The Hood

“Get lost!” the leader of the group of girl bullies shouted, shoving me into the woods that bordered the park. I tripped and fell, landing in dead leaves. Stumbling to my feet, I backed away. Her friends all laughed, high-fiving each other as they ran away.

I picked a stick out of my hair as the girls slowly disappeared from view. I sighed and looked around me. I was surrounded by trees. I couldn’t follow after the bullies; they would just taunt and tease me further. The only way to go was into the woods.

I walked into the forest, the leaves crunching under my feet. Goosebumps rose over my skin, and I rubbed my arms, trying to keep them warm. Just then, there was a snapping of twigs. I whipped my head around, but there was nothing there. I breathed harder, my heart picking up speed.

I started jogging, as if I could escape whatever lurked in the woods. Eventually, I slowed back down. The trees became less dense; soon opening into a clearing. As I entered the clearing, The moon reflected off of a lone house. I stopped, examining the house.

It looked similar to a shack. It had only one floor, and the front of the house was flaked with whitewash. One of the windows was broken, the ragged curtains drifting gently on the night breeze. I shivered, and turned around, facing the way I had come. Figuring the girls were gone by now, I started to walk back.

Suddenly, it started raining. I stood there for a minute, pondering what to do. Slowly the rain seeped under my thin sweatshirt, leaving me soaked. I shivered, and decided I didn’t want to walk home in the forest at night while it was pouring rain; so I turned back around, and walked towards the house. The cement front stoop was broken in some places, making it hard for me to get in through the front door.

Once I was in, I shivered at the draft that lingered. Pulling the door shut behind me, I examined the room I was in. It was dark, with moonlight pouring in the broken window. Just then, there was a thump down the hall. I jumped, letting out a squeak. I quickly covered my mouth and backed into a corner. Fear clamped down hard.

As I searched the dark corners for a living thing, the darkness seemed to throb. I closed my eyes, breathing hard. It was too dark to see anything, and I was straining my eyes so hard that it felt as if the darkness was moving.

I heard the thump again, but this time I didn’t jump. Suppose this house was haunted, and there was a ghost? I didn’t want to alert the spirit of my presence. Almost immediately, I kicked myself. Ghosts? Pshhh, I chide myself. There’s no such thing as ghosts. Or spirits! None! None at all! My thought rose in panic.

I pulled my thin wet jacket tighter around me in a feeble attempt to keep warm. Sliding down the wall, I curled up in the dusty corner, my chin on my shaking knees. Wrapping my arms around my legs, I shivered, wet and cold, waiting impatiently for the rain to cease. I gazed out the broken window up at the moon. It seemed to be leering at me; hiding like a coward from the darkness.

The darkness that is in us all.

I squeezed my eyes shut, my hands shaking. Where had that thought come from? I decided I was cold and sleep deprived therefore making me delirious. Any minute now, I would wake up, warm and dry in my bed, bullies and ghosts and darkness far behind…

I sat up with a jolt. Clouds covered the moon, leaving me in even further darkness. I must have fallen asleep. I could still hear the rain pouring down outside. There was a puddle under the broken window, where rain blew in, bringing with it a chilly breeze. I got up and pulled the tattered curtains over the window, trying to keep in what little warmth I could. Then I dragged a brick in front of the door.

 Suddenly, the door started rattling. I jumped back just barely containing a scream.Then as soon as the door started rattling, it stopped. I breathed hard, my heart in my throat. Then, there was a pounding on the window that was still intact. I nervously stepped closer. What I saw in the window nearly stopped my breath.

Rain blurred the window and the figure that stood outside the window. I shoved aside the doll carriage that rested in front  of the window, the porcelain dolls cracking their heads.

A figure in a white hood had a hand pressed against the window, thumping against the glass. Then the figure stopped pounding. The house fell still. Then a scream echoed in my ears. The window exploded, raining glass over me. I threw my arms over my head, trying to shield my face from the shrapnel. After it settled, I peeked out from under my arms.

The figure was gone. Rain blew in the now broken window, stinging my fresh cuts. My heart raced as I picked my way closer to the window sill. I looked out the window, the rain battering my head.

An empty hood lay on the muddy ground beneath the window.

I let loose a scream that rang throughout the forest.

I stood there, shaking.

The thing that wore that hood had been there. And then it hadn’t.