Lost by Rachel L.

The car rolled to a stop. A heavy steam was fogging the view. Dean got out to check the car and Ken followed.

“I think the engine is shot,” Ken said. Dean tried to get the car started, but all it did was make a horrendous hissing noise. Dean and Ken were brothers. They lived in a small town in the quiet hills of Vermont. They had gone out to the bar to have a few drinks. On their way home they didn’t realized that they took a wrong turn a while back and were completely lost. Ken took out his cell phone. He had little service and his battery was almost dead. He decided to shut it off and use it where there was better service. Dean and Ken began to walk along the dirt road. It was a cool, cloudy night and they needed to find a safe place to stay.

After an hour or so of walking, it began to rain. They were getting drenched when they came across an old beaten down barn. It looked as if it had been abandoned for years. Ken turned on his cell phone. He had to make it quick. He dialed 911. A friendly voice answered but got cut off by the sound of Ken’s phone powering down.

“Damn it,” said Ken, “Hopefully they can trace the call.” The boys tried to dry their clothes and get warm. For some reason the barn had a certain chill to it. They figured they should rest a bit to regain their strength and continue in the morning to look for help. It was hard for them to fall asleep. They lay close to each other to keep warm.

Strange noises kept them awake. It sounded as if there was someone pacing back and forth up on the second story of the barn. The noises seemed to be getting louder and harder. They were both frightened by this. Talking in a whisper they decided that Ken would go up the ladder and see what was happening. Ken slowly climbed up the rickety old ladder which could barely support him. He rolled over on to the top of the loft. Dean could no longer see him from the ground. It was silent for a moment. Dean called up to Ken asking him if he saw anything. Ken didn’t answer. Dean, concerned for his brother, decided to climb the ladder to go after Ken. Dean reached the top and looked at Ken. He was just standing there stunned looking at the dark, dusty corner of the barn. Dean quickly looked over and didn’t believe his eyes as a pale figure was forming. Bright yellow eyes were staring back at the brothers. Short and stubby legs moved towards them. Finally recovering from their paralyzed state, they jumped from the second story. Dean fell first and cushioned Ken’s fall. Ken darted for the barn door, but then he noticed that Dean wasn’t following him. He looked back. Dean’s knee was sprained and he could barely move. Ken rushed back to help him. Once they got Dean to his feet, they eventually made it to the door. When they were a good distance from the barn, Dean laid down to rest.

“What the hell was that?” asked Dean.

“I have no clue,” answered Ken, “do you hear something?” The siren of a police car comforted the brothers. The car pulled up next to them. Ken told the policeman about their car that had been broken down and asked if he would be able to give them a ride home. The policeman agreed. Ken and Dean got into the back of the car. The policeman asked Dean how he hurt his leg. Dean began telling him about their trip looking for shelter and how they came across the barn.

“Wait, did you see something there?” asked the policeman, “There used to be an old crazy man that lived up there. He never left his barn for anything. He went insane and eventually died. People say that his sprit still haunts the place.”

Ken and Dean looked at each other and nodded to each other, but did not respond.