The Light in Darkness

Chapter 1: The Stranger

-Katrina-

         "Katrina." I opened my eyes, I had just heard a voice. "Katrina." The voice repeated. I sat up, and looked around. I was no longer in my room, or my bed for that matter. "Where am I? Where's Mabel?" I thought aloud. I had been laying in a field, sleeping, and my teddy bear was no where to be seen. "Did I sleep walk again?" I wondered, "But that still doesn't explain on who woke me up?" I was the only person in this field, there was no one else around for miles. "So where did that voice come from?" I wondered. "Katrina" The voice called out. I froze in place, chills crawled up my spine, the voice came from directly behind me. Terrified beyond belief to turn around and face the stranger alone, I closed my eyes and blind searched with my hands to find my teddy bear. All I could feel was grass, no teddy. "Please, Please be here." I whispered.

        I kept searching until I grabbed something other grass. The mysterious object felt leathery and smooth. Still curious, I took a peek. The object was black and it moved. I squealed in fright and rushed to my feet. I turned around to see what had scared me and come face to face with a man. The man wore a tux with a blue tie and black shoes. He had brown hair and crystal blue eyes that held brown rimmed glasses. The stranger held his hands behind his back in a polite manner, but I felt like he was hiding something from me. "Hi Katrina." The stranger said. I stayed quiet, this chat reminded me of the conversation my mommy and I had at the park about talking to strangers about year ago.

        "Katrina, why were you talking to that man?" My mother asked "He said that Mabel reminded him of his teddy bear when he was little, and asked if he could see Mabel. Then he went and got me my favorite candy, Chocolate coated Gummy Bunnies!" I had replied with a smile. My mommy lowered herself down to my level and asked me a question in a concerned way, "Honey, did you eat those Gummy Bunnies?" I smiled at her in a way that showed my chocolate stained teeth. My mommy giggled at my response. "Oh sweetie, if only the world was filled with more people like you." My mom said with a smile. "Why? I thought the world was filled with many people just like me." I said. "Oh sweetie there are! There are many people in this world that are just like you." My mother said as she boinked me on the nose. I giggled at her little tease. "Sadly though, there are some people out there that aren't just like you." My mom said. "Why?" I asked. "I don't know honey, I just don't know." She sighed.

        There was a silence between us before I asked another question, "But mommy, people can change right? Like grandpa Pete said about uncle Ray when he was in prison." My mommy sighed and quickly smiled. "You are so much like your father." My mom said as she stroked my cheek, "Grandpa Pete was right though, people can change, but it doesn't always happen." "Okay." I replied. My mom wrapped me in a long hug and whispered in my ear, "Katrina, please promise me you won't go talking to strangers again without my permission?" "I promise." I sighed. "Good." My mom replied. My mom let me go and grabbed my right hand, "Come on, lets not keep daddy waiting. Tonight's taco night!" My mother said with a smile. "Yay tacos! I love tacos!" I squealed. "I know you do, now come on, your dad's waiting in the car." My mother said. "Tacos! Tacos! Tacos!" I chanted all the way to the car. 

          My flashback ended and I was still here, in this field with a stranger, but now the stranger looked a little familiar. Now more curious than precarious, I broke my promise and started talking to the stranger, "Hi. Who are you mister?" The man didn't reply to my question, but instead looked shocked that I spoke to him. There was a moment of silence before I asked another question, "What's that behind your back mister?" The stranger took a quick glance behind him and without hesitating, hands me the mysterious object, "Here, I think you lost this." I gasped, in the strangers left hand was Mabel, my teddy bear. I go to grab Mabel but hesitate, and pull my arm back to it's side. The stranger still holding Mabel out to me sighs and said, "Katrina, it's okay you can take her." Still cautious, I reached out slowly and grab Mabel's leg.