FOUND: Hey pandas continue the story - You Need To See This

The storm outside had almost covered his voice as he started to count. Almost. But as soon as I’d heard it, I’d leapt into action. And now I couldn’t not hear it.

“…eight, nine, ten, eleven…”

As silently as I could, I crossed the landing and slipped into the guest bedroom. I eased the door to but didn’t close it for fear of revealing my location. A fan of light fell through the gap, illuminating the room just enough for me to navigate it.

“…twelve, thirteen, fourteen…”

There, beyond the bed in the far corner was an old cabinet. It was my best bet.

“…fifteen, sixteen…”

As I tiptoed across the threadbare carpet, another peal of thunder rolled across the sky and shook the house. I reached the cabinet and pulled open one door, releasing a waft of aged dust. Old boxes were stacked inside but they left just enough room for me if I made myself as small as I could.

“…seventeen…”

I dropped to the floor and began tucking myself inside my hiding place - first my legs, then my backside, and lastly my upper body. My chest pressed tight to my thighs and my neck was bent at a painful angle, but I was in.

“…eighteen!”

I reached for the door to pull it shut, but my fingers only grazed it and sent it swinging wide. Desperately I clawed for it but found only empty air.

“Nineteen!”

For an interminable moment my hiding place was fully exposed until at last the cabinet door swung back in my direction. I seized it and slammed it shut, sealing myself in darkness.

“TWENTY!”

I covered my mouth and tried to be totally silent but all too soon I heard it - a low laugh carried on fetid breath, right outside the door.

I should’ve known my brother would find me. He had always been so much better at hide and seek than me. He loved this game so much.

Even his funeral last week couldn’t stop him playing.

But although I could not see it, I felt the presence of another being behind my back. I tried to breathe, but the air felt thicker, making breathing impossible.
As I struggled for air, I heard a noise behind me, but I dared not look because it must think I was oblivious to its presence. I needed to survive. I needed to warn the others.
As my mind panicked I saw white tendrils creeping up my vision.
Suddenly everything was black, and I couldn't see a thing. Then I saw a misty vision of a body sprawled on my houses oak steps. It wasn't moving and I knew that whomever it was, they were dead. As the vision moved to another angle, I was shocked to see my own face, my own body was the one on the steps.
I was dead. He must have got to me. My family!
I forced the vision to move up the steps to the upper landing. Only then did I see the figure that had been behind me. That had killed me.

The thunder roared outside as heavy raindrops pounded the ceiling. I creeped up the wooden stairs as quickly and quietly as I could, not daring to turn around...

I swiftly ascended the old,wooden ladder up into the attic. I moved some heavy boxes to block the exit praying that he wouldn't find me.

I took out what I had in my pockets: my phone ,a Swiss army knife , £30 ,a pack of gum and some chips. Only one thing was useful right now. I turned my phone on silent and dialed 911.

"H-h-ello," I whispered in a shaky voice "Is this n-n-nine one one?"
"Yes,what is your emergency?" Replied the worker .
"Help m-"

I froze

"Hello" it was the worker.
I hung up.

I heard him.

"Sweetie,I'm getting horny don't keep daddy waiting, you know what will happen if you keep daddy waiting"

The storm did not allow me to hear her quiet steps, but I knew she wouldn't give up the chase. I had been running from her for weeks, and she had finally caught up to me.

I kept going though, winding through the large and abandoned house she had cornered me in. I didn't know my way around, so I could only hope not to run into a dead end.

Lightning struck near the house and lit up the hallway for a moment. I could see her silhouette at the end of the hallway I was in. I knew she could see where I was now as well. I had been relying on the darkness to hide me, but my plan had failed and now all I could do was try to run.

I heard her steps become louder and she sped up as she chased me down. She must have given up on sneaking up on me after she had been temporarily illuminated.

I quickly ran into the nearest room and slammed the door. I saw a wooden chest next to me and scooted it over so it blocked the door. I didn't think it would stop her, though, seeing as she had been able to break through any barrier I had created in the past weeks.

I couldn't believe this was all happening. I had simply said something about her to my friend behind my back, and now I would pay for it with my life. I don't know why I decided to gossip about the creepiest girl I knew, but I still did.

Suddenly the door was going open, causing the chest to go flying and nearly hit me. She stared at me as pressed up against the wall and slowly made her way closer to me.

"Please don't hurt me! I know I made a mistake talking about saying terrible things about you, and I'm sorry for it!" I yelled pitifully.

Her black eyes bored into me for a moment, and then she said, "You will pay."

She lunged forward and suddenly I was enveloped in blackness as I faded away.

He was behind me. He had been trying to run me to ground for months, but I was always one step ahead- until now. I hoped that I would be able to find a hiding spot before he caught up to me. Eventually, I spotted an open door to my right and slipped in as quietly as I could. I softly closed the door behind me and hastily barricaded it. After I finished, I stepped back and took a look at my handiwork. I knew it wouldn’t hold for very long, but it was the best I could do. All I could do now was wait and hope that he didn’t find me, which gave me enough time to think over the events of the past few months. I silently cursed myself for letting my guard down, vowing never to do it again.

Suddenly, I heard his voice. “Come out, come out, wherever you are,” he sang tauntingly. I could hear him pacing in the hallway, occasionally trying doors as he spoke. “I’m quite enjoying our little game. It’s a pity it has to end so soon.” My heart was beating so fast, I was sure he could hear it. “You thought you were so clever, didn’t you, evading me all this time. You can’t hide from me forever, you know.” I heard his footsteps stop abruptly, then the rattle of the doorknob that opened up the room I was in. Just then, he stopped trying the k**b and started pushing against the door. I could hear my heartbeat quicken and my breathing go shallow. After several minutes of pushing, he managed to get the door open. I tried to make myself as inconspicuous as possible as he scanned the room. Unfortunately, I didn’t do a very good job of it, as he managed to find me in a little over a minute. “Caught you!” he exclaimed triumphantly, pulling me out of the room by my arm. “Now let’s have a little fun, shall we?”

Once I was in the attic, I carefully unlatched the window, and eased myself through until I was standing on the small balcony. It was an eyesore, it clung to the side of the house like a weed, too small to house any furniture. But it was mine. And it would be where I spent my last moments.

My breath came in short sharp bursts as I looked down, at the four stories spiralling down beneath me. My parents always did have too much money for their own good, our house didn't need to be this big. But being rich and glamorous came with it's price. Get involved with the wrong people, and you're done for. I learnt that the hard way.

"What are you doing!?" I heard a voice shriek behind me.

I saw the look of horror on my mother's face magnify as I clambered onto the balcony railing.

"Don't jump!" she yelled.

I stopped. Did she actually care enough to try and preserve my life?

"Have you any idea how much disgrace it'll bring to the family when everyone realises we had a daughter who took her own life?"

Never mind. She's still the heartless monster I've always known.

"I have nothing to apologise for." I said, my voice a dagger.

I jumped. An electrifying streak of lightning hurtled down from the sky, illuminating me in it's glow. For just a second, I was suspended in the air.

Then I began, impossibly, to slowly float upwards, the lightning carrying me. I'd never felt this way before; I was power. I was nothing. I was everything.

As I waited for help I suspected would not arrive, my thoughts strayed to my childhood here. Running up and down hallways, playing, in all the rooms except one. The one room that was off limits.

Just 24 hours ago, I was just another person who inherited a house. What was that room all about? As I entered the the room, filled with the smell the stale air, I threw upon the curtain to expose the room, all it’s ornate and delicate features. At first it didn’t seem so scary. Books, painting of people I didn’t recognize. All except one. How could that be? It was a painting, of me.

Just 24 hours ago my life was my own. Where was that help? What had I done? The room, it did need something, how could I have known what it needed was my very soul.

A few hours ago was when the strange things started to happen. I would see things move. Lights would randomly turn off and on. I decided to crawl deeper and deeper into the cabinet. I squeezed my eyes shut, daring not to breathe and when I opened my eyes, I wasn't at the house. It was misty and foggy and I saw my brother, Jacob. He had a mischievous grin on his face, and in the unknown world, he may have been the only help I could get. I certainly couldn't get help from the outside world.
"Hello?" I called out softly, "Is anyone there?"
"I'm here." Jacob called out and then gave a giggle. It was both friendly, but terrifying at the same time.