The Celery Stalks at Midnight Part 2

"Class, I need to step outside and speak to Ms. Hoover. Please continue with your assignment. I won't be long." Ms. Hamilton told her class.

Joel felt a chill go through him as he heard the door close behind her. He felt something cold touch his shoulder. Joel swung his head around to see what had touched him. There was nothing.

Am I spooking myself? Come on, its just a stupid story. Vegetables are not dangerous. They taste awful but they won't kill you. Joel thought to himself as he continued to write his story.

His pencil barely touched his paper when he felt the cold hand on his shoulder again and this time it was squeezing him tightly. He turned his head around to see a tall menacing figure in a white cloak. He couldn't make out his face from behind the hood but Joel could see his red glowing eyes.

"Help me!" Joel screamed. None of his classmates seem to notice what was happening to him.

"Let go of me!" Joel squealed as he tried to get up. It was futile, he couldn't move.

"What do you want?"

"I'm taking you to Master", the phantom hissed.

"Noooooooooooo!" Joel cried as everything around him went black.

What is this place? Joel thought to himself as he walked the sandy path. It looked like caves he'd seen in geography textbooks; caves carved out by wind and sand. It was beautiful and frightening at the same time. Joel could hear the wind howling. It was getting louder as he walked down the path. He'd swear he also heard voices in that wind.

"Beware."

"Help Us."

"Run, if you can."

Joel would run if he could. He seemed to have lost control of his own body. He struggled to turn the other way, to turn his head, to open his mouth and scream but it was useless. The phantom who's hand was tightly on his shoulder seemed to control his movements.

The wind and the voices were getting louder as the cave became increasingly darker. Soon Joel found himself at the edge of a cliff. The phantom stood next to him.

"Where are we?" Joel asked.

The phantom said nothing as he pointed down over the edge of the cliff.