Protect

Chapter 1. Her Name?

It is quite neat about Ebony and Gavin's names. Ebony has white hair while Gavin's is black. Yet the meaning of their names are the opposite.

Ebony means, "pitch black".

Gavin means, "white knight or white hawk".

But in Arthur and the knights of the round table, one of his knights, Sir Gaiwen, is the green knight.

Anyways, I just thought it was ironic.

"Ebony, don't be afraid, just go play with them." Daddy says with a sad smile.

"I can't," I say and sigh. I press my face against the glass window.

"Why? Nothing's wrong with them. You can't stay cooped up here forever." Daddy asks, I sit down, he does too next to me.

"Because there's dead people following them." I try to explain, but he never understands.

"Then why don't we have dead people around us?" Daddy asks worriedly.

"You do." I explain to him.

"Do you know their name?" Daddy questions me and sits down criss cross applesauce.

"No, Daddy," I whisper to him and watch the little kids play and chase each other. I want to too, but the dead people scare me.

I hear him sigh before getting up and leaving my room. Mama and Daddy talk outside of my door, I listen to them.

"I'm afraid she's going to be a recluse for now." Daddy explains.

"Just give her time," Mama says.

Gavin's POV.

"Toss the ball, toss the ball over to me!" I yell with my hands raised in the air.

Cameron throws the ball with all his strength towards me. I duck before the football slammed into my face. I hear a crash of glass and everybody scatters, including Cameron. I'm always left to clean up the mess since I'm the oldest. I turn around to see the Beta's broken window. He's going to Kill me. I trudge my way up his porch, to the front door and knock.

Beta James answers the door with a deep scowl on his face. I sheepishly smile at him with an apologetic laugh.

"Beta James, I'm sorry about your window, it was an accident." I apologize to him and bow my head.

He shakes his and pinches his nose. "Wait here, I'll get your ball in a minute, I have a mess to clean up." He says before walking away.

I awkwardly stand on his door mat waiting when I see.... Mrs. Beta James coos to a crying hysterical girl shaking. They pass the entrance way quickly. My chest drops into my stomach at the sight. The guilt doubles. Mrs. Beta comes back into sight a few minutes later and approaches me.

"What happened to her?" I ask worriedly and glance in the direction I last saw her.

"She just got scared is all, there's nothing to worry about. But, next time be careful please. Ebony's just a little shy." Mrs. Beta explains to me.

I feel a jolt slice through my heart at the sound of her name. I involuntarily take a step back. "I'm sorry about this, it won't happen again." I promise.

Beta James comes into view with the football. I thank him before leaving. Only then do I go over the scared girl's features. Platinum blonde hair, baby blue eyes, small button nose, and a delicate jaw. Ebony, I think, and the jolt takes place again.

Ebony's POV.

The ball flew through the window next to me. The sudden openness causes my throat to swell with fear. The dead people all turn and look at me. They walk forward, my heart races and tears swell in my eyes.

"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy Daddy!" Frantically screeching as they come closer. I sit frozen in fear, unable to move.

He burst through the door and scoops me up. I cling to him and sob, they're still coming.

I scratch at his back and scream. "They're coming! Daddy! They're coming!" I cry and kick for him to get away.

Daddy swiftly leaves the room and shuts my door. It's hard to breathe, I feel my chest gallop for breath. Mama rushes over to me and covers my eyes as she pulls me into her arms. She sits me down on the kitchen counter and tells me to take deep breathes.

That night I felt different, like I was missing something. Like I should've Seen something. That night I slept with my parents shaking in fear.