I don't own Children of the Corn or any of Stephen King's characters. I only own the characters you don't recognize. Thank you for reading Bystander! This is the first chapter, but the story will kick up soon. Thanks!

~M&M


If I had known I would never see my parents again that morning, I would have gave them a much longer goodbye. The whole town of mine disappeared before me. I was pulled away from the house I grew up in and was forced to live a new life—one that never felt quite right. My best and only friend refused to speak to me ever again. Really, I wasn't even looked at. That was because I was a non-believer and had no reason not to be a follower of him. I was living in the town when Isaac was selected to lead the children. Instead of attending the preachings, I would stay at home or spy on them. I didn't like that. I wasn't like them, and I got reminded every day I went. They were pagan ones, and I was an Atheist. That didn't mix too well.

The day everyone was killed was a Monday. The warm, honey-coated day rested in the air while I took in the sweet scent. I was waiting. Mom and Dad left already to work while I waited for my bus to school. My house was on the other side of the street. A block away was Malachi's house. He was my best friend. We had been best friends since 2nd grade. I was practically a sister to him. At least I used to be. Malachi had been acting funny in the past month or so. He didn't like to be around people, especially me. Malachi always goes to the preachings. Every Sunday, he had to be gone from his house. Mr. and Ms. Boardman thought he was in a silly club. I tried to explain though. They were not a club of any sort.

Whenever I passed him in the halls, he would shoot me a glare that pushed me away. I climbed onto our cruddy yellow bus when it pulled up. It smelled and was always crowded like any other high school bus. When I was inside, I had to ignore the constant, senseless arguing and brawling that took place all the time. Most of the teenagers were as weird as Malachi had become. But at least they made conversation.

I noticed children who were clueless about the sudden rock of social treachery were obnoxious and loud. Others who were, in fact, not part of them, but noticed it were quiet and became Bystanders. That was a term my ally (more like educational companion), Courtney, and I used. She wasn't fully my friend (like I said "companion") but she wasn't unacquainted with me either. I spotted Courtney in one of the rows with her other friend, a clueless one, Dione. Obviously, you could tell Courtney was a Bystander as I.

My eyes skimmed away until a flame of blood red hair. It came down in waves—though, totally alien to the strict, dead green eyes underneath. I was kinda scared to sit by him. Malachi. He's your best friend, I told myself, you shouldn't be scared of your best friend. So, I sat next to him. Malachi. His eyes remained set forward as though they were concentrating on some unholy visitor. They probably are, I thought. I wanted to interrupt him; I wanted Malachi to acknowledge me and not ignore my awaiting presence. Finally, I built up enough courage to say something. Unfortunately, it was the wrong something.

"Right before you sleep, you know that feeling that makes you think you'll fall, what's the first thing on your mind?" What. The. Hell. I mentally hanged myself. Malachi never looked at me but seemed to still see me.

"Him." He muttered airily. Him was the thing I had nightmares about. He turned the sky black in the morning time. He made it rain with no clouds. Maybe He had something to do with Malachi's energy loss or the Sunday classes in the cornfield by my town, Gatlin. He could be anything. I didn't respond quickly.

"I think of someplace better." Malachi's neck snapped around to me.

"There is no place better than Gatlin, Bystander." So, he's unraveled our code, I thought. Honestly, I was terrified at his sudden movement.

"The edge of the Earth is better than here, Malachi." His eyes flashed anger and a warning to back down. That warning went through one ear and out the other. After a long pause of silence I said, "Why don't you want to be around me? W-Why don't you invite me to Hanson's anymore?" I stammered. His eyes softened as he saw how isolated I felt.

"Ok, Kennedy, I'm going to Hanson's after school. Do you want to come?" He asked it in a straight face. It felt like he was being forced to invite me. But, I couldn't believe it. He wasn't ignoring me. He was actually taking my advice and following it.

"You're serious?" I whimpered, gripping my backpack strap. He nodded silently. My face lit up and I hugged him. I never hugged Malachi. He froze, unsure of what to do. I didn't care as much. My best friend was becoming closer to getting back to normal.

"I missed you," I mumbled into his plaid shirt. Malachi's hands cautiously slid up my back, sort of hugging me too. I smiled. Things were getting better minute by minute.