[ABANDONED] A Series of Oneshots

A Rainy Night

           

That night, I sat in the computer chair and looked out the window. I thought about the news story, how something crashed in the woods just outside of town. What if I went out there and investigated it?

The rain fell hard and made me reconsider going out. There were other reasons, such as the citywide curfew or someone discovering my magic, that would have deterred me, but they didn't matter. What mattered was proving I could go out there and exist without being hurt.

That would probably work as an explanation if I got caught. With that settled in my mind, I grabbed my raincoat and opened my window. I was on the first floor, and I hopped out the window with no problem. Hopefully, my roommate was asleep already.

The bushes immediately soaked through my jeans. I left a small crack in window, just in case, and pushed through the bushes.

Well, this is uncomfortable, I thought. But I couldn't give up; I had only just started.

I walked through the grass and onto the sidewalk. I didn't look back, or I would have changed my mind about going to the woods. I finally had a purpose, even if only for one night.

The rain was cold on my head, and the coat didn't have a hood. But it reminded me that I was alive, so I didn't complain. I should flirt with danger more often, I thought.

Speaking of danger, two headlights shone in front of me. Oh no. I quickened my pace. I couldn't let them see me. The lights grew brighter. I glanced back and saw the black van behind the headlights.

Oh that's worse, I decided and started running. The van didn't speed up; the roads were too slippery.

"See you, suckers! I'm not joining you tonight!" I yelled, and then immediately slipped on the wet sidewalk. That's what I get, I guess.

The van pulled up next to me as I picked myself up. A slogan was painted on its side in white paint: HELPERS OF THE FUTURE. The window rolled down and a face with a number on its cheek, 2407, popped out. They shined a flashlight at me, and I squinted in the bright light.

"Sir, do you have any idea what time it is?" The Helper asked me. I stared blankly at them, flicking through every lie I could think of. None of them seemed plausible enough, and I couldn't tell them the real reason.

"I... I don't..." I stammered. Stall, stall! What will get rid of them? I could barely think. My breathing grew faster and my heart was going to jump right out of my chest.

The Helper sighed. "Get in," they said, jerking a thumb at the back door of the van. I shook my head and stepped back. "Then we'll have to grab ya."

The doors opened and two other Helpers stepped out. They advanced on me, and I backed up until I hit the wall of a building. They reached for me and I covered my face.

"Wait!" Someone yelled. We looked toward the source. Hey, I know you. My roommate ran toward us. He stopped next to the Helpers, panting.

"I'm so sorry," he said. "About Daniel, I mean" (I flinched at the name.) "He, uh, tends to sleep walk... sometimes. Yea, once I caught him taking a bite out of our butter stick."

The Helpers looked at him with his golden hair, blue eyes, and flushed cheeks, then at me. I nodded, my heart continuing to pound like a mechanical smasher. They looked at the driver, who shrugged and motioned them to get in. The van drove away, and Chris let go of his innocent facade.

"Great Snake God, Shade," he said. "What the hell were you thinking? We both nearly got taken away to who-knows-where!"

"Sorry," I mumbled.