The Riverbed

This story happened in the town in which I still live. I was 9, so I just moved to the house and I wanted to explore a little. I became friends with these two kids, Bob and Billy (don't worry, these aren't their REAL names). I asked them if they wanted to show me the riverbed in the back of the houses and they said agreed. Now, it was the rainy season, so it was partially full of water, but we had no problem getting through.

We walked down to the riverbed in shorts and T-shirts, hoping to jump into the water. So, we walked through all the trees and the bushes carefully, being especially so since there are a lot of rattlesnakes down there. We walked down far into the riverbed so we wouldn't get caught when we go into the water (we weren't aloud to go into the river when it was full of water). We all quickly jumped into the riverbed laughing at the fact that we jumped in when not aloud to (yes, I know, poor reason to laugh, very childish).

Now, walking into the riverbed I got a eerie feeling. I felt like someone was watching us, walking behind us getting closer, the closer we all got to the river. I tried to dismiss that feeling, just ignoring it like I ignored other things relative to this. When I jumped into the river (I was the last to do so), I got this horrible feeling. Now, if you read any of my other stories like "The Shotgun Guy," then you might think it's him. But no, it felt the complete oppisite of him--it felt evil.

I kept telling the guys that I wanted to leave and they kept asking why. I couldn't tell them that I felt an evil presence. No, I couldn't, they'd think I was weird. Since I couldn't convince them to leave and I didn't know the way back to my house, I was stuck there. So, once again, I tried to just ignore the feeling. I thought I could, until I saw THAT.

Bob and Billy were westling in the strong water, and I was just watching. I heard something from behind me, so I turned my head, but nothing, was there. So I just thought it might have been a rattlesnake and turned my head and watched the fight (I know, horrible way to react if there might be a rattlesnake that would most likely kill you right behind you). I heard it again, so I turned my head. This time I saw a black figure. It wasn't shadow-like, but solid and just covered completly in black from feet to head. I couldn't even see his face or anything.

I got extremly scared, I didn't know who (or what) it was. I screamed and jumped into the river. Why did I jump into the river? I do not know, reaction, I suppose. I was really short as a child (sadly, still am), so I kept going under the water. I was too freaked to swim. But the thing didn't go away. Even when I fell in, it was still there. The guys quickly came over to me (they could touch the bottom, of course). They kept me from drowning by holding me up. I could STILL see the thing. "WHAT!?" They kept asking. I pointed over to where the black thing was. They turned their heads and asked what. They couldn't see it. I fell into the water one last time and when I came back up the black figure was gone.

This black figure did nothing but stand there and stare at me. And I have no clue why I was the only one who could see it. But, yes, we quickly got out of the water and ran back up. When they asked me what happened, I just said I saw a couple rattlesnakes that were ready to bite. I didn't want them thinking I was a freak or anything. So they believed it and we never talked about it. Yes, I still go down to the riverbed. I'm no longer scared. The black figure may have seemed evil, but he/she (or it) did nothing. I still get that same feeling when I go down there, but I never seen the black figure down there ever again.