The NoCturnal Flesh
Chapter 4
It smelled like rotten eggs when I walked into the house. I reached over and hit the light switch on the wall next to the door. The lights would not turn on. I could start to see a little after my eyes adjusted. I made my way threw the kitchen. The kitchen table was gone and so were the chairs. I looked over on the counter to notice it was cleaned off of everything. No wonder it was so quiet. Everything in the house must be gone. I walked over to the hallway. All the pictures on the walls were gone. Even the floor rug in the hallway was gone. I made my way to my room and opened the boor. Everything I owned was gone as well.
I could here footsteps upstairs. Strange to hear footsteps in a empty house. I left my room and shut the door behind me. I could feel something cold. Very cold. I looked upstairs and I saw little feet running across the stair railing. Now I knew that someone was here. I ran to the stairs and up I went faster than I thought I could run. There were only two rooms upstairs. One were my parents room and the other was the office. The office was directly across from the top of the stairs and my parents room was at the end of the hall on the left.
I could hear someone in the office. I creep closer passing the empty hall to see what I could find. The door was cracked. I pushed it opened slowly and peeked in. There was a boy. A child. He just stood with his back towards me. He didn’t even know I was there. He was holding some type of machine in his hand. He was wearing ripped pants and a ripped up white shirt with what looked like red stains all over it. The boy pointed the machine at the picture that hung on the wall. The picture vanished and the boy pointed the machine at the next closes object.
“What are you doing in my house?” I yelled scaring the boy.
He jumped to my loud voice and turned to me. He pointed the machine at me but nothing happened. He started to tap it like something was going wrong.
“Answer my question! Who are you and why were are you in my house stealing stuff?” I yelled again more intense.
The boy just stood there looking at me. It was freezing in the room. Colder than its been in the whole house. The boy must not have been from this world either. Ah-Fula said someone must have came threw so maybe this boy found a way threw.
“My name is Cole.” the boy said sounding like he was scared. “I was told to come here and erase your memory of this life.”
“Who sent you?” I asked still angry.
The boy stepped a little closer to me. “Why you did Mr. Jack!” he said putting the machine he was holding in his pocket.
“What do you mean I sent you?”
The boy brushed his hand over his short brown hair. He had green eyes and an innocent expression on his face. He kind of looked like a younger version of me. As creepy as that sounds.
“I am a physical form of your thoughts Mr. Jack. Anything you have ever thought about in the past two hours I have done for you.” he said stepping a little closer.
I was confused like always. Not understanding what the boy was saying I continued to ask his questions. “Where are my fake parents?”
“I took care of them. That’s what you wanted.” the boy said with a smirk.
I looked over to the window and noticed it was dark out.
“Its past twelve if you are wondering. Its been Halloween for the past two hours.” the boy said again.
I look over at the desk that still sat in the corner of the room. It was the only thing left. I looked at the clock. It was two thirty three. How long did Ah-Fula keep me out of place in the street. It did not seem like ten hours but time flew by some how.
“If you will excuse me I have to get back.” the boy reached into his pocket and pulled out the machine. “I will see you soon Jack.” the boy said pushing a button and he vanished.
There was a sharp pain in my head as the boy vanished. I put my hands over my face and fall to my knees. There was a lot that I had to try and figure out and understand. This boy Cole was a form of my thoughts. Everything I was to think about he would do for me. A physical form of an invisible part of me. What did he mean he took care of my fake mother and father? What did he do with them? And where did he vanish too? Did he return back into my mind.? I didn’t know who’s side he was on or weather I should trust him or not.
I turned around and to my surprise I saw Brock standing in the doorway.
“Who were you talking to?” he asked.
“What are you doing here?” I asked back.
“Well I found Stacy dead in the middle of the street and you were no where to be found. I had to come here and see if you were OK.” he said looking to the floor.
I ran over to him and threw my arms around him. A part of me still felt strongly for Stacy. And knowing that she was dead hurt me very much. I squeezed him tight and I let loose crying.
“Oh Brock something crazy is going on. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you but you have to trust me and stay with me please.” I released him and looked into his eyes. “I’m asking you as a friend to stay by my side Brock. I need you more than ever rate now.”
Brock grabbed my arm and put his other hand on my shoulder. “You know I will Jack. But can you tell me what is going on so I can understand a little better. I mean, why is your house empty? And did you know that black car with the red tinted windows is sitting out in front?”
“Yea I do.” I said walking over to the window. I look down to see the car had not moved. I can see Ah-Fula in the car. The window on the passenger side was rolled down and he was looking up threw the window.
“We need to get out of here Brock.” I said turning around to look at him. “Can we go to your place? I will try and explain everything there.”
He walked over and grabbed my arm again. “Lets go Jack.” he said pulling me into the hallway and down the set of stairs.
I didn’t know how much I could tell him cause I still didn’t understand myself. But if I told him maybe he can help me piece it together or something. Its worth a shot. And its better tan being alone.
We headed to the front door.
“No! No lets go out the back. That car is parked in the front.” I said.
“Alright lets go.” he said turning to the sliding glass door.
He opened the door slowly and made sure the coast was clear before he dragged me out there. He waved me to come out and I slipped threw the door. He only lived a few houses down. And I was hoping Ah-Fula would not spot us or try and look for me. I had a feeling he might look for me cause he said I had no choice but to come with him when I turned eighteen. And it was almost three hours past twelve.
We slipped threw the bushes at the end my yard and made our way down the street. I looked back several time to see if Ah-Fula had moved but the car just sat there. We were at Brock’s front steps before we knew it. With no sign of Ah-Fula following us we slipped into the house. All I had left to do was try and convince Brock I was not crazy with the story I was just about to tell him.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Brock led me down to the basement where his parents made his room. It was cold and smelled a little like mildew. It was big. The was one light in the center of the room an it didn’t really light anything too bright. His bed was at the far end of the room along with his dresser. There was a big open space at the bottom of the stirs that he uses to work out.
“So what is it you wanted to tell me Jack?” he asked taking a seat at the edge of his bed.
I stood in the middle of the room under the light. It felt like I was the center of attention and all the light was shining at me. I didn’t know how to explain myself without sounding like I had lost my mind. I didn’t know if Brock was on the edge of calling the wacky place on me after Stacy’s death. I can just imagine him thinking I was involved.
I took a deep breath an the first words to my thought I released “something is happening to me and I can really explain it that well.” I said staring down at the concrete floor. “you know that guy in the black car?”
Brock just looked at me. “Yeah…” he said.
“Well he claims to be a wizard. And he also claims that I am from another world! Its crazy I know.” I looked up at him so see his expression. He just stared at me with his eyes. They seemed darker than normal.
“Say that again.” he said sounding unsure of what I just told him.
I ran threw the thought in my head. I didn’t know any better way to explain it and I really didn’t have a way to show him either. I just stood in the middle of the room with him staring at me. The sweat was pouring from my forehead, but I was cold. So cold again.
Brock was sitting on the bed looking to the ground now. I could just imagine what he was thinking. He was my best friend and I had no way to tell him that I was in trouble without him thinking I was crazy! I wanted to just dart back up the stairs and just take a run for it. Just keep running till I cant feel my own feet anymore. I knew Ah-Fula would catch up to me if he is what he says he is.
Brock raised himself to his feet. “I think you need to give me a better answer than that as to what is going on here Jack. You expect me to believe you? A Wizard?”
I shook my head and turned around. I headed for the stairs and slowly walked upstairs. Brock watched as I went up. He didn’t try and stop me or say anything. I had nothing to say either. I already knew how crazy I had sounded and I didn’t want to dig myself a deeper hole.
I came to the front door and opened it. Ah-Fula was sitting in his car on the side of the street. He was not looking at me. He didn’t even move at all he just sat there and stared out the front window.
I could hear Brock finally making his way up the stairs. It was a matter of seconds before I could feel his warm breath fading against my skin. Then his hand met my shoulder. He squeezed softly and then came around to my side with his arm still around me. I looked up to the sky to see that it was a clear night out. Everything looked so peaceful. Like I was dreaming. Everything was looking like a dream. And everything seemed to look just as fake as my life was becoming. I felt like all reality was moving farther and farther away!
“I’m going to try and believe you Jack. Wherever you go I’m going to go with you. You will not be alone buddy.” Brock said pulling me tighter to him.
I turned and looked at him. “Thanks Brock!”
“Now lets go see what this wizard guy wants.” He took his arms away started walking forward. “I promise I will be rate here with you.” he said turning around to see if I was fallowing him.
I stood there looking at the car then down both sides of the street. I started to feel misplaced. Like I really was not here or didn’t belong here at this point in time. The car was strait ahead. The engine purring softly and the light dimly showing the rocks on the road. Brock stood turned looking at me waiting for me to be at his side.
I started walking forward. I came up to Brock’s side. We both moved forward heading for the car. Before we knew it we were there and my hand was on the handle. I pulled and the door opened slowly. Brock opened the back door. I looked inside to see the old wizard still staring out the window. I had no idea what I was doing but I managed to slip myself in the passenger seat and shut the door behind me. Brock climbed in the back. All three of us were in the car now. I look over at the old man and he continued looking strait ahead! Then the car slowly started moving down the street. I look back at Brock threw my door mirror. He was sitting looking just as puzzled as I was!

animated
amused
warm
amused

cold