Young Writers Society

(I didn't know what rating to put this under; there is some mention of: violence and gore. So please be mindful, enjoy!)

In the heart of a once-bustling town lay an abandoned mall, its corridors now echoing with the whispers of forgotten memories. The air hung heavy with the scent of mildew and decay, suffusing the atmosphere with a musty tang that clung to every surface. Dust mites danced lazily in the faint light that filtered through the cracked skylights overhead, casting eerie shadows upon the worn linoleum floors.

But for a group of adventurous teens, it became a sanctuary for their mischievous escapades. Ryker, Jayden, Noah, and Lyra ventured into the decrepit mall one dreary afternoon, seeking refuge from the monotony of their small-town lives. As they strolled through the deserted hallways, their laughter bounced off the dilapidated storefronts, filling the air with a sense of youthful exuberance.

The dim, flickering light fixtures cast uneven shadows across the peeling wallpaper and crumbling facades of the abandoned shops, lending an otherworldly quality to the scene. The once vibrant storefronts now lay in disarray, their windows boarded up or shattered, their faded signs barely legible amidst the layers of grime and neglect.

"Can you believe this place used to be packed with people?" Jayden remarked, his voice tinged with awe as he ran his fingers along the dusty shelves of an abandoned bookstore. The sound of his fingertips brushing against the forgotten tomes echoed through the desolate corridors, accompanied by the occasional creak of aging floorboards beneath their feet.

"It's like a ghost town now," Noah added, his eyes scanning the faded advertisements plastered on the walls. The remnants of a bygone era stared back at them from peeling posters and weathered billboards, their colors faded and their messages obscured by time.

Despite the eerie atmosphere that hung heavy in the air, the teens found solace in each other's company as they navigated the abandoned mall's labyrinthine corridors. The echoes of their footsteps reverberated off the crumbling walls, mingling with the distant hum of traffic from the outside world.

"Weird how places like this just get left behind," Jayden remarked, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and sadness as he looked through the glass of an old display case. The faint scent of mold and decay lingered in the air, a testament to the mall's gradual descent into disrepair.

"Yeah, it's like time just stopped here," Noah added, his gaze sweeping over the faded signs and forgotten relics of a bygone era. The sound of their voices seemed to fade into the distance, swallowed up by the vast emptiness of the abandoned mall.

Their conversation ebbed and flowed as they explored, each step bringing them deeper into the heart of the abandoned mall. The faint rustle of decaying paper mingled with the soft sigh of the breeze that filtered through broken windows, creating a symphony of sound that underscored their journey into the unknown.

Eventually, their wanderings led them to a hidden oasis—a secluded courtyard bathed in the soft glow of sunlight filtering through the shattered skylights above. A shimmering waterfall cascaded into a tranquil pool, its gentle murmur providing a soothing backdrop to their conversation.

As they settled onto a weathered bench overlooking the water, their chatter subsided into a comfortable silence, punctuated only by the occasional splash of a passing fish. The sweet scent of blooming flowers drifted on the breeze, mingling with the earthy aroma of damp moss and algae that clung to the fountain's stone edges.

"This place is kinda magical, isn't it?" Lyra mused, her gaze drifting out across the courtyard, her voice barely above a whisper amidst the tranquil surroundings. The distant chirping of birds added to the serene ambiance, their songs echoing off the crumbling walls of the courtyard.

"Yeah, it's like we're in our own little world," Ryker agreed, a hint of wonder in his voice as he took in the serene surroundings. The warmth of the sunlight on his skin and the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze filled him with a sense of peace he hadn't felt in years.

As they basked in the tranquility of their surroundings, the faint strains of music filled the air. At first, it was barely discernible—a faint melody drifting through the abandoned mall like a long-forgotten memory.

"What's that sound?" Lyra asked, her brow furrowing in confusion as she strained to listen.

Ryker frowned, his gaze darting around the courtyard. "It sounds like...music?"

The teens exchanged puzzled glances, their curiosity piqued by the unexpected sound. But before they could unravel the mystery, the music intensified, the familiar notes of "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong echoing through the courtyard with haunting clarity.

"Wait, I thought you said the speakers didn't work," Noah exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief as he turned to Ryker.

"They don't," Ryker replied, his expression mirroring Noah's confusion.

As the melody swirled around them, the teens exchanged uneasy glances, their senses tingling with a mixture of apprehension and fascination. It was as if the abandoned mall itself had come to life, its forgotten echoes reaching out to touch them in ways they couldn't comprehend.

As the music continued to play, Ryker excused himself from the group, saying he needed to find the bathroom. His footsteps echoed through the deserted corridors as he made his way back toward where they had stopped by the waterfall.

But as he turned a corner, something caught his eye—a flicker of neon lights emanating from a nearby game shop. Curiosity piqued, Ryker veered off course, drawn toward the promise of adventure and distraction.

"Hey, guys!" he called out excitedly as he rejoined his friends at the waterfall. "I found this game sho..." His voice trailed off as he took in the scene before him.

His friends, who had been alive and chatting just moments ago, now lay motionless on the ground, their bodies surrounded by pools of blood that mingled with the water from the fountain. Shock rooted Ryker to the spot, his mind struggling to comprehend the horrific sight before him.

"What...what happened?" he whispered, his voice barely audible over the distorted music that filled the air.

But there was no answer, only the chilling silence that enveloped him like a shroud. And then, as if emerging from a nightmare, Ryker looked down at his hands, only to find them distorted and smeared with blood. In his right hand, he clutched a gleaming knife, its blade stained crimson with the blood of his friends.

A voice whispered in the depths of his mind, sinister and seductive. "And you'd do it again," it said, the words echoing through his fractured thoughts like a damning verdict.

Panic surged through Ryker's veins as he recoiled from the horror of his own actions. Frantically, he searched for any trace of the innocent boy he once knew, but all he found was a stranger staring back at him from the depths of his own reflection—a stranger stained with blood and consumed by darkness.

With a strangled cry, Ryker stumbled backward, his mind reeling with the weight of his guilt and despair. Ryker dropped the knife, it clattered to the floor echoing throughout the mall. He walked back towards the game shop, thinking that maybe it was just a mirage.

But as he walked past the shop he could've sworn he heard something clatter from inside.

A cold sweat broke out across his brow as he scanned the small shop, his senses on high alert. And then, he saw it—a figure standing in the corner, its features obscured by the darkness. A chill swept through Ryker's veins as he walked towards the figure.

A mirror.

It was him—his own reflection staring back at him with eyes as dark as midnight. But there was something different about this version of himself, something sinister and otherworldly. It grinned at him, a twisted mockery of his own face, as a voice whispered in the depths of his mind, "We never liked those friend did we, Ryker?"

Panic surged through Ryker's veins as he stumbled backward, desperate to escape the suffocating embrace of the game shop. But no matter how hard he tried, the darkness followed him, wrapping its tendrils around his soul and dragging him deeper into the abyss.

And as the echoes of his own screams filled the abandoned mall, Ryker knew that he was trapped—trapped in a nightmare of his own making, with no hope of escape. For in the heart of the abandoned mall, where whispers of forgotten memories lingered, there was no salvation, only endless torment.