GENOCIDE

Chapter 13

I have one key. One down, two more to go.

I trudged slowly through the woods, where could that second key be? I thought of all the things I feared. I had always feared losing my family and those closest to me. But that isn't a material fear to hide a key in. Maybe it was at home? Or in the old playground where my family and I would go every Saturday?

I continued to think hard until I thought of another fear.

Water.
Most people would think that with all that I went through water would be the least of my worries. But it wasn't. Despite everything I still had a strong case of aqua phobia. Ever since I was five years old.

((Flash back))

I was playing by the pond in the park. The water was so cold and refreshing and the little fish were so adorable. I waited patiently standing in the water to see if I would spot a turtle. I was only up to my ankles though. Daddy and mommy always tell me not to go to far. I bent down a bit and squinted my eyes as I scanned the water for any turtles, but instead of little turtle in the water I saw the reflection of a girl not that much older than me, maybe nine or ten.

I turned around to see her in full view. She had dark black hair and one blue eye, the other was covered by her long hair. But there was something wrong in her eye. The color seemed fine, it wasn't red or anything like that. But still. Her eye seemed so. . . Dead.

I contemplated whether or not I should say hello. Mommy and daddy told me to never speak to strangers, but she looked so lonely.

I tried to just turn around and keep looking for turtles or run for mommy and daddy.

But instead. . .

"Hello."

Nothing.

"I'm Amanda."

Silence.

I stood there awkwardly. Why wasn't she answering. Did her voice hurt? Was she mute? I was going to turn back to water to look for turtles, but she jumped on me. She grabbed harshly by the hair and started to pull me to the deep part of the pond. I thrashed around and screamed. Why was she doing this?!

Than she grabbed me by the throat and pushed my head into the water. Still I continued to thrash around. I could feel the water entering through my nose and my mouth. I began to cough as I felt a burning sensation in my chest as if someone had just lit a fire. The fire spread to my throat. Than the back of my eyes. The world slowly started to fade away. Was I going to die?

Then suddenly my head wasn't in the water anymore, but in my mother's arms instead. I could see her mouth moving but I couldn't hear a word she said. I looked at my father who was yelling into his phone in his right hand, and holding the girl by the hair with his left. I looked up at the sky as the world turned black.

((End of flashback))

I shivered at the memory. But I knew that if Genocide wanted me to suffer, than the next key must be near water. Most likely the creek. I gathered up all my courage as I headed back towards the creek.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I shivered, not from the cold but from the sight of the creek. The creek was infamous for having strong currants that could sweep away and drown the most experienced swimmers, and being the place where Ms. Carrie would drown and dump the bodies of trespassing kids. I scanned the water for the key only to find nothing. If it isn't in the water, than where is it?

I continued to survey the are until I found the key. It was tied onto the branch of a tree that hung right over the middle of the rushing river. The were a few small stepping stones that lead to the branch, maybe just maybe I could be able to get close enough to nab the key.

I took a deep breathe as I gathered in all my courage as I took a step on the first stone. The cold rushing water splashed against the stone and seeped into my boots. I shivered as I awkwardly held my other foot in the air, since the stepping stone was so small I couldn't stand on it with both feet. Then I place my "air borne" foot onto the second stepping stone. Now it was my left foot turn to be in the air. The key was so close now. I took one more step and rapped my fingers around the key and pulled it of the branch. I did it!

I smiled to myself as I stepped backwards to go back to shore only for my foot to slip on the cold stone. My eyes widened as I screamed and fell into the cold water. I began to panic as the water pushed me down stream. I thrashed my arms like crazy trying to grab onto anything only to find nothing. I felt and all to familiar burning sensation in my chest, the the same familiar sensation on the back of my throat. Then my eyes.

(This is how I die)

No.
After all this bullshit I went through, this WILL NOT be how I go down.

I calmed my self down as I spread upward and began to paddle up with my hand. I kicked furiously with my feet (there is no point) in hopes of reaching the surface.

(I'm going to drown)

And surprisingly I felt wind rush up to my face as I reached the waters surface. I opened my eyes to see myself clutching onto the shore. I did it!

I stayed there gasping for air until I realized a little turtle was laying on top of my hand staring at me.

(Looks like the turtle you were looking for finally showed up.)

I laughed at the irony of it all. After my laughing session I got up and held the turtle in my hand. I smiled as I tucked it away in my book bag as a good luck charm.

I looked at the silver key in my hand.

Two down.

One more to go.