Nevaeh

 It was a brightly lit evening in the town of Lakeview, the White family was just getting out of church. They had always been notorious for being good, god loving people. They attended church three times week as well as gave to the community generously. They were the father and mother of the little town of Lakeview. Mr. White was a lawyer, one of the best in the state of Washington, Mrs. White was the head of the small but highly successful neighborhood watch association and got her money from whatever her fellow neighbors would donate to the cause. They had a son, Johnathon White who was about to attend his first day of fourth grade, having had his tenth birthday recently passed he was excited to show everyone his new clothes and shoes.

They arrived to their car, Mr. White unlocked and they all got in, they talked about how nice the church service was. “Boy, Pastor Harris sure knows what he is doing up there.” Mr. White said. His voice was soft but demanded respect, a voice of a man who was caring but assertive. He has short brown hair combed off to the side, big tacky glasses, deep blue eyes and a constant grin on his face. He had an old soul, often looking out for others but never putting anything above his family, not even his work. “Yes it sure was Richard” Mrs. White said. Her voice was calming and sweet, the voice that one could mistake for an angle, her eyes were as dark a brown as her hair, she had soft lips that were always ear to ear. Johnathon sat in the back seat slowly tuning out his parents conversation, he was looking out the window at the passing lights, the lights of the town… they had always fascinated Johnathon, he often looked out his window at night when he was supposed to be in bed, to watch the lights of the cars passing through town.

When they arrived home it was eight thirty in the evening, “You better head to bed sport you don’t wanna be a zombie on your first day of school do you?” Johnathon smirked at the thought of a zombie at school. “Alright dad.” “Don’t forget to brush your teeth sweetie.” Her mother called from his parent’s room. “Come on Stephaney Johnathon is in the double digits now I think he can remember to brush his teeth.” He turned to Johnathon and smiled, “Run along sport.” Johnathon jogged over to the bathroom, when he arrived he took a long look into the mirror. Hi had his father’s light brown hair that draped down into swaying bangs, Peeking through the bangs were chocolate brown eyes with a smile that expressed true joy… if he ever smiled.

Jonathon used to be a happy boy, always smiling, always grinning, and jumping with utter joy and glee. Until one night while his mother was out of town visiting a sister. He awoke because ne needed to use the bathroom. He kicked off his cover and walked out of his room, down the hall and over to the bathroom to where the bathroom was. Upon leaving the bathroom he noticed his father’s light was on. Curiosity got the better of him and when he peeked through the crack he saw something that would change his life forever. When his innocent eyes peeked through the crack in the doorway he saw his father’s body colliding with another unknown body. Grunts and dry heaves could be heard in the exchange on the bed and it wasn’t until the unknown body surfaced from beneath Johnathon’s father’s body he saw, young pastor Harris. Johnathon backed away in shock, the sight of their bodies intertwined engraved in his head, he didn’t know what was going on but he knew it wasn’t good.

As he grew older from that fateful night he soon learned what happened that night. Ever sense that night he never smiled, his imagination once full and powerful, now dull and withered.

After Johnathon brushed his teeth he went into his room, turned on his night light and turned off his main light. He peeked out the hallway to see where his parent were. They were in their room. He returned to his room and closed the door as quietly as he could. Now usually this would be he followed his parent’s orders and went to bed. But not tonight, again he wanted to slip out and watch the lights of the cars passing through the town. But he know he had to wait, so he grabbed his favorite book series at the time which was The Magic Treehouse, and read until he was sure his parents were asleep.

Once he was sure of his parents slumber he Turned off his night light and opened his window. A big gust of air charged into his room with an icy cut. Papers flew up in the air and slowly fell onto the floor. He excused the thought of picking them up. He Climbed out of the window. The bitter cold ground stung his feet through his socks, but he didn’t mind. He walked as fast as he could, jogging at some parts down the street and into the woods by his house.

Johnathon had played in the woods many times, he knew them like the back of his hand, even in the darkness of the night. The woods by his house lead up to a hill that overlooks the main road through the town, the perfect place to watch the cars at night.

He ventured into the woods, but this time he slowed down, it was known to all that coyotes lived the forests, and Johnathon knew to be as quite as he could in order to avoid them. He cringed at every twig snapping under his feet, the wetness of the leaves soaked his socks, he hated that feeling. He continued, the night was silent, a little too silent. The wind blew but could not be heard hitting the trees or leaves on the ground. The wild dogs were silent as well. He looked up at the sky, not a cloud was in sight, and a brightly lit sky was seen. He couldn’t tell for sure but it seemed the sky of millions if not billions of stars was spinning around him.

When he arrived at the top of the hill as if someone pressed pay all the sound that should have been there in the first place suddenly was there. He looked over the main road to see the many lights from the cars down below. It was the only time he actually smiled. He looked over the mesmerizing flicker and beams and it seemed to put him in a trance, a haven of happiness in which nothing could interrupt, or so he thought.

The crunch sound of something stomping on a twig pierced his ears. He spun around and was greeted with nothing. He sighed in relief. But when he turned around a similar sound there was more, and they were heading his way, he couldn’t tell what it was nor anything else but that it was coming from behind him. He hesitated but he turned around once more, the wind blew through the trees making a sort of whistling sound. Johnathon’s pulse began to raise as the sound of breaking twigs and mushed leaves grew closer. He began to slowly back up. He backed up until he was on the opposite side of the hill descending. When the top of the hill was out of view he stopped and listened closely. He heard something he did expect at all. He heard something that shocked him.

Among the breaking twigs and mushing leaves he heard laughter and voices. This settled his stomach and lowered his pulse but he knew he had to get out of there before the unknown people saw him. “Jeremy settle down your being too rough” A female voice said. Then two different boys laughter could be heard. “So is this the place you told us about Derrek?” A second female voice said. “Sure is babe.” More laughing could be heard, as Johnathon’s pulse rose once more, eh knew he had to get out of there and quick. He stepped towards the opposite direction and upon stepping a sizable twig was snapped. The laughing stopped. Johnathon didn’t hesitate and ran as quickly as his legs could take him away from the strange voices.