The Nights of Honor

Ace

The moon shone brightly in the sky. It was high and full, all the stars paled in comparison to its beauty. I watched, gazing at it. Unable to take my eyes off of it.

I was a type of insomniac. I couldn't sleep at night. During the day, sure, especially in history class, but at night I felt alive. My blood pierced through my veins and my heart raced at speeds of one-hundred-fifty-miles and hour. energy ran through me and flowed through out every limb. When the moon was up, so was I. But the full moon had a hold over me. When it was out, I could never rest easily. Ever since I was a child, bedtimes never sat well with me.

That night was different. I sat at my bedroom window and stared up at the moon. My hands wrapped around my shins, my knees deep in my chest, and my hair flowed freely down my back. I sat there and stared at the moon, taking in its presence. I could've sat there and stared all night, and I've done it before, but that night was different than the rest. I couldn't stay there, in my room, any longer. I had to get out. I had to go.

Run.

I had to run. I wanted to run, no- I needed to run.

So, I slipped on whatever pair of sneakers were by my closet, opened the window and jumped from my two story window. Something that should be known about me, I am a daredevil and an adrenaline junkie. My parents were sound asleep and when two AM hit, not even an earthquake could wake them up.

I jumped from the window and collided with the ground. My feet hit the ground first and the rest of my body shortly followed. It only hurt for a second, then I was on my feet running.

It was cooler at night. The only sounds were the crickets chirping, my feet as they pounded against the concrete, and my steady breathing. I never felt more alive when I ran. The wind pushing against my face, the freedom of choosing when to stop. It felt as if nothing could stop me, nothing would make me want to.

I ran a good three miles before I stopped at a park and sat on the largest rock there. It was cold and coarse, but I didn't care. I sat down on the rock and lied back. My body didn't even shiver when it touched the rock. I wasn't cold, I was relaxed. I wanted to stay there, in that one place, but I knew I had to go home soon, or else Gladys would've gone on a one-woman search party, again.

After about ten minutes, I rose to my feet and jumped off the rock. It wasn't as high as my bedroom window so I managed to land firmly on my feet. I turned to run home, and that's when I heard it. "Honor."

I turned, but saw no one there.

"Honor," the voice said again, but everywhere I turned there were no signs of anyone in the park, but me. I convinced myself that it was my imagination and ran back home. I picked up the spare key under the rock in the front yard, opened the door, and locked back once I was inside.

I then went up to my room and found an envelope on my bed, along with a box. I opened the envelope and there was, obviously, a card inside. Written inside the card was, ". I know you'll like the gift I've given you." now, I'm not one who hates for receiving gifts, never, but it was a bit creepy and there was no signature on the card. I tossed the card back on my bed and picked up the box.

It was wrapped with pink paper and a red ribbon. I ripped the paper off of the box and found a jewelry case under it. When I opened the case I found a gorgeous necklace inside. It was a golden locket with the full moon carved into it, in the middle of the moon was a star that had a sapphire embedded into it. When I opened it, there was an inscription inside, but I couldn't understand it.

I closed the locket, rested it on my dresser, then slipped into bed. I shut my eyes and tried to go to sleep. But, no luck, so I daydreamed. I daydreamed until I really did fall asleep.

I awoke the next morning to the sound of my alarm clock beeping, loudly. Lazily, I reached over and hit the snooze button. I didn't want to get up, hell I never did on Monday, but I didn't have a choice. Either I got up, or Dad would throw me into the pool, again. So, reluctantly, I threw myself out of bed, stretched, walked downstairs, and slouched in my chair at the counter.

"Morning Ace," shouted my, overly obnoxious but at times charming, older brother, Blaine.

"What the hell!" I replied as hit him in the shoulder.

"Language, Honor," Gladys lightly scolded.

"Yeah, language," Blaine said as he grabbed a bowl from the cupboard and I stuck my tongue out at him. "Very attractive," he said.

"Where's Dad?" I asked ignoring his little comment.

"Snoring the day away," Blaine responded as he sat next to me with a full bowl in cereal in hand. Apparently he hadn't brushed his teeth that morning either, because I could still smell what he had for dinner the night before.

"Blaine, there is this thing called mouthwash, use it," I exasperated as I covered my nose.

"You're one to talk, Onion Breath," he replied as he scarfed down his morning cereal like a three year old. Milk splattered on the table, loose pieces on his face, and his entire mouth was covered in white. Sometimes I wondered how I was the younger child.

"Honor, what're you going to have for breakfast?" Gladys asked.

"Coffee," Dad replied as he strolled into the kitchen. "Black with sugar, cream, and a plate of air pie."

"I believe I asked honor what I she wanted for breakfast, not you Evan," Gladys said.

"That is what she wants for breakfast," Dad said. "Right, honey?"

"You know me so well, Dad," I said as I laid my head back on the table.

"Honor."

"Yes," I said as my head sprung back up and I was met with three blank looks.

"No one called you, Ace,"Blaine said with a full mouth, or at least that's what I thought he said.

"I just heard someone say 'Honor', I'm not deaf, moron," I said.

"No," Blaine said. "I think you're more the delusional kind." he said

"No one called you, sweetheart," Dad said. I then thought about the voice I had heard. I was not crazy, I knew I wasn't crazy, so why was I hearing voices? I thought, maybe I was just out of it that day.

"Sorry," I said. "Probably just stress. I have a huge math test today."

"Well then, "Gladys said as she slid two cups of coffee in front of me. "You're going to need all the energy you can get. Two cups of coffee, don't blame me when you crash. "

I downed both cups of coffee in two minutes, wiped the coffee-stache from my upper lip, and said, "I never do. Thanks, I'm gonna get ready for school."

I jumped from the table, not hearing whatever Dad yelled after me about, and ran to my room. When I got there, there was another envelope in my room. This time, it was on my window sill. "I hope you like the necklace, it your mother made it for you. She wanted to give it to you on this day. I can't wait to see you wear it. Me," it read.