C H A P T E R 1.

3.5K 97 17
                                    

CRASH!!
------------------------------------------------------------

The loud noise of thunder jolted you out of your trance as you sat staring at the TV. It was a dark and stormy night, and the sound of the rain tapping against your window only added to the eerie atmosphere. With a shiver, you got up from your seat and slowly made your way to the curtains, pulling them shut with a quick tug.

As you returned to your spot in front of the TV, you felt more at ease with the soft music playing from your mother's radio in the background. You loved listening to her favorite tunes while you watched your favorite cartoon, Welcome Home. The show was about a group of lovable puppets, and while most kids your age didn't seem to enjoy it as much, you thought Wally and his friends were fantastic.

As you continued to watch the episode, you became engrossed in the storyline. Poppy and Barnaby were arguing about something that seemed silly, but you were still invested in finding out what would happen next. Suddenly, your mother's voice rang out from the kitchen, calling you to dinner.

You scampered from your spot in front of the TV to the kitchen, where your mother was already serving up your favorite meal. She had gone out of her way to make it a special treat for you that evening, and you couldn't help but smile with delight as you took your place at the table.

After saying a quick prayer, you and your mother dug into the delicious food she had prepared. You finished your meal in record time and eagerly returned to your pillow pile in front of the TV. Your mother, meanwhile, went back and forth to the bathroom, preparing for the two of you to clean up together before heading off to sleep.

Once your mother had finished her shower, you both climbed into her bed, settling under the covers. As you lay facing each other in the dim light, you couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. After a few moments of silence, you turned to your mother and asked, "Mommy, what are we going to do tomorrow?"

She looked at you with a mischievous grin, her eyes crinkling up with excitement. "Well, I have a surprise for you tomorrow," she said.

Your eyes widened in anticipation. "Really? What is it?" you asked eagerly.

"You'll just have to wait and see, my love," she said, kissing your forehead and turning off the bedside lamp.

As she turned her back to you, you whispered a sleepy "goodnight" and closed your eyes, drifting off into sweet dreams of Wally and his puppet friends. You couldn't wait to find out what your surprise would be tomorrow.
------------------------------------------------------------

W A K E                                                    U P

------------------------------------------------------------

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!!

With a groan, you blearily slapped your hand down on the snooze button, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling that lingered from your nightmare. As you lay there, wrapped in your blankets, you couldn't help but wonder if there was any truth to the eerie visions that had just haunted your subconscious.

Eventually, you dragged yourself out of bed, determined to make the most of your day. You decided that the best use of your time would be to tackle the long-overdue task of cleaning out your attic. It had been ages since you had ventured up there, and you knew that it was full of old junk and forgotten memories.

You made your way to the small hallway of your one-story house and grabbed a stepping stool from the bathroom, positioning it carefully beneath the little hatch in the ceiling. With some effort, you pulled the ladder down from the ceiling, revealing the gaping maw of darkness that awaited you above.

As you climbed the rungs, you couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding, like you were ascending into some otherworldly realm. The attic was cloaked in shadow, but you could make out the shapes of boxes and crates stacked haphazardly around the cramped space. It was a maze of memories, filled with boxes of old toys, broken dolls, and dusty clothes from your childhood.

You began to sift through the clutter, determined to uncover some hidden treasures that might fetch a pretty penny. You worked methodically, pulling items out of the darkness and examining them in the faint light. The attic was silent, except for the sound of your own breathing and the occasional creak of the old wooden floorboards.

As you sorted through the junk, you suddenly caught sight of a box that caught your eye. It bore the words "Welcome Home Neighbor," emblazoned in bold letters across the top. You felt a shiver run down your spine, unsure of what this box might contain. Nevertheless, you felt compelled to investigate, drawn to the mysterious object like a moth to a flame.

Carefully, you lifted the box and carried it down the ladder, feeling the weight of it in your arms. As you set it down on your table, you felt a sense of unease wash over you. You couldn't shake the feeling that there was something sinister about this box, something that was better left unopened...

(D O N 'T   C L O S E   Y O U R   E Y E S    D A R L I N G) Wally DarlingXReaderWhere stories live. Discover now