Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And today I'm back with another short story.
(*Taking a deep breath as I remember the last time I wrote one.)
... It's been a while, so bear with me.
Enjoy!
Big Brother
"Shaun, Noah! We're leaving! Come say goodbye to your grandma!" I hear from the front of the house.
God sake! First, I'm not allowed to go out with my friends and now I'm stuck looking after my baby brother all evening! Talk about pulling the short end of the stick.
Okay. Let me explain.
My grandma Karen, is off on holiday abroad with her friend with her knitting friends for some unknown reason, and Mum and Dad are escorting her to the airport. So I'm stuck.
Sighing, I make my way to the front of my house, ignoring the beep in my pocket. I don't want to make this torture any worse by texting my friends back. In my distraction, I nearly trip over Noah, who is excitedly rushing to the front of the house to say goodbye to our grandma. At least one of us is excited at this arrangement.
"Hey, careful!" I shriek with more anger than what is strictly needed, and catching the look of surprise on Noah's face, guilt instantly floods me. But I ignore him, and focus on my grandma who is approaching me with a mouth full of lipstick and outstretched arms.
Wiping lipstick off my cheek, we watch them drive off, an obvious distance between my brother and I. Seeing them drive off, it's like my last chance is slowly slipping away. I try not to make the desperation evident on my face, but it must be obvious what's on my mind because when Mum goes to hug me, she whispers in my ear, "I know you wanted to go out, but look after your brother. We'll be back before you know it." I don't respond. Of course they still drive away.
Once they're gone, and I know there's no turning back, I turn to Noah. I take in his large, beady brown eyes, tiny button nose and thin lips he inherited from Mum, and mutter: "So what do you want to do?"
* * * * * *
This is endless. We've done every possible thing, from jigsaws to little kid games, to playing with Noah's cars. Right now he's calmed down enough to watch some television, though he's still muttering quietly to himself. God, how much energy does he have?
I check my phone. Surely it must be 8:30 by now?
It's not. It's barely been an hour. Great. This evening is going to take forever.
The messages stopped a while ago. It's hard not to imagine my friends, having fun without me.
All of a sudden I can't take it any more. I stand up, swipe the remote from the coffee table in front of me, and turn off the tv. Noah turns to me, a question on his face. "Pyjamas. Now."
He doesn't move an inch. "Why?"
Sighing, I say, "Because I said so. Now." He takes a long look at the expression on my face and without arguing like I think he's going to, he flounces off in the direction of his room.
* * * * * *
"Shaun!"
What now?!
I'm still in the living room, texting Dad about when he'll be back when I hear Noah calling. I go back to my phone again, hoping he'll just fall asleep.
"SHAUN!"
God sake.
"Alright, I'm coming!" Begrudgingly, I get up and slowly make my way to my brother's bedroom.
I find him curled up in bed, with an old, heavy book clasped in his hands.
Pocketing my phone, I plomp down on his bed next to him.
"Alright, what is it?" Though from the expression on his face, I already know.
Noah thrusts the book in my arms. I'll have bruises tomorrow.
I sigh, and start to read.
"Amongst the shadows of the deep dark woods..."
This book is boring. It has to be getting late.
My phone beeps.
I go to check it, but Noah interrupts.
"Go. I can tell you're bored. I'll read this by myself."
I look up in surprise. "Huh?"
"You clearly don't want to be here, so just go."
Stunned, I glance at the door, then back at Noah.
"Go."
At a loss, I listen, and eventually leave.
* * * * * *
I wake, feeling a very strong urge to go for a piss. Whilst trying to get some consciousness back, I reach for my charging phone. It reads 3:30am. I see a text from Dad stating that the flight was delayed, and they'll be a few hours longer, which I swipe aside. Groaning, I roll out of bed and make for the bathroom before my bladder explodes.
On my way back from the loo, I'm rubbing my eyes, trying to get them sleepy enough, when I realise that Noah's door is open a jar. Normally I wouldn't care, but Noah is super particular about always having his door closed. He's complained about it no end of times, which I've always found extremely weird. But when I see his door open, I figure I should check on him.
After all, I never sat with him until he fell asleep, did I?
When I peer into his room, I get one heck of a shock.
What is it, you ask?
Oh, nothing really. No sign of anything put out of place, no toys or posters gone.
Just the fact that my brother is nowhere to be found.
Oh, and the book is lying open on his pillow.
* * * * * *
What the hell has happened? I search his wardrobes, the bathroom, even though I just came from there, downstairs, thinking of every possible thing that could have happened. Did he wake up, release Mum and Dad weren't home yet and panicked? Wandered off?
I'm scouring the house, for a second time, a third time, peering closely at every aspect of our house, exploring every possible place he could be. He wouldn't just up and wander off, would he? He might be young, but he's not dumb.
Finally, after I've realised that he's nowhere to be seen, I sit down on Noah's bed with my head in my hands.
Then something occurs to me. My gaze falls on the book.
My heart skips a beat.
It's not possible.
But is it?
He's always had mum read it to him, so that might be why.
After a second, I realise what I'm considering.
This is crazy. There's no way.
But I guess I've got nothing to lose.
I reach over, pick up the book.
"Amongst the shadows of the deep dark woods, there lives a murderous creature named the Hidey-Hoo..."
* * * * * *
Well that was fast. I can't believe that worked.
I take in the scene. I'm standing on a platform, surrounded by trees. Taking a closer look at the platform I'm standing on, it may or may not be just a cut down tree. There's a shimmer of moonlight cascading down from the sky, onto the platform, which is the only reason I can see anything at all. Everything else is pitch black, like I can't see my hand in front of my face, pitch black.
I make sure I make note of my surroundings, as this might be where we have to get back to, in order to get back to our house.
Despite the darkness, (and the fact that I'm still in my t-shirt and shorts) I can feel my back growing warm, but there's a slight breeze, as light as a whisper, flying through the trees.
I have a bad feeling about this place. I need to find my brother and get out of here, as soon as I can.
Especially when I see a pair of bright yellow eyes, in the midst of the trees, just for a second.
And I swear I almost peed my pants.
Looking around, I can see three paths.
Alright, time to start looking for my brother.
I just wish I could shape the feeling that I'm going to be followed.
Come on Shaun, you can do this. Don't be a fucking pussy.
Alright. Wishing I had my phone with me to use as a torch, I take the middle path, hoping it won't be the last decision I ever make.
* * * * * *
Walking at a steady pace, I keep going until I come across a river, flowing right across from me. Although there are a few trees scattered on the other side, it looks like this is where they're cut off. I heave a sigh of relief, that means I can see a lot better now. Ahead of me I can see this huge hill that does not look fun. I'm just deciding what direction to go next, when I notice something on the ground. And I hope it's not what I think it is.
Crouching down, I pick the object up.
It's Noah's pokewalker, which he takes everywhere with him. It's actually my old one, but when I grew out of Pokémon, he latched on to it and wouldn't let Dad get rid of it. It's a bit battered, but I could still spot it a mile away.
What could have happened to make Noah drop his pokewalker? I don't like this.
And then I swear I feel an almost weightless hand on my shoulder.
But when I turn around, to see what it was, there's nobody there.
The feeling in the pit of my stomach gets worse.
"Who are you? Where's my brother?" I call out in a voice that sounds nothing like my own.
The only answer I receive is a light, airy voice, inside my head:
"Be careful, the Hidey-Hoo is closer than you think..." The voice trails off.
With another look at my surroundings, I start in the direction of the trickling water.
* * * * * *
For what seems like ages, I'm following the stream. At last, I come to the waterfall.
God, I'm so hot I feel like I'll spontaneously combust any minute. Grateful for the break, I jump straight in, start washing my face with the cool, refreshing water.
Some time later, when I'm considering staying here forever, just bathing in this wonderful water, when the ground starts to shake. I try to ignore it, try to forget about it, but it keeps coming, and it's just getting louder. I hear that light voice once more.
"You shouldn't have bathed in the Hidey-Hoo's water, he knows, and he's coming for you now. He's very close."
SHIT. I better run for it. Find my brother, and get out.
That was the plan.
When did that change?
Before I've fully made the decision about where to go next, my eyes land on a cave right next to it, and my feet make a beeline for it.
I don't have much time.
* * * * * *
This cave is creepy, but I'm too busy trying to make distance between the Hidey-Hoo and myself to notice much.
Thank god, it's just a straight stretch to the end of the cave, else I wouldn't be able to see much at all.
I was expecting it to be quiet, but it's full of sound, from what I imagine as bats, mice and god knows what else. Let's just say I'm not sticking around to find out.
God, it's so hot, I can feel my t-shirt sticking to my back.
I sure hope we get out of here soon, else I might die from dehydration, never mind the Hidey-Hoo.
* * * * * *
Finally I make it to the end of the cave. Even though I can't see any sunshine, or even the beginnings of morning, I can feel the sweat dripping down my face.
But even through everything I've encountered, the first thing I see when the cave is behind me, makes it all worth it.
Noah.
I don't waste a second.
"NOAH!" He's sat in a grazing not too far away, embedded in a sea of these beautiful purple flowers that I've never seen in my life.
I run as fast as I possibly can, but I don't get far, because as soon as Noah sees me, he does the same thing.
"Shaun! You're here!"
One second, he's 10 feet away, and the next he's in my arms, close to being suffocated, I'm holding him that hard.
"Yes, of course I'm here. You didn't think I'd leave you here, did you?" How could he think that? I'm his brother.
"Well this is great, now we can live here together now!" His face lights up, like it's the perfect solution.
I let him go, sit down with him, amidst the flowers. I notice how they change colour slightly, when the light moves with the wind.
I take a deep breath.
"I came here to get you, so we can go home Noah. We can't live here. There's nowhere for us to sleep, to stay clean..."
"But I've made friends with the woodland animals. We can stay with them." I wish he hadn't thought this, but he's 6. This is like a dream come true for him.
"It's just not possible Noah. I wish we could, but there's this Hidey-Hoo, that could come and eat us... And are you really okay with never seeing Mum and Dad again?"
"I suppose I wouldn't like that..." Noah's voice trails off, and I know that I'm convincing him.
"I'm sorry Noah, I wish we could stay here. But we need to go. Mum and Dad will be worried. And besides, you wouldn't want to be walking round here without this, would you?"
At this, I pull out the pokewalker I've been holding in my pocket since I found it.
Noah's face lights up once more. "You found it!" And quick as a flash, it's in his hand once more. "Thank-you Shaun." He wraps his arms around me once more.
"I did. But now, we need to go, cos the Hidey-Hoo will be here any minute."
And just as the words are leaving my mouth, the ground starts to tremble once more.
I catch a quick glance at the entrance of the cave. I see claws as big as a bear's, black eyes, red fur, and I don't hesitate. I grab Noah's hand, and sprint into the depths of the forest, to be surrounded by trees once more.
* * * * * *
What's the right way? All the trees look the same!
Damn, I wish I'd thought to read this book before tonight, maybe I'd have a better idea of where the heck to go if I had.
I feel like this Hidey-Hoo is right on top of us, even though I can no longer hear his footsteps.
I stop for a second, out of breath.
But then I hear a voice in my head.
"Look for the trees with the red triangles engrained... they'll lead you to the moonlit platform."
I send my silent thanks, until I hear my brother ask:
"Who are you thanking?" I almost laugh at the puzzled expression on his face.
"Nobody, I just know how to get back."
And I start sprinting again, keeping an eye out for the trees with the triangles.
I'm so close, I can see the moonlit platform, and thank god, because my legs are tired, and I can tell Noah's are too.
I think, we'll be home soon enough, just a bit further, when I see the worst thing I could possibly see.
The Hidey-Hoo, the same distance away from us as we are from the tree.
So I sprint as fast as I possibly can, so fast that I'm landing three feet down in the time that Noah's landing one.
" We're not going to make it!" I just make out Noah saying, completely out of breath.
Yes we are. Because, in the last second, as the Hidey-Hoo reaches out with claws that could rip us up in an instant, I gather Noah up and jump straight for the platform.
And suddenly we're back in Noah's bedroom, safe from the Hidey-Hoo and his vicious claws.
I can't believe it. I glance at Noah, at the same time he glances at me.
And we collapse back into a hug, tears streaming down my cheeks, both of us smiling like our faces are going to split in two.
Noah speaks first. "I love you. Thank-you for coming to find me. I've decided I don't want to live in the Dark Forest."
"I love you too. And I glad, because there's no way I'm going back in after you."
It's that exact moment that Mum and Dad return home.
I release Noah from the hug, rush to the light. and Noah jumps into bed, feigns sleep.
I turn off the light and close the door, just as I see Mum and Dad making their way up the stairs.
"Good morning sweetheart. You didn't have to wait up for us." It's Mum's comforting voice, but I hardly hear her.
"That's okay, Mum, I wanted to."
"You're a good boy, Shaun. Thank-you for taking care of Noah while we were out. Was your night okay?"
I shrug. "Uneventful."
Okay! That's Big Brother!
I hope you enjoyed it, and although I welcome critiques and comments on how I can improve, please be kind. My mum always said, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
Right, I hope you have a wonderful day, and I'll see you soon!
Byeeee!
-Abi xxxxx
If this book doesn't match my birthstone, I don't know what will. My birthstone is Sapphire, because I'm a September baby. Dark Blue Rising is the new Teri Terry book, and for anyone who didn't know, I have loved Teri Terry's books since she released Slated back in 2012, and I've only fallen more in love with her books with each new release. Dark Blue Rising came out on 9/7/20 and the second I heard about the challenge, I knew this had to be the book. I don't know too much about this, but then I don't have to, because I know I'm going to love it. I just know that it's about a girl called Tabby, who finds out that the lady she's been calling her mother is in fact, anything but. As she adjusts to her new life, she's immediately drawn to the ocean, and she enrols in a swimming summer school. There's also this symbol that seems to be everywhere, and there's apparently a lot more going on under the surface (haha), and I'm just really looking forward to seeing where the first book in this trilogy leads. 
I've just finished reading Scythe and even though I'm not fully invested yet, I'm aiming to have the last 100 pages of The Toll left for the 20th. I have no idea what this is about because I'm only on book 1, but I'm interested to see how this trilogy plays out honestly, because it is most certainly one of the uniquest stories I've picked up, probably ever. What I will ask is, if you've read this trilogy, which one was your favourite? Let me know in the comments. 
I was debating whether to pick this one up or, whether to go with Carrie, by Stephen King, because I've watched and loved both adaptations for Carrie. But, I decided to go with this because even though I'm not exactly well read in the Horror or the Classics genre, Jane Austen is an author I have yet to pick up, at all, when Horror is a genre that I'm slowly making my way through (whereas Classics is a genre I'm not at all well read in, and I figured now would be a good time to start.) I watched Sense and Sensibilities little over a month ago, and I'm looking forward to picking this one up. (And it's 294 pages so I definitely think it's something I can fly through.)
With this one, I could literally do what I like, especially as I owned no unread books at the time when the challenges were announced. So, I decided to buy three books, close my eyes, and just pick one. Of course I picked the largest one, (the other options were White Fragility: Why It's So Hard For White People To Talk About Racism, by Robin Diangelo & The Last Children of Tokyo, by Yoko Tawada) but I think I can manage it. 19 Love Songs is a mixture of short stories, and even though I've never read a David Levithan book, I'm excited to start this one. (Because they're short stories, I can fly through this quickly and efficiently.) For all I know, I could just read a number of short stories over the course of the week! (And I'll be picking the other two up after The Reading Rush is finished, rest assured. 
After listening to the audiobooks for the past few months, I just had to find a way to fit this into my Reading Rush TBR. I'm not too sure where this series takes place, but it sure isn't the UK, so I'm counting it. And also, because these audiobooks are so short, Come Tumbling Down is just perfect for a readathon, because I'll be able to fly through it in a matter of hours. As much as I wish it wasn't the last book in the series that's currently out, I'm excited to see what's going to happen next. I really hope it's good, cos it's the last impression I'm going to get on this series until January. 
