Thread: Princess Park

With a shout out to Felicia Florence for the original idea of the story. I wanted something fun, sexy and with horror to play around with from time to time. Enjoy the story, but please don't comment in the thread until its complete, feel free to pm me if you have something to add. Enjoy! --- When the Princess stood in the flood She and the court were drowned in blood. If you see her and her knife, It's too late, she already has your life. David stared at the fence, the backpack thumping against his back as he walked forward, the sun beating down heavily on him. James followed him, the running commentary ranging from the plans they had for their last summer before college, to the new counter girl at Dairy Queen who James wanted to ask out even if she might be a Sophomore. James steadily avoided the topic in front of them as David checked the pockets in his cargo shorts and felt behind in for what was in the backpack, mentally reviewed what he had packed there. Looking around to make sure no one was in sight he pulled the machete from the pack behind and slipped it into place on his belt. Overall not much, since he only intended to be there for the night, though they both knew the unspoken truth, no one had ever gone into Princess Park for an overnight and returned. With an air of finality James stopped, wiping his forehead under the hot summer sun, you're friggin' stupid man. James looked at him with the narrow slits of green eyes above freckled cheeks, they were both lean and tall, high school seniors in the prime. Partners on the track team they had the lean physiques of runners, though as James was red haired and freckled, David was black haired with dark eyes. Shrugging, yeah I know, but its like my old man. David looked through the chain link fence at the edge of trees and brambles that grew on the other side of the cracked parking lot. Weed strewn with pits and concrete thrust up, few had crossed the wide, empty space in years. When he died all he could talk about was the Park. He was there wasn't he? James said in awe, that fateful day had happened before either of them had been born, David's dad was one of the few who had worked in the park, knew what happened, and stayed in town. Everyone took pity on David and his dad, the thoughts and memories of then had turned his father to the town drunk, and when the drinking got bad that's when the ramblings came out. Between the sobs, it had been hard to make out, but slowly, over years, David had pulled enough together to know that one day he had to go in. David slowly turned to James saying the one thing that he had only recently found out, yes he was, and my mother. James' eye widened, dude. Was all he could say, but in that one word said everything that David would have wanted to hear and more. Without a word James reached down and pulled the fence, watch out for the dogs. David nodded, knowing the wild packs of dogs were between him and the trees. They were always seen, especially at night and in the morning. Since no one ventured beyond the fence, except the foolhardy, the packs had been left alone. Over time it was thought that the dogs were part of the problem, evil things in themselves, almost demonic. Most thought they were just rabid and soon enough that would take care of the problem. David took a mouthful of water to steel himself and with a smile and nod slipped through the fence and took off. The parking lot seemed to extend more as he stepped inside it, the sun beat down on him mercilessly as he leaped around and over cracks and holes. The faded lines of the parking lot were chipped and peeled, yellow lines of a past that would never be repeated. Leaping over the remains of a light pole on its side, the glass from the bulb strewn about, the first growling came slowly, building up like thunder. Turning quickly to look behind saw the four-legged shapes leap up, as if erupting from the depths of the ground, in the distance James was waving and making noise. The dogs ignored James and came after David. His heart pumping hard he looked ahead, picking where to set his feet and avoiding the large obstacles but watching for the small things that would trip him up. Feet hitting and bouncing off the tarmac with the rubber souls, his breathing straining as the heat seemed to get worse the closer he came to the trees. The air didn't move on a hot July afternoon, as he came closer and closer to the park it became stale. There began a flavor that filled his nostrils and lungs as he heard the growls and barks come from behind, small shapes coming at him from the side David pushed himself, the adrenaline kicking in as the dogs came closer. Fear was a great motivator, though he was well trained the dogs were hungry. David was fresh meat, he knew that, and this was the worst part about getting in. As he neared the line of shade of the trees he could see now what was barely visible from beyond the line of the fence. Trees grew thick, but also bushes, shrubs and other plants. All thick rooted and twisted. David pumped his arms harder, the beating of his heart like a jack hammer as his flesh, sweat covered and hot was flush with waves of chills that came as he saw the dogs get closer. Their mouths open, tongues lolling and covered with drool. Foam gathered at the corners of red, black lips as the eyes stared at him, boring into his soul. They added more to his fear, a shiver running down his back as he looked from dog to dog, each of their eyes a glowing red. Demon dogs, was all he could force through tight lips and his face frozen in fear. It's true! It's goddamned true! Pushing himself harder than before, arms and legs moving and pumping as his legs began to feel like lead. The ground sticky with heat and more cracked and pitted as he neared the trees, it was a moment of fear as he could feel the dogs nipping at his heels. The sense of teeth snapping at his feet and shoes. A feeling of pain as if his leg was caught between the slobbering jowls of a dog then he was up in the air and through the branches. Flying in slow motion he could hear the nails of the dogs cracking as they stopped suddenly, the yelps of dogs crashing into each other, and the slinking of fear of them as they would go no further. While in the air he felt the cool shadows above him. The sun gone, it was almost a wintry chill that came down to the bone, his body shook not in fear but cold this time as he burst through branches and brambles that grabbed at his clothes and tried to drag him and then he was falling down into the remains of a riverbed. The water was dark and viscous. More like slime than anything, there was a thick swallowing sound as he fell into it, the slimy liquid pulling him in and as his feet sunk up to his ankles he felt the silence. It was not as if there was no noise, but as if something ate it. Struggling to move the 10 feet to the other shore, his feet sunk into the black-green liquid. Afraid to touch it more than he had it was a struggle after the run from the dogs, his body crashing from the adrenaline rush, not wanting to wait. As if afraid that if he stood still he would sink into the liquid. The other side slowly coming closer as he pulled each leg up and high, getting his feet out then down inside again. Sounds of disgust magnifying the hushed sounds of the liquid surrounding each foot and leg he sunk into its unseen depths. The other shore held dark branches, the bushes and roots more and more twisted. Taking out the machete he began to hack and cut, pulling himself up the gentle slope as he did so. Making a path that slowly worked its way up towards where he knew the park lay. It was slow going and the heat came back, the exertions beginning to take their toll on him. The air was worse than stale, it had a fetid smell underneath the age of it. The air felt as if it had lain here unmoving for decades, the air thick as the roots and brambles about him. It was a surprise as he heard the sound behind him, afraid for a moment as he heard the creaking of wood and the slight rustle of leaves. Instead of a figure behind him David saw the growth come back. Where he had hacked a branch off it grew back before his eyes. Like a time lapse film he saw the branch renew itself and twist again behind him, as it trapping him within. Hacking in a fury he cursed himself, damn, damn, damn. Why did I do this, his arms became heavy now as he hacked and pulled the space behind him shortening as he could sense the space ahead, but not see it. So close, hack and pull the machete was covered with thick sap, making it heavier and harder to cut. Stupid, stupid, stupid, he said louder and louder as his arms were a whirlwind of motion the brambles behind beginning to reach out, starting to wrap around his feet and legs as he struggle to pull up. Pants and feet beginning to be bound as he pulled up, the next adrenaline rush was all fear this time, his breath short and in gasps as he felt himself closed in. The branches and brambles reaching for him, to smother him, cover him. A hand reached nothing and he fell onto the smooth pavement on the other side, the soft rustle of dark leaves and the creak of roots filled up the space behind. Then it went quiet. Turning his head he saw the gate before him. Above it all, in a graceful arch that once was colorful and bright with the promise of the dreams of children was dim now. The letters hung askew, one covered in something dark, but he could make it all out. Welcome to Princess Park, he said softly to himself, feeling the hush of the place creep into his soul.