Voices From Beyond

Chapter 13

Hundreds of birds pelt themselves against the diner, loud thumping noises sound from outside. My heart races as I glance at all of my friends. I don't know what to do or how to react. Sydney clenches her hands over her ears, the noise grows louder. Mitch steps in front of her, his body shielding her from what is to come.

"Get behind the counter everyone! Go!" Mitch screams over the thumps, pointing to the bar.

It takes me a second to process his words, but soon I'm sprinting across the wood floor. I slide behind the counter and duck my head, Sydney clings to Mitch while he points Samuel, Bruno, and Noah in the right direction. I close my eyes and squeeze the countertop, my knuckles turn white from pressure. Noah finds his way beside me, looking at me as though I might know what to do next. Once Bruno and Samuel get behind it with us, Mitch lifts Sydney up and hoists her over. He slides over the countertop, his feet meet with the floor and he yanks Sydney down to the floor with us.

I hear the glass cracking. The windows shatter, shards falling to the floor on the other side of our shield. Birds swarm the air above us, some unable to stop themselves from smashing into the wall and falling beside our feet in a bloody mess. Sydney weeps in fear, her eyes are squeezed shut as Mitch continues to shield her. I feel a sharp pinch in my shoulder, I wince and lunge backward. A bird squawks in my face, it's wings clumsily blow my hair in every direction. It sweeps down at my face, pecking at me every now and again. Suddenly, a fist flies through the air and cracks the bird mid-flight. Feathers fly in every direction. When I regather myself, I see Noah shaking off his hand and scanning his bruising knuckles. I mouth him the words thank you and he nods in return.

After the last bird makes its way inside, it lands on the carcass of one of its fallen friends. It's a crow, it tilts its head to the side. It's eyes reach into mine, it lets out a squawk and flies away suddenly. I notice that Noah has gone pale, he looks as though he might throw up. Sydney has stopped crying. Mitch looks alert. Bruno clings to a plate he had found moments before, he nudges a dead bird with the tip of his shoe. Samuel stares intently at a bird as it lay in a mess, it's still breathing. Samuel doesn't blink. He reaches forward suddenly and grabs the bird by its wing. The bird looks as though it wants to die. He winds his arm back and flings the bird at the wall. I flinch when the bird hits, Sydney gasps. Noah looks up at Samuel with a look of shock. Bruno sets his plate down and swallows before pushing himself to his feet.

"We should leave here, we can clean up the mess tomorrow," Mitch states blankly.

"But the windows are broken, what if someone steals something?" Bruno observes as he steps over the broken glass.

"I honestly don't care right now," Mitch shakes his head and lets out a sigh.

"We can go to my house," Bruno offers.

I nod, though I don't care where we go.

I ride with Samuel and Noah again. Bruno rides with Mitch and Sydney, we follow them close behind in Noah's truck. The whole ride there is silent. Mitch pulls into a short driveway, we park on the street in front. It's a small, brown house with white shutters. The sun has set now, stars twinkle in the night sky above us.

Bruno's porch light flickers on as he unlocks the door and waves us in. "My parents are already asleep, just head to the basement," he points at a staircase leading downward right beside the front door entrance. We all follow in quietly. "Take your shoes off at the bottom," Bruno whispers.

Samuel pulls a string connected to a lightbulb and the room floods with light. Sydney pushes the basement door shut as quietly as she can. The basement has two couches, an old rug, a dresser, and a fridge. It's a spacious basement, the lightbulb isn't bright enough to light the whole room. I'm sitting on one of the couches, I squirm around a little bit until I find a comfortable spot. I rest my head on the arm of the couch and feel my eyelids start to get heavy.