Holly's Corner

 The year is 1980, my name is Henry, i am 9 years old, i recently moved into a foster home after my parents divorced. This adjustment was just beginning, i was always a introvert, unlike my parents and brother, who could make friends with anyone, i tended to keep to myself...except for my best friend Teddy...

  Since i could remember i had a favorite stuffed bear, i also had a imaginary friend that only i could see...when i was younger that was quite normal, but as i got older people thought it was odd, so i rarely mention Teddy's name, if ever, but he is always close by...

 One short block from my new home is a very ancient old school building, i was allowed to go and play, in the old playground behind the old school, my foster parents allowed this, but had warned me to stay out of the old school building, they said it was dangerous in there...

 At first i was curious about the old school, but everytime i passed by it going to the playground, i felt a sense of dread coming from inside...

 I sensed it was odd also that no other neighborhood kids would ever play, in the old playground. I didn't mind, playing alone, but i was curious all the same. Even more strange my always sidekick, Teddy would never enter the old school yard, he would always stand at the corner, staring at the school, he was like a sentinel...always watching...

 After a few weeks i also noticed a teenage girl, that stood at another corner, she watched me in a dreamy state, maybe puzzled is a better word...

  Finally one Saturday morning, i saw two girls my age enter the playground, at first i was wary, but i quickly liked the idea of maybe having a few playmates...

  One girl was clearly the leader of the two, very fiery, the other girl was clearly the follower...

  The fierce girl walked right up to me, and asked why i was on her playground...perplexed i didn't no how to answer this question???

  After a few tense seconds the fierce girl, finally smirked and said, you can stay and play, but im the boss of this playground...my name is Elsie, my friend behind me is Holly...don't ask her anything, Holly is a mute...and a follower...if you wish to stay and play...you will be a follower as well...scared, i agreed...

  From that day onward, i was a follower...Elsie was always mean, especially towards Holly...

  One day i got the courage to ask Elsie about the teenage girl always standing by the corner of the playground...Elsie with a wry smirk answers...She entered my school one night...now she sleeps in the basement of my home...

  Elsie warned me then and there...do not ever enter my school, without me...in there something lurks...then Elsie asked me about Teddy at the corner...i didn't know how to answer...Elsie finally said...both are scared to enter my playground...my world...im the boss...

  That evening i decided to ask my foster dad about the old school...at first he smiled, then he asked why??? I said isn't it weird no other kids will play on the old playground??? His face tensed up, yes he said, and it's even odder that you still do???

  That night i heard a tapping at my window, as i looked out, i was startled to see Holly, i opened the window, and Holly climbed in, with a red glint in her eye...she said in a otherworldly voice...follow me...follow me...follow me...

  A few minutes later i was entering the old school...following Holly...as we reached the bottom of the stairway...i looked up and saw a shadow man, i couldn't make out his face, but i could clearly see the glint of a silver tooth...then i saw Elsie standing next to him...as i turned to run out of the school, Holly grabbed my hand...the red glint in her eye was gone, her face softened...please don't leave me on this corner, she said in a pleading way...

  At that second i looked up and saw Elsie floating down the stairs towards me, in a instant, i was lifted off my feet, and slammed into the wall...then i saw Elsie grab Holly...and they floated back to the top of the stairs...then the man with the silver tooth slowly descended the stairs...saying over and over...now you will follow me forever...as well...in those seconds i was trying to move, but i couldn't...then the man grabbed me, and hauled me up the stairs...when we reached the top of the stairs...

  Only Elsie remained, a deep smirk on her face...Holly was nowhere around...in that second...i heard the front doors of the old school come crashing open...the man looked at Elsie...and said deal with him...that's when i saw Teddy standing at the base of the stairway...the man grabbed me, and we entered a very old classroom, off too one side was very old school desks...in the corner of the room, i gasped when i saw Holly...hanging from a rope...writhing...trying to get loose...the man commanded i take a seat at one of the desks, as i did...i noticed...carved into the desk...Holly...1878

Below it carved...Holly...Follow Me???

  I was petrified, i didn't know what to do...where could i run??? Then i heard a loud commotion in the hallway...in that same second i saw Elsie thrown through the doorway, landing beneath Holly...Elsie didn't get up...she just scratched the floor like a wounded animal...that's when i saw Teddy enter the doorway...in a flash...the man was upon Teddy...wailing a otherworldly sound...into the hallway they tussled...out of sight...

  I quickly saw Elsie rising slowly in the corner...her body was contorted...she slowly smiled...only one silver tooth glinted...then she wailed...in that second...my adrenaline surged...out of the corner of my eye...i saw the teenage age girl floating in the corner by a still struggling Holly...helping her get loose...then Elsie floated towards me...in a fit of panic...i ripped the top of the top lid off the ancient desk...and raised it time to meet Elsie's contorted face...in that second i was free...in a instant i saw Holly grab Elsie from behind...dragging her away from me...then the teenage girl...opened up the window close by me...and yelled at me climb down now...I will follow you...i did so...but i couldn't climb down...i had to jump...this i did...when i landed i felt a sharp pain in my arm...two seconds later i looked up and saw the teenage girl thrown from another window...a loud scream came from that classroom...then i felt a strong arm grab me from behind...pulling me towards the street...that's when i saw Teddy emerge from the school...then i saw the teenage girl stand up...and smile...and slowly walk away...then i finally look up at the person dragging me to safety...it was a young women...smiling at me...she finally spoke...My name is Pearl...

 In days after this...i would walk on the other side of street by the school...In each window i looked...i would see Holly inside...behind her always was Elsie...And the Man...Waiting...Watching...Wanting...

  A few years later this school was tore down...nothing exists there to this day but a empty paved over playground...kids to this day wont play here...nobody will buy it...it sits empty and forlorn...Forever known as

"Holly's Corner"