The Neighbor

Chapter one: The Beginning

     "Max! Max!! MAX!!!" Called Max's mom from downstairs. Max's mom had a sweet voice when she wanted it to but otherwise it's a child's worst nightmare.
     "WHAT....!!!!!!" Max responded angrily to his mom after being rudely awakened at 7:00 in the morning. Max wasn't always angry, just when he was annoyed. Max had the perfect mature voice that everyone loved.
     "Come down here. You're gonna want to hear this." His mom called, trying to be patient with him.
     "I'm coming. I'm coming," Max called coming down from upstairs. Max is a tall skinny black haired boy who has dark blue eyes that are perfectly shaped. Max likes to wear black all the time and only wears something else in special locations. As always, he has messy hair and refuses to fix it even when his mom protests.
     "Look at the TV," His mom said sadly as she watches the TV.
     "Breaking news! Mrs. Love who lived on Witchook meadows was mysteriously found dead this morning at 3:00 am. No one knows what happened to her. All people know is the fact there could be a killer on the loose in the area. We advise all people to be on alert and not stay out after dark." The news reporter, known as John, called to the town.
     "John's not kidding. I woke up at 3:30 this morning to hear police sirens coming from next door. I had thought Mrs. Love just got into trouble but then I saw them take out her body from the window. So you young man are not leaving this house after dark, your curfew is now 6:00." His mom told him seriously.
     "But mom that's an hour before sunset. Don't you think I could have a bit longer time then that?" Max protested.
     "NO!!. Now get upstairs and get dressed. You're going to be late for school." His mom respond annoyed and not willing to negotiate anything. So reluctantly, Max went upstairs and got ready for school.
     At school...
     "Hey Max!" Called Max's friend named Luke from across the hall. Luke was a tall red headed boy with freckles all over his body. He had green eyes that were round and big, unlike Max's. Also, unlike Max, he always wore something nerdy and refused to wear anything else at any time. Luke had a rough but friendly voice that seemed too old for his age.
     "What?" Responded Max to his friend tiredly.
     "I just heard the news about your neighbor, Mrs. Love, and I wanted to know if you were okay, because I know how close you were to her," Luke said standing before Max looking up at him.
     "I'm fine. I know she didn't have much more time anyway, but at least I knew her and she had a good life," Max responded to Luke's question with sadness.
     "Ya, but you're right. She did have a good life," Luke said, but got interrupted by the school bell.
     "Well, we better get off to class," Max finished for him as they continued on to class to their first period.
     Later at lunch...
     "Come on Max, you have got to eat something!"   Luke said, seeing how Max hadn't even touched his food.
     "I'm not hungry today," Max replied as he got up and threw his trash away. However, on his way back the school, a bully stopped him.
     "WOH, WOH, WOH. WOH!!!!! Did you just think you could get by without seeing your good friend Billy??" Said the school bully Billy, as he stopped Max with his lackies Mick, Dean, Caral, and Lei.
     "What do you want, Billy? I'm not in the mood for your stupid games," replied Max, clearly annoyed.
     "So your a big mouth today, ah. Well, let's have some fun and play a game shall we?" Remarked Billy.
     "YA!!!!" Replied the rest of his gang.
After school...
     "Max, what happened to you? What did Billy do?" Asked Luke as they were walking home.
     "Just the usual. Nothing." Replied Max.
     "So basically you did what you always do which is scare the crap out of them so they would go away," remarked Luke.
     "Ya," Max sighed as he when off into his own head not caring anymore of what Luke was saying to him. Max was thinking of Mrs. Love and how she was murdered, after all everyone loved Mrs. Love and no one wanted to hurt her. Max was certain of this and as he thought more he was rudely interrupted by Luke.
     "Hey Max, isn't that Mrs. Love's old house?" Luke asked pointing down the street not far from where they were.
     "Yes it is," Max replied slowly, as there was the whole neighborhood outside the house.
     "What's going on?" Luke asked.
     "I don't know who it is but I intend to find out. You coming with me Luke?" Asked Max looking over to the house.
     "I'm right behind you," Luke replied to him. Once they got to the house, Max asked his mom what was going on as she was at the front of the crowd.
     "Mom what's going on???" Asked Max as he got to the front with Luke just behind him.
     "Someone is moving in without any notice into Mrs. Loves old house. Everyone's hear because no one knows who they are or what they look like. Oh and Luke, your mom is looking for you so I suggest you get home for I hear it's your curfew. Same goes with you Max. Get inside. Dinner is ready," Mom said, responding to Max's question and getting him angry as they headed inside. Later that night, Max couldn't sleep with only one question in his mind. Who are the people next door and who was right outside his window?