hide and seek

the game

Caroline sprinted away from her friend Stacy who had begun counting in the middle of the junkyard. Caroline already knew where she was hiding. The piles of unwanted junk loomed high and menacing against the dark sky as she made her way to a small cupboard that stood up right next to a pile of other furniture. She opened the doors and hopped inside, waiting to be found.

Uncomfortably, Caroline shifted in the cramped closet. The bubbly excitement she had felt had long since worn off and was now replaced with boredom. It felt like 15 minutes had passed since she initially hid. Holding her breath, she peeked through the crack in the doors, hoping to see one of her friends, but she could see nothing but junk and a luminous black sky. She sighed impatiently and tilted her head back, ready to give up and reveal herself. That was until she heard a blood curdling scream from across the yard. She froze in terror. That didnt sound like a scream of surprise or annoyance like you would expect to hear in a game of hide and seek. It sounded like a scream of pure fear.

Caroline hadnt moved since she heard the sound, she hadnt even dared to breath too loudly. Her mind was racing. She hoped this was just a prank done by one of her friends. She hoped but didnt believe it. She finally moved and fumbled in her jeans pockets for her phone, ready to shoot a text to her friends that whatever joke they were pulling wasnt funny. She unlocked it with shaky hands and was met with several texts from the group chat.

-Stacy

Where are you guys?

-Jen

Not telling

-Stacy

Cmon give up already!

-Jen

Fine, Im getting bored anyway. Im hiding behind a queen size mattress on the left side.

-Stacy

Thanks :)

-Ebony

Guys I think theres someone here.

-Macy

What?

-Ebony

Who the hell was that? This isnt funny guys!

Guys help

-Macy

Where are you?

Ebony?

Caroline Im coming to find you

Terror seized the girl as she covered her mouth with her hand. Only when she heard soft sniffling and someone whispering her name did she look up. It was Macy. She was crying. Caroline lifted her hands and was about to open the door when a figure in a black hoodie started creeping up behind Macy. She froze before tumbling out of the closet, a warning on her lips. Macy saw her and began laughing. Caroline stopped.

What the hell? she yelled at the other girl who was now laughing hysterically.

Found you! she managed to get out between laughter

Hey Caroline. The figure from behind said, it was Ebony. We got you so good.

I hate you so much. She muttered in reply. But even as she said it relief flooded her body. That was until she saw the look of horror on her friends faces as a knife was plunged into her back.