The Secrets Of River Lake

chapter 1

The night hung heavy in the neighborhood, a canvas woven with contrasting lights and shadows. The moon's radiant gleam wrestled against the glaring streetlamps, smothering the gentle nuances of the night. Sally, a steadfast presence, sat by her open fire, selling food to passersby. Swatting mosquitoes that besieged her and her sleeping child strapped to her back, she shared her space with a young girl, unfazed by the nocturnal commotion.

From Cherry Field echoed pulsating rhythms of pop music, beckoning revellers. Nearby, a cluster of stray dogs congregated near a rubbish bin. One among them, groomed and seemingly lost amidst the strays, raised curious thoughts of its origin.

Amid this urban theater, Hailey, a 15-year-old with striking dreadlocks and radiant blue eyes, struggled to focus on her book by a flickering candle's glow. Her mother, worn out from constant toil to support Hailey, her twin sister Bailey, and older brother Mark, slept soundly inside their modest dwelling.

Outside, Nathan's raucous shouts pierced the serenity. His clash with Coco, an agitated dog, escalated, setting the neighborhood on edge. Hailey, torn between her studies and the mounting confrontation outside, wrestled with the urge to intervene.

Nathan's crude words to Coco amplified the tension. Hailey foresaw the brewing hostility but chose to focus on her English homework, pushing the encroaching disturbance to the periphery.

As Nathan's outcries intensified, the neighborhood stirred, its inhabitants joining the altercation. Hailey's impulse to engage grew stronger. However, her mother's drowsy form inside tugged at her conscience.

In the midst of the ruckus, Hailey's mother awoke, sensing her daughter's restlessness. Challenged by her mother's inquiries, Hailey sought to fabricate an excuse, yearning to step into the tumult brewing outside.

Her mother, sensing Hailey's yearning to leave, relented with a warning, prompting Hailey to slip outside wearing flip-flops, tiptoeing past the slumbering households.

Outside, Nathan, unsteady on his feet, continued to disrupt the night. His verbal outbursts garnered attention, with neighbors engaging in a chorus of admonishments. Hailey hesitated but was drawn to the fracas.

Coco's tussle with Nathan intensified. Hailey's attempts to defuse the situation fell on deaf ears. Nathan's struggle to comprehend the canine's talk added to the bizarre drama.

Hailey's plea to Coco for restraint echoed futilely. Nathan, besieged by the fantastical occurrences, grappled with his sanity. Coco's words added to Nathan's disorientation, rendering him incapable of rational thought.

As Nathan teetered on the brink of disbelief, Coco continued to engage, exacerbating Nathan's befuddlement. Hailey's concern for Nathan's welfare clashed with the disarray of the situation. Nathan's drunken stupor clouded his comprehension of the nocturnal events, hinting at a descent into his chaotic dreamscape.

Resolving to distance herself from the bewildering situation, Hailey retreated indoors, her mind ablaze with the night's uncanny turn of events.

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Night has fallen. The moon shines bright like ever before,but the harsh bright light of tall street lamps wipe the soft shadows of the dwelling of their feet, the air is still soft and warm with fireflies flying around the lamp post, sally the woman who sella the food,sots by an open fire outside her shack,she swats at the mosquitoes that whiz about her neck,her arms and the sleeping toddler strapped to her back and a little girl who is sitting next to sally. The night pitch buzzing irritates her. From the far end of cherry field music blares from a ghetto blaster and people can be heard dancing and chatting to the infectious rhythm of pop music. A pack of stray dogs has father near a rubbish bin they are tiny and mangy except for one who looks just like a well pampered dog in the midst of stray maybe its lost I thought to myself but aren't almost all stray dogs lost. at any sudden movement the bear their teeth in vicious snarls. A ginger cat with half its tail missing stuck in the moonlight unaware of the dogs in its midst.
In the distance police siren wails, but the children playing hide and seek on the street do not hear it. Their only two worry is not to stray far away from their home and not to get caught by each other,their parent had become street ever since children and teens started disappearing.
In a near by shack close to sally a girl maybe about my age or older
with a book in her hands as she sip whatever is in the cup..
The girl sigh, she's tired but she can't go to sleep as she needs to finish that book,she is worried because the candle is about to burn out..
Hailey is tall for a 15year old,she had dreadlocks that fall back she has this bright blue eyes that every time she smiles it always looks magical
Hailey turns to her mother to were she is sleeping soundly in a long time since she has been working tirelessly to provide for Hailey and her twin sister bailey with her older brother Mark
Outside a dog dog suddenly barks,she knew who it was that cause the disturbance. It would the Nathan stumbling between the our garden that have been fence, Nathan had a bit of anger issue so he is quick to insult anything in its way..
The dog bark more loudly. Hailey pushes her book aside. It must be coco she guesses. Like most of her previous dogs coco is hot headed for a dog to be surprised sometimes friendly but when
Get away from me you ugly thing!,Nathan shouts. " shut your trash hole!"
Hailey knows the shouting would just make coco more vicious,she can imagine coco moving closer saliva dripping from her fangs
Now Nathan was holding a big stick trying to hold back coco from attacking him coco growls louder and the other dogs in the neighbourhood join in the barking
Hailey ignore Nathan that is outside and start in her English homework before the candle burn out
"I said,get away, you beast!", Nathan shouts loudly that she had to check again. Her mother us still fast asleep she snores softly and not loudly. She can't ignore the noise outside again . Now the neighbours are yelling at Nathan, an irresistible urge comes over her and she quickly get out
You big drunk, why don't you go home and sleep, someone shouts
"Ag shut your pie hole." Nathan must have fallen on himself cause someone burst out laughing
You won't be laughing when your kids start diapering again, Nathan said
As Hailey tiptoe to the door she heard, a young man voice ask, "what is this guy talking about now"?
" watch your mouth you young people think you know it all today,??,
Before Hailey could open the door,her mother stirs. And were do you think your going,young lady?she ask sleepily
Hailey freezes. I was just...uh going to get some water for the kettle mama"
"What? We filled the bucket together this afternoon
Oh yes...I forgot," but its never bad to have extra
Hailey
"Yes,mama".
" don't lie to me. I know you want to go outside."
" just collecting pebble
Why
You never know maybe I will be famous for collecting pebble
But you already have 3bucket full of your pebble
Please
Fine don't stay out too late
Ok, she says as she out on her flipflop and hurry out
Nathan is still staggering in the bushes
Get up and kill the beast, he trip and fall on his bum more people have come out of their shack everyone is laughing raucously. Hailey can't help but laugh too
Shut up idiot do you know who I am do you know who my father is
"Yes we do", a young man answers back, and sadly he got a lousy good for nothing son like you
Then the man went back inside. The other neighbours also disappears into their homes and leaves Nathan to his drunken state
Coco grab Nathan trousers at the ankles and don't let go Nathan kicks the dog that made it moaning. Coco opens his mouth viciously to bite
Coco don't do it,Hailey tell her dog. He's just a harmless old man".
"Who says I'm old?, I can still give you a beating", Nathan quick to say
"He's got a big mouth."
"You little brat what do you mean I got a big mouth?"
"I didn't say that",Hailey says
"I may be drunk but am no fool Nathan insist"
"Then get up and go home, you stupid drunken man"
Nathan who has been watching Hailey closely, frowns. he opens his mouth but no words came out
"What's the matter?, cat got your" tongue,coco says to his face,Nathan rubs his eyes in disbelief
"What's going on?,Nathan ask
So he knows the secret, Big deal,"
Don't worry Nathan,Hailey try to comfort him
How do they talk,he ask urgently
I don't know why you can hear them only children or teens are supposed to hear animals talk
What do you mean
When you pass the age nineteen you stop hearing them and all the memory of you hearing them will be gone
How come I'm still here what does mutt are saying
Its because your drunk,coco says
Nathan stands up with his mouth open. He feels a little dizzy. It is too much for him to accept animals talking
Are you alright, Hailey asked
I know I drank too much but to imagine talking dogs its
Relax its not the end of the world, coco taunt him
Your right am drunk and this just one of my very creepy dreams am having again
That's right,coco agrees
A very bad and weird dream
What were you drinking
Nathan slaps himself hopping to wake up from this dream
Do you hate yourself,coco comments
Its no use,Nathan sigh, am going crazy just for me to got to a mental institute
See you later I have to go to bed before my mom start worrying that I'm talking to an adult man and Hailey went back in and straight to bed..

Author note
First chapter hope you like it, please vote comment and follow.
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