HYBRID (Now a draft)

Four

 The footprints were undoubtedly human and led him into a narrow alley then disappeared in dense undergrowth. He stopped and took out his pocket watch. The brass surface glinted in the rising sun. He clicked it open to check the remaining time. These excursions of his normally lasted thirty minutes. He did not want to risk angering Aunt Pearl. She was strict and was a bit high-strung all the time, but he knew it was for his own good. He was no rule-breaker. These little breakouts of his left him with guilt, but he wanted so much to see this world of his on his own. Besides, this town had been one of the quietest places he'd lived in, and he remembered Aunt Pearl saying Lazuli Falls having some of the oldest people on Earth, and old people liked minding their own business. The town was packed full of these people. He'd met most of them, he was sure he could take them down if they came after him if they did.

He decided to move forward. He pushed aside the bush and followed the footprints. There wasn't anyone in town who didn't like wearing shoes. So who could it be? His classmate Roger who liked playing with mud? Probably.But what was he doing up so early ? For all Max knew of, Roger liked sleeping in late. It couldn't be him.

The trail ended below a giant pine tree.  It was like the person walked straight into the tree. He frowned then something caught his eye.

  He crouched down to examine a pebble that was unnaturally round.  It consumed a series a greens and gold flecks. Black smothered the deep blue hues. Its surface was smooth and polished. Time  to go back.

 ****

.He climbed back to his bedroom, pulled off his belongings and went straight into the kitchen to prepare breakfast.He was brewing the coffee when Aunt Pearl walked to the table.

"Good morning , Max."

"Good morning, Aunt Pearl"

They ate  in silence. Max kept quiet, he wasn't supposed to speak unless spoken to. Aunt Pearl didn't talk much, so he was grateful for her library. she probably felt sorry for him because she had a tendency to stay quiet. He was also careful not to alert her, afraid that she would stress herself out like the one time he was younger and got lost in the mall and she broke down screaming " They've taken him!They've taken him! " over and over again until he was found and he calmed her. He made sure not to terrorize her ever again. He did not want to see the cool, composed woman go paranoid after that.

After their breakfast, they went back to their separate rooms. Max pulled out the smooth rock.He weighed it in his hands. It gleamed in the sunlight that shone into his room. It was definitely man-made, no way could natural erosion do this. As he peered closer he could notice a shallow hairline groove etched around the perimeter of the rock like it was meant to fit into something. He wasn't aware that the rock was growing hotter by the second until it burnt him. "Ow!" He exclaimed.He jumped up. The rock pulsed with orange light  before leaving his hand and dropping to the floor. 

"What's wrong?" His Aunt came rushing in. He lifted his left hand. There was a circle burnt into it. It hurt. 

"Your hand!"She looked horrified.

"I was playing with...umm..matches?"

Aunt Pearl sighed. "Let's get you fixed up.