The Pigs

Bravery

Jenna pedaled up to Randy house. He was usually waiting outside to greet her. She smiled. I must've scared him with my pig stories. Then her smile faded as she thought about her animals and Randy's father.
She went into the house which was strangely silent. "Randy!" She called. "Randy!" Worry entering her voice. She stepped further into the house and noticed a piece of paper with her name scribbled on it. "deer jenna, i am gona be a hearo. i am gona kill the pigs. sinseerly randy"
Jenna fought the urge to panic. She tried calling his mom, and hers but just got voice mails. She thought about calling 911, but would try to find him on her own first. Maybe he didn't get far or had gotten scared and was heading back already.
She ran outside, calling his name. Nothing. Where would be even go? Her house. She had told him about the trail they had left. Without thinking she ran through the woods to her house. Arriving breathless, there was no sign of the boy. She wanted to cry. She went to where the pigs tracks entered the woods. There on the ground was a juice box. The same kind Randy drank.
That was enough for her. She called 911. After explaining her predicament, they told her to stay put and wait for the police. That there had been increasing reports of attacks by the pigs. Jenna had just hung up when she heard a distant scream. A child's scream. She instinctively started to run towards the woods. Then stopped a moment and ran to the wood pile and pulled the hatchet loose from the log it was lodged in. She ran into the woods toward the cries. They were leading her towards Stan's place. A sweet but quiet older man that some people were afraid of. Her mother usually called him every few days to check on him, but lately hadn't been able to reach him.
She raced toward his place. She heard another scream. A little closer this time. She finally came to Stan's yard. She covered her mouth in horror at what she found there. He did not deserve this. She looked around for the boy. There was nothing but silence. She stood, listening. She heard a rustling sound in the woods. "Randy?!" She called. She started walking in that direction, stopping dead in her tracks when the biggest pig she'd every seen stepped out of the brush. The house was over 100 feet away. The barn maybe 20. Without thinking she took off at a dead run toward the barn. The pig ran after her, the rest also emerging from the woods and giving chase. She made it to the barn and turned to close the door. A giant pig slammed into the door sending her flying back. The pig seemed stunned for just a moment. Enough for Jenna to jump up and climb the nearby ladder up into the hay loft.
The pigs quickly filled the barn. Pushing against the walls hard enough to make her question whether the dilapidated building would hold up to them. She breathed a sigh of relief when she found her phone still safely in her pocket. She again dialed 911, told them where she was now and begged for help. After scolding her for not staying put, she was told the police were being rerouted to where she was and to stay put this time.
Jenna sat up in the relative safety of the hay loft. She finally had a moment to think about the little boy she'd been watching for almost 2 years now. About the screams she'd heard, now silenced, and she wept silently.
The pigs milled around under her. Squealing in frustration. Then they stopped, looking outside. She hoped it meant the police had come. No police came, but she instead heard a small, distant voice calling out her name.
Relief flooded her, but soon faded as she saw the pigs were losing interest in her. She went to the edge of the hayloft and yelled at them. Getting their focus on her.
She couldn't wait for help. Randy needed her. The ladder was on the side of the barn furthest from the door. There was a steep ramp outside the window that years ago brought hay up into the barn. She was fast. If she ran down and around in time, she could lock the pigs in the barn, and save her friend.
She threw down some hay and pieces of wood at the pigs to get their attention,  but to no avail. Finally she threw the hatchet at the pigs. It hit it's mark. One of the pigs fell dead, and the others  eagerly began devouring it.  Steeling her courage, she squeezed out the window and raced down the ramp. She ran around the barn to the door and struggled to pull it closed. She cried in frustration. It was stuck open! The pigs saw her and ran toward the door. Mustering all her strength, the door finally broke loose and she pulled it shut.
The pigs slammed into the door over and over. She could hear the old wood cracking and breaking. She didn't have much time. She ran into the woods calling Randy's name. She heard a weak cry and found the boy hiding in the roots of a large tree. His jeans were ripped and bloody. "Jenna!" He cried. "I knew you'd come for me!"
"C'mon!"Jenna yelled"Lets get outta here!" She pulled him out of the roots. With his arm around her they moved past Stan's lifeless body toward the house. They heard wood shattering and turned to see pigs spilling out of the barn towards them. They weren't going to make it. Jenna hugged the boy tight, covering his face. It would be over soon.
Gunshots rang out. A large pig fell dead at their feet. The police shot several more pigs. The rest fled into the woods. It was over. They were safe.