sOmEoNe tO tOy WiTh

Midnight almost upon thrill-seeking teenagers, as five friends filed from vehicle, on what many consider, the unluckiest day of all, Friday the 13th. The night balmy as they shift restlessly, in anticipation, awaiting each to collect belongings desired for exploration of old cemetery, likely lost to time and decay. Each carry a flashlight, yet a few grab a small tote containing a snack and beverage.

Mindy, eldest teenager, pockets car keys and lights a lantern for a more expansive view, generating an ambience to evoke realism of preceding century. Lantern struggles to illuminate deteriorating entrance; pillars weary from a centennial of oscillating elements. A symphony of katydids, crickets and treefrogs perform a soft song, floating on sparse breezes as they gingerly cross through wispy fog among crumbling stone scattered upon long neglected land. Darkness threatening to envelop them, yet they bravely allow the lone lantern to keep the haunts away. Not one friend submits to contiguous obscurity and the mysteries it veils, to send beam from a flashlight into the blackness. Trudging hindered by knee high weeds minimally, dotted with shrubbery, the distance of a football field. However, no headstones appear to mark lives of the past, as each step has them concluding they are in the middle of a vast field.

Gina asks puzzled " Samuel, you sure there's a cemetery here?"

Samuel clears throat a little before answering, "Mr. McCarthy said there was when he was a kid." Samuel begins recalling words he said to him recently. "Can't really ev'n r'call 'xactly who we were visitin', 'spect some kin folk I nev'r met. Ev'y once in while my mom wo'ld take a bundle o' wild flow'rs and lay 'em on a grave out there. But the whole place creep'd me out so. S'pose, it was jus' a youngun with fanc'ful ideas, but when I think of that place, still sends a chill o'er me. Ohhh....I'd thought 'bout goin' back when I got older, facin' my fears kind o' thing. Jus' didn't set rite with me. I decided tweren't no sense in me goin' out there diggin' up old bones. Let'em stay burri'd!' Mr. McCarthy looked at Samuel while clasping his cane, then added, "Not actual bones, mind you, it's a figure o' speech." Samuel smiled to himself intrigued by the cemetery.

Lamplight, or perhaps waning crescent moon reflects a windowpane, lingering peculiarly longer than a mere reflection, arrests their attention, echoing an intuitive warning within Samuel. An old building tucked away, revealed from a closer perusal; straining eyes to determine it's a silhouetted stone structure with a large, thick steeple.

"Did you see that?" Samuel asks.

"A church," Gina whispered.

"Looks gothic," Robbie adds.

"No, I mean the light reflection. How does our lamplight reach over there?" Samuel continues.

"Umm, maybe it's moonlight." Gina surmises.

"There's barely a moon tonight. Just kind of weird."

Robbie adds excitedly, " Maybe there are ghosts here."

"Yeah, could be phantoms wandering the night."

"We are gonna see some ghosts tonight."

"If THAT is here, then there's gotta be a cemetery out here somewhere." Felicia says confidently. "Maybe cemetery is near that church, we just can't see it from here. We could walk towards church."

"The pillars that block our way, must have been a roadway at one time."

"I don't know much about the architecture of that time, this is possibly mid to end 1880's. Not sure what buildings of that time look like.

"Well yeah, the pillar looks relatively new, maybe early 1900's. I wonder why old man McCarthy didn't mention the church." Mindy says.

Felicia redirects conversation, " So we gonna keep going this way or head toward church?"

"Church seems most logical."

"Church, then?"

Friends agreed church, except one, Samuel wasn't thrilled with idea, but rather than getting separated from group, he went along. Changing directions now that they noticed church, uncertainty grows as they near the imposing stone structure. They search side of church with no cemetery in sight, as they move behind stone structure, a ring briefly clangs.

"A bell?"

"Umm, maybe a bat hit the church bell?"

" We are at the wrong place. There's someone here. Let's go." Samuel couldn't keep unease from creeping in his voice. He really just didn't want to be there any longer.

"Don't be ridiculous, it's just an abandoned church." Felicia says.

Robbie laughs, " I think the old man has Samuel's nerves rattled."

"Yeah, that's strange, but maybe something did hit bell." Mindy says.

"It's freaking dead people, what the hell they gonna do?"

"So, a ghost rung bell? Let's find graves so we can tell them to stop trying scare us away."

"There it is. We found them!" Mindy exclaims proudly. Black stained tombstones span seemly endless in different stages of weather-beaten progression. Some lack poise and lay within overgrowth, while others stand askew, bowing submissively. Remarkably, the majority stand admirably erect, not allowing weather laden with audacity to disempower them. A few aboveground tombs rest surrounded by the sentinel headstones, equally stained.

As the soft glow of the lamp concocts elongated shapes by tall, ornate headstones; in constant motion as the lamp swung near, so one could never tell if something was lurking within its shadows or hidden on the other side. Although, they hope old ghosts venture from dwellings dressed in historic garb with unfinished business in Our world.

An intrusive " SNAP" jolts friends from their eager chatter of gravestones and statues. Jerking heads toward quick sound, seemly just beyond the light of lamp, however lingering to echo faintly within themselves.

"Ghosts are on the haunt."

"Let's go find them." Robbie said while extending his elbow to Felicia. She slips her arm through his, linking before strolling towards location of sound. Both finally use flashlight in search of spirits disengaged from the long dead, illuminating their path as they part company with the others. Roaming quite a distance away, yet the shafts of light allow the others know their location.

"Well, I guess we will just leave them to their ghost hunting. Oh, look at this statue, it's kind of odd. What is that, a vulture?"

"A vulture would seem unrealistic for 18th/19th century."

"Maybe it's some other kind of bird, of protection?"

"Or maybe it is a vulture," Samuel concludes thoughtfully, "Vultures eat dead animals. I mean, maybe there's a reason its here."

"To eat the dead? What, tear them right out of their graves, to eat them?" Mindy asks.

"That's sick!" Gina declares.

Felicia and Robbie look through cemetery in search of the sneaky ghost; yet continues to evade in the darkness. Constantly moving further away every time they get near.

Felicia asks, "Well now where did it go?"

Robbie shakes his, "I don't know." They continue on their search looking behind all the tall monuments, when suddenly the ghost steps out from shadow of massive headstone, bearing a white face and white flowy robe.

"You found me. How clever." The slinking spirit's voice raspingly continues on, "Now that you have found me, what is it you want of me?"

"Ahhh, w-w-we wanna know about your life, before you became a ghost. And what it's like being a ghost." Robbie says after looking at wide-eyed Felicia, seeming in shock, spirit would speak to them directly.

"I can show you, it will answer all your questions." Suddenly ghoul leaps at them, knocking them to the ground violently with an audible thud causing breath to escape both in a rush. Before they were able to recover the spirit quickly slit Robbie's throat. Then it hovers over Felicia as she draws a breath to scream, looking down at her while waving bloody blade from side to side, still dripping with Robbie's blood in same motion as his shaking head. Her scream finally emerges, almost, halting when blade plunges through her heart, silencing her forever.

A shrieking sound, short and dulled from distance came from back corner of cemetery. Mindy, Samuel, and Gina so engrossed in conversation, only just realizing their other two friends had been gone a long while. "What was that squeal?"

"Where are Felicia and Robbie?" Mindy asks while searching for their flashlight beams in the darkness.

"There! See? Flashlights, they are right there." Gina says pointing to the lights waving about.

"Why the hell are they way over there?"

"Who knows? Making out probably."

Mindy rolls her eyes at that, then proceeds to continue previous conversation. "So, you are thinking these stone birds represent... corpse eaters?"

"If so, that would confirm this is not a Church for the Almighty Above."

"Which, may be the negative energy old man McCarthy wasn't able to understand as a child."

Ghost digs a shallow grave to push the two teenagers into, covering them quickly. Snickering as ghoul speaks to the growing mound of earth, "I hope you find the answers you were seeking." With a spin of newly blood stained robe, the spirit makes a majestic exit with their confiscated flashlights. Stalking the other would-be victims, drawing nearer to them as they remain unaware, placing flashlights at a slight angle, upon a medium grave leaving it to cast beams into nothingness. Evil presence allows darkness to swallow it while advancing on intruders.

As the three friends wander around studying more oddities, with what they deduced to be a probable place where demonic activity took place in the past. Mindy throws a searching look over her shoulder, "You think they are alright?"

"Yeah, they're fine. They're working their way back towards us now. Probably finding some questionable statues like us." Gina stumbles over something dark,"Umph, something tripped me!"

"What is it?"

Gina lifts object into air, "Ahhh well, it's a boot. A BOOT!"

"Yeah, weird and in good condition, recently lost?" Each begin shining flashlight upon ground to discover any other out of place objects, a lone boot relatively new is questionable.

"Oh, guys look what I found! You gotta come see this!"

An abrupt hand appears over Gina's mouth, while being pulled behind a tall monument, a sudden cracking noise, then Gina's lifeless body is tossed onto shoulder of Demon. Where she is taken several yards away as the last two nosy teenagers analyze a sacrificial alter.

Samuel joins Mindy to see some type of alter stained with a dark substance. "What the hell is this!?"

"Umm, I don't really think you wanna know what I think this is, Mindy."

"Yeah, I know because I'm pretty sure we are having the same thought." Suddenly realizing Gina didn't join them. "Where is Gina?"

Samuel looks around frantically, but only blackness exists where Gina once stood. "Gina?" Waiting a moment before calling her name again, no answering call. Only insects chatting, which is suddenly ominous and annoying to them. Samuel speaking softly for her ears only, "Mindy? It's possible we aren't alone out here."

Wondering if something possibly awaits, hiding in the shadows. "Let's stay together to find Gina." Samuel nods and they move towards Gina's last location. Upon arrival, there is nothing to be seen, no Gina, no flashlight, no tote, no evidence she was ever there. Sending shafts of light from flashlight into the night surrounding Gina's prior position reveals nothing.

"We need get Felicia and Robbie to help us." Mindy says while walking towards friends' glowing flashlights, Samuel at her side. "Felicia? Robbie?" They call their names repeatedly in an effort to gain their attention, yet no answering call returns. They exchange a look of concern.

Arriving at location of lights to see both flashlights lying unattended upon a tombstone, with neither friend in sight "F-E-L-I-C-I-A? R-O-B-B-I-E?"

"Let's look around a little for them."

"Mindy, I think we should the hell out of here!" I think they are Gone."

"WE DON'T know that."

Gina has vanished, now Robbie and Felicia. Why would their flashlights be here without them? Think about it. SOMETHING IS WRONG. Something or someone is taking them." Last few words spoken just above a whisper.

"We can't just leave without being sure. Would you want to be left miles in the woods at a cemetery alone?"

"I guess not, but if we don't find them soon, then it's possible NO ONE will leave."

"Five minutes, just five minutes, okay?" Mindy walks back further still illuminating area, with Samuel by her side impatiently.

"Wait. Do you smell that?" The smell was so out of place for an abandoned cemetery, "It-it-it-"

"Smells like earth." Samuel finishes her sentence. Shining rays upon the ground reveals a mound of fresh earth, length and width accommodating for a body.

Mindy drops lantern, as gasps escape both, exchanging a panicky look before quietly affirms between clenched teeth "Let's GO!"

Samuel nods promptly, with relief. "Yes." Both start running for her car, finding nearest way out of graveyard into impending weeds. Which make sprinting more problematic forcing them to gallop to avoid entanglement across field which seems terrifyingly immense. Tearing through brush for several minutes with no end in sight, "I'm... so...tired." An out of breath Samuel finally manages.

"Me... too."

"What is...that?" They were nearing a light. "It's a ...flashlight. There's...a... flashlight. Did anyone...leave..a flashlight on...to help us...find..way out?" Samuel asks between breaths.

"No..I don't..think so." Mindy seeing their friend, exclaims "It's Gina! She's...waiting...for us."

Samuel feeling relief yet stupid all at once, realizing he completely overreacted, almost leaving all his friends in the middle of nowhere.

"Maybe she... got lost...and was...afraid...we would...leave her." Mindy slowed down to a brisk walk, with Samuel following suit. "Gina! Oh my God...Gina."

Gina seems to ignore their approach, though approximately only five feet from her lounging position against a decrepit tower, awaiting friends.

"Gina? Thank God." Mindy calls out happily, yet Gina didn't even acknowledge her. "Ummm, Gina must be mad at us."

"Gina," Mindy calls as she rushes to her side. "No Samuel, I think she's asleep."

"Asleep?" Samuel says disbelieving, "Who the hell could be sleeping out here?"

"STOP Samuel, she's exhausted!" Mindy tries to shake Gina awake, "Poor, Gina. Wake up. Let's get you to the car so you can nap there." Mindy then tries pulling her forward, which causes Gina's head to fall in an unnatural position. Both gasp in horror, Mindy shrills "Oh my God! She's DEAD. Gina is DEAD!"

"Someone may be nearby. We have to GO Mindy!"

Mindy jumps up unable to control fear induced trembling "Let's get the hell out of this place!" They carefully chose their path back through the crumbling stones. When suddenly they see a ghostly, white face floating before their eyes. Halting their steps, in wonder at presence and threat it poses, "What in the hell is THAT?" Mindy screeches.

Samuel looks at the ghostly face in horror, as it's stoic face transitions into a smile upon a face of PURE EVIL. The malevolent being moves so fluidity from behind pillar giving the impression of levitation, draped in a white, flowy cloak, splotched, red, blocking their path. "I wanted to give you a proper welcome to my abode, come now. Can't allow you to leave without seeing the amenities." Phantom mocks visitors.

Samuel yells, "Run Mindy!" They split up suddenly.

Mindy makes it to car pulling her keys out, yet they fall to the ground in her shaky haste. As she bends to retrieve, she feels a very strong hand grabbing her up to sling over shoulder. Her scream erupts, long and loud. "I noticed your interest in my alter." Her squeals persist as she kicks and claws futilely.

Samuel sneaks around behind car out of sight, crawling to retrieve keys dropped. He unlocks her car, climbing into driver's seat while thrusting key into ignition, turning quickly. As soon as engine starts, Samuel drops gear into reverse slamming the gas, then into drive, the Evil Phantom spins around a little surprised as vehicle bears down on it. "THUD!!!!" Sending both flying, gaining Mindy's release. Ghost fails to repair quickly after being sent airborne.

"MINDY, GET IN THE CAR!" Samuel runs to grab a disoriented Mindy, pulling her towards safety, when the demon's shriek pierces the air, while crawling abruptly, suddenly her calf is gripped by a large hand. They play tug o' war for her, Mindy kicks It in face to gain release, to no avail. Samuel rushes to find a piece of crumbling pillar to smash ghost, since they cannot overpower it. Villain begins pulling her, with her fingers raking through weeds, finally able to grab a handful in each fist to keep from being dragged. It jerks on her violently as Samuel rushes to beats its head with heavy stone. It screeches, lunging for him with blade gripped in hand. Samuel scoots back, rolling away as ghost stabs at him. Mindy retrieves stone to finish the deed as Ghoul howls in agony of onslaught. Mindy begins tiring, and Samuel snatches the stone, delivering final blows; Demon finally drops knife from lifeless clasp.

They toddle towards car, both near exhaustive collapse, as they enter in relief.

A shriek erupts. Samuel glances in car mirror to see a white blur chasing them. "WHAT IN THE HELL!?" Yet, monster fades from view as Samuel immediately stomps the accelerator.