Flash Fiction Story: Craving

Flash Fiction story 600 words or less. Written for the Google+ community Writer's Discussion Group Weekly Writing Exercise.

Craving

‘It told me if I didn’t do this, than it would eat me.’

‘But it’s just not right.’

‘So I should sacrifice myself? Is that what you’re saying?’

    Holly didn’t speak.

‘Oh geez Holly.’

‘I was thinking.’

‘Maybe I should just feed it you.’

‘You wouldn’t?’

    Teresa smiled at Holly shaking her head side to side.

‘We’re getting close. Are you in or out?’

‘We’re gonna get in trouble Teresa.’

    Mocking her, ‘We’re gonna get in trouble. Blah. You make me sick, you know that.’
    Holly made an embarrassed face.

‘Alright. I’m in.’

‘Good. Just let me do all the talking. I don’t want you to give it away.’

They walked up to the door on Beverly drive knocking three times on the screen door. An older woman answered giving the two girls a judgmental look. 

‘Yes.’

‘Is Maggie home?’

‘Who would like to know?

‘I’m Teresa, and this is Holly.’

‘Hello.’ Holly said.

‘We know Maggie from school.’

‘Alright, just a minute.’

The woman went inside leaving the door open. The two girls heard muffled voices, then footsteps coming towards the door. 

‘Who is it?’

‘Hi Maggie. It’s me, Teresa. And Holly.’

‘Hi.' 

‘What are you doing here?’ Maggie asked.

‘We wanted to let you in on a secret.’ Teresa said.

‘What is it?’

‘We can’t tell you here. Can you come to the woods with us?’

‘I don’t know, I’ll have to ask my grandmother. Wait here will ya?’

‘Sure.’

Maggie went back in the house. The two girls again heard muffled voices followed again by footsteps. The door swung open. 

‘I have to be back in an hour.’

‘It shouldn’t take that long.’

The three girls walked towards the woods. Holly was very uneasy, pulling at her shirt sleeve. She wondered if there will be a lot of blood, or if Maggie would just, disappear. Or if anything would happen at all. Probably another stupid story Teresa made up to scare her, and Maggie is playing along. 

‘Up here.’

‘Is the secret something you want to show me?’

‘Yeah. Up here.’

    Teresa ran ahead. Holly and Maggie watched her jumping up and down, waving her arms into the trees..

‘Maggie.’ Holly said.

‘Yeah.’

‘Are you playing along?’

‘What?’

‘Did Teresa put you up to this? To scare me?’

‘Put me up to what? I’ve never hung out with Teresa before today.’

    Teresa turned around waving to the two girls, ‘Come on.’

‘You shouldn't go Maggie.’

‘I know Teresa is mean, but I'm bored so, why not.’ 

Holly opened her mouth to tell her, but Maggie had started running towards Teresa. She got about ten yards when a giant creature with beady green eyes and a bullet shaped black cobalt body stepped out from behind the tree. Maggie came to a halt. 

‘It’s alright. Come closer. This is it. This is the secret. Come take a closer look.’

Teresa continued, but Maggie didn’t move. Holly watched in terror while the creature’s eyes turned to red daggers. It opened it’s mouth full of jagged teeth then chomped them back down together. Its hunger was too strong. There was no more waiting as it bent down and picked up Teresa with its thin chopstick fingers.

‘No! Not me! Her! I brought her for you!’

The creature didn’t listen. It brought her up to its mouth and dropped her inside. Maggie screamed a high-pitched squeal that dogs in the next town over could of heard. The giant began walking towards them craving for more. Maggie turned to run while Holly watched motionless.

‘Teresa?’
    Maggie pulled on Holly's arm.

‘Come on Holly. We’re next.’

Holly felt her legs moving alongside Maggie, both running as fast as they could. Neither one ever turning to look back. Neither one ever returning to those woods again.