Stolen Sunshine

Chapter One

I woke up in a panic. I looked up at the ceiling at the glow in the dark star stickers that my father put up there for me when I was a small child because I was afraid of the dark. He told me that anytime I thought the boogeyman was coming to just stare up at the stars and I would be safe. I wish those stars could save me now but I don't think they can. I can hear the boogeyman downstairs and no matter how hard I stare at those little glow in the dark stars he's still coming. 

... 

"Katie hurry up! You're going to be late for school." My mother was starting to sound really impatient. I roll my eyes and glance at the mirror one more time. I decided to try dark eyeliner for the first time. I think it looks pretty good. I grab my back pack off my dresser and bolt downstairs.

My mother is in the kitchen finishing off the dishes from breakfast and my father is pouring hot coffee into a thermos. He glances up at me and gives me a warm smile.

"Morning Katie. Do you need a ride to school today?" Dad asks me as he closes the lid on his thermos.  

"No thanks, I'm getting a lift with Kevin." 

My mom abruptly stops doing the dishes and turns around to face me with a concerned look in her eye.  Dad seems oblivious to what I just said. He's more focused on adjusting his tie. 

"Who is Kevin?" Mom puts her hands on her hips. 

I try to act subtle. Just make something up, I keep telling myself. 

"He's just a boy from school. We're lab partners. He offered to give me a ride today- he just lives a street over."

Mom continues her stare down. I start to shift uncomfortably. 

"How old is this Kevin, Katie?"

I groan and roll my eyes. 

"He's seventeen mom- like me. He's not thirty or whatever you may be thinking so relax. I'm going to be late. Can I go please?"

My mom looks like she's ready to say something else but my father cuts her off.

"Come on Lorraine. Let the girl go."

I grin at my dad and race out the door. I can hear my mom complaining to him as I head across the yard to the front of my house. I look behind me to make sure neither of them are watching me and dart down the street. I jog a solid two blocks over to Willis Avenue and sit down on a park bench by the Willis Avenue woods nearby. I glance down at my watch. He should be here soon. 

I feel a pang of guilt for lying to my parents but if I told them the truth they would have never let me go. Kevin doesn't exist. I'm meeting a guy named Michael I met on a chat room. We have been talking for months. He's nineteen and attends college at a campus nearby. I told him my real age and he says he's totally cool with it. He has offered to drive me to school today. It's our first time meeting and I'm super nervous. I really hope he likes me. 

I check my watch again and sigh. He's fifteen minutes late now and I have to be at school in ten minutes. I told him what time school started at. Now I'll be late and the school may write me up or contact my parents. I can already feel a grounding coming my way.

"Katie?" A masculine voice from behind startles me. I jump off the park bench and turn around. There's a man standing there. He looks to be in his mid forties. He has dark brown hair with some grey coming in on the sides and he looks to be fifty or so pounds overweight. I clutch my backpack close to me.

"Yes.?" Is all I say.

He takes a step closer and I take a step back. 

The man smiles shyly at me. He doesn't say anything for a moment.

"It's me, Michael. I'm sorry I'm late my car broke down so I walked over from campus." I feel like I'm going to be sick. This man is not nineteen and he looks nothing like the pictures he's sent me. I get a prickling feeling up my spine. 

"You..said you were nineteen?" Was all I managed to say in a small voice. I am practically shaking in my shoes. Michael's eyes widen and he shrugs.

"I know Katie but I was afraid if you knew my real age you wouldn't like me. Everything else I told you was true. My interests and hobbies, all of it. I don't attend college but I do work for it. I am a janitor."

I feel like I'm going to be sick.

"I'd better go." I turn around to leave and he grabs me. He puts his hand over my mouth to muffle my screams.

"Katie stop, please. We're meant to be together. Don't do this. Just relax." I try to fight him off but he's so strong. I manage to bite down on his hand covering my mouth hard and he releases me and jumps back in pain. 

"Ow, fuck!" 

I drop my backpack and run. I can hear him yelling my name but I don't turn around. I run straight home.