The Hill by Shelby LeGrand (the mitten read aloud .txt) 📕

Jill was running down the dark hallway. Jill doesn’t understand! Her mind easily sidetracked, so she stumbled. Pain, blistering pain. It roared up her ankle. She tried to push herself up, but she just wanted to rest. The hunger for sleep intensely came over her like a big blanket. Jill’s eyes fluttered sleepily, she slowly closed them…My plan is working.

* * * * *

I staled back and forth, through the small office. With a final glance at the monitors, I saw that she was awake. My blood chilled, she wasn’t supposed to wake till tomorrow. I suppose I shall make it work, but the process will have to be rushed. I opened the drawer and gripped the shot. I will have injected the blood thinner before anyone will have known.


* * * * *

‘Beep, Beep, Beep’, the sound rang in my ears. I slowly opened my eyes to my hospitalized surroundings. All the muscles in my body stiffened. He was coming I just know it.
I frantically threw off the covers, and with clumsy fingers, I pulled out the IV. I had to tell!
Wait…You don’t know do you.
I’ll start for the beginning.

* * * * *
“Jaaaacccccckkkkkkk!” My angry scream shattered the calmness of the first day of spring. I stalked around the truck. I hate it when he plays hide-and-seek. He may be seventeen but he’s still a kid.
I stifled a scream as he jumped up off the ground in front of me.
“How did you hide from me? You were just laying on the ground.” I growled to the lanky teenager standing proudly before me. Jack was my twin. Black hair, and uncommon royal blue eyes, we were identical. He was 6’0, while I reached 5’7. Both wearing the whitest teeth, we liked to show them off. Jack and Jill. That’s us. Birthed by a drunken mother, she named us Jack and Jill. Our aunt took custody when my father left when we were four. I’m surprised he stayed that long.
“Chill Jill, I was under the truck, and you just don’t look for me.” He said with a smirk.
“I want to rip that smile of your face, but I won’t because you need it to pass tomorrows Algebra test” I said, some how maintaining a straight face.
He threw me a look and slipped in behind the wheel. Man, I loved my brother.

The drive was long, but I need to get some scrubs. I’m volunteering at the hospital. The kids side.
“Can you hurry? The store closes at seven!” I sighed as the car slowed. We got there at 6;52. I ran to the correct booth just as they put the closed sign up. Man, than can really annoy a person when that happens. Jack tried to guide me back to the truck without laughing at my red, frustrated face.
I turned my head when I heard a young girlish scream puncture the air. Jack and I shared a glance. We looked up as a light popped on in a house too near. We stupidly ran towards the house. We went into the open door, when the loud pop filled the air. Then a man roared “What did you do to her!” We scooted curiously closer to the door to hear a response. A throaty whisper silenced everything.
“I killed her, of course.”
“Why?” Came the strangled question.
“I wanted you to see what happened to people who cheat on their spouses.”
“She’s not your wife!”
“She’s not yours.”
“Why did you do this?”
“I wanted you to see what a dead person looks like…”
“WHY!”
“Because your next.” Was the simple statement.
There was another loud pop.
Silence.
Slow foot steps our way, came to the door.
Jack grabbed my arm and ran the way to the entrance.
“Hey, you kids, get back here!”
‘Pop’ with that, wood chips and splinters pounded our heads and backs. The parking lot was empty. Bad, that’s very bad. More pops, sounding like fire crackers. I didn’t feel safe until we made it home, unhurt.
We cried on each other’s shoulders that night.
“Thank God that’s over.” Jack said with a grim smile.
But we had no idea, it had just begun.

* * * * *

I threw my bag in the back. I warily looked into the cab of the truck. The sun streaming threw the windows, it looked like it did every morning. I climbed in slowly, having the horror of thinking we might relive last night.

The ride to school was silent. Jack glanced at me and sighed.
“Jill?”
“Jack? What?”
“Do you think…” He let the thought drag on.
Do I think we should tell? Yes.
Do I think that we should be scared? Yes.
Do I think that he would try to find us? Yes.
“Yes, we should tell.” I said weakly. That last thought really had me.

I just can’t concentrate. I know I failed my spelling and algebra tests, but that’s the last thing on my mind. When school was finally out, I rushed to the truck, and climbed in. I waited there for Jack.
He didn’t come.
I ran back into the school, finally thankful that the teachers had a meeting. That means the secretary is here. She was at her desk, probably filling out some paper work. She looked up and smiled.
“Hey there, Jill.” She said cheerfully.
“Have you seen Jack?” I muttered, to confused to be nice.
“Well yeah, your Uncle Marty signed him out.” She said annoyed by my rudeness.
I faltered. No, No No No No No!!!
“W-we don’t have an Uncle Marty.”
I whispered to myself more than to her. Her head whipped around to stare at me.
“He sighed the sheet.”
We both turned to look at the sign-out sheet. What seemed to be in slow motion, we both lunged for the clipboard. I was younger and in better shape, so I got there first.
My eyes scanned the sheet for something abnormal. And it seemed to pop out at me.
My truck’s license plate number was next to the words, ‘Jack and Jill, went up the hill…never to be seen again.”
Not knowing what to do, I just turned and ran.

I ran for the truck. I was sweating badly, but I didn’t have time to wipe it off. I made it home in record time. Pulling into the driveway, I barely pulled the key out, before I stopped in my tracks. Why? Oh, you should have been there. The door that lead to the house was painted in a blood red. Oh, God in Heaven, help me! I ran into the house without a second thought.
My uncle usually slept all day, worked all night. So I ran to their room. I screamed when I saw their brutally tortured, lifeless bodies, lying on their bed. Their faces were distorted in pain. Bullets in there chests, and foreheads. No, Jack and I were the ones who were there. Why them? They did nothing!
Jack? Oh, God, Jack! I’ve got to find Jack.

I was in the truck again. No, not the police station. I was going to find Him, and get my brother back.
A piece of paper was taped to my door. He used those stupid news paper cutout letter things to make the letter. It said:


Dear Jill,
Jack and I are having a delightful time. Go to the police and I amputate his arms. Tell anyone, and I pluck his handsome teeth out of his pretty mouth. Come alone. Come to the old gas station on 7th St. Bring no one, or I kill im instantly. Hurry now, 5 hours is the limit I give you.

Love,
The Hill

Publication Date: 02-15-2011

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