The Lost Ones
The Lost Ones
There was always something strange about the old house— unexplained shrieks in the middle of the night, tapping noises along the floors and walls. There had been talk of the hauntings that went on inside of the peeling walls, how it was built in such a secluded area so no one could hear the screams when the creatures came out to play.
Evie always had a soft spot for the crisp, frigid winter nights she spent alone in her isolated bungalow. Now, the once- playful cold bit and scratched at her flesh, seeping through her thick woolen covers, stabbing into her bones. Like an animal playing with its food, the icy air pursued her. She swore she could hear the harsh breath of the cold, its rasping lungs desperately sucking in her warmth. She froze. The breathing became louder, until it seemed as if the winter air had manifested itself into a single being, greedily feeding off of her life.
Scratching noises fill the empty air, as if some ghastly beast were trying to claw its way through the floorboards—scritch- scritch-scritch. With shaking hands, Evie slowly peels the thick blanket away from her icy skin and stares, wide-eyed, into the abyss of darkness that surrounds her bed. The blackness seems to be alive, slinking across the worn floorboards and reaching, seeking the supple flesh of life. She closes her eyes. In and out, just like mother had taught her. Her mother was gone now, breath taken by some greater force. Every time she thought of her, the anxiety grew. No. She wouldn't panic. Not over some childish fear of the dark. Scritch-scritch-scritch.
She hesitantly opens her eyes once again, staring into the all- consuming darkness. Two cold, empty eyes peer up at her from the foreboding black, followed by a grinning smile of yellowed, razor-sharp teeth.
Lost.. .lost... lost... lost... " The thing chants, tilting its head as it examines Evie.
Scritch-scritch-scritch.
The creature slinks closer, long, thin fingers reaching up, searching for warm flesh. A terrified scream rips itself from the shaken girl's lips, her body suddenly thrown into action as she scrambles back.
"W-What are you... She gasps, voice shot with horror. Lost... lost... lost... "
The pale thing inches closer,
murderous grin widening.
It recoils back as if in pain, then skitters out the door in a tangle of limbs.
"Strange little thing. Is it not?"
The silky voice sounds next to her ear, and Evie jerks back. "Calm, child. "
She looks around in a desperate attempt to locate the source of the strange words, but to no avail.
Do you love me, little one?" The voice questions, tone soft with fondness.
"Your daddy didn't love me. Slit my throat and dumped my body like trash. Do you remember, child?"
Evie trembles, squeezing her eyes shut. No. She didn't want to remember. A cold hand clasps her shoulder, grip tight and controlling.
Let me show you, then." Her vision is suddenly filled with a bright light, which fades into a scene of a burly man gripping a small woman's hair as he drags her across the room. Blood drips down the side of her face, and her eyes are wide with fright. Her once flawless makeup is smeared, mascara smudged beneath her watering eyes.
"P-Please... " The woman whimpers, voice barely audible. A pained moan escapes from her lips, and Evie finds she is unable to look away as the man raises a meat clever, which gleams with sinister intent.
The woman's scream is muffled as the man cuts a gaping red grin across her neck, a sadistic smile painted on his face as the blood splatters across his cheek.
"You bitch. Bearin' me a fuckin' daughter. Tryin' to disgrace my family, eh? Not anymore." He sneers, hacking away at her pale flesh.
The image fades, leaving Evie shaken. Tears slide down her cheeks in a steady stream, silent sobs racking through the terrified girl's body.
"W-Why... " She whisper-sobs, body heaving with emotion, show me this?" She wails, fighting to get away from the condescending hands.
I am your mother, am I not? Do you not wish to see the sacrifice I have made for you?" The voice is eerily cool, like a mother scolding her child for bringing dirt into the house. A pale face appears before her, once lively green eyes now dull and lifeless. Her mother's eyes, no doubt, but this face is beaten and bruised, dried blood matting what's left of her curly hair to the cracked skull.
Bile rises in Evie's throat, and her limbs feel full of lead. "l d- don't want this... " The creature before her blinks, a low growling noise resounding from deep within its bowels. Instantaneously, its head snaps to the side, limbs writhing. A sickening mix of blood and spit drips from the thing's mouth, and Evie watches in horror as its eyes rolls back. Don't you love me?" It screams, lunging at the terrified girl. Evie dives out of the way, heart pounding. She stumbles to the door, barely managing to shove her way into the hallway before the creature is hot on her heels. Its limbs twist and bend unnaturally as it crawls after her, animalistic screeches sounding from its mouth. Evie staggers frantically down the stairs, racing her way into the narrow hallway between the kitchen and the base of the stairs before shoving her frame into the spare closet and pulling the door shut behind her. She clamps a hand over her mouth and wills her heart to stop beating so loudly, afraid the horrific creature will hear it. The pungent odor of mothballs and old leather fills her nostrils, suffocating and surrounding her very being. Peering between the slanted slacks of the door, she can see the sick beast slowly picking its way down the hall with a sadistic smile.
"Come out, little one." Its voice is mocking as it scans the hall, foggy eyes settling on the door. "Come to Mommy. A bang resonates from upstairs and the creature twists, scurrying up the wooden steps.
Evie slides from her hiding place behind the dusty coats and rounds the corner to the kitchen, throat tightening with panic. With fumbling fingers and clammy palms, Evie attempts to dial for help, but the line is silent, the quiet taunting her. A distressed wail rises up in her throat, a wave of hysteria and hopelessness washing over her. She would die here and no one would ever know.
Suddenly, the banging noises of the creature's crawl silences. The quiet that fills the house is thick and heavy, pressing down like a weight upon the frightened girl. Evie grips the phone like a lifeline, throat tightening. Her mind can't quite grasp the idea of this monster
— this thing —
being her
beloved mother. And her father — no. She won't let this nightmare start messing with her head.
Almost instantly, her limbs tremble, body crumpling beneath the weight of some unknown force. Evie can only lay there helplessly as voices fill her head, hundreds upon hundreds of wails, shrieks, and pleads. All chanting one uncanny word: Lost... lost... lost.. .lost...
Evie wails with a jolt, the sheets damp with her sweat. After quickly scanning her surroundings, she exhales, shaking hands coming up to push her matted, sweaty hair from her face. It had all been a dream.
She freezes. She could've sworn she had heard the sound of— Scritch-scritch-scritch.