《The Owl》


 Chapter 1

    It¡¯s recess at Canute elementary school. There¡¯s sheer pandemonium as children run around, screaming. The weather is gloomy grey skies, with a refreshing breeze from time to time. Joel Maizon (Skinny Jewish kid with brown, curly hair) sprints as fast as he can down the freshly mowed field of Canute elementary School. Corey (Puerto Rican kid with black hair) backs up about three steps. He steadies the football, visualizes his route, flicks his arm and blitz¡¯s the ball a few feet in front of Joel. Joel leaps forward in an attempt to cover the remaining distance, successfully catching the ball but only right before crashing into the shallow sand patch on the ground. As Joel gets back up, he brushes some sand off his New York Giants jersey. A few feet in front of him some other students are huddled around each other. He spots a few familiar faces in the group. Some from his class.


    Eventually Joel notices certain students stare uncomfortably at their phones, while he pulls himself back to his feet.


    ¡°What¡¯s the hold up!?¡± Corey calls out to him. He knew recess was almost over and he wanted to maximize his time by playing catch to the last second. Joel simply turns around and throws the football back at him, an easy lob. Corey easily catches the ball.


    ¡°Give me a second,¡± Joel calls back.


    Curious and confused, Corey runs over to Joel as he confronts a kid he recognizes from his class. Norah, by far the tallest girl in the class with her red hair and tom boyish attitude, which some would choose to avoid but not Joel.


    ¡°Yo, Norah. What is everyone looking at?¡± Joel asks Norah noisily.


    ¡°Hey Joel. We were sharing this creepy pasta that¡¯s been going around the school lately. Have you seen it?¡± Norah asks.


    ¡°Nope, not at all. Is this one scary?¡± Joel digs.


    ¡°What is it about?¡± Corey chimes in.


    ¡°... Well.¡± Norah clearly does not know how to explain it. So instead, she turns her phone around so both the boys can see her phone screen. A black screen with white lettering inhabits the phone. They both get closer.


    The Owl


    When it stares


    You will stare back.


    When it appears


    You will do the opposite.


    As you read this,


    You can see it in your head,


    Its endless gaze will see you as prey.


    Its beak will devour you as such.


    But all you¡¯ll see is... THE OWL.


    Those who are seen, will be forgotten.


    By the time you have read this,


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    It will already be on the move.


    Joel, Norah and Corey look at each other. Joel smirks.


    ¡°That¡¯s not even that scary,¡± Joel contended.


    ¡°I heard my sister talking on the phone about some cryptic message that was making its way through the high school.¡± Corey said.


    ¡°This thing has made it to the high school?¡± Joel asks. ¡°Is Donna, okay?¡±


    Corey ignores the fact Joel calls his sister by her first name. After he admitted to having a crush on her last summer while both boys were playing street hockey. Corey already gathered that much on his own though. Joel would stammer over his words any time she came around. Joel wasn¡¯t the most confident person, but Corey almost never heard him stumble over his words like he does around Donna.


    ¡°She sounded kind of freaked out about it,¡± Corey continues.


    ¡°My brother told me some people may have already disappeared after reading this.¡±


    Norah explains.


    Joel, Corey, and the other kids that are in the huddle turn their attention to Norah.


    ¡°People have already disappeared?¡± Joel asks. ¡°Has anyone called the police yet?¡±


    ¡°Of course not, there¡¯s no proof.¡± Norah criticizes.


    ¡°What do you mean there¡¯s no proof? Someone¡¯s kid is missing.¡±


    ¡°So, what do we tell the police? We think this creepypasta off the internet is kidnapping kids?¡± Norah explains her logic. ¡°We will be laughed out of the building and then they will tell our parents to get us drug tested.¡¯


    ¡°Norah has a point. The police would just think we¡¯re being stupid kids. There¡¯s no way they would take us seriously if that were true.¡± A Black kid with a shaved head from the group speaks up.


    ¡°Okay I see your point but let¡¯s say it¡¯s one of those situations in life where the crazy story turns out to be real.¡± Joel tries to explain. He¡¯s met with quizzical stares from the group.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± the same Black kid speaks up again. Joel recognizes him as Devontae from class 4-A. He didn¡¯t really know anything about him besides that, but he heard rumors that he was incredible at drawing.


    ¡°All I¡¯m saying is this somewhat like those movies where no one believes in the main characters just because they tell this crazy story.¡± Joel said.


    ¡°I see where you¡¯re coming from, but I still don¡¯t think going to the police about it would help us. We don¡¯t even know if these kids are actually missing?¡± Devontae snaps back.


    ¡°Yeah, my dad told me a story one time of some girl from his old high school going missing. After 5 months they found her living with her boyfriend that was like 20 years older than her.¡± Corey adds.


    ¡°Do you remember one of the last lines of the message?¡± Norah chimes back in.


    ¡°Those who are seen, will be forgotten.¡± Corey said.


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Norah said. ¡°My brother and his friends think that means all memories of you are taken away.¡±


    ¡°What does that even mean? How can memories be taken away?¡± Joel asks.


    As Corey stands there listening to everybody talk back and forth, he feels a chill that starts with his arms but eventually moves throughout his whole body. A feeling like when you think someone is right behind you. He glances behind himself only to see the school jungle gym. There¡¯re a few students climbing it but nothing out of the ordinary.


    ¡°Hey guys did anybody else feel-¡± before Corey can finish his sentence, the school recess bell interrupts him.


    A wrinkly, middle-aged woman peaks her head out a side door that leads back into the school.


    ¡°Alright Recess is over, come back in!¡± The teacher calls out.


    Like clockwork, all the students¡¯ faces immediately go from pure happiness to pure dread. Some of them drag their feet, while others say temporary goodbyes to their friends. Corey, Joel, Norah, Davontae, and the others stand there looking at each other. Unable to process this uneasy feeling that has somehow made its way through everyone at the huddle. Norah is the first one to snap out of it.


    ¡°Guys we have to go.¡± Norah states.


    ¡°Of course. Let¡¯s not freak each other out over some stupid creepy pasta.¡± Joel said.


    ¡°Exactly. Do you know how many of these get sent around a week?¡± Corey explains.


    ¡°Right. I¡¯ll see you later.¡± Norah states while making her way back to school.


    Devontae remains silent. The teacher yells out a last call for students that were lagging behind. As each kid walks away, they all feel an unexplainable, uncontrollable fear deep within them. Something similar to the feeling of being in complete darkness in your own house. Except it was broad daylight outside.


    After school let out Joel went straight home. There was this feeling he couldn¡¯t quite explain. This lingering feeling that he could feel in the back of his head the rest of the day. It was there when he got home, and it stayed after he ate dinner. His parents could tell something was bothering him, but Joel¡¯s eyes never left his plate as he made small talk.


    Later that night Joel dreamt of himself walking down an empty road. A thick fog made sure he could only see a few feet around him. He continuously looked back to ensure there weren¡¯t any cars coming but there never was. Just him. He reached into his pocket to call someone only to realize he didn¡¯t have his phone with him.


    ¡°OOOOO - OOOOO!¡±


    The sound almost makes Joel jump from his skin. He recognizes the sound and turns his head to the left only to see it. He doesn¡¯t know how he knows, but he does. This is the owl. This is HIS owl. Its whole body shrouded in darkness except for its stare. Pointing its deep blue eyes directly at Joel. He wanted to look away, but there was an overwhelming curiosity rested in him. How would it happen? Would it hurt? Is it even real? Without noticing it, Joel had let minutes go by. Still staring at the owl.


    Suddenly the owl flaps its wings and launches itself straight at Joel. As Joel opens his mouth to scream in terror, but the owl fills the void by flying straight into his mouth. The owl uses its beak to bite down on his tongue. Joel attempts to yank the owl away from him only to discover the owl has amazing strength. It won¡¯t even budge. The owl then forces itself further down his throat until it¡¯s impossible to breathe. As the light in Joel¡¯s eyes grows darker the owl gets increasingly restless. Until darkness.


    Joel suddenly wakes up in a cold sweat. He looks around his room, with a sense of relief. There was no fog, no road and there was no owl. Yet... He still felt like he was being watched.

 Chapter 2

    As Joel made his way to the bus stop, he saw Corey using his own bookbag as a cushion to sit on the street while playing a battle royale mobile game. The bags under his eyes made it seem as if he did not get a single hour of sleep.


    ¡°Aye man?¡± Joel calls out.


    ¡°Hey.¡± Corey coldly replies.


    ¡°You, okay?¡± Joel asks.


    ¡°Yeah... I¡¯m just a little tired that¡¯s all.¡± Corey explains. ¡°Some DLC for this game I¡¯ve been waiting for finally dropped, I was up all night playing it with some of my guild members.¡±


    Joel felt some unknowing relief in tension, not realizing until now how tense his shoulders were. But hearing Corey be himself instantly relaxed him. For as long as he knew him Corey was always a video game geek. Joel would play games from time to time, but he was mostly interested in reading books. His favorite genre: Science fiction. Corey was his friend that would constantly be playing the new games and keeping up with what¡¯s popular. Joel puts his book bag down and reaches in. Corey swiftly glances at him as he pulls out an old science fiction novel that has seen better days. The cover was slightly ripped on one of its corners, several pages were folded, and the spine was all used and tattered.


    ¡°Are you reading that book again?¡± Corey asks.


    ¡°Yeah, I feel like I have to re-read it once a year.¡± Joel explains.


    ¡°What, why? You already know everything that¡¯s going to happen?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s so dense. I feel like I learn something new about each character every time I read it.


    ¡°If you say so. Well at least get it on a NOOK or something man, because that book looks like it¡¯s on its last legs.¡± Corey said.


    They both hear the roar of the engine as the school bus pulls around the corner. At this point another kid quickly runs to the bus stop and waits with them. The bus is coming to a slow halt. As all three of them climb on, Joel and Corey find a seat next to each other. Corey was still enthralled in his game. Joel begins finding the page where he left off. He never really believed in bookmarks (because he would lose them all), so he bent the corners of the page instead.


    The engine of the bus roars again. For the first time this morning Corey pauses his game and looks away from his screen.


    ¡°Hey Jo, can I ask you something?¡± Corey asks.


    Joel had made it about halfway through the page, but he bent the corner back and put the book down.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


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    ¡°You remember that stupid little thing we read yesterday?¡± Corey lays out. His voice is scratchy and timid. Almost like a whimper. Joel thinks it¡¯s because Corey stayed up all night, playing his game.


    ¡°Yeah, what about it?¡± Joel examines.


    ¡°I was lying about staying up all night to play the game. Truth is I couldn¡¯t sleep. I kept having this nightmare. About this owl.¡± Corey explains.


    Joel¡¯s face immediately changes. He was not planning to bring it up because he didn¡¯t want to seem afraid. But it sounded like he was not alone. Something like this would normally cause a laugh between the two kids.


    Corey¡¯s voice didn¡¯t seem like this was something he wanted to laugh about. Joel was caught off guard by the seriousness on Corey¡¯s face.


    ¡°What did it look like?¡± Joel asks.


    ¡°It just looked like an owl. A regular owl, except it wasn¡¯t. I don¡¯t know how to explain it. It was intense. Its... Its eyes. It felt like it was not just looking at me. I felt like....¡±


    ¡°Like what?¡± Joel asks. Although deep down he doesn''t want the answer. He doesn¡¯t even want to be having this conversation. Images from his own dream start resurfacing back into his mind. With it, some of the anxiety that he felt when he woke up.


    The bus comes to another stop. As more students climb aboard Joel and Corey stop talking to not draw attention to themselves. As Joel looks up, he¡¯s shocked to see Norah walking on the bus. Shocked because this isn¡¯t her bus stop. It wasn¡¯t even her bus. As she walks through the bus, something compelled Joel to possibly reach out and try to talk to her. Until he looked at her closely. Her skin was pale, bags hung under her eyes (just like Corey¡¯s), and her lips were dry.


    As their eyes reached each other. Joel can tell she was not the same person as yesterday. She couldn¡¯t be. Before he had any chance of reaching out, she ignored him and sat further in the back of the bus next to a shorter girl with long black hair.


    ¡°Since when does Norah take our bus?¡± Joel whispers to Corey.


    ¡°She looks like shit too.¡± Corey exclaims.


    ¡°You don¡¯t look any better.¡± Joel jabs. ¡°I wonder if she¡¯s been having the same dream.¡±


    ¡°Probably. Wait, the same dream? You had it to?¡± Corey asks.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it.¡±


    ¡°Were you going to tell me about it?¡±


    ¡°Probably not¡±


    ¡°Why the hell not?¡±


    ¡°Because I don¡¯t want to talk about it Corey. Just drop it.¡± Joel said to Corey, making sure nobody nearby hears them.


    ¡°So, you saw it.¡± Corey continues.


    ¡°Yeah, I saw the owl. Well, I kind of saw it. I saw its eyes. They were blue. But that was it.¡± Joel explains.


    Corey gives off a look that¡¯s both quizzical and disappointed.


    ¡°Blue eyes?¡± Corey said. ¡°You only saw its eye¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°Would you keep it down?¡± Joel said. ¡°Yes, for some reason I only saw its eyes. Then it flew into my mouth and suffocated me.¡±


    ¡°Are you not freaked out about that?¡± Corey asks.


    ¡°No Corey, because we read something scary yesterday on the internet, that¡¯s like almost every day for kids our age. Of course, our minds would linger on that while we sleep.¡± Joel said while trying his best to sound logical.


    ¡°This wasn¡¯t some scary movie, Joel; it was a creepy message we read. What if it was something we shouldn¡¯t have read?¡±


    ¡°Sounds like it got you pretty good.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re one to talk. Your owl flew into your mouth !¡± Corey calls out.


    ¡°Would you shut it!¡± Joel snaps.


    A few eyes on the bus shift over to Joel and Corey. Both boys seem to notice and lower their heads in embarrassment.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about this right now.¡± Joel said.


    Joel pulls out his phone and opens a phone of his own. Corey turns his attention back to his phone. Joel may be done talking about it, but Corey is far from it. His mind is racing with unanswered questions, and he¡¯s determined to find those answers.

 Chapter 3

    Later that day in the middle of class Joel stares into his textbook. Mr. Newgate (the history teacher) is right in the middle of a lecture about the importance of women in the work force during World War 2. He¡¯s got half the attention of the classroom. Which isn¡¯t bad for an elementary school class. Although he lost Joel¡¯s attention about 20 minutes ago. Joel was thinking to himself why Norah was on his bus this morning. That was the first time he had ever seen her ride his bus and on top of that she didn¡¯t look like herself. She could have stayed at a friend¡¯s house overnight, and at some point, things went south. She could¡¯ve been pale because she had just lost a friend. ¡®That¡¯s way too dark¡¯ Joel thought.


    Then he suddenly feels immense pressure on top of him. His breathing becomes restricted at the same time his heart begins to hurt. For a second, he¡¯s scared out of his mind. He¡¯s seen videos of people having panic attacks in public. Although he didn¡¯t think that was what this was. The harder he tried to concentrate on the book in front of him the more pressure he felt around him. Almost like somebody staring at him relentlessly.


    Something in him. Call it instinct or intuition, but something told him to look out the window. For a while he makes it his mission not to listen to the urge. But like vines that engulf a tree. The idea engulfs his mind. Until... He does. He turns his head to an open window. Just outside the window some sunlight shined down on a tree branch filled with lime green leaves, until a strong wind forces the branch to sway back and forth.


    After a while Joel noticed that he had been staring at this branch. Entranced with curiosity and fear. Fear that at any second an owl can come fly by. Perhaps THE owl. As Joel sat there fearing every new second that came, he felt sweat going down his face. Then Joel realized he wasn¡¯t breathing. He starts to breathe in slow, deep breaths to compensate for the lack of oxygen in his lungs.


    ¡°Joel are you okay?¡± Mr. Newgate calls out. Now all attention is on Joel but he¡¯s too distracted to notice. ¡°Joel, can you hear me?¡± Mr. Newgate asks.


    Joel finally snaps out of it. He gasps a deep breath and turns to his teacher.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, can I be excused?¡± Joel asks.


    ¡°Sure, just hurry back. What I¡¯m going over is important.¡± Mr. Newgate preaches.


    ¡°I will.¡± Joel said while quickly makes his way out of the classroom. Behind him he can hear some muttering between his classmates. He assumes most of it was about him. At this moment in time, he didn¡¯t care. The classroom made him feel claustrophobic and he needed to get out. Not to mention, looking out the window was making it worse.


    He slowly made his way to the bathroom, but he took the wrong hallway on purpose. Trying his best to seem calm and collected as a few other students walk past him. He wiped his forehead, surprised at how much he was sweating. He walked past a classroom with an open door. Norah sees him walk past her classroom door. She turns her head back to her textbook, staring at the words but not reading them. She looks over to her classroom door.


    ¡°Can anyone tell me about the Louisiana Purchase?¡± Norah¡¯s teacher asks. The common silence lingers in the room as not a single student speaks up. As Norah continued to stare at the door, she also started feeling a pressure on her shoulders. At first, she shrugs it off as just her being tired from the night prior. After a few seconds, it¡¯s clear that¡¯s not the case. This pressure is different. Like someone physically pushing down on her. About two minutes pass until Norah finds it unbearable. She shoots her hand up and asks her teacher if she can leave for the bathroom.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°Joel!¡±


    Further down the hallway Joel hears a familiar voice call out to him. As soon as Joel turns around Norah¡¯s already in his face.


    ¡°Norah Jesus, you scared the shit out of me!¡± Joel snaps.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Norah apologizes.


    ¡°Are you okay? Why were you on our bus earlier today?¡± Joel asks. Norah looks away uncomfortably. As she tilts her head to the side Joel thinks about how cute she is.


    ¡°I had a panic attack, and I didn¡¯t want to be alone. So, I went to my friend Ashley¡¯s house.¡± Norah explained.


    ¡°Where were your parents?¡± Joel persists.


    ¡°My parents are out on a cruise right now. My older sister is watching me until Monday, she was at her mock trail practice yesterday, so I was home alone.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t like being alone, do you?¡±


    ¡°Seems you like butting your head in to other people¡¯s business.¡± Norah jokes.


    ¡°I- I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to be nosey.¡± Joel backs off.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, I was kidding. I¡¯m sorry. Sometimes I forget not everyone knows my sense of humor.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re feeling better though.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Norah studders.


    Joel notices Norah has started to fidget at her jean pockets. Something is on her mind.


    ¡°Do you mind if I be nosey again?¡± Joel wonders. Fully ready to get shut down.


    ¡°I told you I was kidding. What do you want to know?¡±


    ¡°What made you have a panic attack? Did something scare you?¡± As Joel asks his question, he can see Norah retreat within herself a little. Whatever was on her mind, it was heavily affecting her. Another few seconds of silence go by. Joel was ready to retract the question until Norah finally spoke up. Her voice was almost a whisper.


    ¡°Do you remember that thing we read yesterday? During recess?¡± Norah hesitates.


    The pressure on Joel¡¯s shoulders sneaks its way back to his attention.


    ¡°You mean that weird creepypasta thing?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well it was about that. Truth is that thing was really stressing me out. I kept feeling like I was going to see an owl. Then I started thinking if it hurt or not. Dying I mean. I know it sounds stupid, but I really got in my own head about it.¡± As Norah explained her situation, Joel felt an uneasiness pertaining to the similarities of their experiences.


    ¡°So, you felt it too.¡± Joel said aloud. He doesn¡¯t seem aware that he said it until Norah looks at him directly in his brown eyes.


    ¡°Are you telling me you felt it too?¡± Norah asks. As Joel stares back into her light blue eyes he realizes he wouldn¡¯t be able to ignore this like he initially wanted to.


    ¡°Yeah, I felt it too, and honestly so did my friend Corey. He tried to talk about it this morning, but I kept cutting him off. I didn¡¯t want to acknowledge it. I was too scared.¡±


    ¡°We should go get him.¡± Norah insists.


    ¡°He¡¯s in class right now.¡± Joel complies.


    ¡°So was I. We all need to talk about this. There¡¯s no way this is all a coincidence. We all felt the same way after reading that passage. That can¡¯t be normal.¡±

 Chapter 4

    As Corey sits in the classroom, he cannot help but squirm around in his own seat. He feels this sudden uncontrollable urge to leave. He tries to compose himself by finding a comfortable part of the seat, which just leaves to more squirming around. This was more than just his ADHD or restless leg syndrome. As more students around him notice, some even transfer slight chuckles amongst themselves. Corey¡¯s aware of the chuckles but he never lets other people¡¯s opinions get to him. His phone suddenly vibrates.


    Corey waits for his teacher to turn his back toward the class to peak at his phone. He sees he has a text from Joel. It reads ¡®Norah wants to talk to us about that weird creepy pasta, can you get out of class?¡¯. Corey can¡¯t explain the relief he feels right now. Maybe it¡¯s because Joel is seemingly finally taking it seriously, or maybe he¡¯s glad to find any reason to skip class.


    Regardless, he raises his hand, and his teacher excuses him. As he walked down the hallway, he texted Joel back. ¡®Where are you guys?¡¯ As he waited for a response Corey walked down a few different hallways. He thought it would be funny if he stumbled on them before Joel had a chance to text back. He did not want to attract any attention to himself, so he kept a consistent walking pace. As if he¡¯s going to the bathroom. Suddenly his phone vibrates again. He pulls his phone out to see its Joel, telling him to meet them in the library.


    He begins to walk in the direction of the library until he spots an open window down the hallway. For some reason, this open window seems to be illuminating a staggering amount of light compared to the other windows next to it. Corey simply stops and stares at it. For undistinguishable reasons, he can¡¯t look away. His muscles grow tense. His vision becomes slightly blurry. He can feel sweat beginning to trickle down his face. Then all of a sudden, there it is.


    A brown owl, with quite a few white spots covering its rather small frame, quickly flies through the window, and quietly places itself right in the middle of the hallway. Corey takes a step back but before he can say anything else the owl makes eye contact with him. Not only catching Corey off guard but seemingly stunning him. Stricken with fear, Corey attempts to move his body again to no avail. Sweat beating down his head now he makes a quick decision to yell and scream for help. Then the owl flaps its wings, still quiet as it can be. From where Corey is standing it almost seems like the owl¡¯s eyes dilated. The owl speaks.


    ¡°Discede.¡± The owl states in Latin. The entire hallway is dead quiet. Sunlight is now illuminating through the hallway, bouncing off the walls and lockers. Corey is gone. The owl takes a few steps around. Then jets back through the window.


    Suddenly Joel and Nora came walking from around the corner. They look down at the hall where Corey once was. The opened window allows a nice cozy breeze to sweep through the hallway. Norah fixes her hair behind her ear, while Joel allows the breeze to pass by him. For a whole minute they both unjustifiably stood there. Joel feels a sudden sadness, but he can¡¯t imagine why. Norah is the first to make a move as she walks over to the school library (located a few feet past the open window) and opens the door.


    Norah spots an empty table in the library and is quick to occupy it. Joel follows her inside, taking the seat across from her. He hesitates again, he can¡¯t seem to let go of this feeling. The feeling that he¡¯s forgetting something. Norah notices. The library is relatively quiet with the exception of another group of three kids in the far corner, talking to each other about a project they have laid out in front of them on the table. The librarian is too busy on her computer to remind Joel and Norah to sign their names on the sign in sheet.


    ¡°You, okay?¡± Norah asks.


    ¡°Yeah, I just... Why did we come to the library?¡± Joel asks. For a moment he can see Norah asking herself the same question, but to no avail.


    ¡°Tell me again, how you found out about that message?¡±


    ¡°Like I said it was going around the high school, and eventually my ¡­ My um. I can¡¯t remember but someone told me it was going around the high school.¡±


    ¡°But you said some people may have already disappeared?¡±


    ¡°That is what I heard, yeah.¡±


    ¡°What do you think?¡±


    Norah takes a few seconds to think about the question further. As Joel fixates his eyes on Norah, waiting for her response. He ponders why he never attempted to talk to Norah sooner and why did it came to such an oblong situation to bring them together. Also why did they decide to meet in the library again? After a few second Norah spoke up.


    ¡°When you think of the wording of the creepypasta it seems vague, yet specific with its choices.¡± Norah pointed out.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Well, ¡®When it appears, you will do the opposite.¡¯ That definitely sounds like people disappearing to me.¡±


    ¡°But then how come no one has spoken up about this? If we¡¯re talking about people disappearing, then wouldn¡¯t the police be all over that? Isn¡¯t that like, their job?¡± Joel persists.


    ¡°My dad said you can have good cops, bad cops, then lazy cops. The lazy ones can be out in the same group as the bad ones.¡±


    ¡°Okay, but how is it taking people?¡± Joel asks.


    ¡°What if it¡¯s all through the owl?¡±


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    ¡°Do you mean like a large owl swooping down and taking people away? That¡¯s crazy, owls can¡¯t do that.¡± Joel¡¯s voice rises slightly before looking over to the librarian. Who is just scrolling through her phone behind her desk.


    ¡°Calm down. It¡¯s just a thought. If this is real, then there¡¯s no real way of knowing how without doing further research. Although I will say remember it is a creepypasta. A lot of those don¡¯t exactly rely on logic.¡± Norah said.


    ¡°I guess you¡¯re right.¡±


    ¡°There are certain things in life we just can¡¯t explain.¡± Norah explains.


    ¡°I get that. But people don¡¯t just disappear Norah. There has to be something we¡¯re missing. Like whom created it? Why did they create it? Was it an accident?¡±


    Norah pulls her phone out. Then scrolls through until she finds a saved picture of the same image. She takes a minute to read it again.


    ¡°As you read this, you can see it in your head already¡­ Are you thinking of an owl?¡± Norah counters.


    ¡°I mean, I am now.¡±


    ¡°What type of owl?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know all the different types of owls.¡± Joel said.


    ¡°Then give a description of it!¡±


    ¡°Take it easy. I don¡¯t know, I guess something like an all-white owl. Like the ones that like the snow or something.¡±


    ¡°I was thinking of a grey owl with brown spotted pattern¡­¡± Norah reveals.


    ¡°¡­ So?¡±


    ¡°What if everyone has a different owl?¡± Norah asks.


    ¡°That would be fucked up. It would make it near impossible to survive it. If you were just living in an owl heavy environment right before reading this then you¡¯re definitely boned.¡± Joel adds.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know! I need answers, I want answers, but I¡¯ve got nothing to go on!¡± Norah yells.


    The peak of Norah¡¯s voice causes the librarian to finally look up from her phone. The first thing she sees is Joel and Norah seemingly sitting, skipping class in the library.


    ¡°Hey if you¡¯re not handling class work or a project then you need to leave!¡± The librarian calls out.


    ¡°Just leaving, thanks,¡± Joel call back. He shuffles around his chair and begins to walk out of the library until he sees Norah isn¡¯t following him.  He walks back over. ¡°Norah, we have to leave.¡±


    ¡°You go without me. I want to see if I can find something.¡± Norah gets to her feet, only to walk away from the tables and over to a vacant computer. Joel just watches her in disbelief. Then follows her.


    ¡°Something like what, Norah?¡± Joel exclaims. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to find.¡±


    ¡°Hey, did you kids hear me?¡± The librarian calls out again.


    ¡°There¡¯s always something to find.¡± Norah said.


    ¡°What is really bothering you?¡± Joel asks. But he knows his time is up. As the librarian stands up from her desk. Joel quickly walks out of the library. The librarian looks over to Norah, who is ignoring her.


    ¡°I¡¯m not done with my project yet.¡± Norah tells her.


    ¡°What class is it for?¡± The librarian asks.


    ¡°History class.¡± Norah lies. The librarian can feel it but unfortunately there is not much she can do. On the authority scale when it comes to the school, the librarian is low, and unfortunately easily replaceable. If the school receives a parent complaint from her, she¡¯ll most likely be let go. With all this in mind she leaves Norah to her ¡°work.¡± The librarian sits back down as Norah logs on to the computer and begins searching for myths and folklore. She doesn¡¯t clearly know what she¡¯s looking for, but she¡¯s determined to find something. Anything.


    Joel stands outside the door for a minute. Should he have tried to stay with her longer? Joel back tracks down the hallway. He takes his time as he struts by past classes in progress, careful not to draw attention to himself. Joel then snaps out of his daydream only to realize he¡¯s back at that spot in the hall that gave him the chills. There is an uneasy feeling that comes over to Joel. As if he is forgetting something important but his memory feels too fuzzy to recall anything. Leaving Joel in a state of anxiety.


    The sound of wings flapping catches Joel¡¯s attention and forces him to turn around. There it is. Without a doubt. As Joel lays his eyes on it, he can tell. Its pure white coat, black eyes that feel like staring into an abyss. As it lands on its talons, it pinpoints right on to Joel. Joel is frozen in fear. The owl is the size of any other owl, but Joel feels as if a large presence is right in front him. Like when you close your eyes and someone steps in front of you. Unfortunately for Joel, he can see it clear as day, and it can see him.


    Joel finds himself thinking about three things at the same time. 1) What¡¯s going to happen next? 2)What¡¯s death like? 3) Will his family miss him? Without warning, the library door swings open as Norah runs through. Her phone with her hand. She looks over to see Joel standing there, a few feet from an owl. Confusion and fear fill her head. Then suddenly, he¡¯s gone. There one second, gone the next. Her hands clap over her mouth, aphonic.


    The owl turns its head to meet Norah¡¯s eyes. As Norah stares back she feels something leave her mind, something she¡¯ll never get back. The realization of the situation causes her to silently cry, then abruptly stop. Her eyes quickly blink three times. When she opens her eyes, she looks around the hallway. She sees no owl. She sees no Joel. She then looks at her phone.


    ¡°Why did I come out here?¡± Norah asks. The Librarian spots Norah just standing there.


    ¡°Hey, either stay or go back to class.¡± The librarian calls out.


    Norah walks away from the door, allowing it to close behind her. Sunlight dances throughout the hallway, as Norah slowly makes her way through the long corridor. School projects hang from the wall. She walks until she spots her own project. It¡¯s an essay with a large ¡°A¡± stamped on it. The title reads ¡°Why I want to be a detective.¡± She looks over to her left. To her surprise, she sees it. It¡¯s thick healthy fur. The brown spotted pattern that covers its back. Its dark eyes investigate Norah¡¯s eyes. It¡¯s HER owl. Then before anything else¡­ She¡¯s gone.


    The owl struts in a circle, pecking at its wings. After a while it flies off through the hallway. The all-white owl form moments before flies back inside and follows it. The school security guard is opening the front door to walk through it before both owls force their way through, making him dart out the way.


    ¡°Why are there so many damn owls?¡± The Security guard asks.


    Both owls fly over to a nearby tree. They meet an empty space on the end of the branch, next to a few more owls. Each one is different from the last. As the security guard looks over, he can see the tree is covered in a large diverse cast of owls. All of them staring at the school.