“Breaking News. Young Sally Johnson was found this morning at 7:06 in the woods. Her body was lying upon a silk blanket, her head rested upon a velvet pillow. She had been dressed up in a beautiful pink dress with her arms folded upon her stomach. She had a single stab wound to the chest which had been cleaned and dressed. Parents Maria and Thomas had sent $1,000,000 to an unknown person for the hopeful safe return of their 7 year old daughter. This is the 3rd death of a young child in 2 months. Police believe it is the work of a serial killer due to the similar nature of each crime. They warn parents to keep a close and watchful eye on their children to prevent another kidnap and murder like this. We will update you when we get more information on this tragic murder. Please, be safe and keep your children safe.”

I chuckled and shook my head, settling back into my tattered leather armchair. I could hear little Ella crying in the back room. I picked up a mirror lying on the coffee table in front of me and brought it to my mouth. I admired every inch of my face, especially my mouth. Cut upward to my cheekbones, the corners of my mouth lifted upwards constantly. My teeth sharp, yellow, and stained with blood. “Smile.”

“No hunny, mama.” He giggled and grabbed at my hand with his chubby little fingers. “Maaaa, mama!” My heart jumped with joy at the sound of his first “mama”. “Good job, Tyler! Mama loves her little, beautiful boy!” He grinned, looking quite proud of himself. His pale face lit up and he hugged my arm. I picked him up from his cradle and kissed his forehead, then held him against my body.

John

I heard the voice of my wife drifting down the staircase as I cooked dinner. I turned off the flame underneath my cooking steaks and swept out of the room. As I climbed the stairs and came towards the nursery door, my voice caught in my throat. Holding it against her chest, my wife was holding a black, shadowy creature with blood red eyes. It opened its gruesome mouth and smirked at me with blood red teeth. I heard her call it “Tyler” and shouted, “Allison, stop let it go!” She looked over at me and smiled. “Tyler came back hunny, he came back. God gave us another chance with him.”

“Allison, Allison I need you to let him go. That isn’t Tyler, put it down.” The sudden exposure of its disguise angered the creature. I dove for Allison but in a second the sharp claws of the demon were at her throat and before I could even blink, blood was pouring from her neck. It vanished from view and I was left holding my dying wife all alone. “NO, NO! GET BACK HERE! YOU TOOK TYLER, YOU CAN’T TAKE ALLISON TOO! TAKE ME! TAKE ME! IT’S MY FAULT, PLEASE!”

“And that’s the story of John Brookes. Of course it wasn’t really a demon who killed his wife and baby, it was him. He got off before on the baby’s death because they couldn’t prove it was him or his wife, but when the police showed up there was a knife on the floor with his and his wife’s prints on it. She was dead and he had been stabbed twice. The number “2” was smeared on the wall and next to it was “You’re next” in blood as well. They say when the baby was found there was a number “1” smeared on the wall and the words “Eenie, meenie, minie, moe, the girl will be the next to go.” It was super freaky. Brookes ended up going to a mental institution. 5 years later, he was found dead in his room, throat slit open like his wife and baby, hanging from the ceiling. “I win” was written on the wall next to his body in his blood. People say it was the demon and that he won his terrifying game and killed the entire family. No one knows why a demon would want to kill the entire family and who killed John. Legend says if you repeat the story of the family, you join the game as well as anyone you’re with, whether you want to or not. It’s dumb though, none of it’s true.”

“U-u-u-um, B-b-brie- l-l-look b-b-behind y-y-y-you.” Briella turned around and was face to face with a shadow like creature, its eyes bright red. Already smeared on the wall with blood was “1” and “Mickey, Mickey, game on. The cat will catch the mouse.” The sound of both girl’s screams echoed throughout the house as Briella’s throat was slit open and she toppled over into a pool of her own blood.

I don’t think I can take this house much longer. It’s driving me crazy. I keep hearing whispers, seeing shadowy figures in the hallway and I always have the feeling I’m being watched. What’s the use of having $1,000 if I’m locked up in an insane asylum. I thought spending a week in a haunted house would be fun but it’s just terrifying. I can’t tell if it’s just in my head or if it’s real. I pray to god it isn’t the latter. Maybe I could leave? I mean it’s only day 2.

January 17, 1999

I suppose my last diary entry I was just letting my imagination get the best of me. Nothing strange has happened to me all day, but maybe that’s strange? No, I won’t get myself all worked up again. How embarrassing would it be to give up on day 3? I’ll stay, at least until day 5

January 19, 1999

I need to leave the house. When I looked in the mirror today, I saw my face, but it wasn’t me. The flesh was rotting from my face, my eyes were sunken into my skull and bits of bone were showing through. I can’t leave though, the house won’t let me. It’s like the doors have been nailed shut and the windows won’t budge. I’m stuck here but I don’t know for how long.

January 20, 1999

The ghosts and demons aren’t afraid to show themselves anymore. I think they’ve made a game of seeing who can scare me the most. I’m terrified to keep my eyes open but I’m so scared to keep them closed. It’s my second night of no sleep, I’m exhausted but if I go to sleep, I don’t know if I’ll wake up again. It’s safer to stay awake

January 21, 1999

I know I’m going to die. Today all the ghosts seem to be more excited than usual. I keep seeing scenes of my death in every reflective surface. A flock of crows somehow got in and they kept swarming me in the living room. This house certainly isn’t subtle with its signs. But at least I’ll finally get some sleep. Yes, sweet sweet sleep.

She’s coming. Everything’s silent and the lights in the halls are shattering one by one. I need say only one thing. If you’re reading this, you’re inside the house. Get out while you still can, before it’s too late. Hurry before this house claims your life too!

Briana dropped the old, tattered diary back into the box. With shaking hands, she picked up the aged newspaper underneath. The only article on the front page was of the mysterious death of a young man who died in the city, on the street, in the house she was in. The name, Fredrick Prieson. The same name of the man who wrote the diary. Suddenly, the open window next to her slammed shut. She carelessly threw the newspaper into the air and ran. Through the hall, down the stairs, to the front door. She frantically pulled on the handle but the door refused to open. Glass shattered all around her and the only light in the room was a small circle around her. A woman floated into view. She had silky, blonde hair, beautiful blue eyes and luscious red lips. She wore a long white dress and floated a foot or two off the ground. She also looked opalescent. But then she turned into something out of a nightmare, her lips twisted into an ugly, crooked grin and her eyes turned bitch black. Her teeth became fangs and her nails became sharp claws. Her perfect skin was now covered in cuts and blood was smeared across her dress and ran down her face like tears. The woman let out a horrible scream like a banshee and rushed at Brianna. Then everything went black. Now it was her turn to help the house trap and claim another victim.

I wish I were an angel, one who’d never fall

I wish I were a fire, that never would go out

I wish I were a child, who never had any doubt

I wish I were a heart, that could never break

I wish I were the music, that no one could ever hate

I wish I were a star, shining oh so bright

I wish  I were the sun, never taken over by night

I wish I were the bed, that everyone would love

I wish I were a bird, the prettiest little dove

I wish I were a horse, one that was so strong

I wish I were a person, one who belonged