Chapter 1

The eyes were watching.

The eyes were good at watching people. They had been doing it for a long time.

The group of five teen-aged friends stood on a darkened street corner. This was a semi-regular routine for them. Four were drinking beer out of a small cooler by their feet. One was loudly complaining about this situation while the others laughed. All were completely unaware of the eyes that had been trained on them for several minutes. More importantly, they were unaware of what this fact meant for them.

"Man...you suck...give me one!"

"Get your own, bitch!"

"You know I got no money right now...just give me one beer, dude!"

"Just be patient...we'll have some cash soon...someone will come by shortly and donate to our cause."

Mike laughed at his own joke. He was pleased that the others laughed too. At age 18, he was a year older than the others and they deferred to him. He glanced around the street, hoping to see some sort of movement coming their way. Movement meant someone had made the mistake of crossing their path and also meant Mike and his friends would have some money to spend the next day.

Nothing moved. The streets were empty. That was to be expected at 2am on a Wednesday of course, but Mike was irritated anyway. He cursed.

"Wish it was Saturday...we'd get some stupid drunk on his way home from a bar."

Quinn, ever the pessimist, spoke up, "What good would that do? Guy would be broke."

"Watches and rings work just fine...most drunks don't spend those on booze." Mike countered, "not to mention credit cards still work long after the most fucked up alcoholic is passed out."

"At least SOMEONE is drinking", the beer-less member of the group added.

"Shut up Jaden! What a baby...if you wouldn't spend your money on that crap you shove up your nose, you wouldn't be begging from us all the time."

The eyes sharpened as they recognized familiar signs.

Normally, people can sense when they are being watched...but these eyes were different. They didn't blink. The owner of the eyes was completely still. Deathly still. The eyes waited...for...something.

Jaden bristled.

"Fuck you man! I don't see you saving your money either!"

"Whatever man...just don't get crazy like last time and beat the crap out of some old man."

"Fuck him too! What's he got to live for? Old fucker..."

Something clicked behind the eyes. A decision. The owner of the eyes moved.

Mike was about to needle Jaden again when he saw movement.

"Shhhh! Someone's coming!"

The boys turned to look in the direction Mike indicated. They saw a small figure slip out of the shadows and move toward them on the dark street. Only a silhouette. The street lamp was out. Deliberately, the form approached them. It quickly became apparent that a small boy was walking toward them. Several in the group cursed.

"Great...what he's got...some lunch money?" Jaden complained.

Mike didn't answer Jaden. Kids had cell phones and credit cards too. He watched the little boy draw nearer. "Gotta give the little punk credit, he's got guts", Mike thought. "He'll learn."

The little boy walked right up to the group and stopped. They were slightly taken aback by this. The boy was about 12 or 13 with a fragile looking physique. He had dark hair, a cherubic face, and wore only a thin shirt and some old jeans despite the cool February weather. Most noticeably, the boy wore no shoes.

Mike spoke up as usual in these situations.

"Hey punk...you lost?"

The boy said nothing. He just stared at them with dark eyes. Impossibly dark eyes Mike thought. Creepy little kid. Stupid...but creepy.

"Didn't your Mommy ever tell you to stay away from strangers?"

The little boy locked his gaze on Mike. An involuntary shiver went up Mike's spine. He suddenly felt like a rabbit staring into the eyes of a wolf.

The boy spoke.

"You should be nicer."

Quinn and Jaden snickered. "Check this punk out." Jaden said.

The boy glanced at Jaden. "You can't be nicer, I'll bet."

Mike managed to collect his wits.

"Ok...this is bullshit. You got a cell phone little prink?"

"Yes" the little boy answered.

"I need to make a call...hand it over."

"No"

Laughter.

In spite of themselves, the group of boys were amazed at the fearlessness of the little boy.

He spoke to them then. His manner seemed to command attention.

"I want you all to listen. You are bad people. There is a price to pay for being a bad person. Tomorrow, I want you all to remember that."

Silence.

"...Those of you who wake up tomorrow."

Mike had lost his patience. He reached out to grab the little boy's arm. Suddenly, he was flying backward. He landed with a thud unable to breathe. Something had slammed hard into his chest. Very hard. His breath returned as he looked up and saw...well...he wasn't exactly sure what he saw.

Jeff and Brandon were also lying on their backs, stunned. Quinn, the largest of the boys, was on his knees in front of the little boy. The little boy's hand was gripping Quinn's throat and Quinn was clawing at the little hand and arm in a desperate attempt to free himself. Jaden stood frozen as this surreal scene unfolded in front of him.

The thing Mike would remember later was how calm the little boy was. No anger, no excitement. The kid pushed Quinn...just pushed him. Quinn flew backward in a coughing heap. Four boys watched as the little boy jumped at Jaden. He landed on Jaden's chest and the stunned victim fell backward until the little boy was standing on his prone body. The boy turned to them.

"Go!"

The command woke them from their state of bewilderment.

"Now! Leave!"

They did not hesitate. Each of them climbed to their feet and ran as hard as they had ever run. Behind them, one last word reached them almost as an echo.

"Remember!..."

There was no need to tell them this of course. Each boy would pretend it didn't happen in the daylight and remember it well in the dark of night. Each would decide that they were now unwelcome on the dark streets of their city. If it could be said they were ever friends, those tenuous bonds were forever broken. Every chance meeting between them henceforth would be an exercise in avoiding the subject.

Jaden stared up at the little boy in terror. His mind raced for words and words spilled out of him like water.

"I'm sorry! It wasn't my idea! Mike was the one that wanted to rob you!"

The little boy sat down on Jaden's chest and stared back at him. The dark eyes piercing in the still night air. For the first time, emotion showed on the young face of the boy. Still not anger, but something...

"I know you."

Jaden shook his head. "No...I've never seen you before..."

The boy seemed to regard Jaden closely until suddenly making up his mind.

"Yes...I know you. You are bad. You don't feel or care..."

"...and you never will."

Jaden didn't like the way that sounded. But he felt the need to answer the puzzling statement.

"I do! I care! You don't see me when I'm not with the guys!"

"No...I can tell." The little boy stood up, still straddling Jaden. "I can always tell your kind."

Jaden felt anger rise. It was just a little kid!

"You little punk!" Jaden threw a punch at the little face hovering over him.

The little face was not there suddenly. Jaden's fist hit air.

Jaden felt his body being lifted. The little boy was dragging him to his feet by his shirt and belt loops. The iron grip was terrifying.

"No!" Jaden protested. "I'm sorry!"

"No you aren't."

The little boy pushed Jaden toward the middle of the street.

"What?...what do you want?"

"We are going." the boy answered.

Jaden trembled now. The little boy stopped by a manhole cover, bent down, and lifted it from its place with one hand.

"Down" he commanded.

Jaden couldn't comprehend this. Was he awake? A strange and solemn little boy was kidnapping him and forcing him to crawl down a manhole... This couldn't be real...could it?

"I...I don't want to go down there."

"I know that...but you are going down either way."

Jaden felt tears well in his eyes.

"Why? Why are you doing this?"

The young boy paused and looked at Jaden.

"We are going to Abby."