Nothing

I took off my Halloween costume, washed the paint off my face, put on my pajamas, brushed my teeth, and went to bed. I was almost asleep when I first heard the sound of a strange evil-like something or someone screaming my name. “MALEAAA!!” It sounded more like a faint scream, maybe a mile away. Or maybe it’s under something. I squinted my eyes open telling myself that there was no evil thing staring right at me with fierce eyes, an evil smile and --- i’ll just stop right there. Luckily, there wasn’t -- or at least not yet -- anything. I sat up and held my covers closely to my pounding heart beat. Then, with caution, I rotated my head around to check my surroundings. All I saw was my friend sleeping by my side in her sleeping bag. I was sleeping next to the window and the curtains were blowing, and the full moon was shining. The window was open but there were screens on the windows so nothing could get out -- or should I say, get in...  I was too terrified to look out the window into the cold and spooky halloween night. So instead, I slowly slipped back down inside of my sleeping bag.

I was shaking. I don’t know why I was shaking or why my heart was beating so fast. I say to myself, “Malea, your fine” it was probably just a dream. I fell back to sleep, for what felt like a few short minutes. I shifted to my side and opened my eyes, only to see the body of my friend who had burrowed under the covers.  I whispered to myself with my eyes squeezed shut, ¨Please, wake up Malea!¨ I was just about to check if she was actually under the covers, I gripped the rim of the covers, and just before I pulled them down, I froze. (my eyes were still shut) I heard that scream again, but this time it sounded as if it was right in my ear, “MALEAAA!!” At the same time as the scream, I heard the sound of glass shatter. But this time, it sounded more horor-like. My eyes popped open and it seemed as if my eyes burst so wide that they expanded to the size of a golf ball. I inhaled so fast that It felt like a heavy ball plunged into my throat. My hair must have stood up straight like the hair of a mad scientist.

I had full body chills. I pounded on my friend’s body -- which felt fluffy. Nothing. I tried again. Nothing, but then I studied  her sleeping bag and pulled open the covers, nothing but pillows were under her sleeping bag. I couldn’t breath. My friend was GONE. WAIT. There is a note in scratchy handwriting... It says: Help! I am in your basement at YOUR house!  I whispered to myself, “What? Why would she be at my house? My parents are on a vacation! The doors are locked! How--” Instantly, I was interrupted by rapid footsteps crunching on rocks outside my window, then it stopped. Everything was silent. I couldn’t move. I swear that I felt cold breath on my cheek, that echoing spooky voice whispered, “Malea, go, go find your friend!” I spun around and nothing was there. I slowly and cautiously walked to the front wall and flipped the light switch. Nothing. Just then, I saw a shadow cast upon the light shining on the floor. I was by the light switch at the front of the room, so I couldn’t see who was standing in the window seal. I screamed and ran into the room next to my friend’s room. Tried that light switch. Nothing. I inhaled deeply, “come on you can do this” I exhaled. I took off and booked it to my house. I punched in the code in, on the handle to unlock the door. I ran inside and into the basement. There! It was my friend. She looked as if she was dead, but I tried to convince myself that she was just sleeping or at least unconscious. She didn't answer me when I said her name and her phone was a shattered on the floor. I heard pounding on the door upstairs.  

THE END