#ms. wolfe

Chapter 1 Part 1.3

The moment a new person wandered into the bar, Clayton Ward couldn’t help but glance over at them. That’s when it happened. It always happened. Clayton gasped as visions flashed before his eyes. 

More memories. More tales filled his mind. Swinging in a playground, writing late in the evenings and being held by a loving editor. Crying long hours as they had to stop what they loved. An entire person’s history was told in just a split second.

Clayton could have prepared for this but whenever someone walked in unannounced, that was when the real troubles began. He couldn’t prepare mentally for that. Grabbing hold of the table, he heard the woman in front of him ask something but Clayton was unable to understand her. His ears were hearing the bartender giving encouragement to talk to someone.

Clayton twitched and he curled up on his booth seat, as he grabbed his pounding head. A tingling sensation spread across in skin as something grabbed hold of his shoulder. Clayton looks over to see a black, inky hand grab hold of him tightly. No. No, not this again.Not another panic attack. He was doing something important. He couldn’t be back here. He couldn’t!

Clayton tried to stand up but he was pushed back to his knees by a figure of ink like substance. He looked around and he froze as he realized that he was no longer in the bar. He was nowhere. His spine chilled as he realized that he was in a darkened area. Was it a room or an area that went far out in every direction? It was too dark to tell.

Clayton tried to hide in his jacket as he put on his hood but another hand ripped it off his scalp, pulling his hair. Clayton squeaks out and his shaking body began to sweat. His stomach twisting onto itself, Clayton looked around and almost sank into himself. Surrounding him was five dark bodies that towered over him as Clayton wasn’t allowed to stand. One of the body’s stood behind him, holding him down. Clayton tried to stare at the ground to allow the attack to pass but another body stood in front of him. His hand pinched Clayton’s chin and he was forced to look up at them. Clayton stared into the figure’s eyes, shaking.

The three other body’s, circled around, almost giggling. They looked at each other before they turned their attention to Clayton. Their voices echoed in his ears. 

“Clayton. Where is your friend?”

“What happened when you left to explore those caves?”

“Did the snow kill him?”

Clayton felt tears swell in his eyes as he opened his mouth to speak. Before he could say anything, the middle figure’s voice boomed and echoed throughout the room. “Why do you lie?”

The other figures joined in. “That isn’t what happened.”

“What really happened?”

“Did you kill him.”

Clayton shook his head. “N-No… No. I didn’t. I-I could-” A figure slapped him across the face and tears started to roll down his cheeks. 

That’s when a golden light shone from behind Clayton as a door creaked open. Clayton glanced behind him and saw a dark creature standing at a doorway that wasn’t there a minute ago. Clayton tried to get a closer look but he was forced back to looking at the figures. They continued to taunt him as Clayton closed his eyes.