A Song Of Shadows

SEVEN

What am I doing?

Where am I going at 1:00am?

The night sky was both starless and moonless, but it wasn't too dark to see. A nearby tower light gave the unpaved street I was walking on a pale yellow glow, and with help from the trees and houses around, casted long and pitch black shadows. If there happened to white cat watching me from under a tree I couldn't see it.

The bitter air smelled sweet and a light breeze was blowing west. It actually felt great to be out in the night. I felt both free, and afraid at the same time—though more free than afraid. I could hear music playing not very far away from where I was, and I had seen a couple stroll past my house as soon I had closed the gate.

"So where are we going?" I asked the boy, as we walked east on the street. We was at least five houses from place by then.

"We're almost there," he said, walking ahead of me. "It's just there," he pointed ahead with his right index finger.

I looked ahead to see where the street reach it's end and form a junction with another unpaved street that ran from the south and formed crescent around the neighborhood. Beyond the junction a small playing playing field, and beyond the playing field was brake filled with dead shrubs and tall dry grass.

The boy walked ahead silently, his feet bare and dusty. He was only about half a ruler's length shorter than I was, and had a slight limp in his walk. I still couldn't figure out where I had seen the boy before, or why, and how he knew where I stayed.

I should turn back.

The boy turned right when we reached the junction.

"There!" he pointed.

I looked up and saw where he was pointing. I felt my eyes bulge, as if to pop out of their sockets. Apparently, in the middle of the playing field, stood a large plain white tent with a pointed roof. It had cast it's own long black shadow to it's north as if to reflect it's eerie presence.

When did that get here? I wondered.

When I had passed by on my way back from school, the playing field had been empty, with the exception of a few boys who had been kicking around a football. There hadn't been a sign indicating any midnight even that required a tent. It

"It's huge, isn't it?"

"Huh?"

"The tent."

I nodded, suddenly lazy to talk.

"Come on, let's go inside," the boy said. "You have to see this."

I had no time to protest. He was already dragging me towards the tent by my index finger. His hand felt cold and soft, like it had been held in an ice bucket for while before he came looking for me. His excited, yet impatient walk almost reminded me of Nathan.

The boy led me through a narrow door and into impenetrable darkness. I only realised then, that the tent had no windows, so no light from the tower light could shine into the tent.

"This way," I heard the boy say.

He had let go of my hand, and was probably about three metres away from where I stood. I couldn't see him, so I began walking towards his voice. I rushed a bit, to catch up to him. I wanted to make sure I was going the right way.

I should turn back, I thought.

But I didn't turn back. I felt like I could like I could trust the boy, the same way I had known I could trust Melinda that long time ago.