Whispers in the Dark
by: Skillet

No, you’ll never be alone
When darkness comes
I’ll light the night with stars
Hear my whispers in the dark
No, you’ll never be alone
When darkness comes you know I’m never far
Hear my whispers in the dark

Whispers
in
the

DARK

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+PROLOGUE+
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Two young boys crouched down in the darkness, hiding in a tree, letting the leaves cover them. A boy with silky black hair had his arms wrapped tightly around the smaller, trembling boy. When the smaller one of the two let out a whimper the arms around him tightened and the dark haired boy shushed him, reaching up with one hand to stroke his hair, trying to comfort him the same way his mom used to whenever he had a nightmare. Both of the boys’ clothes were soaked in sweat, the fabric sticking uncomfortably to their small bodies.

The two boys had snuck outside to play, as they always did, but that night was different. As they played, rolling around in the grass, trying to catch fireflies, a shadowy figure arose from the ground, creeping up on them from behind. It had been the smaller one who had first noticed it, then, backing up, alerted the other boy. Neither was sure what it was, but it terrified them both and they ran towards a tree, feeling they’d be safer high up where the beast wouldn’t reach them.

“Chase, I want to go,” the smaller boy whispered, sounding as if he were about to cry.

“Shh, it’ll hear us,” the dark haired boy, Chase, whispered harshly.

But Spencer wouldn’t stop making those pitiful little noises and Chase was becoming frustrated. Didn’t he know that the monster was still down there looking for them? He shushed him again and Spencer let out a sob. Not knowing what else to do to keep the boy quiet, Chase slapped a hand over his wet mouth.

It wasn’t the first time they had seen the creature either. Sometimes at night, Spencer would tell him of a shadow following them. But when Chase looked back, there was never anything there. He had told Spencer it was probably just his imagination. But Spencer wouldn’t let it go. And one month ago, Chase had seen it outside the window to the orphanage where they lived.

Chase and Spencer were both orphans, neither knew what happened to their parents. Or at least, that was what they told everyone. They had tried to tell them, tell them that their parents had been murdered by something, the boogeyman perhaps, but no one believed them and it got them a scolding. Their parents had been friends so they knew each other before their parents died and were taken to the orphanage together.

They haven’t left each other’s side since.

Out of the two boys, Spencer was the weaker one. He was always clinging to Chase, seeking comfort and protection. The boys were at the tender age of ten and had lost their parents when they were seven. They hadn’t seen the monster for three whole years so they had let themselves be convinced that it wasn’t real. Yet there it was again, creeping around on the ground beneath them.

Spencer turned his head so it was pressed against Chase’s chest, hiding his face and squeezing his eyes shut. If he couldn’t see it then it couldn’t see him. He would be safe if he just closed his eyes and let Chase hold him, protect him.

Chase tilted his head up to the sky, hidden by the leaves, praying one of the nuns would come out and get them, that it wasn’t real, that they were really just dreaming.

The wind howled in the night, causing both of the boys to shudder at a particularly cold breeze. Chase looked down to cover his cold nose in Spencer’s hair, only to see the ground beneath them.

He froze, holding Spencer so tightly he was hurting the boy.

The monster was sitting at the base of the tree, looking up at them, grinning widely and showing off rows of razor sharp teeth.

His heart stopped and his eyes were becoming dry as he stared at the monster, not blinking.

It probably would have been smarter to close those eyes. He and Spencer both had the same glassy sky blue eyes that appeared to shine in the light of the moon, in the dark, like a cat’s.

“Chase,” Spencer whimpered, his own shining eyes staring down at the creature.

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” Chase whispered, mostly to himself. The monster wasn’t moving; it just stared up at them with that Cheshire Cat grin that sent chills up the boys spines. They both kept hoping the monster would just leave them alone. It had already taken their parents, what more did it want?

But no, the nightmare was just beginning.

The beast, at that moment, was just toying with them.