Excerpt: Three Years in Eschen's Hallow

Movie night, the one night that every one of these kids looked forward to every Friday night. It was a reprieve from studies at Eschens High. There were five of them in total, two boys and three girls, anxious throughout the entire movie. Mom was making popcorn and dad was already snoring upstairs, tucked away in bed.

It was one of those new, modern action horror films that had just struck DVD status and was an instant hit in the theatres when it first made its debut. All throughout the movie, they squirmed in their seats on the cushiony couch. It was a fairly well thought out plot and everything and it had kept them well interested. Jeannie held on to Matt, but really Matt was about to burst into hysterics. Silly high school students, they hadn’t a care in the world.

Meanwhile, mom was still awake, just to keep an eye on the kids; after all, they were all high school students. The news was fairly bland today, someone had just struck it rich in the Eschen Lucky Lotto and there was a minor problem at Henry’s Auto and Supply Shop with shoplifting, but nothing terribly interesting. News was coming out that the Medical Science Division was on the verge of a breakthrough miracle cure, but for what, she had no idea. There all kinds of these false alarms leaking from Crane Inc. but all of them had come to a complete halt in the end.

Lane VanLoten was reporting live outside of Crane Inc.’s Medical Science Laboratory that was centered in downtown. It was the pride of the community, one of those rags to riches stories. Still reporting, there was a flash of light behind her from the building. An explosion. Glass rained down on the streets as someone was caught on camera fleeing the scene. Reaching for her throat, the mother stifled a gasp. Instantly shutting off the TV and running into the living room, she came upon the teens laughing as the credits were rolling, innocently discussing the well thought out plot line but how it could have been delivered in a better way.

“Alright everyone!” she said, still shaking but trying to gain some composure, “Girls, you are upstairs. The bathroom is on the left once you head up the stairs. Guys, both of you will be staying the basement.”

Groans and complains rose from the grumbling children as they started to grudgingly move towards their sleeping quarters. Matt yawned and Becky threw a pillow at his head.

“Hey!” he yelled and threw one that hit her square in the face.

“Now, come on children…”

CRASH! The window shattered right in front of them. Ripping one of the curtains from the window, the creature stared at them with red eyes, intent on blood. There was a stifled thud as the mother hit the ground. She had fainted. The kids stood there, stunned. Their screams could be heard in a two block radius from the house. The rest of the neighborhood had already barricaded themselves in a basement or in a similar spot. The whole town was set at ready. Something terrible this way comes.