Chapter one
[Matt's POV]
"Matt, look what I made." My friend Near smiled, holding up an extremely detailed toy boat.
"Woah…" I said, taking the boat from him and holding it up to my face, "where do you find the time to do this?"
It, like everything else Near does, was perfect. It looked like someone had taken a ship and shrunk it down to toy size.
"It was easy, considering I can no longer attend school." he said, his smile dwindling a little.
Near's dad walked out on him and his mom a few months ago. It was a huge scandal in our tiny town, nothing like that had ever happened. You just don't do stuff like that in Hanginghart. Anyway, the closest schoolhouse is two towns over, and Near's mom can't afford to get him there anymore. It's a shame, really, Near was the smartest kid in the whole county.
"Want to go down to the river and sail it?" I asked, changing the subject.
"Sure." He said, standing up from the ground where he had been sitting.
About a half mile away from town, there is a long river that connects all 6 towns in the county. We have one of the shallowest parts of the river, it doesn't help much with trade or traveling, but it's perfect for kids playing and getting drinking water.
This is the only time of year I like to be out in. the early days of summer, hot but not too hot, bright and sunny, warm enough to sit in the river and watch the littler kids play. The sun is warm on my skin, I can see that Near is getting a bit of a burn because he's so pale. The grass is green and soft against my bare feet [I save my shoes for rainy and cold days, don't want them getting worn out] and I love how the sky is bright blue. Everything about today is just so… normal…so right.
After a while we made it to the river. We walked along the banks, going to our usual spot. Near stopped and squinted, like he was trying to clarify something he was seeing. Then he pointed in the direction of what he saw.
When I saw what had stopped Near in his tracks I thought my heart had stopped. That sight turned this day into the farthest thing from normal and right I could have ever imagined.
Some one… something was lying face down in the shallow water of the river. It had the general shape of a person… a kid actually, about my age, except for the pair of giant white wings sprouting from its back.
I looked down at Near, who was staring wide-eyed at it , then I started to run towards it. I slid to a stop in the mud in front of its place in the water. I could see it clearly now, blonde hair ebbing in the water, black clothing that was nearly soaked, pale, thin hands resting on the dirt and pebbles of the river bottom. I walked slowly around so I could see its face. Half of it was hidden from view, what I could see scared me. It was like looking at the pure definition of beauty, but with an awful twist. Dark red tears streaked down its white face, and I thought I might cry.
"Near…" I muttered, and then looked up. "Near! Help, it's not breathing!"
so this idea came up to me and smacked me In the face when I watched a music video a few nights ago. I had to write it.
5 million virtual cookies to anyone who can guess what music video inspired me =D