The Bridge

Tiaan Barrymore

The girl seemed afraid to reply as she raised her hands shakily and looked at Tiaan terrified, fear could be a lie though, why wasn't this girl following curfew for instance, why had to snuck up on her. All these needed answered and she was going to get an answer, "I won't repeat again."

"I-I..I live around here. J-just up the road a bit." She gave a small nod to the strange woman. "O-obviously I was going to get a d-d-drink, what else would you d-do at a pub?" Jenny wasn't the best at talking to strangers, but she felt braver in the face of a gun, ironically. She raised her hands in a surrender motion saying "But hey, I'm just a town girl who wants a drink, so why dontcha put the gun down?"

Considering and listening carefully finally Tiaan lowered gun, not turning on the safety, "Good enough, just be warned you try anything and I'm not afraid to beat you up." Breathing a little she smiled, "I'm almost relieved another person is here, seriously I'm trying to get to New York, but my driver refused to go through here, demanding I take another route. Since this place is creepy I'm seeing if bar has place to rest, so I can start moving again."

With that Tiaan pushed over the door and stepped into the low lit tavern.

All conversation that was going on immediatly died down and the few people inside stared at her, while the barman said in very low threatening tone, "We don't allow your kind in here. Get out."

Immediately, Jenny followed the stranger in. As soon as she heard her bartender friend, Ryan, speak, she cut in. "It's fine, Ryan. She's with me. Just give us both a drink, put it on my tab." She gave him a winning grin - as much as an awkward town girl could, that is.

The bartender still glared, "Jenny, you are fine but her, she's a city gal and last person we allowed in from city, well you know the rest. If you don't I'll tell you one day."

Jenny's look immediately turned stern, as she said in a reprimanding tone, "Now Ryan, this woman - " she turned to the woman and whispered "Your name"?"

"Tiaan Barrymore, no relation of the famous family."

Jenny laughed a bit. "Jenny Shepard, nice to meet you." She turned back to Ryan. "This woman, Tiaan. She just wants a drink, and then she'll go on her way. Now. Give us both a mug of Guiness." Her face went back to a smile, but this one was more threatening than the last.

The bartender seemed to grumble before nodding and muttering, "One drink and then she's out. Kids shouldn't even be out this late--."

Finally Tiaan had enough and interrupted, "I'm 22, I'm not a kid, that one thing to say, second why shouldn't kids be out this late?" She noticed Jenny trying to shut her up, but continued, "Honestly LA much worse than here."

Jenny interrupted both of them. "Alright, one drink." She turned to Tiaan and whispered, "Please don't argue with Ryan. He can be stubborn when he wants to."

Rolling her eyes she said casually, "I wonder if that cabin across the bridge is more hospitable."

Just then everyone went silent and Ryan said in a very low tone, "OUT. Jenny we'll talk about this later."

Jenny was worried for the stranger - her new friend - so while she was scared of the cabin, she decided to brave it out. "Well, Tiaan..that cabin over there's rumored to be haunted...but there just stories. I saw some lights on in it coming up, so there must be people there at least...."

Looking around and half paying attention to Jenny, she suddenly said "Shhhh..."

Then she heard it, more child-like laughter, but looking behind her she could see them now, young kids, dressed entirely in black with hoodies. Genderless by all appearance. This wasn't something you find in anywhere but a city.

One of the figures spoke, glancing up.

Tiaan gulped in horror and grabbed hold of Jenny out of fear.

Their eyes, their eyes...

Their eyes...

They were black... absolutely black no other colour.

Then it spoke, in a slow monotone, "You need to let us IN." it emphasized the in most of all as they started to surround them all.

Tiaan was still clutching Jenny in terror, then remembering she pulled out her gun and aimed at closest one, the child hardly came up to her height. Still she held gun at the thing and said in scared tone, "Stay away, not afraid to use it."

Still they came.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Even after firing the three shots, the kids still started to surround them.

All througout this ordeal, Jenny had been scared, holding tightly to Tiaan. She tried to be brave, but it was hard. Jenny muttered to herself, with a shaky voice, "I-I knew it...the r-rumors were t-true..." She felt as though she was about to die, and decided quickly on something in her mind. "I'm not gonna die without a first kiss!", and gave Tiaan a peck on the lips.

Blushing a little, Tiaan smiled.Sensing someone else needed protecting, Tiaan forced a calm facade on, "We can make this, and with that she bum-rushed the closest one, dragging Jenny behind her. Then with an growing unease, she ran towards the bridge; at this point she was glad to see some lights nearby.

The kids laughed and crowed, not even following.

Just then it dawned on Tiaan what it had been about, halfway across bridge, she realized with sadness, it had been a trap, and now only direction to go was the cabin.

Taking hold of Jenny's hand she said in most reassuring tone, "And people wonder why I don't want kids."

It was hollow but it snapped Jenny out of her stupor as she gave a small chuckle.

With that they travesed the bridge, and crossed on to land. Without fully comprehending, Tiaan turned around and whispered, "Jenny, we're going to need a bigger boat."

The bridge was gone, which was even scarier; it was like it had never been there at all. They could see the town, and where the bridge once was, but nothing signalling one had been there previously.