The Puppet

[pieface101 285]

 

 

Okay, I was originally gonna post this at Halloween's but I grew... impatient shall we say. Anyways before we begin let's just say this is my first horror story and is very cliche. Also, I would like to give credit to various things for inspiration, including slenderman, FNAF, Stephen King, etc. Finally, keep in mind a lot of elements of the story are unrealistic because the plot needs to be the plot and I can't have characters getting out of situations easy, you know?

 

The Puppet

 

When I was little, I read a book about a puppet. Back then, it was my imaginary friend. We ran around the house, ate dinner together, even going so far as to have him sleep beside me. He wasn't exactly the most physically pleasant puppet. It was as if the illustrator had given up on drawing the puppet, and gave him the most random features. Half of his height was constituted by a head of white porcelain, with black depressions for eyes and a mouth. The rest of his body was flimsy with unnaturally long limbs, stuck in a tuxedo two sizes too tight. Most of its strings were missing as if it had somehow escaped a circus, ran halfway across the country, and plopped itself inside a picture book.

 

Then I grew up, and the puppet came back.

 

It was the night before the winter solstice, with a cool draft through the window. It was chilly, and I had a hard time sleeping. My older sister, Sarah, on the other hand, could sleep through a hurricane and was snoring loudly next door.

 

After an hour of fruitlessly attempting to fall asleep, I decided to take a little walk. Sitting up, the first thing I noticed was the figure at the foot of my bed. It was the puppet, but this time, it was real. Naturally, I screamed, pinched myself, realized that I wasn't dreaming and scrambled outside. "Sarah!" I barged into her room. She continued snoring. "Wake up!"I shook her. Nothing. I surveyed her room for anything I could use to wake her up. An alarm clock, hockey stick, and her goldfish bowl."Sorry about this." I mumbled, before dumping the bowl, goldfish and all, onto her face.

 

She spluttered awake."Why the- Was that my goldfish bowl?!"

"Yes! I'll explain later. Come on!"

 

Sarah grabbed me and shoved me onto the bed, before pinning my arms behind my back.

 

"I demand an explanation. Now!"

"Now's not really the time-" I began."Is this your idea of a joke? You're gonna be so dead when Mom comes home. That was my fish!"

"Yes, poor fishy. Please let me-"

 

I didn't get the chance to finish my sentence. I was extremely ticklish, and that was something Sarah enjoyed exploiting. By the time she was done, I was left gasping for air.

 

"Fine!" I shouted. "It's the puppet. He's real. Okay? See for yourself."

"Look, you need to understand the difference between imaginary friends, and real friends, which you don't have." Sarah said, smirking. "I'll prove it to you." She got out of bed and opened the door. I waited a few seconds before she gasped and ran back inside."What's it doing outside my room, staring at the door?" she cried, slamming the door shut.

 

I looked up. "No, I swore it was on my bed-"

"It's outside my room. Now if you think this is funny, then boy are you wrong." Sarah snarled, making the tickle motion with her fingers. I involuntarily squirmed. "Why won't you believe me? We don't have a puppet, much less that specific one, and it's not like I took a midnight trip to purchase one just so I could freak you out!"She held her gaze for a few seconds, before going limp.

 

"Okay, what do we do then?"

"I dunno. Aren't you supposed to be the one with all the answers?"

"Well clearly this is beyond AP Latin!" she fired back."Okay, okay. Can't we call the police?"

"What, and tell them we're being stalked by an evil puppet? Do you really think they'll believe us?"

"Run to the neighbor's house?"

"In the middle of the night?! You're kidding yourself."

"I give up!" I sighed, sitting down on the bed."Tell you what, we'll wait till Mom gets home. Her shift's almost over. It'll be dawn then. In the meantime, we need to find a good place to hide from the puppet."

"Can't we hide in here?"

"Since when did a door stop monsters in horror movies? If it gets in here, we'll be trapped."

"So where do we go?"

"In a game of hide-and-seek? The big shed out back, of course!"

"Fine by me. We'll just sneak out the window."I moved towards the window, only to jump back. "It's-it's outside. I can see its face. It's right outside the window."

"We'll just sneak out this door then." Sarah whispered. "Come on."

 

We tiptoed out, slowly sneaking down the wooden stairs. We managed to make it down without creaking, but there was something eerie about a house at night that still unsettled me. The photographs on the walls seemed unearthly in the fading light.At the foot of the stairs, Sarah motioned for me to follow her. We walked across the hallway and into the kitchen. I couldn't see much more than my hand in front of my face, and had to feel my way around.

 

"Ouch!" I cried.

"What is it?"

 

"Nothing, I just stepped on something. Continue." I replied. "Okay, we'll take flashlights from the cabinet, but nothing else. We don't want to spend too much time here." Sarah whispered."Agreed."

 

I felt my way around the kitchen, occasionally stumbling until I thought I found the cabinet. Inside were pots and pans. I continued searching, finding another cabinet full of china plates, and another full of spices. After a few minutes of searching, I finally found the right cabinet. I opened it and took out two flashlights and some spare batteries. Clicking my flashlight on, I shone it around the kitchen. I inhaled sharply. There were brand new, miniature muddy footprints all over the ground, and on the table. Even in the sink. A few cabinet doors were ajar and their contents were strewn all over the floor. Among those were a carving knife, the handle of which I had stepped on earlier.

 

"Woah." I muttered.

"Well observed, Sherlock." Sarah replied. "Let's get moving."

"Wait. Those footprints are wet. It's almost as if-"

"-the puppet was in here with us." Sarah finished. "Yes, and that's why we need to get a move on!"

"Why didn't it kill us?"

"Dunno, but be glad it didn't."

 

Having nothing else to say, I followed Sarah into the main hallway. The muddy footprints were everywhere, even on the walls and ceiling. The puppet was nowhere in sight."Suddenly this doesn't feel like such a great idea." I murmured.Sarah ignored me and tried opening the door.

 

"It's locked."

"Well, find the keys, Miss AP Latin." I retorted."No, from the outside." Sarah fired back.

"Oh." I said. "Umm... Try the back door?"

"Yeah, try the back door." Sarah agreed.

 

Mercifully, it was unlocked. Why we didn't think of trying the back door in the first place, I have no idea. However, more pressing matters were on our minds as we stepped into the warm night.The shed was built about twenty years or so ago. It was a huge wooden structure, so large that a better term would have been "warehouse", except it didn't serve any purpose these days except storing tools. I hadn't been inside it for years, so when Sarah unbolted the door, I was once again in awe at its size. It was almost as if it was bigger on the inside.Sarah bolted the door, and I observed the interior with my flashlight. There weren't any muddy footprints. A few tables were full of saws, drills, and other power tools, but most were empty.

 

It was incredibly dusty, but not the most uncomfortable place to spend the night.

 

---

 

"Sarah!" I whispered, shaking her.

"What?" she answered groggily, sitting up. "I was just about to doze off to sleep. It's an hour until dawn. Get some rest."

"Yeah, well, you should know by now I hate cool drafts. I have a hard time sleeping with drafts in my room."

"Why don't you call Mom then? Warn her about the puppet so she doesn't waltz into the house and get butchered?"

"You have a strange sense of humor." I remarked.
"Today is a strange day." Sarah shot back.

"Fine." I said, dialing Mom's number. Nothing. "No WiFi." I exclaimed. "Useless thing. Wish Mom would let us have a cellular data plan."

"Great." Sarah tutted. "I'll go back inside the house and call her."

"You can't do that!"

"Why can't I? If Mom comes home and gets killed, all this waiting will be for nothing. Plus, I'm not putting you in any danger, and I can text you to tell you how I'm doing."

 

I couldn't see any counterargument, so I agreed. Sarah unbolted the door and stepped outside, blasting me in the face with the cool air.

 

 

SARAH - 1 new message

 

Sarah...
 

 

What?

 

Nothing. Just checking to

make sure you were safe

 

U had me scared for

a sec >:c

 

Mwahaha

 

Not funny

 

Y

 

???

 

Back doors locked.

 

Course it is

 

Try the front

 

Okay

 

This shed is darn creepy

as all

 

Something I can't quite

put my finger on

 

Sarah?

 

What?

 

Oh nothing

 

Just thought you know

 

You died

 

Course not :3

 

I killed the puppet with my

taekwondo skillz

 

Did you get in?

 

Yeah its creepy... front

door was unlocked

 

More muddy footprints

 

Call her

 

Doing so right now

 

Success

 

Yay now you can come

back

 

Except...

 

Plz don't say front door

was locked

 

Front door was locked

 

I'll tell you when I find a way

out

 

Sarah...

 

I'm seriously creeped out

being alone by myself

in a large shed

 

Speaking of which...

 

this shed is really

rlly creep

 

I'm sorry...

 

Nothing. Probably me

being paranoid.

 

I'm sorry I really am

 

Nothing to worry about

 

Y U say your sorry?

 

I'll tell you later

 

where r u?

 

Still in shed, why?

 

Knowing u, you'll

go and find me.

 

Don't.

 

Have you got out yet?

 

Nope Nada ZIlch

 

Can you climb window?

 

That's genius!

 

Hold on.

 

These footprints on the stairs

 

Something seriously wrong

with them

 

It's as if...

 

I don't know

 

What?

 

Sarah?

 

These footprints look

exactly like my own

 

That's impossible

 

FIne. I'll continue

 

Don't you worry;

whatever you do,

don't leave the shed

 

don't wander off

 

:)

 

Sarah.

 

This shed creeps me out

 

I think I know why now.

 

Yes!

 

What?

 

I got out.

 

Woohoo!

 

But u better check out this

shed

 

How can there be a draft

if the door is closed

and the walls are sealed?

 

I'm sorry.

 

I'm so very sorry.

 

I'm going to tell u

some very bad news,

and whatever I say,

stay in the shed ok?

 

Don't worry. I wont leave

 

Why tho? U called mom

and got out rite?

 

No.

 

U didn't call mom?

 

No. I didn't escape.

The puppet snapped

my neck.

 

Not as painful as I

thought.

 

Wait.

 

If ur dead.

 

THEN WHO AM I
TALKING TO???

 

I'm so sorry

 

I tricked you

 

Sarah?

 

SARAH?

 

SARAH!!!

 

Goodbye old friend

 

 

 

 

The End.

 

Helpful feedback is appreciated :)

 

But wait. If Pie is dead, then who is typing this article?

 

Dun dun dun

 

*Edit: O probs should mention I don't really have a sister named Sarah

Edited April 19, 2017 by pieface101

[Crip 4,735]

Approved.

 

 

Edits:

 

- Formatting altered.

- 2 sentences rephrased.

- Unnecessary words removed in one place.

- "Shone" not "Shined".

 

Positively creepy! I actually enjoyed this, simply because I like a good horror story. Very strange and definitely weird.  The texts are a little stretched out and too colourful for my liking. However, you built up a great atmosphere. Keep writing, your English is almost completely sound throughout.

 

Hold on, there's something at the end of my bed. I'll just go check it ou-

 

*Screen blanks out*

Edited April 16, 2017 by Savage

[kaisdf 3,320]

Really shouldn't be reading this literally as I'm about to go to sleep, but it's so gripping! Nice story, horror, but not too horror...ish...? Horrifying. That's the word :P

 

Nah, it's fine... When I was younger, I never had a pupp—

 

*Screen goes static-y* (if that's a thing...)

Edited April 16, 2017 by kaisdf

[Yisroel.Rabin 16,224]

How can there be a draft

if the door is closed

and the walls are sealed?

(He raises the lantern and looks more closely at the array of photographs on the wall in front of him.)

SHERLOCK: Why is there a draught? 

(He zooms in on where two panels of the wall have a small gap between them and a photo of a teenage Sherlock stuck across the gap is fluttering slightly. Frowning, he lowers his gaze to the bottom of the wall. There’s a small gap between the wall and the floor.)

SHERLOCK: Walls don’t contract after you’ve painted them.

(He lifts his eyes.)

SHERLOCK (softly, intensely): Not real ones.

(Offscreen, he has put the lantern onto the floor. Now he raises both hands and slams them hard against the wall. The entire wall falls outwards and drops to the ground outside. In front of him is a very familiar burnt-out house. He stares at it wide-eyed.)

SHERLOCK: I’m home. Musgrave Hall.

Edited April 16, 2017 by Yisroel.Rabin
Me big fan of BBC Sherlock series. :x

[Penguin40 1,714]

Absolutely hilarious, that phone messaging was :P This didn't scare me much, and even little horror scares me BADLY, but it was pro job. Very awesome job. Very well done. pls acknowledge my request like you did with Psychopath and make a sequel or a prequel to this too, wait it depends on you

[pieface101 285]

Really shouldn't be reading this literally as I'm about to go to sleep, but it's so gripping! Nice story, horror, but not too horror...ish...? Horrifying. That's the word :P

 

Nah, it's fine... When I was younger, I never had a pupp—

 

*Screen goes static-y* (if that's a thing...)

I'm sorry but Savage beat you to that joke. :P

 

He and Pie were both delicious.

[pieface101 285]

Me big fan of BBC Sherlock series :x

Y U NO WATCH DR WHO?

then again, that's coming from a Whovian who is in the middle of binge watching season 7 whilst having no life

:P

[arnav0506 2,777]

Engrossing story - How very well written o.o

[HAPPSHOT 2,029]

Wow, how do you write so good? Omg awesome, Though i didnt get the last part? Sarah tricked him?

[Crip 4,735]

Wow, how do you write so good? Omg awesome, Though i didnt get the last part? Sarah tricked him?

No, the Puppet was texting.

[HAPPSHOT 2,029]

No, the Puppet was texting.

You mean that sarah died but she locked the doors so that pie remains safe? But pie himself told the puppet his location and the way to go out? 

[Crip 4,735]

You mean that sarah died but she locked the doors so that pie remains safe? But pie himself told the puppet his location and the way to go out? 

Dude, the Puppet is the one controlling the doors. Basically, the Puppet can do anything.

[HAPPSHOT 2,029]

Dude, the Puppet is the one controlling the doors. Basically, the Puppet can do anything.

Oh. The story was too good for me to understand it on the first go  :P