Hello Neighbor: Hidden Shadows: Unofficial AFK Book

CHAPTER 17

I'm thankful I missed the burial. I don't know what time it is, but I know I'm not supposed to be outside at this hour. Everyone is asleep, crickets chatter amongst the grass, and I'm alone out here, just stuck with my cursed brain and repetitive thoughts. I slept in my own bed this night, really because I wanted to get away from everyone. Nobody should know that I'm gone again. Until I hear footsteps behind me again.

"Maritza?" I question the figure now in front of me. She shouldn't be out here. "What are you doing out here?"

"I'm assuming you couldn't sleep either," Maritza casually says, rubbing the dark circles under her eyes. I only stare at her again, then turning back to the clusters of trees that collect along the hills. If only one of those trees were me, and the other trees were my friends and parents around me, comforting me. I'm glad they aren't alone out here, like I was. I almost had completely forgotten that Maritza was still here, who walks up beside me, looking in the same direction.

I feel like I want to look at her again, but she might catch on, so I refrain from doing so. I'm assuming she doesn't feel like talking either, judging on her dull lifeless facial expression. But instead, I do it anyway, but from the corner of my eyesight.

"I know you're looking at me, loser," Maritza says, not even trying to look back. I quickly shove my hands back into my pockets out of embarrassment, half-expecting her to berate me for it, but instead she give me a slight grin from the corner of her lips.

"I kind of figured that you would be out in the woods again," says Maritza.

"How did you know?" I ask back. She hesitates for a second, then responding with a quiet-

"Lucky guess," she mumbles, her face getting heavily crimson. I don't think either of us wants to leave right now, or maybe I just want someone to talk to. Someone who understands. I know I have school tomorrow, but at this point I couldn't care less.

My mind comes across the thought of that bird figure I thought I saw a few days ago. I wonder what I actually saw, or if I was hallucinating or not. What if-

"Nicky, look out!" Maritza screams, yanking me to the ground. I then realize why she did that, as I watch multiple, what seems to be hundreds of crows swarm across the roofs of our heads. Maritza still holds me down, although it feels like it's slipping off. The large flock of dystopian birds end their cycle, while Maritza and I are almost nose to nose where she pushed me. We realize how oddly close we are, immediately pulling away from each other. As I rub my arm from the awkward moment, I look and I see a figure that wields a sickle, and had a massive beak.

"W-what is that?" I question, expecting Maritza to look where I am. It takes her a second to get an idea what I'm referring to, then we both stand frozen in the woods, facing it. In fact, that looks like the thing I had seen just a few days ago. It's . . . bigger.

My thoughts are interrupted as Maritza squeezes my hand to the point of nearly hearing bones cracking. I look back at her pale-colored face, then turning back, only to be met with the bird-like figure being closer in range.

"Nicky, GO!" Maritza blurts, jolting my arm into the opposite direction. I don't know where or what that is, but we just want to leave. We should've come out here. I look back, only seeing the figure multiple feet away from us, but Maritza and I aren't stopping until we're safe again. We eventually make it back to Friendly Court, the empty street that only appears to have street lights emitting light onto the sheets of sidewalk.

I collapse on the floor, rapidly panting, as Maritza pants over me, her hands to her knees in exhaustion. Something in my head tells me to keep going.

   "Maritza, you need to get home," I mutter, then dashing down the street to the direction of my house. I want to look back to make sure that she's leaving now, but I know that she knows how to already. I'm at my house, but I'm stuck again. I can't use the front door. They'll wake up.

   My window is still cracked. In panic, manage to climb to my window using an old rusty ladder that by the side of the house. I force my window open. As I attempt to slide into my window, the ladder starts to tip over.

   "Oh no."

   The ladder makes a loud crash to the grass, as I pull myself through the window. I slam my window shut behind me, then rolling under my bed, hitting by back against the wall. I hear the door swing open, assuming it's my parents. I watch as two pairs of socks run by my bed, examining the hazardly closed window, and maybe it's surroundings outside.

   "Nicky isn't in his bed," presumably Mom says.

   "I'm under here," I reply, my voice sounding like I were somewhat ill, although I already am, mentally.

   Mom takes a peak under my bed, where she finds me hunched against the wall like a psychopath. "What are you doing under there?"

"Quiet," I murmur. Mom looks over to Dad, whose face I cannot see right now.

   "We should give him some space, Lu," Dad suggests. Mom takes one final look at me, then nodding. Mom and Dad leave the room, leaving me here again. I think it's gone now, but I still want to stay under here, where nothing can get me. I don't think I or Maritza want to tell anyone what we saw, but it now reminds me of what happened last winter. Where we ran and . . . things were fine.

   I slide my thumb into my mouth like a small child, finding some sort of comfort from doing so. I make a way for my thumb, parting my teeth then for almost my entire hand being able to enter, which it does. I start rocking myself side to side, mostly thinking about Maritza again. Did she make it back safely? Is she thinking about me too right now? I know that Aaron has already gone back to Minnesota, so Maritza is the only one I have left who will understand. She has to.

I don't know what I saw, but as far as I know, nobody is safe anymore. No one.