"Growing up breaks you down -
All the leaves are falling to the ground.
And everything changes…"
-Changes, Mat Kearney
Aeron scaled the house in thirteen seconds, boosted by adrenaline and fear for his cousin and a premonition that something wasn't right - actually that nothing was right, and perhaps even that it wouldn't be for a very long time. Something unnatural was in the air; it terrified him.
He vetoed the drainage pipe. Despite what the movies always showed, he knew from past experience that it wouldn't hold his weight. He instead scaled the small brick wall next to the garage door and jumped to the garage roof from there. Then he scrambled across the roof in the direction of Keala's window, where the light had appeared a minute ago.
There were faster (and safer) ways to enter Keala's room, but he had to avoid being seen. He knew that he'd been gone long enough that his family would detain him if he went inside, and there was no time to waste.
He crouched above the window for a second, readying himself for a possible fight. He took a deep breath and, careful to be absolutely silent, swung himself down through the open window.
And immediately revealed his position with a panicked gasp.
Two figures in blinding clothes of white held Keala's limp frame between them as a third figure held its hands to Kal's head, brow furrowed in concentration. A smoky, dark fog seeped from all three figures' faces and shrouded Keala, who lashed about helplessly for only seconds before shuddering to a terrifying stillness.
Aeron was gripped with an unbounded, leaping hatred, paralleled only by his choking, panicked fear. He knew these people. Somehow, he knew them; he hated them for what they'd done to him. He struggled for control of himself, for the will to attack for his cousin's sake; he couldn't move. He was completely immobile with fear.
The creature at Keala's head raised its head to meet Aeron's emotion-rich gaze with light, empty eyes.
"You could've prevented this," it whispered sweetly.
Then, movements as one, the three monsters raised three shards of one crystal up to the waxing light of the moon and fitted the pieces together with a muffled click.
Aeron finally found his voice. "Stop!" he screamed like a child. He leaped forward onto the back of one of the beings. It turned, captured him in its unnaturally long arms, and ran a cold hand down his face.
When Darrin rushed into the room only seconds later, he found Aeron on the floor, unconscious but still screaming.
There was no sign of Keala.
iliveinalibrary: Well... guess I'm dead. (But I haven't actually killed her yet...eh. It'll come XD) Just kidding just kidding. Hope you liked it!
- RJ:#