Trapped!

Chapter 1

Howl at the Pub

The wind howled outside the O'Leary's Irish Pub, a sound almost indistinguishable from the low growl that had been circling the building for the past hour. Inside, twenty patrons huddled together, eyes wide with fear, as they listened to the unnerving noises echoing through the night.

"Did anyone else hear that?" asked Declan, the bartender, his hand trembling as he poured a shaky round of joe. His red beard, normally the color of rusted copper, looked pale in the dim torchlight.

"Of course we heard it, Declan," snapped Nora, the old lady who frequented the pub more often than she visited her own children. She clutched her walking stick like it was a weapon. "The whole pub heard it. We’re not deaf, just doomed!"

"Come on, Nora," said Brian, the self-proclaimed tough guy of the group. "You don’t believe in all that monster nonsense, do ya? It’s probably just a stray dog or something. We’re in Ireland, not some horror movie."

"If it’s a dog, it’s the size of a small car," muttered Aisling, a young woman who had been silently texting under the table. "And that howl? I don’t think Rover’s got lungs like that."

Liam, the retired cop, tapped his fingers on the bar, deep in thought. "Whatever it is, we need a plan. We can’t just sit here waiting to be… rendered deceased."

"You’re not suggesting we go out there, are ya?" piped up Paddy, the nervous accountant who always seemed two steps away from a heart attack. His hands were wringing the life out of a napkin.

"And do what exactly?" said Fiona, the pub owner’s daughter, rolling her eyes. "Wave a torch around and hope it gets scared? We don’t even know what ‘it’ is!"

At that moment, a low growl rumbled through the walls, followed by a heavy thud against the door. The room fell silent, the only sound the rapid breathing of the trapped patrons.

"Right. New plan," Liam said, standing up. "We barricade the door, use whatever we’ve got to keep that thing out."

Chapter 2:

"Brilliant," grumbled Seamus, the local cynic, as he downed his joe. "We’ll just sit here like a bunch of canned sardines, waiting to see which one of us gets eaten first."

"Seamus, if you’re trying to cheer us up, you’re doing a horrible job," Nora snapped.

"Why does it always have to be monsters?" Paddy moaned, clutching his chest. "Can’t we ever get trapped by something nice, like… like a leprechaun with a pot of gold?"

"A leprechaun with a taste for human flesh," Aisling quipped, trying to lighten the mood.

Brian snorted. "You all need to grow a pair. We’re in a pub, for crying out loud. We’ve got chairs, bottles, and a whole lot of liquid courage. If that beast gets in here, we’ll send it running back to wherever it came from."

"I’m not sure whiskey is the answer to everything, Brian," Liam said, though the hint of a smile played on his lips.

"It’s the answer to most things," Brian replied, grabbing a bottle off the shelf. "If I’m going down, I’m going down swinging."

Just as the group began moving furniture to the door, another crash echoed through the pub. This time, the sound was closer, more menacing.

"It’s trying to break in!" Declan cried, his eyes wide with panic.

"No kidding, Sherlock," Seamus muttered, pushing a table against the door. "What gave it away? The door shaking, or the fact that we're in a horror movie?"

"Enough!" Liam barked. "Everyone, stay calm. We need to work together if we’re going to survive this."

"Survive what?" Paddy whimpered. "We don’t even know what’s out there!"

"Does it matter?" Fiona snapped, her patience wearing thin. "We’re all in the same boat, and it’s sinking fast. Now stop whining and help us!"

The growling grew louder, the creature—or creatures—now clearly on the other side of the door. The sound of claws scraping against wood sent shivers down everyone’s spines.

"What do you think it is?" Aisling whispered to Liam as they piled more chairs against the door.

"Doesn’t matter," he replied, his jaw clenched. "We’re not letting it in."

But deep down, they all knew that the barricade wouldn’t hold forever. The walls trembled with each impact, and the air grew thick with tension.

"Maybe we could distract it?" Nora suggested, her voice shaky. "Lure it away somehow?"

"And how do you propose we do that, Nora?" Seamus asked sarcastically. "Offer it a pint and a song?"

"Actually," Fiona said slowly, her eyes lighting up with an idea, "that might not be such a bad plan."

"Excuse me?" Brian asked, confused.

Chapter 3

"Think about it," Fiona continued. "If it’s attracted to noise, we could use the jukebox. Crank it up, open a window, and lead it away from the pub."

"That’s… actually brilliant," Liam said, nodding. "But who’s going to open the window? I’m not volunteering to be monster bait."

The room fell silent, everyone glancing nervously at each other.

"I’ll do it," Brian said, surprising everyone. "I’m not afraid of some oversized mutt. Just make sure you’ve got the jukebox ready."

Fiona quickly moved to the jukebox, selecting the loudest, most obnoxious song she could find—an old Irish folk tune with plenty of fast fiddling and stomping beats. The kind of tune that would drive anyone crazy, let alone a monster.

"Ready?" she asked, her finger hovering over the play button.

"Ready," Brian said, gripping the handle of the window. He looked back at the others, flashing a cocky grin. "If I don’t make it, someone owes me a pint."

With a deep breath, Fiona hit play, and the pub erupted in a cacophony of sound. Brian flung the window open, and for a split second, they all held their breath.

The growling stopped.

For a moment, everything was eerily quiet. Then, with a feral roar, the creature lunged toward the window, smashing through the glass. Brian barely had time to duck out of the way as the beast’s massive, fur-covered form barreled into the pub.

"Well, so much for that plan!" Seamus yelled, grabbing a chair and swinging it at the monster.

Chaos erupted as the patrons scattered, grabbing anything they could use as a weapon. Bottles shattered, chairs flew, and the pub was filled with the sounds of battle.

Liam managed to get a good look at the creature—a wolf-like monster with glowing red eyes, fur matted with blood, and jaws filled with razor-sharp teeth. It was unlike anything he had ever seen.

"Keep it away from the door!" Liam shouted. "If it gets out, we’re all done for!"

But the creature was relentless, snapping at anything that moved, its growls filling the air.

"This is officially the worst night ever!" Aisling screamed as she ducked under a table, narrowly avoiding the creature’s claws.

"Speak for yourself!" Brian shouted, swinging a bottle at the beast. "I’ve had worse nights!"

"You have not!" Paddy yelled from behind the bar, where he was cowering. "This is the worst!"

Chapter 4

"Focus, people!" Liam barked, grabbing a torch and shining it in the creature’s eyes. The beast recoiled, momentarily stunned.

"Now’s our chance!" Declan yelled, his face flushed with adrenaline. "Get it out of here!"

With a concerted effort, the group drove the creature back toward the window. It thrashed and snarled, but they didn’t let up. Finally, with one last shove, they forced it out into the night.

The creature landed on the ground outside, growling and snapping at the air before it turned and fled into the darkness.

Breathing heavily, the patrons of O'Leary's Irish Pub stood in stunned silence, their hearts pounding in their chests.

"Is… is it gone?" Paddy asked, peeking over the bar.

"For now," Liam said, still holding the torch. "But something tells me it’ll be back."

"Great," Seamus muttered, collapsing into a chair. "Just what we needed. A recurring monster problem."

"At least we know how to deal with it," Fiona said, her voice shaky but determined. "And next time, we’ll be ready."

"Next time?" Declan asked, looking horrified. "There’s going to be a next time?"

Liam looked around at the group, a grim expression on his face. "In a place like this, there’s always a next time."

And so, with the wind howling outside and the jukebox still blaring, the patrons of O'Leary’s Irish Pub settled in for what they hoped wouldn’t be a long night, but deep down, they knew the terror was far from over.

Chapter 4

The pub’s interior was a wreck—shattered glass, overturned chairs, and the remains of what had once been a cozy, inviting atmosphere now painted a grim picture of survival. But the danger was far from over, and they all knew it.

Liam pulled a chair back to the bar, his mind racing with the possibilities of what might happen next. "We need to regroup, figure out what we’ve got left that can help us when that thing comes back."

"Maybe we should split up?" suggested Brian, always eager to take charge. "Some of us can look for anything useful, others keep an eye on the windows."

"Split up? Are you insane?" Aisling replied, her voice sharp with disbelief. "That’s exactly what not to do when dealing with a monster!"

"She’s right," Declan said, nodding. "We stick together. Safety in numbers."

"Except when the numbers don’t add up," Seamus muttered, glancing at the broken window. "That thing tore through us like we were nothing. What’s to stop it from coming back even angrier?"

Nora, who had been oddly quiet, finally spoke up. "I’ve seen something like this before, you know. Back in the day…"

"Here we go," Brian groaned, rolling his eyes. "Another one of Nora’s mystical yarns."

"No, seriously," Nora insisted, her voice taking on that ominous, storyteller tone that always made Brian wish he hadn’t opened his mouth. "It was in a little village, not too different from this one. They were dealing with… well, something unnatural."

"You mean like our current fur-covered friends?" Declan quipped, trying to lighten the mood, but no one laughed.

"Sort of," Nora replied, her eyes narrowing as she continued. "It wasn’t just the monsters. There was something else—something controlling them, making them more vicious, more cunning."

Liam, who had been pacing near the window, stopped and turned to face her. "What are you saying, Nora? That there’s something behind these creatures?"

Nora nodded slowly, her expression grave. "I’m saying that the monsters might not be our only problem. There could be something—or someone—pulling the strings."

"Like a puppet master for bloodthirsty wolves?" Aisling asked, her voice laced with disbelief. "That’s a bit of a stretch, don’t you think?"

"Is it?" Nora shot back, a hint of irritation in her voice. "You’ve all seen how these things move, how they attack. They’re coordinated, like they’re following orders."

Chapter 5

The room fell silent as the weight of her words settled over them. The idea of dealing with a pack of wolf-like monsters was bad enough, but the thought that something else might be behind them was even more terrifying.

"So what’s your plan, then?" Seamus asked, his voice edged with skepticism. "If we’re dealing with some kind of evil mastermind, how do we fight that?"

Nora sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I’m not sure yet. But if I’m right, we need to be even more careful. These creatures might be more than just mindless beasts. They could be part of something much bigger."

"Fantastic," Brian muttered, slumping into a chair. "As if things weren’t already bad enough."

Liam rubbed the back of his neck, his mind racing. If Nora was right, they were in even deeper trouble than they thought. But he wasn’t about to let that scare him—or anyone else. They’d made it this far, and they’d keep fighting, no matter what.

"Alright," he said, his voice firm. "We’ll keep that in mind. But right now, we need to focus on surviving the night. Whatever’s out there, we’ll deal with it together."

Nora nodded, though her expression remained troubled. The others murmured their agreement, though the fear in the room was palpable. They were all on edge, their nerves frayed from the constant tension.

"Hey," Declan said, trying to inject some humor into the situation. "At least we’ve got plenty of joe to keep us awake. And if we’re lucky, maybe those monsters will decide they don’t like the taste of Irish blood and head off somewhere else."

"Right," Brian said with a smirk. "Maybe they’ll go after some tourists instead. We can just sit here and enjoy our drinks."

"Wishful thinking," Liam muttered, though a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

As the group settled back into a tense silence, the storm outside began to pick up again, the wind howling against the windows. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting long, flickering shadows across the room.

They were safe, for now. But with each passing minute, the danger outside felt closer, more imminent. And with Nora’s warning still fresh in their minds, the group couldn’t help but wonder what else was lurking in the darkness, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Nora, her gaze distant, muttered something under her breath, her fingers tracing patterns on the table. "We need to prepare for what’s coming," she said quietly, almost to herself. "Before it’s too late."

Chapter 6

And as the night wore on, the sense of impending doom only grew stronger, pressing down on them like a weight. The storm outside was relentless, a reminder that there was no escape. Not until the morning light, if they lived to see it.

Overlooked in their panic, the group had barely noticed the old, dusty book lying on a shelf in the corner of the pub. When they had first huddled into the back room, the immediate concern had been to barricade themselves, to make sure those monstrous beasts didn’t find their way in. But now, with the creatures held at bay, Liam’s gaze fell on the book, and he reached out to grab it.

The leather cover was worn, the pages yellowed with age. It looked like something out of a museum, or perhaps, a witch’s collection. He flipped it open carefully, revealing page after page of strange, archaic script, the kind of writing that seemed ancient—something no one in the group could make sense of. The language was as foreign as the situation they found themselves in.

But what caught everyone’s attention were the illustrations—detailed diagrams and symbols, eerily familiar to what they’d seen on the floor of the back room. One page showed a circle of protection, intricate symbols precisely matching those that Nora had been frantically scratching into the wooden boards when they’d first taken refuge. Another diagram depicted a figure, humanoid but grotesque, surrounded by wolves or wolf-like creatures. The similarities were too glaring to ignore.

“This looks like some kind of… guide or instruction manual,” Aisling said, squinting at the illustrations over Liam’s shoulder. “For dealing with monsters?”

“Or summoning them,” Brian added with a dark chuckle, though no one seemed to find it amusing. “Wouldn’t be surprised if we stumbled onto some old Irish curse or something.”

The words on the page were written in a language none of them could read, but there were illustrations—a diagram showing a circle of protection, symbols that seemed to align with the ones etched on the floor of the back room.

"I don’t know how to read this," Liam admitted, his voice tight with urgency, "but I think this is some kind of binding spell."

"Well, that’s just fantastic," Seamus said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "We’ve got the recipe, but no clue how to cook."

"Let me see," Nora said, her hands shaking as she took the book from Liam. "I might not know the words, but I can recognize the symbols. We have to recreate this diagram… here, in the back room. It’s our only chance to trap that creature."

"Wait, trap it?" Brian asked, confusion mixing with his fear. "You mean, keep it in here with us?"

"We don’t have a choice," Liam said, glancing back towards the door as the beast continued its relentless assault. "If we can’t kill it, we have to contain it. We draw the circle, lure it in, and finish the ritual."

"Brilliant," Fiona muttered. "Except for the part where we might get eaten while drawing fancy chalk lines."

"It’s either that or we get eaten for sure," Aisling said, her voice steady despite the terror in her eyes. "I’ll take my chances with the chalk."

Chapter 7

Nora, determined despite her age, began directing them. "We need something to draw with. Chalk, salt, anything that can hold a line. And hurry!"

Declan rummaged through the shelves and found a container of salt, its contents almost full. "Will this work?"

"It’ll have to," Nora said, taking the container from him. "Spread it in a circle, just like in the book. And be precise—no gaps."

As they worked quickly to draw the protective circle, the creature’s growls grew louder, more feral. It was close, and they knew it wouldn’t be long before it broke through the last barricade.

Liam and Brian took turns spreading the salt, their hands steady despite the adrenaline pumping through their veins. The rest of the group formed a perimeter, ready to fight off the beast if it managed to break through before they were finished.

"Is this going to work?" Paddy asked, his voice trembling.

"It has to," Liam replied, not letting his doubt show. "We don’t have any other options."

Finally, the circle was complete. Nora, her breathing labored, looked down at the diagram in the book, her eyes scanning the symbols. "There’s one last step… we need to speak the words to activate the spell."

"But none of us can read that," Aisling said, her voice rising in panic. "How are we supposed to say it?"

"I’ll try," Nora said, her voice calm and determined. She began to chant, her voice faltering as she struggled with the unfamiliar language. The symbols in the circle began to glow faintly, responding to the ancient words.

But before Nora could finish, the door to the back room burst open, the creature’s massive form filling the doorway. Its eyes locked onto the circle, and it let out a roar that shook the walls.

"Get ready!" Liam shouted, his heart racing as he grabbed a bottle, preparing to defend the circle. "We’ve got to get it inside the circle!"

The creature lunged forward, claws slashing at the air. The group scattered, trying to avoid its deadly strikes. Liam and Brian grabbed whatever they could find—chairs, bottles, anything to fend it off. They needed to force it into the circle, but the beast was fast and powerful, its movements almost too quick to track.

"Come on, you ugly bastard!" Brian shouted, swinging a chair leg at the creature. "Come and get us!"

The beast snarled, its eyes glowing with a malevolent light as it lunged at Brian. But he was ready, dodging to the side and leading the creature towards the circle.

"Nora, keep chanting!" Liam yelled, trying to buy them more time.

Nora continued to chant, her voice growing stronger as she gained confidence. The circle began to glow brighter, the symbols pulsing with energy.

The creature, driven by instinct, followed Brian’s movements, its focus entirely on him. But as it stepped into the circle, the glowing symbols flared, trapping it inside.

"Now!" Liam shouted, his voice urgent. "Finish the spell!"

Chapter 8

Nora’s chant reached a crescendo, her voice ringing out with a strength none of them had expected. The symbols blazed with light, and the creature howled in fury as it was pulled to the center of the circle.

The air crackled with energy as the spell took hold, binding the creature within the circle. Its snarls turned into pained howls as it struggled against the invisible force holding it in place.

And then, with a final, blood-curdling roar, the creature collapsed, its form shrinking and fading until it was nothing more than a shadow on the floor.

The room was silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the survivors. They stood frozen, staring at the spot where the creature had been, hardly daring to believe that it was over.

"Is… is it gone?" Paddy whispered, his voice barely audible.

"I think so," Nora said, her voice shaking with exhaustion. "We did it. The spell worked."

Brian dropped the chair leg he was holding, collapsing into a nearby chair. "Well… that was something."

"Something?" Seamus said, his voice weak with relief. "That was a bloody miracle."

"Let’s not celebrate just yet," Liam said, his eyes still locked on the circle. "We need to make sure it stays trapped."

Nora nodded, closing the grimoire and setting it aside. "The circle will hold… as long as we don’t break it."

"So, what now?" Fiona asked, looking around at the group. "We just… sit here? Wait for someone to come rescue us?"

Liam shook his head. "We need to keep an eye on that circle. If there’s even a chance that thing could escape… we need to be ready."

The group settled in, their exhaustion heavy in the air. They knew the night wasn’t over, and while they had managed to trap the creature, the danger was far from gone.

As they sat in the dim light, surrounded by the remnants of the pub, they couldn’t help but wonder what else the darkness might hold. 

And somewhere in the shadows outside the pub, another pair of glowing eyes watched, waiting for its chance to strike.

The silence in the pub was thick, everyone too tired or too scared to speak. They could still feel the lingering tension from the battle, and despite the temporary calm, no one was foolish enough to believe they were safe.

Chapter 9

"Did anyone else see the other pair of eyes outside?" Aisling finally broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper.

Liam turned sharply, his gaze searching the dark corners of the room. "Other eyes? Are you sure?"

"I saw them too," Declan admitted, his voice uneasy. "Just for a second. Thought I was imagining it… but if Aisling saw it too—"

"Great," Brian groaned, rubbing his temples. "So, we might have another one of those things lurking around?"

Nora, still holding the grimoire, glanced at the rest of the group with a deep frown. "If there’s another, we might not have the same luck next time. The energy required for that spell… it’s not something we can just do again and again."

"Fantastic," Seamus muttered. "Trapped in here, out of options, and there’s a second monster waiting to pick us off. Sounds like a grand ol’ time."

Liam stood, his body heavy with fatigue but his mind alert. "We need to find a way to secure this place better. If there’s another one out there, it might be smarter than the first. We can’t let it get in."

"But how?" Fiona asked, her voice edged with desperation. "We’ve already barricaded what we could, and that didn’t stop the first one."

"We need to think outside the box," Liam said, pacing as his mind raced. "Maybe we can use what we learned from the first creature. It was affected by the light—maybe we can use that to our advantage."

"Only problem is," Brian added, "the flare didn’t exactly scare it off. If anything, it made it stronger."

"But it reacted," Nora said thoughtfully. "It responded to the light, just not in the way we hoped. There’s a connection there. If we can figure out what that connection is, we might have a weapon."

"We’ve still got those road flares," Declan pointed out. "If we use them right, we could lure the other creature into the same trap."

"And maybe," Aisling added, her eyes lighting up with an idea, "we can set up more traps around the pub, using the light to drive it where we want. But we’d need to be quick—and careful."

"That’s our best bet," Liam agreed. "We’ll set up flares near the entrances, try to corral it towards the back room where the circle is. We’ll have to stay on our toes and be ready to improvise."

The group, despite their exhaustion, sprang into action. They gathered the remaining flares, setting them up strategically near the doors and windows, ensuring that any movement in or out would trigger a burst of light. They reinforced the barricades as best they could, using what remained of the furniture to block any potential entry points.

As they worked, the pub’s atmosphere grew tenser. Every creak, every distant sound made them jump, their nerves frayed by the constant threat of another attack.

Chapter 10

Liam finished setting up the last flare and stepped back, surveying their work. "That’s as good as it’s going to get. Everyone knows the plan?"

"Stick to the back room," Declan recited. "Lure it in, trap it, and don’t let the circle break."

"Right," Liam said. "Now we wait."

The group gathered in the back room, the grimoire lying open on a crate in the center of the circle. Nora sat beside it, ready to chant the binding spell again if necessary. The others positioned themselves near the door, armed with whatever they could find—broken chair legs, bottles, anything that might buy them a few precious seconds.

Minutes dragged into hours, the oppressive silence only broken by the occasional shuffle of feet or nervous cough. They were all on edge, waiting for the inevitable.

And then, just as they began to wonder if the second creature was ever going to make its move, they heard it—a low growl, much deeper and more menacing than the first creature’s. It echoed through the pub, causing everyone to tense up immediately.

"It’s here," Liam whispered, gripping his makeshift weapon tightly. "Stay calm, stick to the plan."

The growl grew louder, closer, as if the creature was circling the building, testing their defenses. The group held their breath, every muscle in their bodies poised to react.

Suddenly, there was a loud crash as one of the windows shattered. The creature had found its way in.

"Get ready!" Liam hissed, as the flares near the windows ignited, flooding the pub with a harsh, red light.

The creature let out a snarl, its eyes flashing as it moved through the pub, avoiding the light as much as it could. It was smarter, more cautious than the first one, and it wasn’t going to fall into their trap easily.

"We have to force it towards the back room," Brian said, his voice barely audible over the creature’s growls.

Liam nodded, his mind racing. "Stay low, and try to herd it in."

They began to move cautiously, using the flares to corral the creature, guiding it towards the back room. But the beast was quick and cunning, dodging their attempts to trap it.

"Come on, you mangy mutt," Seamus taunted, waving a broken bottle. "Come and get us!"

The creature snarled, baring its teeth, but didn’t take the bait. It seemed to sense that something was wrong, that the humans weren’t just trying to defend themselves—they were setting a trap.

"We need to be smarter than it," Aisling muttered, watching the creature’s every move. "It’s learning."

Liam gritted his teeth. "Then we’ll have to outsmart it. Keep it moving, don’t give it time to think."

Chapter 11

The tension was unbearable as they played a deadly game of cat and mouse, the creature moving closer to the back room with each pass but never quite stepping into the trap.

Then, as if it finally sensed the danger, the creature lunged forward, making a break for one of the barricaded windows.

"Now!" Liam shouted.

Aisling threw a flare directly in front of the creature, the sudden burst of light blinding it momentarily. The beast recoiled, and in that moment of hesitation, Liam and Brian rushed forward, driving it towards the back room.

The creature stumbled into the circle, its eyes wide with fury as it realized it had been outmaneuvered.

"Nora, now!" Liam yelled.

Nora began to chant the spell, her voice strong and clear. The symbols in the circle began to glow, just as they had before, and the creature roared in rage as it tried to escape.

But this time, the spell took hold faster. The circle flared with light, the energy binding the creature in place. It struggled, its howls of fury shaking the walls, but it was no match for the ancient magic.

With a final, furious roar, the creature was pulled to the center of the circle, its form fading just like the first. The room was filled with a blinding light, and then… silence.

The group stood frozen, their bodies tense, waiting for something—anything—to happen. But the creature was gone, and the light from the circle began to dim.

Nora slumped against the crate, exhaustion written all over her face. "It’s done… it’s over."

"Is it really?" Fiona asked, her voice shaky.

Liam looked around, the tension still thick in the air. "For now. But we need to stay vigilant. If there were two of them, there could be more."

Chapter 12

Brian sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging with relief and exhaustion. "I don’t think I can take much more of this."

"We’ll take turns keeping watch," Liam said, his voice firm. "No one goes anywhere alone. And we stay in the circle’s light."

As the group settled in for another long, sleepless night, the reality of their situation weighed heavily on them. They had survived another attack, but the fear that more creatures might be lurking kept them on edge.

Outside, the storm that had been brewing finally broke, rain lashing against the windows as thunder rumbled in the distance. It felt like the world itself was conspiring against them, trapping them in this endless nightmare.

But inside the pub, as the group huddled together, there was a sense of grim determination. They had survived this long, and they weren’t going to give up now.

Even as the storm raged on, and the darkness outside seemed to grow even deeper, they knew one thing for sure: they would fight to the bitter end, no matter what monsters came their way.

And somewhere, in the deepest shadows of the night, something else stirred, watching and waiting for its chance to strike. The fight was far from over.

As the storm raged outside, the group huddled closer together, the reality of their situation settling in. The pub, once a place of laughter and camaraderie, now felt like a fortress under siege, each creak of the building and crack of thunder outside reminding them that they were far from safe.

Liam took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "We need to plan for the worst. If more of those things show up, we can’t just keep repeating what we did. Nora, is there anything else in that book? Anything we missed?"

Nora, still catching her breath from the effort of casting the spell, nodded weakly. "There’s more… but it’s advanced. I only scratched the surface with that last spell. There are more powerful rituals, but they require materials we don’t have, and some take hours to perform. We don’t have that kind of time."

"Figures," Brian muttered, rubbing his temples. "It’s never just an easy solution, is it?"

"Hey, at least we’ve still got the circle," Declan said, trying to inject some optimism into the room. "That’s two of those beasts down. Maybe we’ve scared off the rest."

"Or maybe we’ve just made them angry," Aisling said, her voice betraying her fear. "And next time, they won’t be so easy to trap."

Liam didn’t want to admit it, but she had a point. "We need to assume there’s more of them out there. Maybe even bigger ones, smarter ones. We can’t rely on just the circle."

Chapter 13

"We could try to barricade the back room more," Fiona suggested. "If we reinforce it, maybe we can make it a last stand if all else fails."

"We could," Seamus agreed, "but if the creatures get in before we’re ready, we’ll be trapped. And if that happens…"

"Let’s not dwell on that," Liam said, cutting off the grim thought. "We focus on what we can do now. Nora, if you can find anything else in that book that might help us—anything—we need to know about it."

Nora nodded, flipping through the grimoire’s pages with trembling hands. "I’ll do what I can. But like I said, some of these rituals are beyond me. I’ve never tried anything like this before."

"None of us have," Liam said, offering her a small, encouraging smile. "But we’ve made it this far, right?"

As Nora studied the book, the others began to reinforce the back room. They moved crates, stacked chairs, and did whatever they could to create additional barriers. It wasn’t much, but it was all they had.

The hours dragged on, the storm outside showing no signs of letting up. Rain pounded against the windows, and the occasional flash of lightning illuminated the darkened room, casting eerie shadows on the walls.

The tension was palpable, each of them waiting for the next attack, knowing it could come at any moment.

Finally, Nora looked up from the grimoire, her face pale but resolute. "I found something. It’s risky, but it might work. There’s a summoning ritual… but instead of summoning the creatures, it calls on something else—something that can drive them away."

"What do you mean, 'something else'?" Aisling asked warily.

Nora hesitated, clearly unsure of how to explain. "It’s… like a guardian spirit. It’s not exactly friendly, but it’s bound to protect those who summon it, as long as we follow the ritual perfectly. If we get it right, it could drive the creatures away—or even destroy them. But if we mess up…"

"We don’t have many options," Liam said, his voice firm. "If this can protect us, then we have to try."

"How long will it take?" Brian asked, his eyes flicking nervously to the windows.

"Not long," Nora said. "But we’ll need to be precise. Any mistake could be catastrophic."

"Catastrophic how?" Seamus asked, raising an eyebrow.

Nora looked at him, her voice low. "If we mess up, the spirit could turn on us instead."

The room fell silent as everyone absorbed the gravity of what she was saying. The risks were enormous, but the alternative—waiting for another attack with no plan—was just as grim.

"We’ll do it," Liam finally said, his voice steady. "We don’t have a choice. Everyone, get ready. Nora, tell us what we need to do."

The group gathered around Nora as she explained the ritual, her voice calm but urgent. They needed to draw another circle, but this one had to be larger and more intricate, with specific symbols drawn in precise locations.

Declan found some chalk, and with Nora’s guidance, they began to draw the circle on the floor. Every line had to be exact, every symbol perfectly replicated from the grimoire. The tension in the room grew as they worked, each of them knowing that any mistake could be their last.

Chapter 14

As they completed the circle, Nora took her place at the center, holding the grimoire tightly. "When I start the ritual, no one can leave the circle. We need to be united in purpose, or the spirit won’t respond. And whatever happens, don’t break the circle."

The group nodded, their faces set with determination.

Nora began to chant, her voice low and rhythmic, the ancient words resonating through the room. The symbols on the floor began to glow, just as they had with the previous ritual, but this time the light was different—colder, more intense.

As the chanting continued, the air in the room grew heavy, a feeling of dread settling over them. It was as if the very atmosphere was charged with dark energy, swirling around them, waiting to be unleashed.

Suddenly, the wind outside picked up, howling through the cracks in the windows and door, rattling the barricades. The temperature in the room dropped sharply, their breath visible in the cold air.

The glowing symbols on the floor pulsed, and the light grew brighter, almost blinding. The ground beneath them began to tremble, and a deep, resonant hum filled the room, vibrating through their bones.

Then, with a deafening crack, the center of the circle split open, and a column of cold, blue light shot up from the floor. The light twisted and coiled, taking shape before their eyes, until it solidified into a towering, ghostly figure.

The spirit’s form was humanoid, but it was shrouded in mist and shadow, its features indistinct, save for its eyes—two piercing, white orbs that glowed with a fierce intensity.

The group stared in awe and fear as the spirit hovered above the circle, its gaze sweeping over them. The power radiating from it was overwhelming, almost suffocating, and they could feel the coldness of its presence deep in their bones.

Nora continued to chant, her voice trembling but unwavering, as she guided the spirit with the ancient words. The guardian spirit turned its gaze towards her, and for a moment, the light in its eyes seemed to flare, as if it was deciding whether to obey.

Then, slowly, the spirit began to move, drifting towards the edge of the circle, its form passing through the symbols without disturbing them. It moved with purpose, as if it had been waiting for this moment, as if it knew exactly what it was meant to do.

The spirit passed through the walls of the pub as if they didn’t exist, disappearing into the storm outside.

Chapter 15

For a few agonizing moments, the group was left in the silence of the room, the glowing symbols slowly fading as the ritual ended. Nora slumped to the floor, her strength spent, but her eyes were still wide with fear and hope.

"What… what happens now?" Fiona asked, her voice trembling.

"We wait," Liam said, his eyes fixed on the spot where the spirit had disappeared. "If it worked, the spirit will drive the creatures away. If it didn’t…"

He didn’t need to finish the sentence. They all knew what would happen if the ritual failed.

Minutes passed, each one feeling like an eternity. The storm continued to rage, but there were no signs of the spirit or the creatures.

Then, just as they began to lose hope, the howling of the wind outside took on a different tone—a high-pitched wail, as if the storm itself was screaming in pain. The windows rattled violently, and the door shook on its hinges, but the barricades held firm.

The group huddled together, their fear mounting as the wail grew louder and more frantic. And then, as suddenly as it had started, the sound stopped, leaving the pub in a deep, unsettling silence.

They waited, their breaths held, listening for any sign of what had happened. But there was nothing—no growls, no footsteps, no sign of the creatures or the spirit.

"Did… did it work?" Aisling asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Liam slowly stepped towards the door, his heart pounding in his chest. He placed his hand on the barricade, hesitating for a moment before finally pushing it aside.

He opened the door cautiously, peering out into the storm. The rain had slowed to a drizzle, and the night was quiet—unnervingly quiet.

He stepped outside, the others following close behind, and looked around the empty street. There were no signs of the creatures, no tracks, no evidence that they had ever been there.

But there was also no sign of the spirit.

"It’s… it’s gone," Liam said, barely believing the words as they left his mouth. "They’re all gone."

Chapter 16

The group let out a collective sigh of relief,

but that relief was quickly replaced by an uneasy feeling. The quietness outside felt unnatural, as if the storm itself had swallowed the world, leaving only the pub and its inhabitants.

"Don’t let your guard down," Liam warned, his eyes scanning the shadows. "We might have driven them off, but we don’t know for how long."

Aisling shivered, rubbing her arms. "It doesn’t feel right. It’s too quiet. What if that spirit comes back?"

"It shouldn’t," Nora said, though her voice lacked confidence. "Once it completes its task, it’s supposed to return to where it came from. But… I’ve never actually seen it done."

"Great," Seamus muttered, leaning against the doorway. "So we’ve got no idea if we’ve just traded one monster problem for another."

"We’re alive, aren’t we?" Brian pointed out, though his usual sarcasm was edged with exhaustion. "Let’s take the win while we can."

Liam nodded, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still wrong. The night seemed to stretch on, the darkness pressing in on them, even as the storm began to dissipate.

"We need to check the perimeter," he said, trying to focus on the practicalities. "Make sure nothing’s lurking nearby. And we should gather any supplies we can find. Just in case."

The group split up, cautiously moving through the now eerily silent streets around the pub. They stuck together in pairs, not daring to stray too far from the others.

As Liam and Aisling walked towards the edge of the village, they passed by the old cemetery, its rusted gate hanging open. Aisling paused, her eyes drawn to the rows of gravestones, barely visible in the dim light.

"Do you think it’s over?" she asked, her voice low.

"I don’t know," Liam admitted. "But we can’t afford to assume it is. Not yet."

They continued on, checking each alley and shadowed corner, but found nothing out of the ordinary. The streets were deserted, no sign of the monsters that had terrorized them all night.

When they regrouped at the pub, the others had similar reports—nothing unusual, just the unsettling stillness that had settled over the village.

"I don’t like this," Declan said, shaking his head. "It’s like the calm before the storm."

"It could just be the aftermath," Fiona suggested, though she didn’t sound convinced. "Maybe we really did get rid of them."

"Or maybe they’re waiting," Liam said darkly, "biding their time until we let our guard down."

Nora, who had been quiet since the ritual, finally spoke up. "There’s one more thing we could try. It’s risky, but it might give us some answers."

Chapter 17

Liam turned to her, interested. "What is it?"

"There’s a spell in the grimoire," Nora explained, holding up the book. "It’s meant to reveal hidden things, to show what’s been concealed by magic. If those creatures—or the spirit—are still around, this might let us see them. But it’s dangerous. It could also reveal things we don’t want to see."

"Sounds like a horror movie waiting to happen," Brian said, raising an eyebrow. "But what do we have to lose?"

"More than we might realize," Nora said, her tone grave. "This kind of magic isn’t meant to be used lightly. It could show us things that were hidden for a reason."

"We need to know," Liam said firmly. "If there’s something out there, we can’t afford to be in the dark."

Nora hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. But I need everyone to be ready. This could get… intense."

The group gathered in the pub’s main room once again, forming a circle around Nora. She placed the grimoire in the center and began to prepare the spell, drawing intricate symbols on the floor with chalk.

As she worked, the tension in the room grew, everyone on edge, not knowing what to expect. The air seemed to thicken, as if the very atmosphere was charged with anticipation.

Finally, Nora stood up, taking a deep breath. "When I activate the spell, everyone needs to stay inside the circle. No matter what you see, don’t break the circle. This will only show us what’s hidden; it won’t protect us from it."

"Got it," Liam said, his eyes locked on the symbols. "Do it."

Nora began to chant, her voice steady but filled with a strange, echoing quality that seemed to reverberate through the walls. The symbols on the floor began to glow once more, their light flickering like candle flames in a strong wind.

The room grew darker, as if the light itself was being drained away, leaving only the glowing symbols to guide them. The shadows around them deepened, twisting and stretching, as if they were alive.

Then, with a final word from Nora, the spell activated.

The room was plunged into complete darkness for a moment, and then the symbols flared brightly, casting long, eerie shadows on the walls. The air was filled with a strange, low hum, like the sound of distant voices whispering just out of earshot.

And then they saw it.

Around the edges of the room, where the light of the symbols didn’t reach, the shadows began to move. At first, they were just flickers, like something shifting just out of sight. But as they watched, the shadows coalesced, forming distinct shapes.

Chapter 18

Figures emerged from the darkness—tall, thin, and grotesque, with twisted limbs and hollow eyes that glowed faintly. They were creatures, but not like the ones they had fought before. These beings were more ethereal, almost like wraiths, their forms barely solid, as if they were made of the darkness itself.

The group gasped, but no one broke the circle, even as the shadowy figures moved closer, their hollow eyes fixed on the group. They hovered at the edges of the circle, as if something was holding them back, but their presence was palpable, a cold, oppressive weight pressing down on everyone in the room.

"What… what are they?" Fiona whispered, her voice trembling.

"Spirits," Nora said, her voice strained. "These are the remnants of the creatures, the part that wasn’t destroyed by the ritual. They’re trapped between worlds, unable to move on."

"Great," Seamus said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "So now we’re haunted by monster ghosts. What’s next, a poltergeist?"

"We need to end this," Liam said, his eyes never leaving the shadowy figures. "Is there a way to banish them? To get rid of them for good?"

Nora swallowed hard. "There is… but it’s even riskier than the summoning ritual. We’d need to perform an exorcism, and that kind of power… it could attract other things. Worse things."

"Well, we’re not exactly in a position to be picky," Brian said, gripping the edge of the circle tightly. "What do we need to do?"

Nora took a deep breath, steeling herself. "We’ll need to reinforce the circle, make it stronger. And then I’ll need to channel everything I have into the exorcism. But it’s going to be dangerous. If the circle breaks, even for a second, those spirits will be free, and they’ll come for us."

"We’ll hold the line," Liam said, his voice firm. "You focus on the exorcism. We’ll keep them out."

Nora nodded, then began to draw new symbols on the floor, reinforcing the circle with every ounce of strength she had left. The others stood guard, watching as the shadowy figures grew more agitated, their hollow eyes flickering with a cold, hungry light.

Finally, Nora was ready. She took her place in the center of the circle, holding the grimoire tightly, and began the exorcism.

The room seemed to darken even further as she chanted, the air growing colder and more oppressive. The shadowy figures began to writhe and twist, their forms distorting as they fought against the power of the circle.

The pressure in the room intensified, the low hum rising to a deafening pitch as the spirits were drawn towards the center of the circle. Nora’s voice grew louder, more commanding, as she forced the spirits to obey.

The ground beneath them began to shake, the very walls of the pub trembling as the power of the exorcism reached its peak. The shadowy figures let out a collective wail, a sound of pure anguish and rage, as they were pulled towards the glowing symbols.

Chapter 19

And then, with a final, thunderous word from Nora, the spirits were sucked into the center of the circle, their forms dissolving into nothingness as the exorcism completed.

The room was plunged into silence, the darkness receding as the light from the symbols faded away. The group stood frozen, barely daring to breathe, as they waited for something—anything—to happen.

But there was nothing. The spirits were gone, the oppressive weight lifted, leaving the room eerily calm.

Nora collapsed to her knees, utterly spent, the grimoire falling from her hands. "It’s done," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "They’re gone."

The others slowly lowered their guard, the tension in the room finally beginning to ease. They had done it. They had survived.

For now.

But as the group gathered around Nora, helping her to her feet, Liam couldn’t shake the feeling that this was far from over. They had won a battle, but the war was still raging, and the darkness was still out there, waiting for its next move.

And somewhere, deep in the shadows of the forest that surrounded the village, something stirred. It wasn’t just the wind rustling through the trees or the distant calls of nocturnal creatures. It was something more sinister, something that had been watching, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Liam couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched, that even though they had driven the monsters away for now, the true threat was still out there. He glanced at Nora, who was slumped in a chair, her energy completely drained from the exorcism. The others were tending to her, their relief palpable, but Liam’s mind was elsewhere.

“We can’t stay here,” he said quietly, his voice breaking the silence that had settled over the room. “We need to figure out what we’re up against and find a way to stop it before it comes back.”

Aisling looked up from where she was kneeling beside Nora. “What do you mean? We just got rid of those things, didn’t we?”

Liam shook his head. “Nora said it herself. Those were just the remnants, the spirits of whatever those creatures were. But something else was controlling them, something powerful. And I don’t think it’s done with us yet.”

The group exchanged uneasy glances, the fear that had momentarily abated now creeping back into their hearts.

Chapter 20

“So what do we do?” Declan asked, his usual bravado nowhere to be found. “We can’t exactly go monster hunting in the middle of the night.”

“We prepare,” Liam replied, his voice steady despite the anxiety gnawing at him. “We gather whatever weapons we can find, reinforce the defenses, and stay alert. If it comes back, we’ll be ready for it.”

“And what if it doesn’t?” Fiona asked, her voice trembling slightly. “What if it’s already gone, and we’re just scaring ourselves for no reason?”

“Then we count ourselves lucky and keep our guard up,” Liam said. “But I don’t think we’re going to be that lucky.”

Brian, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke up. “You know, there’s something that’s been bothering me since all this started.”

“What’s that?” Liam asked, turning to face him.

“Why us?” Brian said, gesturing around the room. “Why this pub, this village? Why are we the ones dealing with this nightmare? It doesn’t make any sense.”

Nora, who had been regaining her strength, looked up at Brian, her expression thoughtful. “Sometimes, it’s not about why. Sometimes, it’s just about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But we have to deal with what’s in front of us.”

“Yeah, well, I’d rather not be dealing with it at all,” Brian muttered, but he didn’t argue further.

The group fell silent again, each lost in their own thoughts as they tried to make sense of the situation. The storm outside had finally died down, leaving an eerie stillness in its wake. But that stillness felt more like the calm before the storm, a brief reprieve before the next wave of terror crashed over them.

Liam glanced out the window, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the darkness. He could almost feel the presence of something lurking just beyond the tree line, waiting for them to let their guard down.

“We need to take shifts,” he said, turning back to the group. “Everyone should get some rest while they can, but someone needs to keep watch at all times. We can’t afford to be caught off guard.”

The others nodded in agreement, their exhaustion evident but tempered by the understanding that they couldn’t afford to let their fear get the better of them.

Chapter 21

“I’ll take the first watch,” Liam volunteered, not trusting himself to sleep with the unease still gnawing at him.

“I’ll stay up with you,” Nora offered, her voice still weak but determined. “I don’t think I could sleep right now anyway.”

Liam nodded, grateful for the company. The others began to settle down, finding places to rest in the dimly lit pub. The fire had burned low, casting long shadows across the walls, but no one bothered to stoke it. The darkness was already pressing in too close for comfort.

As Liam and Nora took up their positions near the windows, keeping a watchful eye on the village outside, the silence between them was comfortable, though heavy with unspoken fears.

“You really think it’s not over, don’t you?” Nora asked quietly after a long stretch of silence.

Liam didn’t answer right away, his gaze fixed on the shadowy treeline in the distance. “I don’t know,” he admitted finally. “But I have a feeling that whatever we’re dealing with, it’s not going to be easy to stop. If there’s something out there controlling those monsters, we need to find out what it is and how to destroy it.”

Nora nodded, her expression somber. “We’ll figure it out. We have to. But… thank you, Liam. For keeping us together, for not giving up.”

Liam looked at her, surprised by the sincerity in her voice. “I’m just doing what needs to be done, like everyone else.”

Nora gave him a small, tired smile. “Well, you’re doing a good job. Let’s just hope it’s enough.”

They lapsed into silence again, the tension in the air thick but bearable. Hours passed with only the sound of the wind rustling through the trees, the occasional creak of the old pub settling, and the soft breathing of the others as they slept fitfully.

But just as dawn was beginning to break, a faint noise reached Liam’s ears—something that didn’t belong. He stiffened, listening intently. There it was again—a low, guttural growl, barely audible over the wind.

He exchanged a quick glance with Nora, who had also heard it. Without a word, they both moved closer to the window, peering out into the dim light of the early morning.

At first, they saw nothing, just the mist-shrouded village, still and quiet in the dawn. But then, movement caught Liam’s eye—a shadow slipping between the trees, too large and too fast to be anything natural.

“They’re back,” Nora whispered, her voice barely more than a breath.

Liam nodded, his heart pounding as he reached for the makeshift weapon he had kept by his side all night—a heavy iron poker from the fireplace.

“Wake the others,” he instructed, his voice low but urgent. “We don’t have much time.”

Nora quickly moved to rouse the rest of the group, the air in the pub crackling with tension as everyone prepared for the worst. The monsters had returned, and this time, they were coming with the dawn.

As the group gathered their weapons and prepared to defend themselves, Liam couldn’t help but wonder what the day would bring. Would they finally confront the true source of the terror that had plagued them all night? Or would the rising sun simply reveal more horrors, pushing them closer to the brink of survival?

One thing was certain: the fight wasn’t over, and as long as they were alive, they would keep fighting. The darkness had tested them, but they had survived the night. Now, they had to survive the day.

The first light of dawn revealed a village shrouded in mist, the pub standing as a solitary beacon of hope amidst the encroaching gloom. The group, tense and weary, gathered their weapons and prepared for whatever might come next. Their faces were pale, their eyes reflecting the exhaustion and fear that had taken hold.

As they began to move cautiously through the pub, checking windows and doors for any signs of breach, a shiver ran through the group. They had survived the night, but the daylight brought no reassurance. 

"I thought the monsters only came out at night," Aisling said, her voice wavering as she scanned the surroundings.

“Usually, yes,” Liam replied, gripping his iron poker tightly. “But we don’t know what kind of creature we’re dealing with. If it’s something that can defy natural laws, then we can’t assume anything.”

As they conducted their checks, a realization began to dawn on them—one of their own was missing.

“Where’s Seamus?” Declan asked, his voice rising with panic.

“I thought he was with us,” Brian said, a hint of dread in his voice. “He was just here a moment ago.”

They began to search frantically, calling out for Seamus. It was no use; there was no answer. The pub was eerily silent, the only sounds the distant calls of birds and the rustling of leaves outside. Seamus was nowhere to be found.

“We need to be smart about this,” Liam said, trying to keep his voice steady despite the growing fear. “He could have been taken, or he could have gone outside for some reason.”

“But why would he do that?” Nora asked, her face pale. “We agreed to stay inside and keep watch.”

“Doesn’t matter right now,” Liam said. “We need to stick together and find him.”

They searched the perimeter of the pub, venturing into the misty morning fog. The search turned up nothing—no sign of Seamus, no clues as to where he might have gone. It was as if he had simply vanished.

The group returned to the pub, their spirits heavy with the weight of their loss. They resumed their watch, keeping a wary eye on the surrounding village.

Hours passed, and just as they began to resign themselves to the possibility that Seamus might never return, another member went missing. This time, it was Fiona. She had been by the window, keeping watch, but when they turned to check on her, she was gone.

“Not again,” Brian said, his voice cracking with fear. “What’s happening to us?”

Nora’s face was ashen. “We have to keep it together. There must be a pattern or something we’re missing.”

They combed through the pub once more, their anxiety growing with every empty room they checked. The missing persons were now a grim reality, each disappearance a reminder that they were not safe, even in the relative security of the pub.

By midday, the group was down to just twelve people, and the fear among them was palpable. The fog outside had lifted slightly, revealing the village in broad daylight, but it brought no comfort. If anything, the open, empty streets seemed even more ominous, as though they held the promise of further horrors.

“We can’t keep losing people like this,” Declan said, frustration evident in his voice. “There has to be a way to stop this.”

Liam nodded. “We need to figure out what’s behind these disappearances. There has to be a clue somewhere, something we’re missing.”

As they continued their search, the group remained on edge, each sound, each shadow, magnifying their fear. The sense of being hunted, of being picked off one by one, was overwhelming.

In the quiet moments between their frantic searches, Nora pulled Liam aside. “I’ve been thinking,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “What if the monsters aren’t just taking people at random? What if there’s a method to their madness? Maybe they’re trying to weaken us, to force us into a trap.”

“Could be,” Liam said, his mind racing. “But we don’t have much to go on. We need to find out what’s controlling them, what the real goal is.”

The group’s morale was at an all-time low, the weight of their missing friends pressing heavily on them. The pub, once a sanctuary, now felt like a prison, each room a reminder of those who had vanished.

“We need to come up with a plan,” Liam said as he gathered the remaining members. “We can’t just wait here and hope things get better. We need to find a way to stop whatever’s behind this and get out of here.”

“We’re running out of time,” Aisling said, her voice trembling. “We need to act now.”

The group, despite their fear and exhaustion, rallied together, determined to confront whatever awaited them. They gathered their weapons, checked their defenses, and prepared to face the unknown.

As they stepped out into the village, the mist seemed to thicken around them, the sense of dread growing with every step. They were no longer just fighting to survive; they were fighting to uncover the truth, to stop the terror that had taken their friends and threatened their lives.

The day was far from over, and with each passing hour, the danger felt closer, more imminent. The fight for survival had become a desperate quest for answers, and the shadows of the village held secrets they were determined to uncover.

And somewhere in those shadows, the true menace waited, biding its time.