Midnight

Stranger

Micam's POV

After that whole event and hanging out with Nathan, I decided to head home. The Hignans won't be home until 8:30 PM, so I still had an hour.

"Wait," Nathan said as I stepped out the door. "Do you need me to walk you home? It's getting a bit dark."

I shook my head and smiled.

"Thanks," I replied. "But I'll be fine."

"If you say so," Nathan smiled. "See you on Monday, alright?"

"Alright." And with that word, I left his house.

The dusk sky was very beautiful, all of the colours, swirling together like magic. My favourite was this sheet of cloud that was pink, orange, and purple. It fascinates me how the sky can look like that. With all of my attention to the beautiful sky, I didn't notice I bumped into someone.

"Gah," I said. "Sorry, mate. I wasn't looking where I was going."

"Then watch it next time." The person replied. When I looked at them, they had the same cloak Melody was wearing earlier! The person looked up at me and smirked.

"Hello, Micam," They said, slyly. "I've been looking for you."

I stifled a gasp. Who are these people?! First Melody, now-

"Zalzor," They bowed slightly. "Ah, I see Melody has found you, she hasn't come back yet."

"H-how..." I said, trying to keep my balance.

"I can read minds," They grinned more. "That's one of my abilities."

I just now noticed the dark, grey mist around their right hand and a small cloud of it around my head.

"Hey!" I jumped back, swatting at the mist around my head, feeling my mind clear up. I'll have to remember that feeling in case he tries to do it again.

"Until we meet again, Micam." And with a puff of smoke, he was gone, and I walked home.

~~~

When I got into the house, it was eerily quiet. Fluffinator wasn't doing his usual whenever someone walked in: bark so much and so loud while jumping on you.

"Fluffinator?" I called into the silence. I could hear a faint whimper coming from upstairs, so I go up to scope out the situation. I found Fluffinator underneath the bed in the guest room. He never hides under a bed unless it's storming, and it's clear outside. Something was clearly wrong. I heard shifting, then I turned around. Facing Zalzor straight in the face. That cheeky piece of crap, following me home.

But before I could even act, I was knocked unconscious.

~~~

Nathan's POV

I keep looking up from my DS to glance at my phone. I haven't gotten a call or text from Micam yet, he usually texts me when he made it home. He doesn't live that far from me, he should be home by now. We've been best friends since Kindergarten, and when we got phones, we made it a system to text or call each other whenever we made it home safely from each other's houses. Did something happen to him? Did his abilities get out of control again? What if he got attacked by Melody?! Jumping up quickly and putting on my sneakers, I ran outside.

"Nathan?" My mother asked, I didn't even look. My best friend could be in danger, I couldn't waste even a minute. I needed to get to his house quickly.

When I arrived, I found the door open. Micam was a safety freak, he always closes and locks doors. Clearly something was up. I ran inside and stood in the living room.

"Micam?" I shouted. Silence.

"Micam!" I shouted once more. My eyes were starting to tear up. My best friend could be dead now as far as I know, and there's nothing I could do about it. I curled into a little ball on the floor and cried. I never cried. I don't know what came over me. But I cried. Micam was gone. I couldn't save him.

After about ten minutes, my phone rang. I composed myself, and answered it.

"Hello?" I said softly.

"Nathan?" It was Tommy. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I just saw a strange being fly away with Micam."

"WHAT?!"

"I'm running over now, I see you." She hung up quick and ran to the doorway. "Were you crying?"

"No."

She rolled her eyes and we ran outside. We didn't know the first place to look. They could be anywhere by now. If they were flying, they had to be like Melody. They weren't human. Who knows what they could do to him.

"We're so screwed!" I shouted. "They could be anywhere by now!"

"I can help." A small voice said behind me. "I saw where they went."

"Where?!"

"Nathan?" Tommy looked at me weirdly. "Are you okay? Who are you talking to?"

"She can't hear me." The small voice said. I turned around and there was only a small wave of air there, it was barely noticeable. "Stand near me, Tommy too. I can get you to them."

"Tommy." I said turning to her.

"What?"

"Stand here."

"Why?"

"Just do it." When we stood next to the voice, we vaporized into thin air.