Stranger Nights

Chapter 2

Dry leaves crunched under their feet as they walked. They walked side by side silently. Freddy stole a few glances at Henry who walked with a content smile on his face.

"So what's your name?" Freddy asked after he looked at him once more.

"Did I not tell you? That's weird I thought I did. I'm Henry Baker." He said.

"How old are you?" Freddy smirked.

"Your just repeating my questions! Be more original!" Henry said faking being angry.

"Hey I genuinely want to know." Freddy said to him. "Now answer the question."

"I'm sixteen." Henry answered softly. There were very few sixteen year olds most of the babies died that year. Freddy used to think all of them.

"Oh....so you were born the year when the sun..."

"Vanished?" Henry finished. "That I was."

"Are you new here?" Freddy asked changing the subject.

"No. Been here since I was born...unfortunately." Henry smiled repeating what Freddy had said.

"Why aren't you at work?"

Silently Henry pulled his inhaler out of his pocket and wiggled it in front of him.

The next question seemed stupid so Freddy didn't ask it.

"Hey speaking of it, I need to stop for a couple minutes." Henry said sitting down on a nearby tree stump. He went through his normal routine and breathed. Freddy stood by him. He kicked a few things around, but they didn't really go anywhere since they were frozen to the ground.

"Hey do you remember the sun?" Henry asked breaking the silence. His head was looking up, but his eye's were closed as if he was trying remember something.

"In dreams, but not in reality." Freddy answered.

"I don't."

"You were just a baby..." Freddy said unsure of where this was going.

"I remember how warm it was."

"The sun?"

"My mothers smile." Henry said softly. Freddy could only stare at him.

All too soon they were knocked back into reality when Henry opened his eye's and it was still dark and the warmth radiating from him was gone.

"I'm ready, let's go."

And they walked away.

"You should tell your dad to get these lamps fixed." Henry said as one flickered on and off causing him to stumble over a unseen tree root.

"We don't talk." Freddy said bluntly.

"Oh." Was all Henry could say. They got to the end of the path and were now facing the backside of their small village.

Their village was called Roanoke. The elders laughed at it for a reason no one could figure out. Roanoke rested right on the border of God's Republic. It was small with only about one hundred twenty people living there. Because it was so small everyone knew everyone and everyone knew what everyone did. Everyone knew what Caroline Smith and George Thompson did at the town dance. Everyone knew what Debra Henderson put in her pies. That was just how it was.

Every building was a small two bedroom, one living room, and one bathroom cabin. There was no need for a kitchen anymore there was nothing to be cooked. Only the rich had ovens such as the Minister and Debra Henderson, but those were only used on special occasions. One window was lit in each building, even if everyone was out, because it made it easier to see.

Young children who had not started working yet were playing around and the boys could hear their giggles.

The boys stood silently at the edge of the forest, unsure of what to do.

"Well I guess I'll be going no-"

"Wait!" Henry shouted before Freddy could take a step. "I want to introduce you to my friend, Charlotte."

"Why?"

"It'll make her happy to know I have another friend...and to know I won't be bugging her as much now." he finished with a laugh. Freddy shrugged knowing he won't be able to fight him about it. Freddy didn't really want another friend. Especially if that friend acted just like Henry, which he guessed the girl did. He was wrong by a longshot, but you will see that soon enough.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt."

"Cool! Follow me. I bet she'll like you."