Disclaimer~~ Nope, most of these aren't mine, and I have tried everything in my power to get rights to Micahs name, but no luck. Sadly, the only character that is mine so far is Maria, and even that's already a COTC name, but I swear, IT ISN'T HER! Feedback is always appreciated, and this chapter might be a little bit shorter, but oh well, I hope you enjoy! oh, and thanks to Dominic's site for all the quotes!
So much for piece and quiet. Those people from Hemmingford sure do know how to make a lot of noise, especially in a town that hasn't heard so much noise in a long time, almost 4 years to be exact. They came in with their newsvans, and their policemen, and reporters, but the one good thing that they did bring with them was a feeling that we were safe, that we were going to be cared for by adults again. That was something that none of us had ever thought we were going to get again. It was kind of hard at first, realizing that we were going to have to leave our homes, our memories, and most importantly, our lives in the Corn, but it was something that we had to do.
The bus dropped all 25 of us off in Hemmingford, and it was then that I realized that these adults weren't looking at us like we were murderers. They were looking at us like we were young children. Children that were scared and needed love. The first time that I saw Angela was when I stepped off of the bus and looked around. She was standing right by the bus greeting each child as the came off, "Hello. Welcome to Hemmingford. We're glad that you're here, and hope that we can make you comfortable."
Angela. So much liveliness. She had no clue that the Dark-haired, dark-eyed child (ME!!) that she first laid eyes on was to become the source of so much pain and sadness in the next few days. "Micah,"she said "welcome. You will be living with me temporarily. Is that OK?" I nodded slightly, and turned to look at my friends, who were talking to their foster parents as well, and then Angela led me away, toward the car. It was big, read, and looked fast. I loved that car. It was one of the good things about that first day. we both turned as we heard a car pull up.
"HEY!" a man called. "Do you mind if I ask you a few questions." Yeah, I do, I thought.
"I don't have any answers" Angela replied. Her and the man then worked out a deal about letting him and his son, Danny sleep at her Bed and Breakfast for a few nights. We got into the car and sped off. when we got to Angela's house, it was almost time for dinner. As we sat around the table, I knew that the man, John, was dying to ask me questions, but thankfully Angela kept him at bay. Then, Angela got up to clear the table, and Danny was sent to help her. John looked at me. Oh no, here it comes, I thought.
John said "Micah...did you see what happened?"
"Some of it. "
"What?"
"My parents."
" You saw what happened to them?"
"I saw the corn."
" What, what? Were they out in the cornfield?"
"Their blood was for the corn."
Even that little bit of information drained me. I didn't want to talk about it at all. My parents and all the rest of Gatlin's adults were dead, and there as nothing more that anyone could do for them, or for us, the children either. Thankful for small favors, Angela came in and scared John into silence. The rest of dinner went smoothly, until Danny made some comment about his father that john didn't take very lightly. They excused themselves to the porch, and Angela and I sat there so we could listen without feeling guilty.
"Kind of exciting, isn't it?" She asked me, "To see adults and older kids again for the first time in a while?" Yeah, I thought, 4 hours and the adults are already back to it again.
"I didn't really miss the adults much in the first place. They all do the same thing. Yell, and expect us to take it. They think that were babies for Gods sake, and we aren't. There are things that we can do for ourselves, and I think that the last three years in Gatlin proved that. Children can take care of themselves, and the land in perfect balance. It is possible. We just needed the chance." To myself, I added, I wonder if we'll have to take that chance again here in Hemmingford. Angela had a very strange look on her face, almost as if she was scared of me. Yes, scared of pale, weak little old Micah Balding. The thought pleased me somehow, as I thought about what Isaac had said. maybe it was true. Maybe I was destined for great things. I smiled, and walked towards the front door, and I heard Danny run off, then Angela talking to John. We were going to have problems in this picture perfect town of Hemmingford. I could tell already.
Later that night, I was supposed to meet my friends in the field so that we could talk. I got my flashlight, and started out through the corn. I had no idea that my life was in so much danger. I thought that He Who Walks Behind the Rows had been left in Gatlin, but I was wrong. I heard a noise to the right, and turned toward it. "Mordechai?" NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! It was He Who Walks Behind the Rows, and I knew, KNEW that the wanted me. I ran as fast as I could, trying to get away from the horrible beast that was chasing me, but as I ran, I knew that I had no chance of getting away. Thud. I fell, and knew that the chase was over. I screamed once, giving myself to the Lord, and then it was black.
