Hell Theater
Bad grin

When I was 12, I had a friend named Brenda. After school we always go to his house to hang out. He lives in a big house on the edge of town.

One day, Brenda doesn't show up to school. He was out for the next few days and I started to wonder if there was something wrong with him. After missing a week of school, I decided to visit him.

I paddled my bike across town and arrived at his house just outside. When I rang the doorbell, I was shocked when the door opened immediately.

Brenda's mother stood in the doorway, but there was something strange about her. His eyes looked darker than usual and his hair was draped on his shoulders. I noticed that she was wearing a bathrobe. The most troubling thing was the way he grinned at me.

He didn't say a word. He just stood there looking at me with an evil smile playing on his lips.

"Is Brenda here?" I asked nervously.

He gestured me to come in and before I said anything, he returned to the dark house. When I stepped in, my eyes tried to see in the darkness, but I was not sure where he was going. Just then, I heard a strange buzzing sound and followed him into the kitchen.

I found it there, standing in the kitchen sink with my back to me. The moment I entered the kitchen, he stopped humming and there was a terrifying silence.

I sat at the kitchen table and waited. He seems to be forever. I spent the next five minutes just sitting there, wondering what was going on.

Then I realized something very strange.

The whole time I was sitting there, he didn't move in the slightest. His back was still towards me and I couldn't see his face. His hands drooped limp on his sides and his head tilted slightly. Something is wrong.

I stood up nervously and approached him. He's staying quiet. Very slowly, I moved around him and tried to look at his face to see if he was okay. That scene still haunts me to this day.

His eyes were wide open and he was still a wicked grin on his face.

I was so scared that I couldn't stand to stay in the kitchen any longer. Without saying a word, I backed out of the room and walked towards the front door. I picked up the bike and started cycling as fast as I could on the long winding road that meandered through the city. I did not stop until I reached the safety of my home.

It was only a few days later that I found out why my friend, Brenda, did not attend school. My parents told me that there was a tragic death in the Brenda family.

"What?" My toot. "Who died?"

My parents delivered sad news to me and it made my hair stand up and I cried from fear.

Brenda's mother died suddenly and at night I called her home, Brenda was at her grandparents' place, attending the funeral.

He told me that his parents were very good, the pay was good and their 3-year-old daughter was polite and well-behaved. I wasn't as busy as it seemed so I told him that I would be happy to accept the job.

That night, I went to the family home and met my mother. His name was Ruth and he was preparing to go out that night with his friends. She mentioned that her husband was out of town on business and gave me some numbers to call if I needed to contact him.

The night went very easily. I made dinner for the little girl, gave her a bubble bath, and then put on a sleeping outfit.

Around midnight when I heard the front door open and footsteps down the hallway. I thought it was strange, because I had never heard a car stop. I was relieved to see Ruth walking into the living room where I sat watching TV.

He never said a word to me and, as he walked past me, I was surprised by how different he was. Something about his eyes had changed and he smiled widely. I felt the cold snap through my spine.

I know that evil grin. I've seen it before, years ago.

Ruth was sitting at the dinner table with her back turned towards me. His hand fell limp on his side. His head to the left. He hummed himself.

"Ruth's? I asked nervously. "Ruth, are you okay?"

There's no Answer.

"Ruth's? You're not alive anymore, are you? ”

Quiescent.

I quickly gathered my belongings and retreated from the room. When I got to the hallway, I opened the front door and looked out. No cars coming in.

Suddenly, a terrifying silence was broken by the sound of the phone ringing.

I don't want to answer. I am afraid of what I might hear. For a moment, my hand was on the phone. Then I picked up the phone and put it in my ear.

I already know who that guy is.

It was the police, who called to let me know that Ruth was involved in a car accident an hour ago. He was killed by a collision.

Tears streamed down my face as I ran upstairs, took Princess Ruth from her bed and wrapped her in a blanket. When I got back down, I had to go through the door to the living room. I could still see Ruth sitting at the table with her back to me. Without pausing for a moment, I ran through the night, holding the little girl in my arms.