We arrived back home. Boy, was it a relief. Danilo, Charlie, and I got houses in a neighborhood. Charlie got an actual prosthetic leg, and we made up a story: he was laying down when this piece of sharp metal fell from a tree and cut his leg off. It was simple, easy to tell, short, and believable. Danilo eventually got news that his mom was okay and that she was coming to america with the family. Danilo was 24, his mother was 53, his dad was dead (from a heart attack, not from war.), his younger sister was 9, his other younger sister was 13, and his younger brother was 16. We all lived next to each other. I bought Danilo a 357 magnum revolver, since he blew his money on the house. Charlie had his colt 1911, and i had mine. I also had a 1903 springfield, and Charlie had a M1 garand that he bought. We liked to go to this ice cream cart called: “Good humor ice Cream: the frozen treat that warms your heart!”
We enjoyed all of the flavors. We went there one day, expecting it to be same old, same old. I told Danilo about this girl i had met a week before. All of a sudden, i see a guy in a big jacket, long pants, and a fedora. I only see a part of his face, and it looked like the shadow demon. I got a PTSD flashback from our time on the island, and i rub my eyes and look at him again. It was a regular guy, just looking at me. I walk back home, confused and scared. Charlie asks me whats wrong. I tell him nothing. We ate our ice cream and then i tell them i think there may be more than one shadow demon. They agree, saying that we should stay aware, but there wasn’t any here. I thought it could be otherwise. I saw another person with a face of a shadow demon. I rub my eyes, normal. It repeats. I could’ve died if i was alone. Heck, if it was just me and danilo, we probably wouldn’t make it. Who knows, maybe we NEEDED the soldier. I was still paranoid. I later went out with that same girl from earlier. We went to a diner. It was one fine diner, i tell ya. We talked a bit, and we ate a bit. Then, she invites me to her house for the next night. I was happy, but still paranoid. I felt like it was mocking me, watching my every move, just waiting till im vunerable. It was a small town. I needed assurance. I decided to go with Charlie and Danilo for a walk in the woods during about 7:00 pm to be assured. I took my pistol and knife. Charlie and Danilo only took their knives. We walked a bit, and we decided to stop and rest on some stumps. We heard some leaves rustling. I wasn’t worried. Knowing it was probably some squirrel, it was fine. I heard some twigs snap, once again not worried. I saw, however, a disturbing thing. It was what appeared to be a shadow demon stalking us from behind a tree. I pull out my pistol and aim it at it. I shoot at it, but it retreats behind the tree before i pull the trigger. Charlie and Danilo wondered what i shot at. I stated that it was a shadow demon, no doubt about it. They doubted me for a second, and then considered it. We walked to the same tree. We found nothing. I looked up, and yelled in fear. It was that shadow demon, looking. I fell to the ground. Charlie and Danilo looked up, and saw it. They yelled in fear too. I shot at the thing, over and over, one handed, but i was too late. It was gone. We went home in the dark. We had only our knives and a couple of rounds left. I walked through, cautiously. I saw the thing again, and it taunted me with a sinister, horrifying laugh before disappearing. I aimed my pistol at anywhere, the creature no where to be seen. Danilo and charlie were ahead of me. I feel a tap on the back of my shoulder. I look around, and it gives me a death stare, holding my arms together and a hand over my mouth. It gives me a sinister smile and disappears again. I tell charlie and danilo, who believed me. We couldn’t sleep that night. We were scared. This one was way smarter.
-Thomas Ripley, 70956 Grand Avenue, Greydale, Texas
Hope you enjoyed this entry. Im gonna study now.
