The 7th Street Loop
A Prompt from Labyrinthia Mythweaver
Content Warning: This story contains themes of psychological horror, disorientation, and mild body horror. If you are not in a place for these themes please feel free to skip this one.
The light flashed three times in quick succession. Up, hold five seconds. Down, hold seven seconds. Up, hold—off. Five minutes, meet at the Seventh Street Park. That was our code. I grabbed my jean jacket off the unmade bed and threw it on. It had a musty smell of teen funk and body spray. I tiptoed barefoot to my bedroom door, and I pressed my ear against it lightly, listening for any noise. The house was quiet. Relief flooded through me.
I grabbed my boots from behind the door and tiptoed back to the second-floor window. I opened the window just wide enough to squeeze out, then pulled it back closed leaving a large enough gap that I could easily get back in before dawn. I reached the edge of the sidewalk and ducked behind the bushes to put my boots on. I stayed bent down low in an almost duck-waddle, trying to stay out of sight of the large floodlights that would give me away in an instant.
Once I reached the edge of the motion sensor’s range, I stood tall. I flicked the collar of my jean jacket up to cover my neck from the wind and wrapped my arms around myself. Maybe a heavier sweater would have been a good idea. Too late now. I headed toward Seventh Street Park.
My leather combat boots made a deep thud in the still night. Each thud felt more ominous than the last. At least my jeans were warm. I began to feel heat build in my legs as I continued to walk. The dark green trees swaying gently in the breeze. How long had I been walking? I looked at my surroundings again. Glancing behind me I could still see the house… but I’d been walking at least ten minutes by now. Haven’t I?
I put my feet in front of eachother a bit faster. Five minutes. Surely it’s been ten. What if he thinks that I’m not coming? I began to sweat slightly as my arms began to swing softly back and forth, as if to gain speed.
Thud—Thud—Thud—Thud.
Rubber heels on concrete sidewalk. The surrounding trees began to feel ominous, their dark branches swinging down low to ensnare me.
“Chad… Chad, is that you?!” My voice shook on the last you as the whispers became louder.
Icy cold breath on the back of my neck sent shivers through my marrow.
I was no longer moving. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t move
“Chad! CHAD!”
My whole body was vibrating in fear, bile beginning to rise hot in my throat. My vision coming into sharp focus as I slowly… oh so slowly, turned. One tiny step at a time. I was afraid. So afraid. Holding my eyes pressed shut until the last possible moment, sure I would open my eyes to something. What kind of thing? I’m just walking to the park. What’s happening? I slowly, so slowly, peek from beneath my eyelids toward the space behind me.
I was standing at the edge of the sidewalk. I looked up. The light flashed three times in quick succession. Up, hold five seconds. Down, hold seven seconds. Up, hold—off. I’d better hurry. Only five minutes before Chad wants me to be at Seventh Street Park. A wave of nausea hit me; why was I sweating when it was so cold out? I hurried toward the park.
As I walked, I noticed the scenery before me begin to change. The sidewalk here looked like it was decaying. My rubber boot heel hit a section that crumbled yet stuck to the bottom of my boot. How can sidewalk decay?! I squatted down, feeling around the edges of the wound. The concrete melted in my hand, becoming almost viscous black. It flowed back out between my fingers and back to the heel shaped wound. My hand was left clean; no marks. I looked up at the night sky. It was so dark; No moon tonight. Maybe the light was just playing tricks on me. Surely it was just a bit of dirt. I stood back up, pulling my jean jacket closer, straightening my collar and hurried on.
Suddenly, my shoulder was yanke to the side. A tree branch catching on the butterfly patch on my shoulder snaring me. I grasped the branch to pull it away. “Ow! What the fuck?” The branch was free, but my hand—ah. I looked down at it. A long gash ran from the index finger to the base of the thumb. It started to bleed. I placed my palm in my mouth and sucked on the blood for a moment, holding my tongue against the coppery, salty-sweet liquid to stem the flow.
Looking around, I saw the trees beside were now leaning over the path, low enough that the tops would brush my head if I were to go on. I got down on my hands and knees and began to crawl forward. Surely the park is just ahead. It’s just beyond these trees. I felt something slither along my ankle. Looking back, It was moist. My skin crawled as I saw the end of a long root, covered in thick black ooze, snaking into my pant leg. I kicked it away weith a squelch, grunting and throwing myself forward beyond the copse of trees. Finally free. There, I saw the park ahead. The moon glinting off the slide. Wait, there’s no moon tonight. What’s that?
The light flashed three times in quick succession. Up, hold five seconds. Down, hold seven seconds. Up, hold—off. I looked behind me. The edge of the sidewalk was there, just in front of the facade of our white stone house. I looked back in front of myself, confused. Wait, didn’t I—? My hand—ahh. My hand. I pulled my hand to my face to try to see it in the dim night. Nothing was there. It was as smooth and unblemished. My chest and back exploded in gooseflesh as a strong wind blew, leaves flying through the air like bullets ricocheting off bark. I ducked, hearing the sharp sound of the incoming volley. Leaves seared across my scalp and face, leaving hot, wet lines in their wake.
I’ve got to get to the park. I need to hurry so he doesn’t think I can’t make it. Something is wrong with the leaves. I have to warn him. I had to hurry. I had to make sure he was safe. I started off in the direction of the park. The whispers a melancholy accompaniment to the dark.
©Andrea Curran
Thank you Labyrinthia Mythweaver for a lovely prompt! I had so much fun playing with this story! Want to write one too?
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I’ll leave the light on for you! Much Love — Andy
You have such a wide range of writing styles! What great story telling! Particularly loved the park part.
Oooh this was a fun, intense read. And so vivid! Love a good squelch.