hell or high water - and just to be clear, I am the hell AND the high water.

So first things first, none of the guys broad shoulders stand a chance of getting through there. Lynn is on the thicker side of things, so that leaves me and Em. It’ll still be a tight squeeze, but I think we could make it work.

"I’ve never been more grateful for a flat ass till now," I mumbled.

Lenny will give us a boost, we’ll climb through, start the car, and drive til we get enough cell signal to call the police. Ohhh, we should also grab a knife or something just to be safe.

Digging into my pockets, jaws clenched in concentration, my fingers slither over everything from gum to lip gloss, until it finally slithers over that familiar bumpy texture.

Blowing out a breath of relief, I fish the spray out of my pockets and mouth a thanks to the heavens for having this with me. Pepper gel: my bestest friend of all, especially on late nights when I have to walk back to my car after a double shift.

“Yessss, at least this’ll buy us enough time and space away from that freak if we come across them,” I murmured.

It seems all my boxes are checked off, so I close the window, lock it back, and get ready to tell the group my grand plan. Whew, I'm just itching at the idea of this night finally coming to an end. Shit, who knows the kind of people we’ll be once this is all over.

Will we grow closer or will this night show us that somehow our friend group isn’t strong enough to withstand all this crap. Maybe for once I won’t have to spend my days apologising to everyone, but can actively work on keeping us together. That sick fuck may have taken out one of us, but I’ll be damned if I let them be the reason we separate. These people, my friends- no my family is what I look forward to when I picture my life old and gray, so I need us to get through this crappy night in one piece.

Turning on my heels, I make my way toward the edge of the bathtub, one leg halfway over until the person at the door stops me in my tracks.

“Geeze, you scared me,” I sighed, hands clutching my chest. “I never really pegged you for such a quiet walker.

Stepping out of the tub entirely, I continue to the door, arms flailing in the air as I go on to lay out the plan.

“Now, here’s where you come in -“

My words get cut off by the swift motion. I see it before I feel it and by the time my body has a chance to catch up to what's going on, blood starts gushing from my neck; my nervous system finally registering how sharp the pain is.

Dropping to my knees, a voiceless scream tears through my throat; pathetic gasping the only sound I can muster up as my hands fly to my neck to stop the never ending downpour.

The pain is excruciating and the blood oozes through my fingers quicker than I can stop it. My head feels dizzier by the minute and the grip on my wound loosens by the second.

Eye contact between us two never cease and I see a hint of a smile threaten to creep up, washed away by the stumbling on the staircase. They dash out of the door, closing it behind them while I sink further into the tiled floor; fear putting me in a metaphorical chokehold as I put myself into a literal one.

I hear Lenny’s booming footsteps burst through what feels like every door but mine; panic sourcing through me as I now feel cold sweat line my forehead.

He finally pops in, that goofy grin instantly dropping once he takes in the scene.

Disheveled, Lenny combs his hands through his hair, a big indicator of when he feels most stressed. And I would be too, but motherfucker I’m on the floor, help me dammit - is what I really want to say, though it doesn’t quite come out the way I intend it to.

Rushing over to me, Lenny starts shouting but I can barely stay tuned; my body threatening to dip out of consciousness.

“Oh shit, oh shit, shit,” he hissed. “Steph it’s gonna be alright, I just need you to hold on for a minute.”

There’s a thick, course cloth that wraps around me, and I feel like a baby being swaddled. The warmth that runs down my body soothes it from the chilly air and all I want to do is take a nap, wrapped in Lenny’s strong arms; if only to relieve myself from the hangover that’s sure to come. The blanket feels a little too tight and thankfully I don’t have to tell him to loosen it.

“AYEEEEEEEEE,” he screeched. “YOU GUYS GET IN HERE RIGHT THE FUCK NOW.”

Eyes steadily closing, sleep seems like the best course of action right now. All I need is a little break. Just a quick nap and then we can find a way out of here.

“Steph, baby talk to me,” he shakes me. “Who did this to you?”

It’s the horde of screaming that annoys me most of all. Can’t they see I’m trying to sleep?

Head slumped to the side, I see everyone gathered by the doorway, terror etched onto each face but one. That motherfucking bitch.

They did this. Fuck the window and the plan, Lenny the person you need to worry about is right in front of you. At least that’s what I’d like to think I said.

Holding me tighter in his arms Lenny shushes me, rocking us back and forth, desperately urging me to save my voice and energy until we can get some help.

This is it isn’t it? The look on everyone's face says it; or hopes for it. There’s nothing about the chilling screams and the panicked pacing that brings me comfort. This right here is where my story ends. I'm decades away from the gray life I imagined I’d live out, tears brimming over at the idea.

Feet splashing through the blood and plopping beside me, it's Lynn whose voice I manage to make out; she and Lenny drowned out by my loud heartbeats.

“I don’t fucking know Lynn, for goodness sake make yourself useful.”

“Both of you shut up,” Jason barks. “Dude tell me you got enough service to get us some hel- to get Steph some help.”

Wrapped tightly in Lennys arms, I feel myself losing the battle with consciousness. I’ve lost probably about half my blood, the room is spinning and I can’t for the life of me remember why I’m on the bathroom floor.

Eyes darting around the room, they land on the culprit and the salty tears flow freely. Mustering up the last bit of energy I have left, I manage to point my index finger, as best I can, at the perpetrator.

Get that mother fucker and get the hell out of dodge is what I try to say, but all that comes out is this wet, gurgled plea for help. Between the rocking and the chaos, no one notices my last ditch effort and all I want to do is scream at the top of my lungs.

I’m scared, fuck I’m so scared. There’s this saying that goes something along the lines of one day we all went outside and played with our neighborhood friends for what we didn’t realise would be the last time. Who would’ve thought the same would apply here?!

Who would’ve thought this would be our last ever party. My last time promising to be back home before the sun rises to my dad. The last time Lenny and I would banter for the sake of it. The last time Em and I bonded over similar tastes. Or the last time we’d tease Lynn about her endless boyfriends. Had I known this would be the last time I’d see Julez, I would’ve hugged her a little tighter.

This friend group has been all that and more for me. They’re literally the siblings I’ve never had. They’ve accepted me wholly and at the same time made me more considerate. They’ve been my literal shoulders to cry on and have seen me through every emotion there is. So why can’t they see me point this motherfucker out? Please! Let me at least do this one last thing for y’all. Please, don't let this final attempt be in vain.

Tears stopping and blood slowing, my muscles slacken while my lips manage one final, small smile; hoping that in the future they’ll at least pour one out for the homie once they make it out of here safely.

Although this was no doubt painful, I hope what awaits me on the other side feels much similar to being carried to your bedroom when you were a child and fell asleep on the couch during a family party; hoping most of all that I can still hear the laughter and the noise from the next room.

#Emmy Writes #Emmy Tries #Spooky Szn #Halloween Kills #Halloween Series #Halloween #Hills and Valleys #Original Story and Characters #Horror #are you crying?#cause I am #RIPPPP

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