Thirteen Minutes, Fifteen Seconds
Summary:
"I do long to do boy things. Like that game the boys play at the stump. They put their backs to the woods and see how long they can wait before getting scared. It's so exciting. I understand you hold the record. It will never be broken, they say."
"It's just children's games."
Disclaimer: The only thing I own around here is my very own copy of The Village on DVD, thank you very much.
"Alright, men, who's first?" Christop Crane cried as we reached the boundary. There stood a single stump almost at the very edge. The five of us had sneaked out of our homes for this "test of manhood," as Christop claimed it to be. Everyone was pushing and shoving each other, but no one made a move to go first. Finally, William rose to the challenge. He strode forward amid laughter and good-natured teasing to the stump, jumped on it, turned his back to the Woods and raised his arms.
We waited. An unnatural hush settled over us as we watched. Then, there was the noise of something moving. A low moan was heard, or was it only the wind? William winked at us, but his arms began to shake. A noise of something slithering and moving among the underbrush came from the right, and suddenly a growl was heard from the left.
"We're surrounded," Finton Coin moaned to himself beside me. I looked at William. The boy was obviously struggling alone out there, though he tried to keep a brave face. The sounds were coming louder.
Finally, William's confidence shattered. He jumped down and ran towards us, diving behind the rock we crouched around. The boys laughed and slapped him on the back, but I could tell that they were all less joyous as they had been at the beginning.
"How long, Jamison?" Christop asked the boy in charge of keeping time. Jamison, a small boy eager to be included, held up his father's pocket watch and peered at it through the light of the torches. "Six minutes, ten seconds," he announced. The group congratulated William.
"Anyone else?" Christop asked, searching our faces. I had half the mind to tell Christop to go himself, but as usual I kept quiet. Finton cowered beside me, and Christop's gaze lingered on him.
"Fin-" Christop began, and then stopped abruptly as I stood. I did not say a word as Iraced to theboundary.I stepped up onto the stump and raised my arms.The boys who watched me from a distance stared after me in total silence.
I stood there and stood there and stood there. The sounds from the Woods began again. I focused on other things besides my fear. I thought of Mother, and of the schoolwork that I needed to finish before the morning. I stood there, oblivious to what was behind me. I would not give in to fear.
The minutes dragged by. How many, I was not sure, but after awhileI heard something behind me that chilled me to the bone. At first, it was nothing more than a slight moaning of the wind, but it grew and grew.
It sent shivers down my spine.
Ivy...Ivy...
I jumped off the stump.
"Thirteen minutes, fifteen seconds," Jamison said to me. I ignored him. I ignored them all. I just kept walking back to the village. Finton called after me and I heard him trying to catch up to me. He followed me, without question, as I made my way to the Walker's home. Lamplight glimmered through the windows. The door was open and I heard happy shouts of laughter. I slowed down and stopped. Finton almost ran into me. We gazed at the house for a few minutes. Then I walked to my home, Finton to his.
I had enough of children's games for the night.