Chapter 11
After getting home we put the groceries away. We each grabbed an umbrella, and each sharing ours with one of the kids, and made our way over to my neighbor’s house.
Making it to the door I rang the doorbell when Michael asked, “So what’s so bad about this person?”
Ashley answered, “He’s one of the most vial, spoiled, know it all brats you could meet.”
Courtney hesitated, “How…lovely.”
I continued, “Even though he can be smug, he does know a lot. He has a room full of technology and books on some of the strangest things you could ever read about.”
Michael asked, “So you think he could really help us?”
Before any of us could say another word, the door opened to reveal a 4’8 ten year old with glasses, his short curly black hair in a mess.
Levi looked us up and down, noticing me in particular, “What do you want?”
I told him, “May we come in? We need help on something that’s been happening lately.”
He rolled his eyes, “I’m not interested in everyday life drama of yours, Haila. Now go away,” and he started to close the door.
I put my hand on the door, “It’s about these things that show up when the power is out.”
Levi paused and opened up the door again, “These things you say? Come in and we’ll talk about it.”
He stepped aside and let us all in.
We stepped into a huge foyer, one bigger than mine. We took off our shoes and set down our umbrellas with them. Following him up the wooden stairs with a golden colored carpet cover he led us to the back room.
He sat down in a chair next to a long wooden desk covered in a laptop, papers, and books that were all askew. He had huge bookcases lining the walls on one side and went to the corner, where it touched with another bookcase stuffed with more books than it could hold.
The look on Ashley’s face was awe; for I knew how much she loved to read. I was sure at some point I would have to check her for any books she might try to smuggle out of his house.
He gestured to the sofa and few single couch seats that went against the wall next to his desk.
Ashley and Courtney took the chairs, the kids sat on the floor, and Michael and I took the couch.
Leaning back in his chair Levi asked, “What things?”
I had no idea where to begin. I told him, “Every time the power goes out, children go missing. Just today one tried to take my brother at Target.”
He looked skeptical, “So you’re saying monsters take children when the power goes out?”
I nodded, “And the past few days when the power went out at my house I’d find scratch marks around and on the boys’ bunk bed.”
Before I even finished speaking Levi had gotten up and went over to the far bookshelf in the corner. Pulling down a worn out red colored book he brought it back to us and sat on the floor himself.
