For this one: You must save your romantic partner from getting overtaken by ghosts.
LEGS (any gender, mid teens through early twenties)
[from a seated position]
Jamie don't go out there. The woods. It's wrong, something's wrong. If Johnny went into the woods, we need to call the search and rescue.
Jaime, STOP. Jaime look at me. Look at ME.
I... I can't move my legs. It happened after I went looking for Johnny. I took two steps behind the trees and... and it all started with that smell. You know that smell, right? The campers have been complaining about it. Sort of like ammonia but kind of sweet? That smell was worse than ever. I had to run back out into the sports field, I was gagging.
And then... it was like the smell went away but not into the air. It went DOWN. Jaime, it was like some giant slug, and I could feel it squishing down past my nose, my throat, my lungs, my stomach and then it's just this mush that's sliding down and filling up my legs. And that's when I collapsed-- NO.
Do not try to help me up. Whatever's wrong with me, I don't know if it'll spread to you.
You're safe as long as your away from me.
You're safe as long as you're away from the woods.
Jaime, this isn't a game. I know we let a Johnny go missing. A camper. I know there will be consequences if we tell Boss... if we get search and rescue on this. But search and rescue... they've got a fighting chance in those woods. I don't think the woods wants them. The woods want US. I barely got away. Maybe I didn't, really. Maybe this thing is going to fill up the rest of me.
Jaime, whatever happens to you for losing Johnny... it's at least... workable.
Copyright 2016 by Matt Haynes.
If you would like to use this piece, please credit: "Courtesy of Matt Haynes and The Pulp Stage"