The Shell - PART 2

She tore the door open and looked around. Everything seemed to be alright. The shells were in their aquariums. But the strange sound was unpleasant. Where did it came from? Sandie remembered the big, stinking shell. The sight of it made her scream. It was covered by a red liquid which suddenly split up. Little green lumps slowly arose. It was five enormous worms with bodies resembling cactuses and bloodshot eyes.

Sandie flinched. The worms were getting out of the aquarium. They would attack her. Unless.... She grabbed a spade and waved with it. One of the worms immediately attacked her middle finger. Sandie had never felt such a pain. It cut through her entire body.

Ten minutes later, she woke up. In the beginning, she only heard drawn out screams and distant voices. She laid on the floor, surrounded by red pools of blood which smelled like the shell. Aunt Mandy and uncle Jeffrey bended over her. Jeffrey held a pistol.

"The worms are dead", Mandy said. "I'll take you to a hospital."

Only then, Sandie discovered that one of her fingers were gone.

"I'll stay here", Jeffrey muttered.

"Are you angry?" Sandie asked.

"No, of course not. Your cousins could have done the same thing. I'll set the shells on fire."

As Sandie looked out of the car window, she could see the nightmare be burnt out.

The End

The Shell - PART 1

Sandie didn't recognize the house. It had undergone a total restoration, but then her aunt and uncle had always wanted a basement. Its little windows attracted her attention.

"What's in there?"

"I'll show you", uncle Jeffrey calmly said.

She noticed that the cold increased at the very bottom of the basement. Jeffrey suddenly stopped in front of a big door and opened it. They entered a hall full of wooden benches. At a distance, Sandie caught a glimpse of some aquariums.

"What's in them?" she asked.

"Shells".

Sandie sighed.

"Perhaps not that interesting to you", Jeffrey admitted. "But it's my hobby. I've collected them ever since I was a kid."

Sandie glanced at the biggest aquarium. She saw a gigantic shell, almost wide open.

"Oh, that one is special", Jeffrey mumbled. "I don't know what to do with it. It smells terrible."

He walked away and didn't notice that Sandie was left behind. She opened the aquarium and observed the shell. A disgusting smell immediately met her. You'd think it was spew.

"I've got to help Eric with his homework", Jeffrey shouted. "I don't mind if you stay down here - as long as you keep an eye on the shells."

"No problem!"

She heard him shut the door and got an idea: she would open one of the bottles and pour out a little into the shell. Sandie seized the black bottle and got the cork out. The liquid was black as well. What if she'd pour out more of them? What would happen? She'd always liked experiments.

In a little while, ten bottles were empty and lined up in front of her. The shell was besmeared, the liquids ran into the hole. Sandie was worried about the bottles. She'd have to hide them, otherwise Jeffrey would discover her experiment. A safe-deposit box became the rescue. And she was lucky. It wasn't locked.

During the dinner, Sandie pretended to listen to aunt Mandy.

"Come on, tell us", she eagerly said. "What's down there? Jeffrey is so secretive."

"Shells", Sandie answered. "Nothing but shells."

"Really?" Aunt Mandy disappointedly said.

"Unfortunately", Jeffrey laughed. "No swimming-pool, no doll house, no statue. Just my shells...and their liquids. I don't want them to decay...."

A rapid thought dashed through Sandie's head. Something was wrong.

"I must go down again", she resolutely said.

"What?" Mandy exclaimed. "But my strawberry ice cream...."

"I'll eat it later."

The Hidden Horror

Corinne knocked at the door. It was opened by a tall man in a black jacket.

"I assume that you want a room. Any particular number?"

"Number 17, please."

The man took out a file and started to turn over the pages.

"You're actually my first guest today. Nowadays, this place is quite empty - it was different when my father was alive. He painted the sign out there...."

Corinne looked around in the little room. Paintings depicting rabbits covered the walls.

"My father was fond of rabbits. Sign your name here...."

Corinne made a careless signature.

"Well, you've got the key. My name is Michael De Boute."

The room was plain. It consisted of a brown wardrobe, a big window, a black desk and a single bed.

"This door leads to the basement", Michael said. "At one time, my father used it as a laboratory."

"Laboratory?"

Corinne knitted her eyebrows.

"Let me explain. My father was extremely decent, he never used animals in his experiments. However, he prepared medicines for them. He never used animals in his experiments, the very thought of it would have shocked him. My father...."

"Don't worry, I believe you", Corinne said in a low voice. "I need something to drink."

"Yes, of course. I have a hunch that there's a bottle of champagne somewhere."

De Boute poured out the refreshment. Corinne stared at the grey door, the door leading to the basement. Michael was hiding something behind it, something secret....

"Thank you very much. I'd like to go to bed, I'll get up early tomorrow."

Michael smiled.

"Good night then."

Corinne cuddled up in the bed and quickly fell asleep. She was awakened by a piercing scream. It was Michael.... And it came from the basement.... Corinne opened the grey door. She saw a preciptous staircase. Michael laid on the stone floor. A large white rabbit was hanging over him - but it no longer resembled a rabbit. The body had enormous proportions and the teeth were dripping with blood.

"Shoot it!" Michael screamed.

He pointed at the gun on the wall. Corinne tore it off and aimed at the terrifying animal. At the same moment, she caught sight of a large white poster on a cage.

CAUTION. Experiment number 29.

It made her blood run cold. It was true.... She took the gun and pulled the trigger of. The large rabbit collapsed.

The End

The Horror Of The Mountain - PART 7

James shouted at the twins to shut their eyes. Lynn pressed Carol close herself, trembling with sobbing. The little girl was dead. Ellie hugged her sister-in-law.

The two pumas got hold of Patrick's shoulders. Stanley and Douglas were tearing at each of his legs.

"Let go of my son", Douglas growled. "Let go of my son, you carcass!"

A third puma joined them. It tore off Stanley's hands. Lynn fainted. The twins fell backwards into the water. The two pumas immediately attacked them. Ellie Treeton saw their mutilated arms and legs sink down to the bottom. A cascade of water demolished the bloody surface. The fourth puma slashed Ellie's stomach.

Maggie cried.

"Mum! Mum! Wake up!"

But Lynn didn't move. Douglas desperately tried to defend himself against two pumas.

"James!" Maggie screamed. "Fetch the gun!!"

James ran to his family's caravan and tore the door open. He knew that the gun was in the chest. And the key was hidden away under a hat. James grabbed the gun and ran out. He fell on the gravel. The delay became devastating.

He rushed down to the lake and shouldered the gun.

"Dad!!" he bawled. "Maggie!! Do you hear me?"

It was dead silent. James looked through his binocular. Not a living soul.... It meant that....

"Joseph", James thought to himself. "Joseph."

The End

The Horror Of The Mountain - PART 6

Upon his return, Patrick attracted a great deal of unreserved attention. The twins touched his arm and peeked at the stitches. Douglas wept a few tears, Ellie practically drowned little Joseph's voice.

Three days later, Maggie, Sam and Clarice took a walk in the forest. On the way home, Clarice wanted to play hide-and-seek among the trees. She had found a perfect hiding-place under the cover of a large branch. Maggie would never be able to find her. Clarice suddenly heard distant sounds. Paws tramping on the path, a growling.... She gave a cry and rushed up to Maggie.

"Monsters! They'll eat us, they'll eat us!"

"You're mistaken", said Maggie. "There are no monsters."

"They're here!" Sam whined.

"Let's go back", Maggie mumbled. "Come on."

About twenty metres from the base camp, dozens of pumas kept a sharp eye on the families....

July 23th was a hot day.

"Let's go to the lake!" Douglas shouted. "We'll have the sun chairs, the radio, the ice cream.... It'll be terrific!"

Patrick and Carol were diving. They saw lots of crabs and tried to seize them, but the little shellfishes were too quick. Carol caught sight of something else, something on the shore.... It appeared to be large, very large.... As she carefully approached it, she felt an inconceivable pain. The puma had scratched her neck. Patrick screamed. Another puma plunged into the water and seized his foot.

Stanley gesticulated on the shore.

"Hey! Anybody seen Carol and Patrick?"

Douglas and Lynn immediately jumped into the water. Ellie remained in the sun chair - deathly pale and ready to cry.

"What about Sammy and Clary?!" she screamed.

"Don't worry, Mom", said James. "They're with me - on my back."

Maggie suddenly caught sight of Carol.

"Oh no. Oh no."

The Horror Of The Mountain - PART 5

The fishermen were returning. Clarice was the first to discover the little person who waved in a desperate way.

"It's Carol!"

"She's happy to see us, that's for sure", Douglas said.

They finally reached the shore and heard her words.

"Patrick is bleeding! A monster has bitten him! We need help!"

Douglas turned pale. He and Stanley jumped into the water and rushed up to Carol. Ellie joined them - her eyes spurted with tears - in their reckless rush into the forest. Lynn was left behind with Maggie, James and the twins. A thought crossed her mind. Joseph!

"I hope nothing has happened to him! Follow the others, I'll join you later on!"

They caught a glimpse of Patrick, who was unconscious. Ellie shooked with sobbing.

"Lynn's sister is a doctor, she has taught her a lot", said Stanley. "We've got a first-aid kit."

Maggie couldn't remember if she'd ever ran that fast and that long. They finally approached the caravans. Lynn emerged, carrying Joseph.

"How is he?" Stanley asked. "Is he alright?"

"Yes, thank God! What about Patrick?"

"His arm has been ripped", said Douglas. "Stanley said that your sister is a doctor and that she has taught you a thing or two. You've got a first-aid kit...."

"Let's go inside our caravan", Lynn decided. "Maggie, take care of Joseph and the twins. They've seen enough."

Lynn dabbed cotton balls with healing ointment and wiped off blood.

"What are we going to do?" Ellie cried. "What can we do?"

"I'll wrap up his arm with this bandage. But that's not enough. It's a long way to the nearest hospital, but my sister works there - she knows more than me. She'll sew this wound. Patrick has lost a great deal of blood."

"We'll go at once", said Stanley. "Believe me Ellie, it's best for you to remain here. The twins and James will need you."

Lynn's sister Louise immediately took care of Patrick. A male doctor told them they could breathe out. Douglas placed himself in an armchair in the waiting room.

"Stan, I understand if you're frightened", he said. "So am I. But this won't change anything. We're going to camp out, relax and have fun. We'll stay."

"Listen to me, Douglas. I've got good reasons to believe Patrick was attacked by a puma or something like that. Remember those pictures at The Zoo? They showed injuries caused by wild animals. Suppose there's a puma somewhere. In that case, it'll be dangerous to remain here."

"Don't forget my gun", said Douglas. "I killed wolves once upon a time. A puma mustn't destroy our vacation."

Stanley sighed.

The Horror Of The Mountain - PART 4

"Let's go to the forest! Do you think the stump is still there? The one we found last year?"

"But Mum said...."

"We'll be back before they return. And Joseph is sleeping like a log. Nobody's going to run away with him."

Carol and Patrick started to walk and eagerly kept a lookout for 'the stump'. Well, it wasn't that remarkable. But to them, it represented a border. The stump concealed a whole world. You could meet nice animals with large legs, or bad animals like the grey eagles. They'd come at any time and their crying made the blood froze.

Carol pretended she'd become a fairy. Patrick observed the path which lead to the mountains.

"Don't go away! Don't leave me here!"

"I'll be right back", Patrick mumbled.

"The grey eagles will take you!"

Patrick disappeared behind the large trees.

"I didn't see anything", he boldly proclaimed, happily brushing the needles off. "We should go back to Joseph and..."

Patrick saw Carol's face and immediately became silent. Her eyes were filled with horror.

"Behind you", she whispered. "Behind you."

Both of them screamed. They saw an approaching animal. Its pattern of behaviour was threatening and aggressive. It suddenly attacked Patrick. This was the monster, the horror from the mountain....

He saw the jaws of the monster, he felt a terrible pain. Scraps of flesh spurted out on the ground. Patrick bawled. Carol threw a stone towards the monster. It ran away at lightning speed. Carol's hands still quivered as she cuddled up against Patrick. His forearm was all bloody. She ran towards the lake - there was no time to lose.

The Horror Of The Mountain - PART 3

James, Patrick and Carol laid awake, although it was close on midnight.

"What's the name of your girlfriend?" Carol suddenly asked.

"Brenda", James answered. "We've been together for 2 years. We'll get married when we're 20. At least that's what Dad thinks."

"I don't want to be your page", Patrick muttered. "It's so childish."

"I've been a bridesmaid once", said Carol.

"Is that so, little C?" James laughed. "Did you get any reward afterwards?"

"Yes, a big doll house with accessories. I got it on my birthday, a month after Grandma's cousin's grandchild's wedding...."

Five minutes later, James and Carol were fast asleep. Patrick tried to shut his eyes, but he couldn't. He thought of the monster....

"Mum! I wanna sleep with you and Dad."

Ellie rubbed her eyes.

"Let me sleep. Go back to bed....."

"Please Mum!", Patrick whispered.

"Alright. But don't nick Sam's pillow."

A few days later, the two families would go out fishing. Douglas had an aquaintance whose summer cottage was located near by. He offered to lend them his motorboats. But there was one problem. Each boat had room for 4 persons. Douglas realized that 3 of the children would have to stay in the base camp. Joseph - of course - the little fellow was sure to dislike the boat trip. Patrick - poor thing - he hadn't been himself since the mountaineering. He'd like being a landlubber. And Carol - she could liven up both of them. Douglas was satisfied.

Carol and Patrick stood by the lake and waved. Joseph slept inside one of the caravans.

"Don't worry Mum", Carol shouted. "I'll take care of Joseph, it's easy enough - you've taught me everything!"

The children saw the motorboats disappear. Afterwards, they went back to the base camp and started to think about what they'd do next.

The Horror Of The Mountain - PART 2

"Well done everybody", said Douglas. "We're almost right at the very top of the mountain. Let's eat the donuts. After that, you rascals might as well have a look around. As long as you're sensible."

Patrick's face was still pale. The donut laid on the ground, attacked by a couple of ants.

"Are you alright?" Stanley asked.

Patrick didn't answer. In his mind's eye, he still saw the monster with its eyes, its wide open mouth, the raising paw, he heard the roar....

"I wanna go down!" he suddenly screamed. "I don't wanna be here!"

"Do you want these stone blocks to fall down on us?!" Douglas severely whispered.

"What's up now?" Lynn exclaimed when they returned.

"Patrick went nuts", Douglas explained. "He simply wanted to go climb down. And he won't say why."

"My poor boy", Ellie sighed. "Erratic and furious."

"Mum!" Patrick whispered. "I've seen something.... something terrible. A jaw, spurting blood....."

"You're watching too much TV. I thought we'd talked about that, Douglas!"

He was busy peeling a banana for Clarice and shouted:

"Honey, you know that's your business - all the year round!"

But Douglas couldn't stop thinking of Patrick. Late at night, he began to blame himself.

"I should spend some time with Patrick. You have your hands full, I understand that.... James wants to be with Brenda every single night. The twins are at the daycare centre."

"He's our afterthought", Ellie laughed. "Your mother is 18 years younger than her eldest sister. Not to mention Dad...."

"Look here, Ellie. Maybe we should consult a psychologist."

"A psychologist? No, you're overreacting. Patrick is fine."

"Do you think my absence has a bad influence on him?"

"No. Don't worry."

The Horror Of The Mountain - PART 1

The two families reached their destination.

"There's a dent on your caravan", Patrick indicated.

"I know", Maggie sighed. "Dad should have bought a new last year, but he's always saying that it's too expensive."

After the dinner, Stanley dropped the bombshell.

"You know that uncle Douglas loves the mountains. And we've actually been professional mountaineers - that's a long time ago. Tomorrow, we'll take you on mountain climbing."

"All of us?" Carol asked.

"Everybody who wants to", Douglas answered.

"You, me, Patrick, Maggie and Carol", said Stanley and counted on his fingers.

"What about me?" James disappointedly wondered.

"You're strong", Douglas laughed. "Your job is to protect your mother, aunt Lynn and the kiddies."

The next day, uncle Douglas was up early.

"I feel how the mountain is waiting for us! It's moving!"

"Where is Mum?" Carol asked.

"She's sleeping", Maggie explained. "Joseph refused to fall asleep last night."

They walked to the lake and up a path. Patrick caught the first glimpse of the mountain.

"Wow! Right up there?"

Douglas scratched his head.

"No. Then we'll kill ourselves. But I think we'll manage to get to that boulder, at the very left of the corner. Got any objections, Stan?"

"I trust you."

"Listen to me, kids. This is no mischief, this is serious. You'll be tied up to me and Stan."

Carol shuddered. They were alone now, alone with the broiling sun and the clouds. Patrick felt urbane and tough. It was as if he knew the exact location of every stone, every cleft, every hole, every....

He heard it. Far from there, a rumbling roar and a cat-like animal. But it wasn't a cat. It was a monster.

Patrick cried out and fell backwards. Carol started to cry and Maggie shut her eyes.

"No!!" Douglas bawled. "Hang on, Patrick!"

The Horror Of The Mountain - PROLOGUE

Some relatives are spending their summer vacation in the mountains. The children enjoy spending time with their cousins and the adults happily arrange fun activities. Patrick, one of the boys, is the only one who sees the terrible monster. And it's eagerly waiting to strike....

I chosed to include relatives in this story because I think relations between relatives simply are interesting to write about. I wanted to create a certain atmosphere: a feeling of safety, friendship, light-heartedness, care and consideration. And isn't that how a good horror story (or horror film) shall begin? You depict the idyllic setting, you let the reader be lulled into thoughts like: "This is nice, this is enjoyable." And in a carefully chosen moment - you take out the terror.

The hot summer's day had turned into night. The silence descended over the mountainous landscape. Only the owls stubbornly hooted. Little Carol Morton slept deeply, safely leaning towards her cousin Patrick. They were inseparable and Stanley - Carol's father - jokingly used to fantasize about 'a future marriage'. Almost all of the children had participated in these little excursions ever since they were infants. Somehow, going to Cliff Mountains in the eastern California (and camp out in two months) was a tradition in the family. The date was an important detail. July 13th, three days before the birthday of uncle Douglas. He promptly wanted to celebrate it in the mountains. Not on July 4th, not on the national day. No, he had to be out in the streets (with a flag in one hand and a can of beer in the other).

Uncle Douglas was half mountain, half city - as his oldest son James used to describe him. His father was a slick lawyer who loved nightclubs. He was having the time of his life on New Year's Eve, mixing and conversing with loved ones. But there were times when he didn't like the city life, when a longing for peace and quiet came upon him. In the beginning, he had frequently camped out in the forest or by the sea. That caused some trouble concerning his working life. Douglas Treeton spinned between courtrooms, family life and glades. He understood that something drastic had to be done. The idea of 'going on mountain excursions' arised. Douglas could easily concentrate on his work and simultaneously long for July 13th. That day, he became a mountain - an extremely romantic one. That was the best time for his wife Ellie and their children James, Patrick, Clarice and Sam. They could spend time with Douglas and he wanted to see them. But during the rest of the year, he and his family lived in separate houses. The children could observe their father, who entertained rich men and arranged dinners.

Stanley was different, he worked at a restaurant called Meal. His wife, Lynn, was a broker. Ellie was a housewife and therefore jealous of Lynn. And Lynn wished that Stanley had lots of money, like Douglas. They didn't have an economic crisis, no and no again! But Lynn had worked as a waitress in her early teens and all alone supported her grandparents. She didn't know the identity of her parents. Lynn was proud of her hard work. She didn't like seeing Ellie revel in the money - mrs Treeton really didn't do anything in the daytime. Cleaning, cooking, taking care of four children.... nonsense! Stanley dismissed the whole thing as nagging. He reminded her of the fact that their children were lucky - regarding one thing. Maggie, Carol and the new addition Joseph had access to both parents all the year round.

That was never a source of quarrel or jealousy among the cousins. The Treeton children generously gave away some of their father's expensive presents. It was a secret which kept their feet firmly on the ground. The Morton children were happy and grateful.

The Abandoned Children - PART 8

"Felice", Janet whispered. "We regret everything. If there's anything we can do to help these children.... You know that Mark and I can't have any."

Felice observed the children.

"Mak and Jant", she said and pointed at her aunt and uncle. Alice put her arms around Janet. Annie and Tom embraced Mark. They turned around and noticed Joe.

"Nce", said Felice. "Not da-a-a."

The children carefully approached Joe. Alice seized his hand.

"Grandpa."

Felice was astounded. Alice had said all the letters! And she wasn't afraid. None of the children were afraid. They prepared themselves to leave.

"Stay with Janet and Mark", Felice slowly said.

The children nodded. They understood!

"Mum", said Alice and pointed at the cabin. "House."

"You are always on her mind", Felice whispered. "You can always go there."

THE END

The Abandoned Children - PART 7

Annie's blonde locks of hair slowly landed on the ground. It was hard to recognize her, as she suddenly had shoulder-length hair. Felice was pleased.

Late in the evening, both Annie and Tom fell asleep. Felice laid awake and held Alice's hand. It was trembling and turning. Felice stared at the window and caught a glimpse of a red jacket. Janet? What was she doing? And it wasn't just her... Grandpa and Mark stood there as well! Janet caught sight of her and screamed. Joe clenched his fist and tried to keep his temper.

"What are you doing here?!" he furiously asked.

"What are you doing here?!"

Felice's voice was glacial. She held Alice close up to herself and covered the girl's eyes. Joe held a pistol.

"Fetch the brats", he grunted. "Felice!"

Alice wept. Felice brushed away her tears and whispered:

"Ftch Annii and Toom."

Alice nodded and disappeared into the house. She immediately came back with her two siblings. Felice thought that Annie's hair resembled a halo. Why couldn't the others love these children?

Joe almost ran up to the children and squeezed the heads together. He took out the pistol....

"No!" Felice screamed. "If you kill the children I will kill myself!"

Janet fainted. Mark appeared to be taken by surprise.

"No, Felice", he said with a calm voice. "You don't mean that."

"Yes, I do."

Mark desperately observed his niece. He pushed away the pistol.

"Take it easy, Dad. These children aren't that dangerous. Give them a fair trial."

Joe glanced at him.

"I'm sorry", he said. "I've done so many bad things, I've said so many bad things. These children are entitled to live, just as everyone else. I'm proud of you, Felice."

He started to weep. In the end, everybody sobbed.

The Abandoned Children - PART 6

Felice was eager to go back to the house as soon as possible. By a mere chance, she discovered the third child. At first, she only saw a black fluttering. Two brown eyes stared at her. It was Alice. She resembled a wild animal, never quiet, always in motion. Felice was surprised to see so much energy. The joy of living was flowing. She smiled and walked towards Alice who - for the time being - had calmed down.

"I won't hurt you", said Felice calmly.

Alice shut her eyes and stretched her hands.

"You're Alice. I'm Felice."

It was dead silent. Felice suddenly felt Alice's hand.

"Angl".

Just one word.

"Angel?" Felice asked. "Am I your angel?"

"Angl", Alice resolutely said and pointed at the cabin. "Angl prtect Aaalis, Toom, Annii."

Felice started to weep. She brushed away the tears. Alice wanted to show her something. What? The sound of pouring water was heard from a long distance. They saw a creek which Alice seemed to be very familiar with. She cupped her hand and drank.

"Wter", she contentedly said.

Felice drank it too. It tasted much better than the water which came from the tap. Alice suddenly looked anxious. "Angl. Prtect."

"Yes, I will protect you", said Felice.

Alice seemed to be relieved.

On the following night, everything happened. Felice had spent the whole day in the cabin and decided to stay the night. She had left a note on the kitchen table, hopefully it would explain. She claimed to be spending the night at Nelly's house, an old friend. Felice didn't like lying. But this time it was necessary. She could not leave the children in the lurch! They needed her. She took care of them in every possible way. The only thing she couldn't get hold of was milk. But it didn't matter. The children were used to water and had no objections to drinking juice. Felice wanted to comb the girls. Alice's long black hair was easy to deal with. Felice tied everything together. Annie's hair was covered with dirt. Felice observed Tom who sat at the corner of the house. She imitated a scissor. Tom nodded and ran indoors. When he came back, Felice seized the scissor and prepared herself.

"Ct?" Alice asked.

"Yes", said Felice.

The Abandoned Children - PART 5

Felice heard a scratching sound from one of the chairs. She snatched. The blonde girl came out. Felice took a few step backwards. The girl had a knife in her mouth. She took it out and held it near Felice's face. Felice was on the verge of pushing away the knife when the red-haired boy started talking. This seemed to calm the blonde girl, who dropped the knife. Felice breathed a sigh of relief. She took out the sandwiches. The children didn't seem to react. Felice shrugged her shoulders. She had done her very best. She could come back later.

Already the following day, Felice visited the children. They had eaten up all the food, but their shortage of liquid were acute. Well, Rome was not built in a day. The language was the first step. Felice understood that she had to learn the special communication of the children. This day, she brought along her portable tape-recorder.

One of the windows were wide open. Felice bended down and held up the tape-recorder. She pressed a button and watched the rolling tape. The children were talking inside the cabin. Felice heard the blonde girl saying something. It sounded like several drawn out a's.

"Aaalis?"

Alice.... Who was that? The blonde girl or maybe an unknown sister?

In the evening, Felice locked herself up in her room and listened to the tape. She scribbled down everything she could hear. Finally, there was a whole list of words which needed to be translated. It wasn't easy. She had to guess and ponder. In any case, Annie was the blonde girl and Tom was the red-haired boy. Consequently, Alice must be a sister. But was she dead or alive? There was a sentence which constantly appeared in the conversation of the children. Bles ae te pesecte. Felice didn't know how to interpret it.

But the answer came quickly. Grandpa read the Bible, which was very unusual. Felice passed by and happened to take a look at the text. It was from the Sermon on the Mount. Blessed are the persecuted. She had broken the code! The children simply lost a few letters.

The Abandoned Children - PART 4

Joe broke the silence.

"Don't repeat that, Felice. Otherwise I'll have to send you home. While you're here, there won't be a single good word about the Dyens children. As long as I live."

Joe left the room. Mark sighed.

"You shouldn't irritate Grandpa", said Jane reproachfully.

"But..."

"No arguing", Mark suddenly said. "You must learn to despise the children. That's the way it is."

The next day, Mark and Janet would visit a friend in town. Joe came along.

"You will be alone all day", said Janet. "Is that alright? You can eat the rest of the salmon, if you want to."

"I'll be fine", Felice mumbled.

She had a plan. Janet had been shopping the day before - Felice as well. Not as long as Janet, of course. But long enough to be able to buy a couple of things. Bread, meat, cheese, fruit and some vegetables. Enough to satisfy 3 children. And nobody had noticed it.

She watched the car disappear. As soon as it was out of sight, Felice ran to the kitchen and fetched the secret food supply. Janet's old work basket became a perfect picnic hamper. Felice buttered some slices of bread for herself and packed everything into the basket.

Felice felt as if she knew the forest inside out, she often made a mental note of things. She walked towards the house and searched for the children. The windows were covered by dust, she couldn't look through. The handle of the door was on the point of coming off. Felice carefully knocked at the door. No sounds, no reaction. She opened it and looked around. At the beginning, she didn't see anything - since it was rather dark. Later on, different things appeared. A wooden bench, a table, four chairs and a stove. There were four unmade beds in the corner.

The Abandoned Children - PART 3

"Anyway, she had an accident in the forest. Nobody knows what happened, I think she fell and hurt herself. She managed to get to the hospital all by herself."

"She must have suffered severe physical injuries", Felice mumbled.

"Well, everybody thought so. But that wasn't the case. Margaret got off with a few scratches. But her brain.... Her speech went wrong. It probably was a psychic smash too as well. She had a strange behaviour."

Mark stopped speaking.

A couple of days later, Felice took a walk in the forest with her grandfather Joe. He wanted to see the notorious children.

"We're almost there", he eagerly said. "You can see the hovel from here. They'll come out, you'll see."

A red ramshackle building appeared. Felice and Joe hid behind a stone. They heard distant sounds but didn't see anything. The door suddenly opened. Two little children came out, a boy and a girl. The blonde hair of the girl was sleazy and probably hadn't been combed for years. The boy was red-haired.

"They have food", said Joe. "But not much."

"We have sufficient. Why can't we give it to them?"

"Look at them", Joe snorted. "Those kids need a good thrashing, then they'll learn to speak decent."

"Strangls", said the blonde girl. "Da-a-a!"

The boy nodded.

"They've seen us", Joe noted. "Let's go."

"I want to stay", said Felice.

"Are you completely out of your mind?" Joe exclaimed. "There is nothing more to see."

"I agree with Dad", said Mark. "Those children are of no use."

"I've never heard anybody talk like that", said Felice.

"Neither have I", said Janet. "The children most likely embraced Margaret's speech."

They were sitting at the dinner table. Felice didn't like the hostile tone.

"If I could, I would take the gun and shoot the kids", said Joe and smiled contentedly.

Felice shuddered. Her own grandfather....

"I actually think they're cute", she said.

Mark stared into space. Janet shut her eyes.

The Abandoned Children - PART 2

One of the men took a stick and started to beat Margaret in the face. Her scream broke the silence.

"We can't have monsters like you", one of the women hissed.

The man pulled in the trigger. Margaret's eyes were pained. Bang! The fatal shot went off. The men threw Margaret's body in a hole in the ground and simply left the place. Ten minutes later, the children stood by the hole and watched their dead mother. Silent tears ran down their pale faces.

"It's easy to get lost", Janet indicated.

"Don't worry", said Felice.

Everybody were so overprotecting. It was as if they thought she was a little child.

"We just want to warn you about the forest", Mark said. "Or rather what you may see in it. And hear."

Felice shrugged her shoulders. It was summer vacation and she was visiting her aunt and uncle. She wasn't worried. But she still asked what Mark meant.

"People have heard strange sounds from there", he explained.

"What do you mean?" Felice wondered.

"Screams from the red hovel. Whatever you do, keep away from it. There are creatures in there and they aren't.... human."

Felice wrinkled her forehead.

"The progeny of Margaret Dyens", Janet explained. "She left behind three children. Or more, I don't know. That woman had a man in every village - before she went mad. I wonder who fathered the children in the house."

Janet shook her head and went to feed the cats.

"Tell me more", Felice begged.

"Is that so? You're getting curious", Mark laughed. "Okay, I'll tell you a thing or two."

They walked in the rain. Felice didn't complain, since she had her umbrella.

"Margaret came from an affluent family. She was disobedient and wilful. She broke the rules. The parents finally decided she couldn't live with them anymore."

"What happened to her?"

"She refused to became homeless and escaped to the forest. Built a bad house. She could have lived luxuriously, she had money. She probably stole a few coins from the parents."

"Maybe she was greedy", said Felice.

The Abandoned Children - PART 1

This story centers around 16-year old Felice who - during a summer vacation - encounters three orphaned children living in the forest. They are outcasts of society and have embraced their dead mother's odd language. Felice soon discovers the harsh feelings towards the children, particularly expressed by her own grandfather. Quite contrary to the hateful people in the village, Felice decides she will do everything in her power to help the children.

Up to now, this is my first and only "none eco-horror story".

(Eco-horror is a sub-genre of horror which feature animals attacking humans).

The sun was going down. The night would take over and all the sounds of the forest become silent. But the night wasn't entirely calm and quiet. It made Margaret afraid. The night meant danger and uncertainty. The humans came with horrible things, but the worst of it was the look in their eyes. She knew what they thought. We don't want you to be here. We're coming to send you away. You and your children. She was a good victim, all alone with the children in a ramshackle house.

Margaret turned around and watched the three children. Tom and Annie were asleep, but Alice was still awake.

"Aaalis", Margaret whispered. "Sss...."

The girl nodded and shut her eyes. Margaret finally fell asleep.

She was awakened by sounds. People were shouting, dogs were barking. Margaret saw three women and two men. They carried the dangerous things and some kind of fire which illuminated their faces. The women caught sight of her.

"There she is! There she is!"

The dogs plunged forward and fiercely yelped. Margaret held the children, she didn't want to let go of them - but one of the women brusquely took hold of her arm and dragged her away.

"Da-a-a!" Margaret screamed. "Da-a-a!"

The children understood and rushed off. They hid behind a shrub.

The Revenge Of The Claws - PART 7

"You've got no reason to be alarmed", Robert continued. "I was 11 years old when I first I held a pistol in my hand. There was an aggressive jackal in the forest, my father told me to shoot it. Ever since then, people have been calling - asking me to kill dangerous animals."

"Ever been injured?" O'Morris asked.

"Some slight wounds here and there. I've got a scar in the cheek, it was a panther."

"My son, what do you know about this....virus?" Father Lane whispered.

"Not much", Robert unpretentiously admitted. "It makes animals and humans crazy. 10 years ago, I was paid to protect a family in Venezuela. They knew it was a wild cat near the house. When you've seen such a cat near by... The jaw is full of blood and froth..."

They heard the sound. Scratching and unpleasant, something like scraping one's nail at the chalk board. They saw something, nobody knew what it was but Robert firmly maintained that it resembled a bloody claw.

"Help! It's outside!!" O'Morris screamed.

Father Lane remained calm. Robert held the pistol straight in front of him.

"Come here", he mumbled.

A soft creak were heard. At first, they only saw a bloody paw. But in a little while, the black cat appeared. The eyes shone in a terrifying way. The mouth was wide open and a mixed sludge of blood and froth spurted out. The cat fiercely hissed.

Robert fumbled for the pistol, but it was beyond reach.

"Shoot!" he screamed to O'Morris, who stood behind the couch. "Take the pistol!"

"Hell Mary...." Father Lane chanted.

O'Morris trembled. He saw Robert's face slowly disappear into the mouth of the cat. Father Lane crossed himself and grabbed the gun. O'Morris laid on the floor, uttering whimpering sounds. The shot of Father Lane hit the cat in the stomach. It was bawling with pain but still rushed about. Father Lane shot again. This time, the shot hit in the forehead. The cat collapsed, a lifeless bloody mass.

Father Lane stared at the headless body of Robert.

"We must bring him out", he said to O'Morris. "Burn the remnants."

They watched the flames consume the black cat.

THE END

The Revenge Of The Claws - PART 6

The next day, Robert once again paid a visit to father Lane. The priest had arranged a dinner party. Robert was served both bread and soup, but hardly touched the food.

"My son, my son - your troubles won't diminish just because you're not eating. No matter if they're worldly or spiritual."

Robert nodded and obediently cut up a piece of bread for himself.

"This cat", said Theresa. "Tell me about it."

Father Lane gazed upon his maid.

"Do you remember a girl named Nancy Sanderson?"

"Nancy - yes, I remember her", Theresa whispered.

"We believe that we've found out her cause of death", said Robert. "She was attacked by that cat, the one that everybody's talking about. It's a female, I'm sure of that. She recently killed Mary Anne Ricster. And Roselyn Tex."

Theresa made the sign of the cross.

"Its natural habitat must be in the forest. Let's go there!"

Robert tried to sound persuasive.

"When?" O'Morris asked.

"In the evening, perhaps even at night. My cousin has a cabin not far away from here. He's gone away for a month, I'm sure we can stay the night."

"Are you going to kill it with your mother's dishcloth?" O'Morris teased.

"I'm going to bring a pistol. I would appreciate your company, I've already persuaded father Lane."

No sooner said than done. The following evening, they plodded through the forest.

"My cope are getting snowy", father Lane complained.

"You should have taken a jacket", O'Morris muttered.

"We're there!"

Inside the cabin, O'Morris was busy making a fire. Father Lane read aloud from the catechism while Robert charged the pistol.

"Nice", O'Morris lauded. "How much did you pay for it?"

"You don't wanna know. Put it this way: I made two piles of my wages. I bought the pistol with the first one, I gave the other to my mother."

The Revenge Of The Claws - PART 5

The cat felt how the froth began to trickle down the jaw. She pattered up to the woman and observed her face. The cat opened its mouth and bit the woman's cheek. The following roar made the cat arch its back. She slowly bit off the nails and enjoyed the crunching sound. She swallowed selected pieces of the ear and tore off a large part of the throat.

O'Morris was a very experienced pathologist. He inquired about the most important details - with a handkerchief in one hand and a bottle of perfume in the other.

"I left Roselyn 8.00", a crying woman told him. "At that time, she was still asleep. And now..."

"So you're saying that you haven't been threatened in some way?"
"No, never" the woman sobbed.

"Parts of the forehead are worn away", O' Morris mumbled. "She has no nails and no throat. A few pieces of the ears are extant."

"It may be a murderer who is obsessed with specific body parts", the assistant added.

"When I look at this, I get the feeling that it wasn't a human killer. It was an animal, an insane animal."

Half an hour later, O'Morris hand was still shaking as he tried to dial Robert Lee. The third time was successful.

"Robert, you must come here!"

"Why? I've seen enough blood today...."

"But I've got a body here, it's actually quite intriguing."

"Okay".

They analysed the non-coagulated blood. Robert had to exert himself not to vomit.

"A cat", he eventually made clear.

"A cat?" O'Morris laughed.

"This is not a normal cat. It's...rabies. We must warn as many as possible!"

"Nobody's going to believe you."

"I know one who will listen. Clark Ricster. He lost his daughter recently and is firmly convinced that she was attacked by a cat."

The Revenge Of The Claws - PART 4

Nellie took a deep breath and dropped the mobile.

"Go home", said Roger in a low voice. "It's alright."

Robert Lee gazed upon his bloody reflection. The priest wouldn't even let him in looking like that. But it was necessary to visit father Lane. The sins of the morning felt like 100 kilo-weights. Robert thought of the confession and continued to rub the rag against his face.

A bar separated Robert from his confessor.

"Hell Mary, full of grace.... Father, I've committed a sin. I've offended against one of the ten commandments."

"Which one of them, my son?"

"The one about killing. This morning, I became guilty of a slaughter... Still, it's my only alternative. I must support my mother!"

"Quite true, my son. And don't forget - there are many animals all around the world who suffer."

"Yes, father", Robert whispered. "But I saw.... I've never went through that before. They had tied a dog all around the fence, two people are being nursed at a hospital right now. The third man is dead. I took the gun and shot straight into the jaw of the cur. Bang! Just like that."

Father Lane made the sign of the cross.

"That dog was mad, my son. Believe me, no animal in that state of mind should be alive. I forgive you, in the name of Virgin Mary and all the saints. Go in peace."

Robert expressed his thanks and blew out the candle.

The black cat wandered on obscure grounds. This was the territory of the humans, which made her insecure. But the rats were here.... The cat approached a house. The door was unlocked.

The cat didn't hear any squeak. She just perceived short breaths. She pricked up her ears and followed the sound waves. They lead her to a miserly furnished bedroom with pink wallpapers. A woman laid in the narrow bed. The flickering eyelids revealed that she was dreaming an intense dream. The cat lithely jumped up on the bedstead and observed the sleeping woman. The brown hair was decoratively spread on the pillow.

The Revenge Of The Claws - PART 3

The kitten squealed. Clark grabbed the other one by the scruff of its neck and banged it against the ground. He took his knife and cut out the eyes of the kittens. The pupils spurted out. Clark turned on his heel and walked away.

The cat observed him. The human had killed the kittens. Her kittens, whom she had given birth to at the risk of her life.

Nellie gazed at the notes from the interview. It had been a long one, due to the fact that the sales clerk gladly wanted to give a detailed account of the robbery. Nellie thought it was almost too detailed. Tuesdays were always tough. Everything had to be quick.

"Hey Nell, ignore that robbery. Show me the article about the murder of Nancy Sanderson."

"Roger, that's 2 years ago. Why all this gossip about that girl? The rest of the family also died."

"In all probability, the father commited suicide. In his shocked condition, he shot his wife and the youngest daughter. But nobody knows how Nancy lost her life, it's a mystery."

Nellie sighed and started to plough her way through the enormous archive. When she finally found the article, it contained a large-scale headline - intended to attract curiosity - and a detailed description. The black and white photo made Nellie cold as ice. It represented a smiling long haired girl - Nancy Sanderson.

"It's terrible....", Nellie mumbled.

She wanted to say something more, but was interrupted. An old woman in a blue jacket held Nellie's mobile in her hand.

"It's urgent."

The boss nodded apologeticly and started to poke at a calculator.

"Yes?" Nellie answered in a skilled manner.

At first she only heard a sob.

"It's me."

Nellie recognized Clark's voice.

"Clark? What's happened?"

There was a long silence, a choking silence.

"Mary Anne is dead. She's dead, Nellie."

Music video analysis

Well, here is my analysis of the music video (Johanna has inspired me) - one of the newly assignments at English class.

Bryan Adam's song "Run To You" is from the album "Reckless". The album was released in 1984 and the music video was directed by Steve Barron.

I think the song is about a man who's torn between two women. The first - who might be his wife - is faithful and nice but frigid. The second - who might be his lover - is manageable and captivating.

• The video takes place both outside and inside.
• The video mainly focuses on Bryan Adams and a woman who is seen as his secret love.
• It's a narrative music video, there are scenes with Bryan Adams singing on stage and there are fictional scenes with the woman.

English B so far

We've done funny things, the music video and the 5-minute writing exercise for example. Apart from "American Literature History" - which felt very weary - I think the course has been just fine. But it would be nice to write stories, or individual reports about.... maybe historical things and read books (perhaps with interesting topics or just classic ones).

The idea of using blogs was (and still are) very good, it feels like we're doing something fun with the subject English itself.

Photo class 8/10

Some of the photos taken by me....

The Revenge Of The Claws - PART 2

Mary Anne desperately tried to give the cat a kick, but it was useless. She screamingly witnessed how the collar bone crunched into pieces. Scraps of flesh dashed around. The cat angrily spitted out the pupils, which remained in the mess of bloody parts of the body.

Clark anxiously waited for the phone to ring. He ogled at the clock. It was 2.30 PM. Mary Anne should have been home at this time. 2.40. Still no phone call and no Mary Anne. The situation made him frustrated. He disliked being in the forest, but if Mary Anne wasn't home before 3.30; Nellie would get mad and that certainly wasn't enjoyable. He had to walk a long way into the forest before he could really begin to relax. Small, clear sounds made themselves perceptible. Clark began to run.

The cat had swallowed Mary Anne's middle finger and registered new sounds. It was a human again. The cat arched its back and hissed.

Clark observed an animal with something in front of itself. It was a cat with a prey.... But the prey, it was... Clark stopped dead and held his hand before his mouth. It was Mary Anne.... Clark had to lean against the tree trunk not to faint. He stared at the cat which seemed to be ready to attack. The cat had killed Mary Anne.... Clark clenched his fist in fury.

The cat noticed his aggressive facial expression. She went off like lightning towards the burrow. Clark stared hard at the black creature, whilst he ran in the snow. He stopped to calm down himself. The cat had disappeared.

The kittens squealed, which only made the cat more upset. She cautionary hissed when one of them tried to get out. But the warning remained unheard and the cat anxiously watched as the other two also began to crawl out.

Clark noticed the three little creatures outside the burrow. He assumed they were kittens, the brood of the cat. He took a fast hold of one of them. Inside the burrow, the cat's eyes were anxiously roving.

The Revenge Of The Claws - PART 1

2 years has passed since that horrible day when Nancy Sanderson was killed. Everybody has forgotten the black cat - who has been hiding itself in the woods. However, her revenge is getting near....

Mary Anne was used to being alone. She got lost in the crowd. Her father was an ambitious lawyer. Her mother was a natty journalist. They scrambled for the computer as well as the phone. Therefore, Mary Anne had created her own world, a world in which she could feel at home. That world was in the forest. She was finally there.

Approximately 10 metres from that place, the black cat sneaked around. She had grown leaner and was tormented by the cold. But she had to defy it. The 3 kittens remained in the abandoned burrow, helpless and hungry. The cat was hungry too. For the last months she had lived on apple-cores, pieces of bread, mice and weasels. But that was before this awful winter came. A thick layer of snow covered the ground and blocked her usual feed. The burrow had been a retreat for her and the kittens ever since the horrible day 2 years ago, when Nancy Sanderson were killed.... That memory still made the cat tremble inside. Ever since then, she'd stayed away from humans and observed them from a hill - all those reporters who'd search in the famous barn. The cat didn't like the idea of killing humans. But the madness, the horrible madness, was still there.

Mary Anne gazed upon a squirrel who were collecting nuts. She thought of the silence. She had grown so used to it that she never noticed it. The squirrel suddenly disappeared. It was as if it had heard distant sounds who were approaching. Mary Anne tried to listen, but couldn't hear anything. She finally fell asleep close to a tree trunk.

The cat moved faster in the direction of the sound waves. They were slow and drawn-out. The cat sensed the vicinity of human being. A green froth oozed out of the corner of its mouth. The eyes expanded and became twice as big. The human had once been evil. The human had caused the wound in the neck. The human had let out the detestable bat. The bat had spread the disease. And the disease made her heart pound faster than normal.

Mary Anne woke up from her deep sleep. She heard small sobbing sounds. She saw a black cat with a green sludge in front of it. It looked like vomit. Mary Anne felt sorry for the cat. She held out her hand towards it.

"Don't be afraid. I'll help you."

The cat reacted as quick as lightning. The human was about to get nasty again. The cat opened its mouth and swallowed Mary Anne's wrist in a flash. A cascade of blood and froth belched out.

To be continued....

The Cat - PART 7

This is the last part, I'll post the sequel - "The Revenge Of The Claws" - later.

The moonlight shone as a cosy lantern on the small woodland road. The cat gazed everywhere in search for possible enemies. The madness wandered in her brain and she could still feel the smell of human blood. The cat turned down a beaten track. Not far away, there was a voluminous shrub. She heard the screams from a long distance. Squealing screams. There they were, perfectly camouflaged and exact copies of herself. Black, thin and with the same look in the eyes.

The horrible gleam. Her kittens.

She was proud of her ability to give birth to them. It hadn't been easy. She had almost consumed them once. But the instinct, the fantastic maternal instinct, had won.

She thought that motherhood would kill the terrible feeling inside her. The feeling who made her kill.

But as she fell asleep at the shrub, she knew that wasn't the case. The feeling was still there....

The Cat - PART 6

A cloudy day when the summerrain fell in steady streams, Nancy was looking after the cat. She dabbed the ugly wound with a handkerchief. The cat suddenly winced.

"Sorry", Nancy quickly said.

She walked backwards. The cat followed her, it guarded her with an almost furious look. Nancy took a deep breath. She would soon fall into the hay. The cat hurled ahead and bit Nancy's knee. Nancy cried out. The face was distorted in pain. She fell into the hay at once. The cat opened the mouth and Nancy saw the glimmer of the teeth.

"Nice cat", she whispered with shaky voice.

The cat attacked her again and scratched the neck with its sharp claws.

"Dad!" Nancy bawled. "Help!"

The family heard the bawl through the window. Jack ran inside the barn. The cat hissed. The eyes of Nancy were tattered, the pupils was about to flow out. The cat had bite off half of the upper lip and were (at the present moment) busy with slurping a bit of the collar bone. Lizzie and Sue came running.

"What has happened? What has happened?" Lizzie hysterically asked.

Sue had already begun to scream and now Lizzie did it too. The room echoed with inarticulated sounds while the cat tucked into its victim. The teeth cut their way through the forehead. Jack clutched his brown shotgun and screamed:

"Die, you execrable animal!"

The shots went off. One, two, three. The cat got off. Jack cussed. The cat attacked the foot of Sue. Jack raised the gun again. Bang! The cat once again stood aside. It disappeared through a hole in the wall.

"It escaped", Sue whined.

The tears were shining in her eyes.

"Oh, Nancy. Did you love the animal so much that you let it kill you?"

Jack held his gun.

"No, no", Lizzie protested.

"Oh yes", said Jack. "The cat escaped. Don't you see? It destroyed our lives. And now.... when Nancy no longer exists...."

"Alright", said Lizzie and gulped. "Take the gun and shoot me. I don't wanna live without Nancy. I don't see the point of continuing this life."

Her eyes were vacant and empty.

"Alright", said Jack resolutely. "I'll help you first. That way you won't see me do it. Lay down, Lizzie. Hold Sue."

Sue began to cry again.

"Let me go, Mum! Let me go!"

"No!" Lizzie shouted. "Be quiet!"

"Are you ready?" Jack mumbled.

"Yes", said Lizzie quietly. "I've always loved you. Goodbye Jack. Do it now."

Jack raised the barrel and shoot. Bang! He went down on his knees and bursted into uncontrollable crying.

"God, forgive me! I killed them.... I killed them...."

He picked up his jack knife and stabbed it straight into the throat.