Made in the Dark

The Last Day Of Summer (1)

Chatham, Massachusetts 2008

    When you're a kid, summer vacation is a fervently anticipated time. The hot days are filled with gleeful memories, some of which will be carried for years. Every moment is precious, due to the little time given to just be a kid.

That was why Elijah Mattsson shook his younger sister roughly, even before the sun had risen on the last day of his summer vacation. She opened her eyes and groaned, attempting to cling to her peaceful rest.

"Amity." Elijah whisper-shouted, "Amity, wake up! It's time to go, It's the last day of summer!"

Amity wasn't going to roll out of bed for another half hour, but that wasn't about to stop 15-year-old Elijah from executing his perfect plan. He waited patiently for her to get up and ready, his legs bouncing with quiet excitement.

Once they were both ready, Elijah dragged his sister down the street to the pond, where his friends had planned to watch the sunrise. He waved his hand in a casual greeting to his friend Jackie, who was already there waiting for them.

Jackie's dark-skinned legs dangled off the edge of the dock as Elijah and Amity took a seat next to him. He smiled wearily, signaling he hadn't been there much longer than them.

"Eli, my man, you know I'd do anything for you without question, right?" He asked. Elijah made a face at the nickname but nodded nonetheless. "Good, because I've just got to ask; What the actual fuck?"

Amity giggled as Jackson waved his arms around. Elijah rolled his eyes, shoving his shoulder lightly.

"Well, Jackson." Elijah drawled, "What better way to start the last day of summer than with a sunrise over the pond with all my best friends?" Jackie sighed dramatically, ultimately accepting his response.

"All your best friends?" Another voice questioned from behind the group. "Do I not exist anymore?"

"Devin! About time asshole, you almost missed the sunrise." Elijah stood up and threw an arm around Devin, who was laughing.

"What? Is this one going to be any different from the hundreds of other ones you've dragged me to see?" Elijah pouted dramatically as they all laughed.

As the group was laughing, an evil smirk crossed Elijah's face. He brought Devin a bit closer to the edge of the dock where Amity and Jackie were still sitting.

"Well... It just might be." He let Devin process what he said before pushing him over into the water below.

Devin came up sputtering with a look of complete betrayal. "My darling Eli, I thought we had something special!" He cried, before letting himself fall beneath the surface.

Any onlooker would have assumed they were crazy the group dissolved into fits of giggles. Devin swam back toward where the others sat, hair plastered to his forehead and the biggest smile on his face.

"Race you to the buoy?" Jackie looked over at Amity. She smiled evilly, not unlike her brother had done moments before.

"You're about to lose to a little girl, you sure your ego can take it?" Amity mocked with fake concern. Jackson smiled at her, wild and free, before diving in and taking off, much to Amity's dismay.

Pure joy was light in the air. The infectious laughter and easy banter drowned out any thought of the future. Elijah knew it was a bad idea to be swimming in the pond at such an odd time, yet he couldn't bring himself to care. This year was going to be different. This year was going to be better, he was going to be better.

If Elijah knew what was going to happen tomorrow, maybe he would have appreciated these moments more. If anyone knew what was going to happen tomorrow, maybe somebody could have stopped it. But that's tomorrow. Today, four best friends enjoyed the sunrise and began their last day of summer vacation.