Descent by Mike Houtz (short books for teens .txt) 📖

We started dating three days later. Since I’ve gotten closer to her I have noticed something strange. While I’m around her there is a certain feel to the air. Like we are being watched. However I haven’t seen anything. The presence hasn’t given me any warning or cause for alarm either so if there is something watching us it doesn’t seem like it plans on interfering (that’s what I thought at least. I know now that it was just waiting for the right time, but anyway, back to the story). We were going to a movie and then heading back to my place for dinner.
Around 7 we headed over to the favorite movie theatre in my town. It’s so old that no one remembers the actual name. We all just called it Bo’s because that’s the name of the owner. It’s one of those old fashioned theatres with the giant curtains tied closed on either side of the screen, with a door off to the side that leads backstage. We caught a seat towards the back for the Weekend Horror Night Special. Today it seemed Bo chose one of my personal favorites: Jeepers Creepers 2.
As the movie started and the lights dimmed I felt her lean against my side and wrap her arm around mine. I turned and kissed her forehead as a giggle escaped her lips. “If I get scared can I hide behind you?” she asked with a flirtatious glance at me. “If you wanted to cuddle that bad you could just ask” I teased. “Haha so you’ll protect me from the monsters?” she asked. At the mention of protecting her I recalled the warning the presence had given me when I met her. “Always and forever” I responded in a serious tone. She smiled and turned back to the movie.
. . .
After the movie we started walking back to my house. There it was. That peculiar feeling. It was more intense then before though. My ears pricked. Searching for any indication of danger. Any cause for alarm. I started getting nervous. I could feel it clearly now. We were definitely being watched. Snow could tell in an instant something was wrong. On instinct I moved her behind my back, I felt her hands arms wrap around me “Blake, what is it? I’m scared.” I felt her shaking. The presence awoke at the back of my mind and started lending me some of its strange power. My senses sharpened. My eyes began to search out for any minute details, anything out of place, and anything that looked like it didn’t belong. I could remember the smell of trash and death from the monster that killed Daniel. I smelled faint traces of something similar in the air. I could hear the snap of a twig a hundred yards away. I could hear Snows heart thudding against my back as she tried to get closer. My pulse quickened.
Snow was getting quickly becoming terrified by the mixture of my silence, the movie we had just seen still fresh in her mind, and above all the complete and utter silence of the night. I finally noticed it. We were all alone. No birds chirped in the trees. No joggers passed by. No cars drove down the lane nearby. No shops were open. No street lights turned on as it grew darker. Not even the echo of conversations or footsteps from farther away.
The stillness was maddening. I heard footsteps. First walking, this started to speed up, and then erupted into a sprint as we were seen. This was no place for a fight. Even if the presence let me change my arm like before it was to risky to even try it. I couldn’t let Snow see that, it was too dark, even with my heightened senses there was no way I could protect her if there was more than one attacker, this place was to open. I had to think fast. My muscles tensed, in two quick movements I grabbed a large stone from the ground and spun sideways, using the momentum from the movement to rocket the stone in the direction of the footsteps.
I heard it connect with something solid. It was followed by an infuriated growl. After that came a bone chilling shriek. No human could make that sound. It became deafening as the shrieking came from all sides. The earsplitting racket should have attracted the neighborhood’s residents but no one came out. The sounds of Snow’s crying and screams of terror were barely audible over the horrible noises that were closing in. I couldn’t take it anymore. The presence took over again. My eyes flared red and I screamed back in a language I didn’t understand. A shockwave erupted from the ground as an underground gas pipe exploded.
All at once there was silence. Whatever had been making that noise was momentarily stunned. Taking our only visible chance I grabbed Snow picked her up and ran in the direction of my house. I’d never gone so fast in my life. It felt like I was pushing the world around me rather than pushing myself forward. Snow was pushed against me as the wind whipped at her hair. The sounds of pursuit quickly died away as whatever attacked us gave up its mad hunt. We reached my house in seconds. I didn’t stop to get the door. I kicked it in then slammed it shut behind me behind me and threw the deadbolt in place.
I set Snow down next to me and put a chair under the door knob. I motioned for her to stay put and went to check the house for any signs of intrusion. Upon finding none I relocked all the windows and drew the blinds. I returned to Snow to find her shaking. I cradled her in my arms and slowly rocked her back and forth; she buried her head in my chest. I whispered to her “We’re ok now. We’re safe. I won’t let them hurt you. I promise. Look, we’re home now, you’re ok.” She slowly stopped shaking. She seemed ok now.
To my surprise she grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and drew me into a deep kiss. Her hands slid up my chest and came to rest at the back of my neck. One of my hands was one her leg and the other was on her waist, as our lips parted she leaned close to my ear. “I love you Blake” she whispered, “Promise you’ll never leave me.”
I grinned, “I promise you Snow, with all my heart. I love you and nothing will separate us.” She giggled again, “Good. Now Sir Knight, do you think you could carry me to bed?” she winked, “I think I might like some company tonight.” I laughed and carried her up the steps to my room. She hit me with the blankets and laughed as I set her down at the foot of the bed. I stuck my tongue out and hopped under the covers next to her. We laid there for awhile, just laughing and smiling at each other. I don’t remember how late it was by the time we finally crashed. My last memory of the night was falling asleep in each other’s arms.

Publication Date: 04-14-2012

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