Thirteen Years Old

Chapter 4 - Ethan (REVISITED)

After their interview with the police, the teens went at Ethan's house, since it was the farthest away from the house. Their parents didn't want them anywhere near the crime scene. Leo had tried arguing with them, saying that they'd seen the murder, so being near the crime scene was nothing compared to it, but all he earned was a glare from all the parents, including his.

Several hours had passed since the murder, but Ethan was still freaked out. He could remember the man falling to the ground, the killer kneeling next to him, wiping some blood off the borrowed gun with a cloth, and them violently stabbing the dying man in the gun wound with a hunting knife, smiling and chuckling maniacly while blood was spattered everywhere.

Trying to shake off the memory, he talked to his friends and saw they were as frightened as he was, so he attempted to make them feel better. No one was in the mood to smile, though. He evntually stopped making faces and jokes. His friends seemed more annoyed than anything else. He looked at them and felt as if a hand was holding his heart, tightening its hold. Seeing his best friends like this hurted him. 

Samantha kept on sighting and her eyes were red and puffy. She was obviously trying hard to keep it together, but she was on the verge of crying. Kayla had tears rolling down her pink cheeks and a little bit of snot was peeking out of her nose. She was avoiding looking at her house, clearly apprehending the time she'd have to go home. She seemed scared, not that he could blame her. Jem was lost in his thoughts and was silent, so it was pretty easy to guess something was on his mind. Jem was never silent. Leo kept mumbling, still mad at the parents for keeping them away from the crime scene. Maybe it was his way of coping. Ethan shrugged. They had to snap out of it. But he didn't know what would make them fell better.

Anyway, he decided enough was enough. They were all shaken up, of course, but they should focus on something else. It was, in his opinion, the best way to deal with all that was happening.

''Guys, c'mon, let's do something, I don't know what, be we can't  stay like this,'' he pleaded.

An awkward silence answered him. Then, Samantha turned her head, facing him. Kayla chocked and had a few hiccups, but she eventually stopped crying. That seemed to get Jem's attention. Leo looked at Ethan, pouting.

He had their attention.

''Okay, we can't keep on crying and stressing. We should focus on som...''

He was interrupted by Jem. The boy told them about all his worries and what he'd been thinking about. ''Ethan, I'm sorry but, that guy looked like a pro. I mean, he knew  what he was doing. Do you all honestly believe he didn't see us?''

''What if he comes looking for us? Oh my, I live right next to the crime scene!'' Kayla cried, terrified.

Soon enough, Ethan was submerged by his friends' loud, frightened screams. He couldn't believe he was the only one thinking straight. He looked around the room helplessly and saw Leo staring at him. They locked eyes and Leo nodded, as if he knew what was on Ethan's mind. The boy saw that as encouraging, so he stood up and let his usually shy voice fill the room.

''Guys, enough !'' That seemed to do it. They all shut up. For a few seconds, Samantha was screaming at Jem, but she seemed to realize everyone was silent, so she looked up and crouched in her chair. ''I know you're scared, I am too, but we can't keep on hurting ourselves like that. We can't stay mad at each other, we have to stay together. We'll get through this.''

''Ethan's right,'' said Jem.''We can't stay here feeling sorry for ourselves. Someone died and he can't help himself. We have to help him.''

''Okay, but what should we do? I mean, what can we do about it? Samatha's voiice trembled as she managed to blurt out these words.

''He's dead, dude. There's nothing we can do to help him,'' Leo said, looking almost bored. To everyone's surprise, he added that they could help the family get justice and prevent another murder.

''Wha- How?'' Kayla wondered.

''I don't get it. Wait, no. You Don't think we actually should...'' Samantha gasped. 

''Uh... What exactly are you talking about, now?'' Ethan's eyes lit up, beginning to understand where they were going. ''Oh, no, no. No way.''

Leo smiled wickedly. ''It's settled then! We're going to the swamp!''

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THE OLD VERSION

6 hours later...

The five friends were now at Ethan's house, because their parents didn't want them near the crime scene. Leo had tried telling them that it didn't matter, because they witnessed the murder, but all he earned was a glance from all parents, including his.

Ethan tried to make his friends feel better, but no one was in the mood to smile. Eventually, he stopped his weird jokes and faces, realizing that it didn't make anything better. Samantha kept sighing and her eyes were wet. Sometimes, she even sniffed. Kayla was looking everywhere except her house, apprehending the time when she would have to go home. She was afraid the killer would come back for her. Jem kept wondering if they had been seen by the killer, and what would happen if so. Leo mumbled things like '' Why can't we go... Too young, heh? And what about seeing the murder, bloody hell! ''

Ethan couldn't take it anymore:

''ENOUGH!  I'm tired of looking at you crying or mad or whatever. We have to do something about it!''

Samantha looked at him, sniffing:

''What should we do about... about it?

- I dunno, but Ethan's right, said Jem, we can't stay here being sorry for us. A man died and here we are, doing nothing to help him.

-He's dead, dude, said Leo.''

Kayla jumped in:

''That's exactly what Jem's talking about!

-Yeah, we have to uh, to... Avenge him! Said Samantha.

-Ok, you guys are going way too deep, but I see your point, said Leo. We are going, then.

-What? Where? Asked Ethan, suddenly feeling unsecure.

-Where do you think, Ethan, the swamp, of course!''

That's it, Ethan definetely regretted saying they had to do something about it. He sighed. There was no way back, now. He had to go to the swamp, whatever that would do...

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4 chapters! That's actually the biggest story I ever wrote, and I'm not finished. If you could please vote and comment, I would really like it. Thank you for reading, seeing that people actually read TYO is one of the reasons why I still write it, even if I know that most of the number of views are all made by me!