💯 STORY CHALLENGE (32/100)

Skeletons in the Closet, Chapter 3 — Something Lurks in the Dark

Keegan was brought back from the dead and commanded to kill his friend. Can Nyra escape from what her friend has become?

This is a serial fiction story. Please find the table of contents here.

A creature stumbled down a lonely road, keeping to the shadows and hiding in dark corners when people came near. It had a name once, but it was all forgotten now. Instead, another name was on their mind, “Nyra.” A command accompanied that name and dominated their every thought.

“You will find Ms Freeman and kill her.”

It was near her house now. The place looked familiar, as if it had visited the house before. Maybe it had in a time before the command. The creature was sure it had memories. There had been something before this existence, but the command overwrote any thought in that direction.

“You will find Ms Freeman and kill her.”

The creature lurked in a shadow opposite the small house, watching the place. The lights were out, and the house appeared abandoned, but the creature’s eyes pierced the darkness like a true nocturnal predator.

The woman, Nyra, was in the living room hurriedly packing a bag. The street was empty, and the creature stalked closer. Something moved in the creature’s head like a snake in the undergrowth. It stopped and clutched its temples.

“Nyra, how low have we fallen? We are like some creeps stalking the night.”

“Shush! Be quiet, Keegan. Get behind that car and take photos of Killjoy and that guy.”

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

“Don’t worry. We have each other’s backs. Right, partner?”

“Okay. I trust you, partner.”

The creature snapped out of the sudden memory and found itself in the middle of the road. Temporarily overwhelmed by the rediscovered images and emotions, the creature paused, looking at the woman. Who was that person, and who had she been to it … or him?

Just as the woman swung the bag over her shoulder and left the living room, the command took over again.

“You will find Ms Freeman and kill her.”

“Kill Nyra?” it whispered, “We have each other’s backs? Back? Backdoor.”

It rushed toward the house and jumps over the low hedge in a fluid motion. The creature itself was amazed by its simultaneous speed and silence. They feel natural to the thing, but it hadn’t utilised those qualities before the command. It went low and sneaked to the back of the house.

The creature arrived just in time before the woman, before Nyra, opened the door fully. When she tried to walk out, it jumped up and pushed her back into the house. She gasped in shock when she hit the ground and looked up at her attacker, closing the door. She had to get to the other door. Quickly.

“Did Killjoy send you?” she asked in an attempt to buy time.

“You will find Ms Freeman and kill her,” the creature recited its command.

“KEEGAN?!”

“Keegan!” Nyra cheered when he came down from the stand.

“I made it, Nyra! The back-street boy came out first of the class.”

“Don’t remind me of that band,” she punned, and both laughed, “Honestly, I’m so proud of you, my nerdy friend.”

She hugged him, and his heart played a frenzied concert made of drums.

When it, no he, snapped out of the memory again, she was already running for the front door. He froze because the command conflicted with his memories from the time before. It would have been easy to catch her, but this was Nyra.

“Nyra?”

She stopped and turned around. Her eyelids were drooped, and she looked down, avoiding eye contact. Nyra seemed unable to speak. Her lips pressed together to a thin line. He slowly walked closer to her.

“I thought you were dead?” she whispered, followed by silent sobbing.

Silently, he walked a little closer until a streetlamp shone through a window, illuminating his pale, blueish face with soft light. Nyra recognised her best friend and partner, and he scared her for the first time in her life. There was no malice in his glassy, blue eyes, only sadness and cold determination.

“I am.”

“What? How is this possible? How did you get out of there?”

“With a command,” Keegan said and paused shortly, “You will find Ms Freeman and kill her.”

Then, he rushed forward and tried to grab her. Nyra reacted just in time and ducked into the living room.

“Please, don’t do this! We are partners, right?”

He stopped and looked at her again, “Why didn’t you have my back?”

“I am sorry about what happened. It was my fault! I was reckless, and you got hurt.”

“I died.”

Keegan slowly followed her into the living room, pushing her into a corner. She searched for something, a weapon, but there was nothing here.

“I am sorry, Keegan,” she whispered and cried, “I missed you and hated myself.”

He reached her now, grabbing her by the shoulders with an iron grip. The command was overwhelming. Keegan released his grip shortly. With his next act, he was to rid himself of that command finally, no matter how hard it felt. Nyra closed her eyes, terrified of what was to come. Then, Keegan hugged her.

“I love you,” he whispered, “The only thing I regretted before I died was never telling you.”

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💯 Story Challenge (32/100)

Are you lurking in the dark, contemplating memories? Possibly you are a writer trying to realise your writing dream too! Do you want to support my journey? Please, read my other fictional tales, subscribe to my email list or join Medium with my referral link? Thanks!

Are you interested in the 💯 Story Challenge? Check this story by Zane Dickens in Microcosm to learn more.

Here is my pick from the 💯 Story Challenge: “Chesus and the Holy Tomatoes Verses Vicious Cheese” by Cathylouise.