(New Light?) {On Hold...}

Chapter 1

           It was only two days until October, and my friends and I were in the library, researching information for a paper we had to do for school. It was getting colder outside, but that's normal in the mountains. Wyoming is full of mountains. I looked outside and saw a rare sight. The out of town bus that usually just drove right through Sweetwater, had stopped at the old vacant bus stop across from the library. I nudged Christian's arm to get his attention. He looked up from his book to look outside and his jaw dropped. " No way. Who would want to stop and stay here? Chloe look." he said. "Huh?" she said as she turned to see what it was that Christian and I were gawking at. She went quiet as we all watched two feet step off the bus. The bus' doors closed shut as the bus drove away. In its place it left a boy, he looked to be about 15 or 16 years old, and he was carrying a bunch of bags, almost as if he was planning to stay awhile. Usually there were only two reasons people stayed in Sweetwater; They were stuck here, or they were crazy. Only this boy didn't look crazy, not at all. I was stumped. "What is he doing here?" Chloe asked incredulously, glancing at us. "I have no idea." I replied, still staring at the boy. He was looking around him and was taking in his surroundings. I barely heard Christian when he said, "Maybe he got off at the wrong stop." he guessed. I wasn't so sure. The boy's eyes skimmed over the library's windows, and then they stopped. He was staring right at me. I kept telling myself to look away, but I couldn't seem to do that, I just kept staring at him in a frozen stupor. The late afternoon sunlight reflected off his golden brown hair as he continued to look at me. I felt like I was under a spell as his amber eyes bore into mine. "Kay, hey Kay. Kay? Hello? Are you there?" said Chloe, looking at me intently. Only I couldn't answer, I couldn't move even if I wanted to. There was something about this boy, something... different. "Karoline!" shouted Christian as he forcibly turned me to face him, "Snap out of it!" That did it. I shook my head, I had a small headache now that I could move again. "Yeah I'm fine" I managed, "I think I just need some rest is all." Christian looked at me, searching my face for anything that would give a sign that said differently. "Mmmm...okay, I'll drive you back to your house and see you inside." he said slowly, his eyes not leaving my face. I nodded "Thanks Chris, I mean it, thanks." " I'll get our bags out to the car and get it started heating up." said Chloe. "Okay, I'll help Kay out to the car." Christian said as he helped me up from my seat. I was glad to have his shoulder to lean on because it felt like my legs were made out of Jell-O. I turned my head to glance out the window one last time to see if the boy was still there, but he was gone. Weird. I thought, That is definitely weird. Then I walked out of the library and allowed myself to be led to Christian's car.

           We pulled into my driveway. It was dusk and only a few strips of light filled the sky. Christian grabbed my bag and helped me out of the car. Once inside, he looked at me and asked "Are you sure you're okay Kay?" I looked at him, "Yeah. I'm fine. My parents will be home soon anyways" He looked at me, undecided on whether he should leave me alone or not. "Really. I'll be fine." I said hoping to convince him. He looked at me a moment longer until he finally said "Okay but call me if you need anything." I nodded, "I will. Thanks again... for everything." I said. "No problem, Kay." He said, "I'll see you next week at school" He gave me a quick hug and whispered to me, "Stay safe." He then turned and left to drive himself and his sister, Chloe, home to their house.

          Earlier I had planned to take a shower and make some dinner for my mom, so she wouldn't have to cook when she got home. But now, I could barely make it up the stairs to my bedroom. I walked into my room and slipped out of that day's clothes and into a tank top and shorts. I climbed into my bed and flipped off the light. 'Who was that boy? Why did he get off here? Did he get off at the wrong stop?' A million questions were spinning around in my head. 'Have I finally lost it? Have I gone insane?' I sure felt like I had. Then, what happened next scared me so bad I froze on the spot. 'No, Karoline. You have not lost it and you have not gone insane.' I heard, no that's not quite right, I heard the voice in my head, but it wasn't real. It couldn't be real. But I had thought the foreign voice myself, so it had to be real. I refused to believe it. I had had a long day and I was hearing things. The strange voice in my head was not real. It was impossible. 'No, Karoline. It's not impossible. I am real. Just as real as you are, as your friends are.' The voice said again. 'Stop it!' I told myself fiercely, I just needed some sleep, that's all. Yeah, I just needed some sleep. 'Believe, Karoline. You have to believe...' The voice trailed off as I fell into a restless sleep. 'It's not real.' I kept telling myself, 'It's not real.'