The Rift

Prologue

** This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this story are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.**

Marie always felt that there was a rift between the properties where she grew up. It felt almost magical, even paranormal, like angels crossing over as though they were punching in their time stamps for work. For a young child, things such as property lines did not exist as her bare feet pounded across the grass. Her family dog, a yellow hooligan named Buddy, chased after her in the summer sun, his tongue hanging out gleefully.

"C'mon, Buddy! Faster!" she yelled, the child believing she was outrunning the Labrador. He dove into the woods as the yard wrapped around the vegetation. Marie mimicked him and hid in a pile of tall grass. The lab sprang out of the forest. She bit her lip to stop herself from giggling at the silly look on his face; at the age of five, Marie was already a master at hiding. Buddy cocked his head to the side and listened, his pink tongue rolling back into his mouth. The girl sucked in a breath at the same time, her blue eyes never leaving his brown ones.

"Marie, come here! I need some more water!" Her mother's loud but gentle voice rang through the enormous yard.

The youth smiled and readied her body to pounce. "COMING!" she hollered. Buddy jumped and playfully sprang on her, licking her from head to toe. She rose and brushed herself off. "Marie, 1. Buddy, 4!" she stated matter-of-factly.

"Marie!"

"Mommy!" Marie leaped through the brush. Her mother dropped the garden rake she was holding in surprise. "I finally got a point against Buddy! It was best out of five and he had four, but-!"

"That's nice. Get me some more water, please." She handed her daughter her tin cup. "The hose is running over there, so you can just fill it up with that." Marie's mother, father and older brother were gardening in one of the many dirt beds the family had in their yard. Marie had tried helping, but Buddy had perched himself outside of the carrot rows, whining and begging for her to play with him. Marie hummed and trudged towards the hose. It was throbbing within the giant blue container, filling it with copious amounts of water. She wrestled with the seemingly heavy hose, soaking her arm before pulling it out and sticking the tip in the cup. As it filled, the girl glanced behind her, eyeing her father. The tall, lean man was stretching and drinking from a glass bottle. Marie set the hose down with a frown and started for her mother.

"Surprise!" Cold water shot into her skin, petrifying her. Her older brother laughed maniacally when she shrieked.

"John!" Marie snatched the hose out of his hand and sprayed him. He shrieked and leapt backward. Buddy lowered the top half of his body and barked loudly. The siblings fought over control of the hose, the water spraying high above them. Their laughter filled the air. Suddenly a green watering jug slammed against the water barrels with a deafening jolt. Their father withdrew his arm, his clothes soaked.

"Marie, go play with Buddy," her mother said in a hushed tone, her eyes on her husband with disgust. "Okay, honey?" The girl gave the water to her mother and sprinted, Buddy following close behind. She dove into the woods and began zigzagging in fright. Left, right, left, right... She burst through the foliage to see the property line between their land and their neighbors. Her family had an extensive forest while their neighbor had planted trees in neat rows almost as if to mimic its grandeur. Marie plopped down about a foot away from the invisible line. Buddy roamed in the brush behind her. She sighed and stretched out. Her mother had told her that she was redoing preschool again and that she wouldn't see any of the kids in her class. Marie frowned. They were mean anyway. A gentle breeze tickled her freckled nose. Hopefully I will make new friends, she thought to herself.