Autumn was fast approaching, the nights drawing in, and feeling chillier as each day went by. It was already dark by the time I was ready to go and meet Daniel. To calm my nerves, I thought about how I was looking forward to Halloween, my favourite time of the year followed closely by Christmas. I had missed a chunk of September and was determined not to miss any of October. My Grandma loved Halloween too, maybe even more than me! She was known for her very fancy jack-o-lantern creations. My parents had never been fussed about pumpkins and anything scary looking. They were pretty boring, never even getting any treats in for the trick or treaters.
On the walk to the restaurant I decided to take the pathway again. Even though I’d not been down there since I’d last passed out – or whatever had happened to me – I had fussed about so much, I was afraid of running late and it was a short cut. As soon as I stepped foot on the concrete, a vision of turquoise-blue lights flashed before me, then faded away towards the direction I was heading. I didn’t feel faint or ill at all. For the first time walking along here, I felt safe. I was not afraid of what might happen.
Even when I began to hear footsteps behind me and could see no one there, I felt ok. Maybe it was just the echo of the heels I was wearing as the steps were in time with my own. I had really gone to town for this meal tonight. I hadn’t worn heels in a while and my flowing, flower-print dress swirled through the air. Before I knew it, I’d reached the end of the path – for the first time! I looked behind me: no one was following me. Breathing a huge sigh of relief, I strutted towards the town centre, along Monks Road. However, my sense of ease was soon disrupted by the flickering of the streetlights; it was not just one of them, it was the whole street. I tried to shake the feeling off and gain back the positive one that I’d had just a moment before.
Walking past the college, I gazed up the stairway that led to the reception doors and I could have sworn I saw a light glowing. Surely this place was not open on a Saturday evening? Curiosity got the better of me and I felt the need to investigate. I stumbled up the steps, struggling in my heels, and as I reached for the door, the handle moved of its own accord and the door swung open. Against any better judgement, for some reason, I went in. There was a flicker of light towards the main hallway. It appeared to be moving so I followed it.
‘Hello? Hello?’ I called out, my voice resounding down the empty hallway.
The mysterious glowing light led me to the empty gymnasium, where it just vanished. I looked around the room for it when, suddenly, I heard the main door slam shut. Suddenly panicked and angry at myself that I’d been so foolish, I ran and tried to open it. But it would not budge. I sprinted to the next exit, but it was locked. I then sprinted to the female changing room to see if I could escape through there but I could not open the door. There was one last door in the gym, but that too wouldn’t open
‘Let me out!’ I screamed at the top of my lungs.
Backing away to the centre of the room, I slowly turned hoping that if someone crept up on me, I’d see them. Even though I’d not seen anyone so far, it was all I could think to do. I pulled my phone from my bag and glanced down at it. It was dead.
‘Shit!’ I cursed to myself.
I flopped down onto the ground, feeling defeated. My mind span with everything Natalie had told me earlier, about Daniel and Dominic, then I touched my lips as I recalled biting it bloody, then Ben appearing out of nowhere. How it seemed he’d healed me with his kiss. What was it with Ben and Daniel appearing out of nowhere all the time? I had feelings for both of them, even though I didn’t really know or understand either of them. They were just so… mysterious.
I was jolted out of this thought by an eery, deep laugh coming from a corner of the gymnasium. Maybe it was too dark to see that someone had been there all along?
‘Who is it?’ I yelled, trying to sound confident.
A shadowy silhouette slowly crept out from the dark corner. I couldn’t make out who it was. The laughing continued.
‘Who are you?’ I demanded.
Again, there was no answer from the mysterious character, but whoever it was they were getting closer.
‘Please whoever you are, just stop laughing at me!’ I pleaded.
‘Oh Grace, don’t you recognise me?’
That voice. Could it be him? I struggled to respond but the words wouldn’t come. He clicked his fingers and that strange, light sparked up again, revealing who my tormentor was. It was Daniel. The look on his face was not the usual welcoming charm he threw my way. His eyes were dark, almost black, as though he had no soul. His hair colour matched them, silky and thick. He wore a leather jacket, leather trousers and combat boots. This was not the Daniel I had seen earlier today; he was evil looking.
‘What do
