The shadows seemed to spring from a spot at the base of the wall, although none of the three could see any particular source, especially since the lights should have illuminated the wall. Instead, the shadows wound their way up the wall, twisting and twining with something that could only be called intent.

What is that?

I don't know, dolt. Why are you asking me?

"Hush," a slightly shakey voice managed as Josua slowly stepped just a little closer. He was thinking, considering what he saw. To be honest, it reminded him of something.

One of the tendrils of shadow, much more like a tentacle now that the three considered it, slowly moved away from the wall. It seemed to thicken, gaining substance as it moved like smoke through the air. Another tip flicked away from the wall as though testing the air. Seeking.

What's it doing? It looks like it is...

...reaching for something.

"Or someone." That thought got them all stumbling back as the tentacles moved closer. Reaching again for the book.

"Wait! Don't let it touch the book!"

We aren't idiots. We know that much.

The girls pulled the book in closer against their bodies as the young boy's face screwed up in concentration. He wracked his twelve-year-old brain, trying to remember his trip to the aquarium.

"It's like a squid. Or... an octopus. Those things. You know, cepha-... cepho..."

Cephalopod. It says right on the page.

"Exactly."

But... wasn't the page empty?

The closest tentacle snapped towards Josua's face in what appeared to be anger, the tip of it lashing his cheek and leaving a stinging line before it returned to the wall, slowly sinking down into the floor.

At the same moment the word "Cephalopod" melted into a pool of ink that sank into the paper, leaving it once more blank. Kate and Lynne jumped, nearly dropping the book.

This grim-

-oire has some tricks.

The shadows flickered again, and the pale faces were once more turned outward as the three huddled closer in the center of the room.

RATE THIS BRANCH!

Author guidance for This story

Prepare yourself for an exploration in vocabulary! And beside you in this exploration are Josua, Kate, and Lynne: the discoverers of a dusty old book filled with pages upon pages of nothing.

For the time being, at least.

The trio is in their house, having found the curious book in the attic, where you always find curious things. Where else would they be? But upon opening it, they release something strange into their otherwise almost-normal world. What is it? What will happen? And who will they meet before these questions are answered?

the Rules:Each branch is given a title of a peculiar or interesting word, with the ensuing branch making use of that word (in any form so long as it is still recognizable as the original word). However, the story must still continue, albeit in a somewhat spontaneous fashion.

Although no absolute ages are given, assume that all three are between nine and eleven years of age. They are children, and should behave, react, and speak in the manner that children often do.

p.s. I am completely aware of the fact that some branches are in a different tense than the first one. To avoid further confusion, please stick to the tense that the author previous to you used. That means you may be writing in the present tense or the past tense. I've yet to see a future tense story pop up. Let's hope one doesn't, 'aight?

Footnote: Yes, his name is Josua. No H. I fully intended this, it is not a glorified typo. And have fun with Kate and Lynne's names being said together.

updated Oct 22 '10 by Jackerbie