Childhood best friend

Secrets

Natalie stands and looks at her mom in horror. She wasn't thinking clearly so she ran out the door and the whole way there she thought "Is my crush a ghost!?" "Is this a lie?!" She slows down as she thought "Is that why I'm not allowed in the basement" She stands in place wondering if she even wanted to go over there anymore. She thought about it. She decided she wanted to hear Jason's side of the story. She starts running again but made it there within seconds since it was one house away. She gets there to see Jason and Joe in the yard with Chevy and Theo. Natalie slowly approaches them but nearly jumps out her skin when Jason quickly turned around with Joe doing so not too long after. Jason gets a concerned face as he looks Natalie in the eyes. He approaches her and asks in a concerned tone "What's wrong?!" She didn't know what to say and if she wanted to bring up what her mom said. She stands there in confusion and horror. She decides to tell him. She starts by saying "I think I know why you don't want me in the basement" Jason starts t slowly lower his shoulders with terror and shock in his eyes. He asks "W-what do you know" She looks to the side to break the awkward eye contact then looks behind him and says "Are-" she sighs "are-are you....dead" Jason puts his face in n his hands and starts to pace back and forth shaking his head. He puts his hands down and tilts his head back looking up. Natalie looks up as well to see what he's looking at or if there IS something to look at. There wasn't. It was just the blue sky slowly fading to a purple-ish pink. It was getting late and Natalie knew she had to go home. She nervously let's Jason know "I-I have to umm go home it's-its getting late" Jason quickly turns and says "Wait!!" With his eyes wide. He put his hands out like how people do when they're directing traffic  trying to tell people to stop. She stands there in shock and confusion. She wondered what he wanted. "Was he going to explain?" She thought to herself. Jason slowly puts his hand down looking surprised. He stands straight and says "Come on, I'll explain" She nervously follows Jason back to his house where Joe was waiting, standing in their driveway. All Natalie could think about was "Am I next" She thought about it. She thought "They don't look different. There's nothing...OFF about them?" She started to ease a little thinking maybe her mom just told her that to scare her. She grew nervous again thinking "Then what is going to explain?!" Her thoughts came to an end when she could hear Jason call for her "Natalie! Natalie!" She looked at him and asked for him to quickly explain. Joe looks at Jason with a confused look and all Jason did was point to the house, then Joe knew. Jason starts to explain "After third grade, during the summer, a man lived in your grandma's house before you came. Well, there were a few other owners before you" "But we told you to stay out the basement because the man dragged me and Jason down there" Joe interrupts. "And tried to kill us. We were down there for days police came around on a daily" Jason continues. "Looking for us"