HUSH

HUSH Chapter 1 - Argo

Chapter 1: Argo

Gaia Maz lay quietly in her bed. Silence floating around her like the drifting snow outside. She shook with fear that Argo might come back.

Argo was a sickly man who had no control over his own mind. Like a zombie. The night before, Gaia was sinking into sleep when a thud startled her awake again. Panicked, she looked around for the source of the sound. And there he was, hunched over on her window sill, the window open. His long, wet tough hung from his drooling lips. His own stench filled the room. Sour and musty. And his tangled black hair formed a greasy nest. Gaia was to scared to scream, all she could do was choke and shake. Argo left by tumbling violently out the window into the snow.

This night, Gaia had locked her windows and her door. Yet she didn't feel the least bit safe from the feverish troll man. Every breath she took sounded to her, as loud as the thud Argo had made before. She desperately wanted to barry herself in her sheets, but it was as if it would be more dangerous that way.

Gaia knew of Argo from gossiping neighbors. She had listened to her mother, Mrs. Maz, speak to them at tea. Some people thought it was cads-wallop that there was a mental and ferocious man out there. But some did believe it, like Mrs. Maz and the neighbors. Gaia wasn't sure to believe it until about a week after she heard about him. It was a windy afternoon, and Gaia was walking home from school. She couldn't see much out of the small sliver between her hat and scarf, so she obviously hadn't seen Argo leaning limply on a telephone pole. He didn't hurt her, but he ran wildly after her for a block or so. He was truly an insane screwball.

Gaia's eyes stung and her body ached from shivering and shaking. She couldn't wait any longer. She finally closed her eyes, and right away, she fell into a rooted sleep.

The sensation of falling jolted Gaia awake. A slight breeze seemed to have floated into her room. She looked around to find where it was coming from. Then she realized that her window was cracked open, letting bits of powdery snow drift onto her window sill. Hand't she locked her windows? She thought. Trying not to think of the worst, Gaia slipped off her mattress and firmly closed up the window. What if Argo had come back? She feared.

Then, a sudden clink and shutter came from downstairs. Gaia snapped her head around. Cautiously, she made her way to her door. Cracking it open, she listened again. But this time she heard mumbling and muttering.

" We'll tell her, right away." Said a woman.

" No, no, we'll hint her here and there." Contradicted another.

" Don't be so deranged you two, we're not going to tell her anything." Bickered a familiar voice.

Gaia slipped out her door and pressed her body firmly against the hallway wall. She squeezed her eyes shut as if it made it easier to hear.

" Actually Agnes, if we don't tell her anything then she might get hurt finding out herself." Said some other woman. Wait a minute, thought Gaia. Agnes is her mother. What was her mother doing downstairs with a bunch of other women? And at this time of night? And who was this girl they were talking about? What did her mother want to keep from this girl? Gaia listened even harder.

" I hope you haven't forgotten Doreen," said her mother " that Gaia is the strongest girl in this family, she can handle this on her own, I haven't raised a cowered." Gaia's heart skipped a beat. What could they possibly be talking about?

" Agnes!" Doreen whispered harshly. " It's Argo for Pete's sake. How can Gaia handle that? "

Now Gaia was on the edge of screaming. Argo. Argo and Gaia. Did it have to be him? Did it have to be her? A high pitched whistle screamed inside her head. Like a tea kettle left on the stove too long. What was Argo going to do now?