The Creature Outside

“What did you do?” Bess gasped. I had dragged her the clubhouse and pressed her body against the wall my finger on my lips to indicate to her to stay quiet.

I shook my head, we couldn’t make a sound. I flinched at the sound of a twig cracking outside the window, it could just be a dear of course, but I knew deep down it probably wasn’t.

“Oh Phoebe, I didn’t mean t-” But I shook my head before she could finish. Bess knew me better than anyone. We had known each other most of our lives. Even when I didn’t mean for her to know things she did. She knew when I shook my head; she needed to be quiet. She also knew that her words had stung.

I had always been a bit of a rebel with a good cause. I knew my actions weren’t always… well thought threw. I knew they had consequences, some that may be worse than others. I also knew no matter what Bess had always had my back. Sweet, loyal, kind hearted, stubborn, Bess. She had always stood by my side. She was there for every mishap, every mistake and made; also everything that I stumbled into.

Everytime I called her she always asked, “What happened?” She knew most of the time it was my fault; still she never blamed me. She would just show up and help me fix it, we would talk about what happened and how it shouldn’t happen again, then we would act like nothing happened. This time was different. This time she ran in, she was angry, she blamed me. The irony of it all was this one wasn’t my fault.

Still there was no going back. I had a few theories of what it was out there. I could still hear Bess’s voice taunting me from the creatures mouth. I could still feel the ache of it not sounding right. I also felt the unbelievable urge to go out there. A mix of what if it was her and the creature’s persuasion luring me in.

I hadn’t even meant for Bess to come here. It was dumb to bring anyone else here. I just needed to know she was okay. I needed to cross a creature off my list who could only steal the voices of it victoms. Me asking her if she okay though was enough to bring her here. I begged her not to come. I cursed myself for agreeing to download the stupid app that tracked my location, because it told Bess where I was. As always Bess had come, she always did. This time was different though. I was a rebel, I was not afraid to mess with people. It should be added, though I only messed with people when needed. I only did it to protect myself, Bess and my family. I did it to solve things, I did it for the good. That is exactly why I did not mess with the supernatural. Nothing good comes from messing with things beyond your knowledge, and most did not know about the supernatural. In particular Bess did not know about the supernatural, because Bess did not believe in it. Whenever I brought up the possibility, she would always shrug it away and say those things only existed in stories and legends. I knew better though, it was impossible to know everything about the world. Also too many people had too similar of experience that had no proper explanation.

So here Bess and I stood. Together as always in our secret lair. Properly explained as a fort in the woods that we created as a child for make believe. Now this fort had turned into a place to meet and hide from my latest schemes I had come up with. Though this time we weren’t dealing with bullies and schemes; we were dealing with the unknown. A creature I only had theories about at best; for all I know it could be something I had never even heard of.

So I shook my head that time so she knew, this wasn’t what she thought it was. This was not a time to sort out our feelings; that would have to wait. I didn’t really need to tell her though because at that moment her brother called her name.

Bess’s expression changed immediately. Her face was filled with a mix of emotions that I could only begin to pick apart. I knew I had to look pretty shocked as well. It had been 8 years since we had heard that voice. It had been 8 years since we had helplessly watched him drown. In that moment I did the only thing I could think of doing I slammed my body weight against her using all my panicked strength to keep her against that wall, one hand firmly against her mouth. I didn’t have to know what was out their to know it wasn’t her brother. I also knew that it didn’t matter to Bess, even the slightest chance that it was him she would be out there.

Sure enough her freezing instinct wore off and all her strength was against me, she was screaming into my hand and using everything she had to escape my grip. It was in that moment that I was most grateful for karate, self defense, and mma classes my parents had signed me up for. Even though I was smaller than Bess I knew how to hold someone in place; especially someone who wasn’t thinking straight.

The only problem was Bess’s screams. Though muffled by my hand she was still much louder than we should be now. The last thing we wanted was the creature knowing our exact location.

“Bess, it’s not him; you know its not,” I whispered in her ear. This only made her struggle more though. I took a deep breath, my mind racing, searching for any words that could save her.

“Bess please, I know you don’t believe but it's something trying to get you,” She didn’t care, of course she didn’t.

“Bess please, I need you,” this made Bess freeze, but only for a split second. She had heard it, the words I refused to say. The truth that I hadn’t been ready to speak.

“Bess please, I-” I couldn’t say it. There were times to confess your undying love for someone and then there were times like these. Bess knew I loved her, but this wouldn’t mean as much to her as other times. I had to tell her another way.

The voice was getting closer the twigs cracking under the creatures feet. I had to be quick.

“Bess please I can’t lose you, your parents can’t lose you, my parents can’t lose me. That’s what that thing wants and if you don’t hold still and stay quiet for five minutes that thing wins. So you have to make a choice. I am going to let go and you have to choose. You have always believed in me and I can be dumb; like really dumb. I make bad choices and you have my back. No matter what happens though you let me figure it out. Now it is your turn. I trust you Bess. I believe in you. You protect who you love. You have never let anyone down, even if you think you have. You do your very best Bess and I believe in you.” I whispered and then I let go.

I held my breath and put the trust in her that she always gave to me. I stood and watched as Bess stood still. I stared and held my own body still. I listened as the voice of her brother called out. I turned my body slowly and carefully and placed my back against the door next to Bess. I stared at the wall the moonlight shining in through the small window we had carved out of the wood. I held my breath as the voice was just outside our fort. As the moonlight shone a figure that could only be described as a large animal like figure on its back legs. I felt Bess shudder next to me, as it was clear that whatever it was out there it was not a child. I moved slightly and took her hand. She squeezed mine until it hurt. Luckily the creature left after just a minute. We stood there still until the voice was no longer present. We stayed still until the voice had been gone for at least an hour. Then we lowered ourselves on to the floor. To scared to say a word. We stayed like that until the sun rose.

As the first beams of light hit Bess’s face, the fear that the creature was nearby finally left us. Bess sat up quickly, I slowly followed. I watched her face the emotions finally processing and after a shudder she began to sob. I held her tight tears rolling down my face. We stayed there for a long time, holding each other tightly.

Finally I found the strength to pick myself up. I slowly stood up and pulled Bess up with me. We had a lot to talk about but this was not the place to do it. We had to leave before it was sundown again. I didn’t know what was out their or why it had chosen us, all I knew was that I was going to figure it out.