When Laughter Dies

Chapter 1

Natalie was normally one to sleep through the night, but tonight was different. She opened her eyes, quickly sitting up in bed to look around the room. Despite everything looking the same as it had just before she had gone to bed, Natalie couldn't help but feel as though someone were watching her at that moment just waiting for her to do or say anything. It was a feeling that was completely alien to her and she didn't like the feeling at all. She looked down next to her and saw Laughing Jack peacefully asleep with a smile on his face.

As Natalie was about to fall back asleep, she heard a noise come from downstairs. Grabbing the knife that she kept under her pillow at all times, she slowly walked out of the room and began to walk down the stairs to investigate whatever had made the noise she had heard. She was hoping that it was Lydia or one of the others, since there had been times before where she and Laughing Jack had woken up to find one of their friends asleep on the couch or just looking for something to eat if they were hungry and had just gotten back from a late night kill, yet knowing how things had worked out before, Natalie knew that she was most likely going to have to fight whoever was in the house.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, Natalie could swear that she heard people whispering frantically to one another. Making sure that she had a firm grip on the knife, Natalie slowly made her way into the living room. As she got closer to the couch, she saw a familiar face looking up at her from down on the floor.

She sighed and smiled. "Smile, what are you doing here so late? Did you and Jeff go out for another late night kill?"

Smile Dog shook his head. "I'm so sorry to disturb you at such a late hour, however, I've discovered something rather remarkable."

"What is it, Smile?"

The dog grinned, an evil look in his eyes. "It appears my former master wishes for me to return to his side. All I have to do is bring him an offering."

Natalie dropped the knife, shock and fear washing over her. "Smile, you can' possibly be considering this! Think of the people here who care about you! What about Jeff? You two have been best friends for so long. You can't let all of that go for that monster."

"I'm afraid that's where the problem lies, Natalie. You see, I can't kidnap you myself because the others would connect the dots all too quickly. That's why my...friend here will be doing it for me."

Before Natalie could try and talk him out of it, she was hit in the back of the head with the handle of a gun, knocking her out almost instantly. Smile looked up and grinned.

"Well done, darling," he praised. "You need to hurry though before Laughing Jack wakes up. Did you plant the note?"

The figure in front of him nodded proudly as they twirled the gun around their finger. "Of course I did! After all, it is the only way either of us can really get what we want."

"Good, however, we need to leave immediately; Laughing Jack will be waking up soon and we can't risk being caught or seen together."

With a final nod, Smile Dog quickly left the house while his partner put Natalie over their shoulder and began to carry her into the woods.