Wendy. (Wattys2015)

Eight

I sit outside Uncle Roscoe's house and think in the hot sun, feeling my skin leather as I tap my foot to the sound of bugs and birds.

"You make yourself look like you've smoken packs and packs. Why you startin cigar's now?"

When I don't answer, Roscoe takes the cigarette from my finger and throws it to the ground and stomps on it.

"Don't let your life go to waste. In my eyes, you're already starting to overtake you. Smoking, and I bet you're going to start drinking, huh?"

I'm silent for a second. And then I grab another cigar, but I don't light it. " Uncle Roscoe, what's happening?"

"I don't know kid. But just do what you think is right, and you should be okay."

I leave and bike into the woods until I get to the yellow tape. There is no one there, but a few tools lie on the ground, and white paint covers where Trevor lied.

"Wendy."

She doesn't reply, but I hear the soft crunching behind me.

"Where is the monster?"

She dangles an arm around my neck and chest. I'd never been so close to her, yet I feel nothing.

I turn and face her.

For the first time, I don't see a far away look in her eyes. But they look back at me with an emptiness, as if Wendy is completely gone. I trail my eyes down, and my eyes catch a spot on her hand. Red? When I look down at my hand, I see a spot of blood.

When I shake my head and look again, it's gone.

She takes a step back, moving a piece of blonde hair to the side. "The monster is inside. You already know who it is."

I step forward. "Where is truth?"

But she only shakes her head. "You know it."

"I don't know you. I don't know me.""

"You know me, James. You always did."

I feel defeated and fall to the ground. Lies. Lies. Lies.

I'm there for a long time, until I feel hot rain and the day is gone. When I stand up, she is gone,
and the forget-me-nots surround me.