The Forest (Pt 2)

I stood, staring at the spot where Derek had just disappeared.1

OK, I thought, blinking hard. Derek just led me into the forest, while acting very strangely... and then told me to stay out of the forest... yeah that makes sense.2

I looked around, the full moon was hanging low in the sky, peeking through the trees. I suppressed a shiver and pulled the cloak tight around me.3

"Derek?" I called out, my voice catching in my throat. "Derek where are you?"4

No sound...5

Where did he go? Why did he just leave me here. I looked around and then started following in the direction he had disappeared. This had to be some stupid game or prank.6

Ducking around some trees I lost a step and my ankle twisted slightly, cursing loudly I silently warned Derek that this had better damn well be worth it.7

I followed blindly into the dark trees and prayed that I was going in a somewhat straight line, even though I was constantly ducking around branches and stepping over fallen logs.8

I had just stepped around a particularly large tree trunk when I felt something stroke softly against the skin of my face and hands, jumping I brushed at myself and realized I had just walked into an enormous spiderweb. Shrieking I rubbed and patted myself, making sure I'd gotten the entire web off.9

"Derek!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, "Derek!"10

Silence met my screams. I looked around, rubbing my hands over my neck, I still had that creepy crawly feeling, only it was added to another feeling, the feeling of being watched.11

I walked on, ducking around trees and squinting in the darkness trying to see any sign of life.12

I had just stepped over a particularly large fallen branch when my shoe got stuck in what felt like swamp mud, falling on my knees I yelled out as mud seeped through the front of my cloak.13

Growling I pulled myself to my feet and looked around, this time getting some satisfaction. A light could be seen shimmering through the trees.14

I smiled, I must have come full circle and wound up in town again!15

Running forward I smiled to myself, this had to be Derek's idea of a joke, sending me into the forest to get a scare. What a thing to do on Halloween, and so fitting.16

And then the trees broke and my smile vanished. A huge house sat directly in front of me. Old and worn, its paint peeled and its windows broken, and through one, all the way at the top came the light.17

 I hadn't come back to the town, it was some old house in the middle of the woods.18

 Shivering slightly I looked around. No people, not even Derek.19

 I shook my head, damn well figures, so, knock on the door meet some horrible bloodthirsty person who eats children in the middle of the night, and may or may not have Derek, or go back to wandering aimlessly through the woods and probably get killed by something... wow what great choices.20

 I looked up at the lit window, it was at the very top of the house, what must have been the attic. I decided to venture inside, maybe they had a phone, which I could use and then leave.21

 I walked up the creaking stairs of the front porch and knocked lightly on the front door. Nothing happened, I didn't expect it to, I had knocked to light for anyone to notice... but at least if I got caught I could say I had knocked.22

 I tried to turn the door knob, it wouldn't turn, but the door opened. I frowned and looked down at the door, and then poked my head inside. It was unlit and I couldn't see much, the smell of stale air and dust filled my nostrils.23

 I crept inside and looked around, it appeared that no one was even here. I moved as silently as I could (the floor kept creaking) through the house, there were several doors that seemed to be locked, no matter how I turned the knobs or tried to push and pull they wouldn't open. Finally it seemed my only options were to go upstairs or back outside.24

 I put my hand on the banister and looked up the stairs, they were as dark and unwelcoming as a bottomless pit.25

Maybe Derek's up there, my mind whispered.26

 I started up the stairs, they creaked and groaned and I feared my weight would be what sent them crashing to the ground. The stairs led to a large open hallway, one end was dark as pitch while the other held yet another stairway, which light flooded down. 27

 Wordlessly I hurried to the stairs and tip toed up them, being as silent as I could. There was no sound coming from whatever lay at the top of them.28

 I finally reached the top of the staircase and my eyes widened. Derek lay sprawled on the floor, a bunch of flashlights surrounded him, all on. Against the far wall lay at least twelve already carved Jack-O-Lanterns, and on the floor in front of him was what seemed to be a banner, the words 'Happy Halloween' Sprawled across them.29

 "Derek?" I asked, stepping forward. 30

 He looked pale, as though frozen, his lips were blue, and he was wearing the same red and black tuxedo.31

 He opened his eyes a little, and took a deep breath that seemed to rattle in his chest. 32

 In one exhale he said, "Don't go in the forest."33

 He closed his eyes and my heart began to pound. Looking around I heard something coming up the first stair case, voices and then a high cold laugh.34