Truth is, I've written chapter 2,3 and this one on my phone xD Well, this one was partially written on my phone and then finished on my computer. Android FTW! (not)

I own Kaytee and her daddy!~

Chapter 4: Monsters in the Darkness

"Jess! May Belle! Where have you been all this time?" Their mom asked when they came home just as dusk began to disappear and darkness took its place.

"I've been worried sick!"

May Belle smiled at her mom.

"Me and Jess were playing a game and we lost track of time!" May Belle lied.

Her mom put her hands on her hips, unimpressed.

"That's the excuse I hear from May Belle every single time you two come home late! Jess, tell me the truth! Where were you and May Belle and what were you doing all this time?"

Jess put on an innocent face.

"Mom, we really did lose track of time!" He said, trying to convince her.

His mom looked at him suspiciously. She sighed in defeat at last.

"Fine." She said.

Jess and May Belle both breathed a sigh of relief, glad that their secret of the kingdom of Terabithia hadn't been let out yet.

"But from now on, you two have to be back in the house before 9:00, understand?"

"But-" May Belle started.

"Alright, Mom, whatever you say," Jess said.

"That's what I want to hear." She said. "Care to join us for dinner so we can be a family at the table?"

"Sure!" May Belle said, running into the kitchen.

"Jess, are you going to join us?" His mom asked.

"Sure," Jess said.

He followed his mom into the kitchen, where May Belle was telling their dad all about the Monroes.

Ellie rolled her eyes and groaned. "May Belle, stop talking about the neighbors, okay? Those people are lunatics!"

"No, they're not!" May Belle shouted defensively, jumping to her feet.

"May Belle, Ellie, both of you, calm down!" Mrs. Aarons ordered.

"But Daddy, they're not lunatics! Katie's really, really nice!" May Belle protested to Mr. Aarons.

"May Belle, they're rednecks, for Pete's sake!" Brenda said, siding with Ellie. "For all you know, we could be living next to a family of criminals or killers!"

"THEY'RE NOT! THEY'RE NOT! THEY'RE NOT REDNECKS! THEY'RE NOT CRIMINALS! THEY'RE NOT KILLERS! THEY'RE NORMAL PEOPLE LIKE US!" May Belle shouted.

"May Belle-" Jess said.

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Jess saw his father slam his hands on the table and stand up, glaring over the suddenly silent table with anger.

"Everybody, quiet down now! I don't want to hear any more bickering out of anybody here at the dinner table ever again!" Mr. Aarons demanded.

Everybody at the table just stared at Mr. Aarons. Mr. Aarons looked at Brenda and Ellie.

"Brenda, Ellie, you two are excused from the table." Mr. Aarons said.

The two girls looked at each other and then got up and stormed off into the living room.

"So you say the neighbors are nice, May Belle?" Mr. Aarons asked, continuing as if the little interruption hadn't happened.

"Yeah, they are! And Katie's dad is so cool! He dresses like a cowboy!"

Mr. Aarons chuckled.

"Alright, I see you had a nice time today. Alright, May Belle, go play. I have to to talk to Jess."

"Okay!" May Belle said, running out of the kitchen.

Mr. Aarons leaned over the table slightly to Jess.

"Jess, I know your mother said that you can't go out of the house after nine but May Belle accidentally broke one of the pots in the greenhouse and I'm asking you to go and clean it up. I don't want anyone to get hurt."

"But what about Mom? What if she catches me sneaking into the house?" Jess asked.

"Don't worry, I'll deal with her if that happens." Mr. Aarons promised.

"Okay, thanks Dad." Jess said.

"Hurry, though. I don't want you out there for too long and turn on the lights when you get to the greenhouse." Mr. Arrons said.

Jess nodded and walked out of the kitchen. He headed towards the front door and snuck outside after making sure his mom or sisters weren't watching. He ran to the greenhouse and flicked the switch. Within moments, the lights flickered on, casting a dim light in the greenhouse.

Jess noticed the flower pots on the floor of the greenhouse, dirt and hardened clay and bits and pieces of flowers scattered all around. He grabbed a dust pan and a broom and walked over to sweep up the shattered pots and dirt. Just as Jess was about to lean down and start to sweep everything up, he spotted a set of glowing yellow eyes in the back of the greenhouse, where the lights above him couldn't reach.

Jess stared for a couple seconds and then spun on his heel and ran out of the greenhouse as fast as he could, leaving the dustpan and broom behind. He pulled open the door to the house and ran inside, slamming the door and locking it behind him.

"Jess?" His mom called, walking into the hallway. "What happened?"

"Noth-Nothing!" Jess said, breathing heavily, his back still pressed to the door like his life depended on it.

Maybe it did.

His mom gave him a look and crossed her arms.

"Jess, did you go outside when I told you you can't?" She asked.

"N-No!" Jess said, trying to lie.

"Jess, I know you're lying."

"No, it's okay. I sent him out to go sweep up the flower pots in the greenhouse." Mr. Aarons said.

Jess's mom glared at his dad and then nodded with a huff.

"Fine." She said. "But no more sneaking out for you, Jess and you stop letting him out late at night."

Mr. Aarons nodded. Jess let out a breath he didn't know he was holding in.

"Okay, Mom."

To be honest, Jess didn't feel like ever sneaking out again. He wasn't one to believe in monsters and the boogeyman but whatever he had seen in the greenhouse was definately something unhuman.