Stand up and Scream- ON HOLD UNTIL HARVEST MOON

Prologue

"Aye, Ry hit table five." a low bellowing voice called from the open door of the kitchen as the large cheerful man leaned back against the door frame smiling at the small waitress bumbling around the small diner like a chicken with its head cut off.

"I'm on it joe," she called back dropping off a tray of dishes on the table beside the kitchen's door, knowing Derek the dishwasher would be out soon to gather them.

"Busy day, ey Ry?" Joe chuckled

"Ya know it," she chuckled, stopping by the door in front of him. She hastily pulled her long strawberry-blonde hair into a messy pony at the top of her head, with the elastic she kept around her wrist.

Most days Rylie prided herself on her long hair but on a day like today she was to busy to bother with it.

Smiling up at the Joe man she reached up and wrapped her arm around the older mans large waist, in a semblance of a hug, it was all she could reach and her small arm barley made it around to his side.

"it's just the dinner rush," she said tucking a loose red hair behind her ear, "it will be over soon. besides," she laughed "I'm off in ten, so this will all be your domain." she winked cheekily at the hulk of a man, before running off to clear table five, Joe's bellowing laughter following behind her.

Bending over the table Ry was busy collecting all the dirty dishes on a black plastic tray when the bell on the door chimed signaling more customers. She didn't bother to look up as the ruckus laughter filled the diner.

She smiled knowing that is was a group of teens most likely arriving from the high schools football game which should have ended about an hour ago.

But her smile quickly vanished as one of the rowdy teens wolf-whistled at her rear as she bent over.

Seething she slammed the wet rag she held in her hand down on the table before turning on her heels.

She caught the eye of the young teen who was unabashedly staring at her.

He was attractive she had to admit, his dark hair curlin loosely past his ears and dazzling blue eyes.

A glint of silver by his lip caught her eye and another above his left eye, she noticed they were piercings, eyebrow and spiderbite lip rings. She quickly looked him over also noticing swirls of black peaking below the sleeves of his shirt.

Tattoos and piercings.

On closer examination he was older than she thought closer to his twenties than his teens.

"Can I help you?!" she sneered crossing her arms over her chest.

His smile turned smug and his eyebrow with the piercing raised drawing her eye again to that daring piece of metalwork.

Before he could reply though Matchbox 20's She's so Mean began playing from the front pocket of Rylie's red apron.

Pulling out the phone ignoring the Adonis before her she snapped it opened and pressed it to her ear.

"hello?" she growled into the phone, her previous good mood already soured.

"Rylie baby, is that you?" her mother sobbed into the phone.

"mom?" Rylie asked worriedly into the small black device, "what's wrong"

No one ever called while she was working it was Rylie's unspoken rule, well that and Never expect her awake before 10.

"I don't have much time baby, just listen carefully, never go into the forest. You hear me! Promise me you will never go." her panicked voice was starting to worry Ry.

"ok mom, but what is going on?"

Rylie caught the dark haired guy leaning against the bar watching her, his head tilted to one side and his eyes a little glossy like he was concentrating to hear something very quiet.

For a moment se almost thought he was listening to her conversation but then wrote that thought off as crazy as he was on the other side of the restaurant.

"I don't have much time," she mumbled again, more to herself this time.

"mom!" Ry shouted into the phone "what the hell is going on!"

"Baby I love you, so so much and I'm so sorry. Just know that mommy loves you."

Ry sighed exasperated "mom I love you too, but I'm not twelve. What the HELL is going on?!"

"I've got to go," her mother cried panicked "they're here!" her voice rose an octave, filled with fear and panic.

"Open the damn door." a muffled voice growled through the door followed by some loud banging, "we know you are in there Maryl, open the door or we will break it down."

Her mother gasped in horror.

"mom, mom!" Rylie cried starting to panic when her mother didn't respond and all she heard was shuffling through the phone.

Looking up she noticed half the diners customers were watching her she quickly slipped through the kitchen an out into the alley behind the restaurant.

"mom!" she screamed.

"Ry," her moms scratchy voice answered. She clearly had been crying. " run baby girl, it's not safe here, run far away and never go Into the forest."

"what are you talking about? Are you in some kind of trouble." rylie could feel the warm tears trailing down her face.

"I can help you. Please mom, tell me what is going on I can help you."

Her mom just cried, harsh choking sobs. "I love you baby I have always loved you, all I have ever done was to protect you."

"Mom!"

"bye baby, I love you."

"Mom!"

'Click.' and the call ended.