The Pink Sneakers Club: Sometime Around Midnight. Christian Bertoni

because I would never listen to something so awful.”

      I smiled while we walked towards Deirdre’s room. “I would. It’s Mad Girl by Emilie Autumn.” I turned to the girls and made a shushing sound, “you guys ready?” They shook their heads no. “Really?” I shook my head at them. “We’re going in.” I was about to turn the doorknob when it started to shake violently for a few seconds then we heard the ping of the brass like the lock - unlocking.

      “What’s happening?” Deirdre said her voice quivering. The door opened a crack by itself and then swung back violently, stopping just before hitting the wall.

      “Oh shit.” I said.

      “Should we go in?” Randi asked.

      “No.” Deirdre said.

      “C’mon.” I said. Huddled together we walked into the room. “Seriously? We look like a bunch of idiots. Spread out.”

      Caren looked around. “There’s nobody here.”

      The music was still playing making what happened that much creepier.

      “What’re the odds that this song would be playing again?” Deirdre added.

      Randi walked over and turned off the music. “Okay, let’s see . . .” she put her hands on her hips then walked over to the closet and opened it. “Nobody here.”

      I looked under the bed, “no one here either.” I stood up and looked around, “what the hell? Where does a girl hide?”

      The door slammed shut.

      “I don’t think she’s hiding.” Randi whispered.

      We stood in the middle of the room frozen. The lights suddenly turned off. On. Off. On. Then off.

      “What’s happening?” Caren asked.

      “I want to leave!” Deirdre shouted.

      “Me too!!” Caren yelled.

      “I agree!” Randi said reaching for the doorknob. “It won’t open! It won’t open!”

      Randi

      Chapter 10

      The girls ran over and tried to open the door.

      “What the hell!?!?!?” Kaye shouted. “Okay kid you better open this door I’m gonna kick your ass!”

      “Shhh.” I said, “listen.” In the pitch black I heard a strange, heavy wheezing, like a winded horse coming from a corner of the room.

      “What’s that? I’m scared.” Caren mumbled.

      Kaye said again. “Shhh.” The heavy wheezing grew louder.

      “Stop it!!” Deirdre screamed covering her ears!

      The sound stopped. The door swung open violently, slamming hard against the wall. We felt something cold brush passed us. “What was that??!! Did you guys feel it?” I said.

      The house was pitch black. “Let’s get the hell outta here now!!” Caren cried out. We ran for the stairs. “Where are they?!?!”

      “There! Over there!” Deirdre shouted, stumbling for the stairs. The darkness was disorienting and being scared didn’t help.

      Thump squeak thump squeak thump squeak.

      “What’s that?” I asked.

      “What?” Kaye inquired.

      “That. Listen.”

      Thump squeak thump squeak thump squeak.

      “What is that?” Deirdre asked.

      “I don’t know but I’m not waiting to find out!” I shouted.

      Thump squeak thump squeak thump squeak.

      It was heading towards us. I whispered, “everyone hold hands and stay together.” We took the stairs one at a time, staying close to the railing and feeling our way down. The odd thing was there was no light at all, not even from the street. What the hell was going on?

      Thump squeak thump squeak thump squeak.

      The sound suddenly stopped at the top of the stairs. And then - the house grew quiet except for our hearts pounding in our chests. At least mine for sure.

      “Is it me or did it just get really cold in here?” Caren asked.

      “She’s right. I’m freezing.” Deirdre added.

      I could feel Deirdre’s cold hands in mine. “Deirdre stop squeezing so hard you’re hurting me.”

      “Um, I’m not holding your hand.”

      “What?” There was a brief moment of shock –- like having a bucket of water thrown in my face.

      “Randi? What’s happening?” Deirdre asked in a barely audible whisper.

      “Something’s sq-squeezing my ha-“ there was a sickening crunch that exploded from my right wrist as the bone shattered. “AAAAAGGGHHH!!!”

      “Randi!?!? What’s happening!?!?!?” Deirdre shouted.

      Kaye ran down to me. “Randi!”

      I was crying, “my wrist. It’s br-broken.”

      Kaye screamed. “What the hel-“ And then she wasn’t there anymore.

      “Kaye! Kaye! Where are you!?!?!” Caren yelled out.

      “Here. I’m okay. Something pushed me down the stairs.”

      “Let’s get outta here!” Deirdre said.

      “Caren grab Randi!” Kaye shouted coming back up the stairs.

      Thump squeak thump squeak thump squeak.

      It was moving back upstairs.

      Caren, Deirdre and Kaye helped me down the stairs. We hurried towards the door when we heard:

      Thumpsqueakthumpsqueakthumpsqueak.

      “It’s coming down the stairs! Go, go, go!” Kaye shouted.

      Caren made a run for the door, “I can’t open it!”

      “Turn the deadbolt! Turn the deadbolt!” Deirdre shouted.

      “Why would there be a deadbolt we didn’t lock the frickin’ door!” Kaye screamed.

      “Well somebody did!!!” Deirdre yelled back.

      Thumpsqueakthumpsqueakthumpsqueak.

      “It’s getting closer!” Kaye screamed. “Open the freakin’ door!!”

      Thumpsqueakthumpsqueakthumpsqueak.

      Caren got the door open, “c’mon!” We ran outside just in time for the front door to slam shut!

      Caren shouted. "OH MY GOD! I'm gonna swing by Wal-Mart on the way home and pick up some huggies!"

      I held my wrist in my other hand for support but the pain was becoming too much. I needed to get to the hospital.

      “Shit Deirdre you don’t have an intruder! You’ve got a freakin’ ghost!” Kaye said.