Chermont Street

chapter 6

“What the hell do you mean we’re going to explore it? That is the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard” Jd crossed her arms, Arthur nodded. “Yeah I agree with Jd, that’s some dumb shit dude” Sam threw down the book. “You know what? Fine whatever, you guys are cowards. Go home” Jd faltered “Sam c’mon” She turned eyes burning “I said get out!” Jd scowled “I hope you remember this when that monster is tearing you apart asshole. Come on Arthur” The two climbed down the latter leaving Sam alone with Tyler and Ari. She stared at them “What? Spit it out” Ari sighed “that wasn’t the smartest thing to do Sam, we’re stronger in larger numbers” Tyler nodded “Yeah plus you were being a dick dude” Sam snatched a bag from the corner of her room “I know but i’m not apologizing now. You and I both know Jd and I are stubborn to a fault” Tyler scoffed “Understatement of the year award goes to…” Ari grinned “Well if we’re doing this let me grab my knives” Sam paused “Knives? As in plural?” they winked “Did I stutter?” Sam sighed “No”

    Sam had yet to see the inside of Ari’s house, it was a weird layout, very closed off design. They climbed a flight of stairs to the left of the front door entrance and crossed a catwalk type walkway right into Ari’s room. It really wasn’t much, painted black from it’s previous occupant they had put up a couple posters. One of a band Sam was familiar with and some other show she’d never heard of. “Wah Ari you’ve been her for like a month and all you have is three posters, a single lamp and a bed. You need some interior decoration help” Ari shrugged “It’s all I have” Tyler stared “What?” they threw open the closet door and rummaged around “Yeah my parents are minimalists, it’s all I’ve ever been allowed to have” Tyler looked personally offended. “Ari when’s your birthday?” They turned around “What?” Tyler asked again “When is your birthday?” Ari shook their head “Dude no” they looked at Sam confused “Ari c’mon” they huffed. “August 12” They turned back around and Tyler walked back. “We’re getting them something, like a desk or some shit” Sam nodded “Agreed”

    Tyler weighed the 6 inch Bowie knife in his hand “Hey so I've never used a knife this big before in my life” Ari shrugged, they had two combat daggers strapped to their legs and two hunting knives at their sides.
“Slice and dice my man, oh and don’t forget to stab too” Tyler rolled his eyes
“Yeah that’s helpful” the three stepped over logs and around sugar maples deeper into the woods.
“Wait guys look” Around a large trunk Sam spotted a small wood cabin, The wood was faded and the roof was starting to cave, the windows were fogged around the edges and there was no light coming from the inside. “Are you sure that’s it?” Sam shrugged “Only one way to find out” She took a step out from behind the tree and a few more towards the house before something caught her eye. A splash of yellow on the ground, three buttercups rested peacefully in front of a makeshift tombstone. A large slab of rock with the engraving “Hannah Crooks” crudely carved into the front. “Yeah, this is it” Ari appeared on her left sighing. “Shit dude” Sam looked up, “well let’s go”

    Sam lead the trio through the doorway, floorboards creaking beneath their feet the stared at the inside. A straight house with a small kitchen in the back left corner, and a sectioned off part to the right where Sam assumed the bedrooms were. Ari moved to the back window, a large pane of glass with a few disturbing bric-a-brac lining it’s sill, Ari picked up the rabbit jaw and stuck their tongue out “This is weird, I hate it” they set it back down and moved to the fireplace off to the right eyeing a picture frame. “This must be Hannah” “And what the hell do you think you’re doing here?” The three jumped, Ari drawing a knife, Sam raising her baseball bat. Standing in front of them wasn’t the monster that they saw attack Arthur. Instead what they saw was a tall, dark skinned teenager. One who looked a lot like Tyler. The kid stepped forward, he wore no shirt and ripped jeans, tattoos covered his chest, along with an array of scars. He looked at Tyler “Hey bro, long time no see” Tyler lowered his knife “James?” The boy smiled, but there was nothing behind his eyes. “Hey Ty, miss me?” Sam watched in horror “Tyler he’s not real!” He paid her no attention. Tyler looked up at his brother, tears shone in his eyes. “You. You’re not here. You’re in prison, for killing Beth. You murdered your girlfriend” James smiled, but it went past his lips, crawling up past his cheek bones. Tyler stepped back “What the fuck?” Crooks brought his massive claw across Tyler’s chest sending him backwards. He flew into the wall, and didn’t get up. “You think you can just enter my home” He turned around, “Touch my stuff?” He took a step forward. “And face no consequences?” Ari jumped in front of Sam throwing a knife straight into Crook’s chest. “ARGHHHH” He reared back, pulling the knife out he squinted at Ari and grinned. They wrapped Sam’s fingers around one of their other knives and pushed her back. Taking a step forward Ari looked themself in the eye, sighing they raised the knife. Crooks pulled off Air surprisingly well, down to every last detail like the scotch tape around one of the legs of their glasses. “Well well this is new” Crooks hissed, his voice distorted once again, breaking between his own and Ari’s. “I’ve never met someone who hated herself. You’re pathetic Amelia” Ari sighed “Them” Crooks was taken aback. “What?” Ari’s eyes set. “Hated themself, and My name is Ari” They lunged forward tackling their counterpart pinning him to the ground. They plunged the knife into his chest. “Sam Get Tyler and go!” Sam stood shakily “No! I’m not leaving you!” Crooks threw his fist across Ari’s face loosening their grip. He rolled on top of them ripping the knife out of his chest. “You’re Pathetic!” Ari yelling at themself was something that shook Sam’s mind so bad she stood frozen. Ari rolled kicking the legs out from under the other. “No you!” Ari lunged, hands wrapped around their throat Ari grabbed at their shirt and arms. “What the hell is going on here?” Jd stood in the doorway, her father’s 22 in her hands, Arthur behind her. Sam felt like she was choking alongside her friend. “Crooks is killing Ari! I can’t tell who’s who though?” The Ari who had their hands wrapped around the other cried out “They’re crooks! Shoot him!” Ari kept grabbing at their arms, facing turning blue their struggling was becoming weaker. Jd smiled “Idiot, Ari would never tell me to kill anyone. Even you, you son of a bitch” Jd pulled the trigger, the bullet throwing Crooks off Ari who lay still gasping for breath. Jd ejected the bullet casing and ran towards her friend. “Ari? Are you ok?” they weakly opened their eyes “Behind you!” Jd looked up only to be hit by a wall of force that was Crooks. He wrapped his arm around her throat and his claw around her head. “You all are pests! I’ll rip you all limb from limb one by one! Starting with this one!” He sprinted out the door dragging Jd with him. She screamed “Don’t let him take me!” He stopped outside his door. “The next time you see her, you’ll have to put her back together again.” He grinned, the grin looking horrific on Ari’s face. Jd screamed “For God's sake Sam do something please!” Sam Scooped up the fallen 22 and ran, but her eyes met Tyler. Slowly bleeding out on Crook’s floor. Crooks laughed, high pitched and cutting through the air. “Make a choice Samantha! One friend or the other” Sam looked back at Jd, frozen in fear at the power that had been placed into Sam’s hands. Her plea was a whisper, “Sam, Please” Sam looked back at Tyler, then to her friend. “Jd, I” She stopped. The look of betrayal is something Sam will never forget. “Jd I’m sorry” Crooks cackled shifting back to the disaster of half a man, he backed up Jd screaming “Sam! Sam don’t do this! Please good God please don’t fucking do this I don’t want to die!” tears were pouring down her face as Crooks gently placed his hand over her mouth muffle her screams. “Shhh, she made her choice Jamie, I told you. You’re not Immune to me, and now? Now I’ve got you”. Sam closed her eyes as Jd’s screams faded into the forest. She met the others eyes. They were all in tears, choking she ran to Tyler. “Help me with him”