*Thriller/Horror*
"I have to get going." Ellie spoke as she stood up from the couch. Her long light brown hair hung down to her waist and she looked back at me with her brown eyes. "Sorry, Liv. It's just that time of night."
"You leave at seven in the evening on the dot every night." I groaned at my best friend. "You know you've always been a killjoy. We've just graduated and we're supposed to be living our best lives. But here you are needing to be home so early."
"I know." She chuckled to help lighten the mood. "I'll see you tomorrow?"
I let out a small sigh. "Yes."
"Awesome." Ellie smiled right before leaving the room.
It was the strangest thing. She could not stay anywhere later than seven. No matter where we were she would leave. It could be something like a football game or even just a store trip. She had been my best friend for ten years and we never once had a sleepover. We never had a girls night. There was never enough time.
I got up from the couch and headed into the bathroom. I put my red hair into a bun and decided to maybe get some dinner for myself. My parents were out of town so I had to fend for myself. I hoped Ellie would've made an attempt to keep me company but that was an epic fail.
Wait a moment. That's it!
I could use this time to see where Ellie actually went when she left my house. She always walked so she couldn't go far. I threw on a pair of boots and grabbed my jacket. I locked the front door and headed for the direction I always watched Ellie walk in.
I ran as quickly as I could until she finally came into view. That's when I decided to use bushes and trees as cover. If she knew I was following she would send me back home. I couldn't let her see me if I wanted this to be successful.
She continued walking straight until she reached an alleyway. She looked around to make sure no one else was present. When she felt she was in the clear she walked into the alley. I kept quiet as I went to catch up to her.
My eyes grew wide as I watched her recite some words that I didn't understand. Once she finished some type of portal seemed to appear. This was only something I've heard of in movies. My eyes couldn't believe what they were seeing. How was this possible?
I watched as she entered inside this portal she had conjured up. Something inside me told me I needed to see more. Before I could really think my feet were running to this portal to get inside before it closed. I don't know what had gotten into me but I needed to see what this was all about.
I stepped inside and the portal closed behind me. I looked around and everything was dark. There was a paved walkway and I noticed Ellie walking down it. I decided to continue following her. There were a few trees that I used as cover.
I continued following her down the path. I got behind one tree as I noticed Ellie stop to look around. She must've felt my presence. I peeked out from behind the tree. She started to walk again and I started to breathe a sigh of relief. My sigh turned into a squeal very quickly as the tree beside me moved.
I jumped back and was startled again by a voice. "I sensed you were here." Ellie spoke as I turned around to face her. Her brown eyes almost seemed black now.
I knew I was as pale as a ghost. I looked around the place. "W-where are we Ellie?" I stuttered out.
A devious grin appeared on her lips. "Liv, welcome to the underworld."
That didn't clear up anything for me. "What?"
She rolled her eyes. "I'll explain more when we can talk in private. But listen carefully you have to be quiet Liv. You have to keep your mouth shut. There are things that will eat your soul if they know you shouldn't be here. I can help keep you a secret but you have to hush."
I nodded in response. She said to be quiet so I figured it probably started right now.
Ellie grabbed my hand and led me further down the path. The further we went the closer we got to a city that seemed to glow red. I could feel a sense of uneasiness as others seemed to be coming into view. There were other people, well creatures, at the edge of the path. They looked like things that were in my worst nightmare.
Ellie kept her head high as she brought me down the path. Why was she here? Why did she have access to a place like this? She had to be something from here but she seemed so normal. I thought before that maybe she just had a bad home life, I didn't expect that she wasn't even from the same world. I had too many questions and I had to wait before I could get any answer.
Ellie continued walking with confidence. We came across a shack and headed right to the front door. Ellie pulled out a key and then unlocked the door. We stepped inside and she closed the door, locking it behind us.
"What's going on?" I asked in a quiet tone.
Ellie sighed. "I'm a demon Liv. But I'm not like the others."
I felt fear for the first time as I looked at my best friend. How could this be? She seemed so normal. I would've never guessed this was the reason she left every night.
"I don't come to your world to make deals or hurt anyone." Ellie explained after seeing my terrified expression. "I won't lie, I do get off on causing a little chaos but that's it."
"I don't know what to say." I was speechless. How am I supposed to react to information like this?
There was a knock on the door of the shack. Ellie glanced to the door and then back to me. "I need you to get in the closet now!" She was stern but spoke in a whisper.
I didn't dare question her. I ran into the closet and made sure I was covered with the clothing. I heard her foot steps and then she opened the door. Who was she hiding me from?
"Dawson, what do I owe the pleasure?" Ellie asked.
"We got a report that a human soul passed through." A deep voice responded. "A soul that isn't authorized to be here. You wouldn't know anything about that would you?"
"No." Ellie answered sweetly.
"Mind if I take a look around?" The man she referred to as Dawson asked.
"No. I have nothing to hide." I could hear the confidence in Ellie's voice.
I listened to the heavy footsteps walk around the shack as he looked around for me. I caught a glimpse of him through a few of the clothes. He was tall and bulky. I held my breath as I feared the possibility of him hearing me breath. He stayed in front of the closet for a moment before turning back to Ellie.
"You're clear. But if you see anything call me." He spoke sternly in his deep voice.
"Of course." Ellie responded.
I listened to the footsteps leave the shack. Ellie locked the door again and waited for a moment. She then moved the clothes out of my way. She gave no warning so I couldn't help but jump.
She gave a chuckle. "You can come out now Liv."
I sighed as I exited the closet. "Why am I not suppose to be here?"
"Because you don't belong here silly. And the big man also doesn't like when people sneak in here." She responded.
"Who's the big man?" I looked at her curiously.
"Lucifer of course." She had an amused smile on her face. "You should know that."
"Oh." I bit my lip from being so nervous.
Her smile left her lips. "We need to get you back home. We can talk more about this stuff tomorrow when it's safer."
"How do you recommend we do that?" I asked. We made it to the shack safe and sound but we weren't guaranteed to be able to do it again. Especially with them already suspecting Ellie of bringing me in.
She pursed her lips together as she thought for a moment. She went to the closet and grabbed a cloak with a hood which she handed over to me. "Put this on, it'll help disguise you. Keep quiet and I should be able to get you back quickly."
I nodded and proceeded to do as told. "How's this?"
She took a moment to study my appearance. "Perfect, let's get going."
I followed Ellie out of the shack. We started down the same path we had followed when we came in. Other monsters still were lining the path. This time they seemed hungry though. They must've heard about the human soul here. They were clearly more observant this time around.
I could feel my heart pounding inside of my chest. I was nervous and anxious. The monstrous faces I was seeing were sure to haunt me forever. One in particular came into view and I could feel my body tremble in fear. I didn't realize that Ellie had stopped and I bumped into her, knocking us both down.
The hood of the cloak came down and all of a sudden the eyes of each monster were on me. They all seemed to be able to sense my fear which gave away that I wasn't part of this world. Ellie studied them for a moment and then looked at me. "Run!"
We both got up and she grabbed my hand. She pulled me along the path as we ran as quickly as we could. Monster's were following us and they were closing in. Finally the portal came into view. Ellie gave me one last look. "Go through, now!"
I didn't have any time to respond. Ellie let go of my hand and practically pushed me through. I fell to the ground and when I looked around I was back in the alleyway. I turned to look at the portal and it was gone. I took a few breaths and started my walk home.
I returned quickly and locked up behind me. I went to my room and left the lamp on as I attempted to get some sleep. It was difficult. The images from the monsters were burned into my mind. Every time I closed my eyes I felt pure fear.
I don't know when but my body gave in and I had gotten a few hours of sleep. I woke up to noise coming from downstairs in the kitchen. I was nervous but I needed to check it out. I made it down the stairs and was surprised when Ellie turned to look at me.
"Good morning sleepy head." She smiled.