The Intruder

A bleeding tear stained my pale cheek as I saw his black hair mindlessly stroke his dying face. His shirt spiralled at his blood stained hips, his vicious red lips turning white and his perfect blue eyes closing for the last time. Josh was dead.

Chapter 1
As the gravel bit painfully at my shoes, the daggers of rain smacked my head like diamonds. "I can't believe it. A house for me and Josh." I thought. I stared at my best friend and saw his tension flow over to me. We were both nervous. Who wouldn’t be when you had just moved out, only to be moving in with a boy you have known all your life? I felt the key in my pocket, the cold metal freezing my hand. I pulled it out and, as light as a feather, I put it in the lock and turned it. "This is it Callie." Whispered Josh in my white ear. I felt the hair on the back of my neck spring into life as his velvet soft voice sliced my eardrum delicately. "Yeah I guess so." I let a smile play on my lips. I felt his dangerously scarlet lips twist upwards next to me. "I'm gunna get the boxes out the car. You look around; see if you still like it." He chuckled.
"Ok." I mouthed as I watched his beautiful figure walk out the door to his bright red car. I turned back to the old house and felt a mystifying gust of wind tear my blonde hair from my shoulders and place it on my back. 'Why would they leave a window open?' I thought to myself as I climbed the wooden steps. Then I felt it again. It felt more sinister and smelled like flowers and, well, blood. I stepped the next step with more caution and turned onto the landing and faced the open window. My stomach felt like it wanted to tear away from me and sprint down the stairs but I stayed still. Then the old, moulded window slowly edged its way down. I felt myself freeze painfully with fear. I don't know why but I stepped closer. I felt the angry breeze again, slam against my open grey eyes. I looked for another open window, but there wasn't one.

The light hefty wind suddenly turned into a fierce gale. I was flung from my feet and whacked into a wall. I felt my skin crack and the warm juice pour from the dent. I flung myself down the stairs and my legs buckled and I fell into a chair. As soon as Josh walked in the door, I saw the terror sweep through his eyes. He dropped the boxes and sprinted into the door. "Callie! What happened! Oh my God your shoulder!" He fell to his knees and hugged me.
"This house....Josh It was..." I scratched the tears from my face and fell into him. He touched my shoulder and I saw my blood cling to his fingers.
"Are you ok Callie?" he was straining to sound calm.
"No. There was this wind...I went to....upstairs and...it picked me up Josh...it was so strong...had to run..." I was trying to breathe properly.
"Callie, Callie listen to me." Josh stroked my face "It was nothing, ok? Don't panic. I will go check." I clung to his polo shirt.
"No! You can’t!" I wailed. He pulled away from me gently and made his way upstairs. "Oh! Callie! There was a window open. It was nothing at all! Don't freak out on me like that!” I heard a window smack down. 'It isn’t anything' I thought to myself, and felt a shiver travel up my spine.

Chapter 2
I woke up and slid out of bed wearily. I walked carefully over my new bedroom floor. I pushed the door silently open. As I shuffled onto the landing I peeked through the crack in Callie's door making sure she was asleep. I peered round her door and saw her delicately breathing, her hair sprayed over her pillow like rays of sun, her beautiful face peaceful while she dreamt. I snapped out of it. 'Woooh. That was weird. I like turned into a poet thing. Right Josh. You can't think of her like that.' I thought to myself. I shook it off and closed her door. I walked down the stairs, and that’s when felt it. The cool breath, tickling my nerves. I turned round quickly and there was nothing there. I carried on down the steps. A moist hand closed in on my shoulders and the smell of roses and blood swamped my nostrils. I felt my fear bubble and tremble in my stomach. I turned round and felt the presence move too. I ran down the stairs but was flung back up the stairs by a wet, disgusting hand. The fingernails pierced my neck. I felt the sweaty palm sink into my skin, as hot as lava. The pressure was unbearable on my bones. I cried out in pain as the hard, crumbling nails pierced my skin. I felt the sweet, liquid blood pour silently down my back. I tried to grab the hand, but it had gone.

Chapter 3
"What happened!? Josh!?" I screamed as I heard his cry. I fell out of bed and tumbled out of my room. I saw him sitting on the top of the stairs clutching his neck while ruby red blood spurted out of the gaps between his fingers and trickle down his back. I ran to him and clutched his shaking body tightly. "What happened?" I said. He said nothing and remained staring at nothing. I took his freezing hand and led him down the stairs. While I was washing his violently shuddering body, he whispered everything to me. I realised we were not alone. Then Josh passed out onto my lap.

Chapter 4
I stood at my mouldy black window, looking at the army of rain smacking my extension roof. I ducked under the grey net and sat onto my bed. As I lay against my destroyed, dented yellow wall, I thought of Josh. I glanced down at my scarred arm, which reminded me of the past months. Ha! To think I was looking forward to moving in! But look at us now. Two months down the line our lives had crumbled. I could feel myself getting hysterical and had to think that soon it will be over, and the house would be blown to smithereens, I hope.

Chapter 5
I thought of Callie-alone in that hell-hole. I pulled into the decrepit petrol station. The smell of vile rust and putrid diesel filled my lungs. I stopped my once red car outside the shop and walked cautiously on the cold, unforgiving ground. The bell clanged a welcome as I pushed the wilting door forward. The man behind the counter had nicotine stained skin and a gravy spill on his t-shirt. His hello consisted of a nod and a grunt. I walked towards him, my leather jacket rubbing against my white t-shirt. "Got it?" I said with instruction travelling through my voice.
"Course I have mate. Come with me out back and bring your car." He coughed back.
As I roared the car into life with the key I suddenly felt as if everything might be ok, but that feeling soon evaporated as I started driving round the back. As I arrived, I was met with boxes and the man's grimy finger pointing to them. He smiled his disgusting yellow grin. "Thanks." I mumbled through my open car window. I let the aroma of oil wriggle through my nose and I finally fell out the car, sadness hanging on my shoulders. I picked up one of the heavy metal boxes and peered inside. A home-made bomb was sitting there, dangerously perched. 'Perfect.' I thought to myself and loaded it into the cars boot.
As I pulled up and parked the car I felt terror sweep through me. I felt one single tear roll down my cheek as I looked at the evil house. Thank goodness it will be totally gone soon. I lifted the iron box into the house and heard the sound I so didn't want to hear.
Callies scream.

Chapter 6
My legs were collapsing and buckling under me as I put the box on the wood-worm eaten chair and I sprinted after her cry. I ran up the creaky stairs and found Callie being breathed upon by the black shadow that was carefully caressing her face with its fingernails. As it sensed me it released Callie so she fell to the floor, and it crawled up the walls and balanced on the lampshade. Its head twisted round completely and eyes like the devils opened and greeted me. The blackness drew my soul out into the evil pupils and left me crumbling under the weight of the air. "Hello Josh. Come to join the party?"
"Let her go," I demanded sorely "now!" The filthy laugh echoed around the room as I lost sight of it. I suddenly knew what I had to do. I stumbled down the stairs and picked up the weighty box, and took it upstairs. I felt a repulsive hand grab my hair and yank me backwards. I pulled away fiercely and got up the last few stairs.

Chapter 7
I saw Josh struggling with the blackness that surrounded him.
"Josh!" I cried to him.
"Callie, take, this" he battled to say. I tried to get up fast and grabbed the burdensome box. I fought to get it away from the darkness. "Open it" He said while thrashing against the murky shadows. As I opened it I saw the threatening bomb lurking in the corner. Without thinking I stroked the outside of the cold metal casing. I didn't want to do what I had to, but I knew it had to end. I put the box down and grabbed the matches from Josh's dark denim pocket, while he was still fighting against the black shadow. I opened the match box and brushed the fire stick against the side. It quickly caught light. I shoved the box with my foot over towards where the black shadow battled my best friend. I threw the match and it thumped into the box...

Chapter 8
As I saw Callie throw the match I knew it would soon be over. I saw her terrified face look into my eyes as she tossed it and she mouthed, "I love you." And I saw a single drop of water revolve down her cheek. Everything happened so slowly. I winked at her and smiled, because I knew my best friend, the girl I...loved would be safe. I knew I was going to die, but knowing that she would live was the best thing ever. Then, as the gunpowder exploded, I found myself in the air. I saw the black shadow scream and burst as the house it exploded, it died too. And then I was on the floor.

Chapter 9
I saw him crash to the floor, then everything was red and grey dust as the house demolished. I ran to Josh and held his cold, blooded hand. He looked into my eyes, "I love you too." He whispered. I felt myself go hysterical and I started shaking. "Josh, please don’t go. I love you too much. We could move away and I don’t know, just please, please don’t leave me!" I saw his eyes getting heavier as he laughed. His face was wet with his tears and mine.
"I will always be with you. I promise. Don’t, don’t..." he was slowly going to sleep, "don’t ever be sad. As my last wish can you make me the happiest guy alive?" I nodded "Will you marry me?"
"Of course I will!" I choked out. He laughed and caressed my tear stained face.
"Thank you." He breathed heavily and his eyes closed. His arm dropped from my face and sank to the floor. "No! Please no! Oh my God No! Josh, Josh wake up, stop it! It's not funny! Wake up, come on!" I sobbed into his chest. As I raised my head I looked at him, still as beautiful as ever. His black hair mindlessly stroke his dead face, as the wind blew through the demolished walls. His shirt spiralled at his blood stained hips, his vicious red lips had turned white and blue. His perfect blue eyes closed for the last time. Josh was dead, definitely gone. He said he wouldn't leave me, but he has. 'Why?' I thought and then cried out to the wind, "Why! Josh come back!"

Chapter 10
As I felt myself dying I tried to keep my eyes open, but they were just so heavy. At least I knew she loved me, and I loved her. And then I just fell into this blackness. I saw Callie getting further away from me. I tried to grab at her, but my arms wouldn't move. She was fading away from me and then she was gone. Everything was gone. I could hear and see nothing. Then I knew it was the end. I gave up and let myself twist and fall into the blackness. I didn’t have to do anything to let myself drift into the painful silence that is death, I just melted away.

Chapter 11
As I was in the big black car I felt a trickle of salty water drip down my cheek. I thought of everything that happened after he had gone. I had to tell his mother that her only child had gone, and watch her sob as she clutched to my arm, I saw his body being zipped up in a big black bag, and his stunning and striking face gone forever. I saw his hand fall out as he was carried away; its blueness making me shiver uncontrollably. And now I was in this long car travelling to a young man's funeral. My young man. My picturesque fiance. I clutched his leather, blood stained jacket to my heart. It smelled of him. I wanted him here. To hear his dangerously milk soft voice. To feel his cool breath dripping onto my spine. To notice his perfect eyebrows. To witness his dark denim jeans hanging perfectly off his hips. To suffer his intense glare piercing my back carefully. To become infected with his catchable and perfect smile. I felt the car delicately stop outside the small church. I could see Josh's friend's pouring into the little bricked parish. I saw them trying to be manly men but crying all the same. I saw members of what I guessed his family sniffling and shuffling into the doors. As I got out I noticed Josh's friends all stop and they came over to me. There were about six of them. I noticed they all wore suits and I laughed inside as I noticed their high-tops and band shirts poking out underneath. I knew them all as they were his best friends. They just looked at me and one blonde haired man called Kyle stepped forward. He stared at me and just hugged me very tightly. I hugged him back. As we released each other the rest of the guy's nodded at me while tear's dripped from their faces. We all walked in together. I still clutched his jacket.

Chapter 12
The moment I stood up to read the poem I felt his presence. I heard him say "It better be good." And I heard him laugh. I felt him put his arm around my waist and we walked up together. Maybe I was going crazy, i don’t mind though, as long as I'm crazy enough to believe he's still here, i don't mind. As I was about to read, I looked over to where I felt he was to show I knew he was there. I felt his warm ruby lips kiss my head and I smiled at the paper I was holding between my ashen skinned fingers. Then I started to read.

Chapter 13
As I stood at the demolished house, I thought of him dying. It had not been in vain. We had gotten rid of the evilest thing I had ever come across. But as I stood there I heard that same voice...the voice of the shadow.
"Back again...?"