The Tape Face Boy (Romance)

Chapter 1

     Thank goodness for the beginning of summer, and the ending of my junior year of college.  If I had to stay any longer, my brain would have melted from the overstimulation of information, college parties, and longing for freedom from the clutches of school.  Don't get me wrong, I love college. I have amazing friends, I am studying what I want to, and my grades couldn't be better. But I also get homesick, and long to be home with my family over the summer, where I can just enjoy the sunshine and do the things that I want to do.

     My name is Heidi Wills.  I live in a small town, where everyone knows everybody.  My family consists of my mom and dad, my thirteen year old brother, Michael, and my nine year old sister, Sammy.  I always wanted to have siblings, and grew up most of my life as a single child. My parents just made my wish a little late, so whenever summer comes around and I get to see my friends from town and my family, I am usually with my siblings.  And that is exactly what I was about to do, now.

     Using my spare keys to get into my house, dragging my suitcase behind, I called into the seemingly empty house. 

     "Heeeere's Heidi!" I called within, a smile plastered on my face as I was not surprised to hear squeals of joy and the pitter-patter of feet running on the floor.

     "Heidi!" Sammy made her way around the corner first, instantly jumping into my arms as I let out an excited laugh and held her in return.  Michael, meanwhile, I had caught running around the corner as well. Though once he saw me, he quickly pacened to a walk as if to be in composure as he cleared his throat.  He stopped a couple feet in front of me, nodding a hello as he sophisticatedly said, "Heidi."

     I couldn't help but hold back laughter at his attempts to remain calm and "chill."  Shaking my head, I opened my arms to him and said, "Bring it in, little brother."

     Michael smiled, his eyes widening before he, too, rushed into the comforts of my arms.  It had been months since I had seen them, for I go to college out of state. And sadly, due to the time difference, it was always hard to talk when everyone was available.  I let go of the hug, extending my arms in front of me to get a good look at my younger siblings with a smile. It was obvious they had been playing pretend, with Michael carrying around a side bag and Sammy wearing a cape out of a blanket.

     "What game were you guys playing?" I asked out of curiosity, and the two exchanged looks before focusing their attention back at me.

     "You've missed a lot since you've been gone," Michael replied.

     Next thing I knew, Michael and Sammy led me to my old bedroom where they had been playing, an assortment of items strewn around.  They sat me on my bed, sitting at the end of the furniture themselves. I also noticed strands of tape on the floor as well, though I didn't question it for my confusion would soon be cleared away.

     "Have you ever heard of Tape Face?" Michael asked, eyes wide.

     Meanwhile, I furrowed my own, "Tape Face?"

     "He's this scary man that walks around town with tape on his mouth, and he is so sneaky, that is almost seems like he can move through shadows," Sammy whined, though in a playful way.  I swallowed hard, already getting freaked out by the story.

     "He has a side bag, where he keeps all of his murder weapons and tools of destruction, waiting for the next victim," Michael said in a creepy voice, gesturing to the side bag he had been wearing.  He picked up a pair of red oven mitts that had been thrown on the ground, and slipped them on, moving the thumbs to make it almost look like puppets.  
 
     I raised an eyebrow, "Is that supposed to be a murder weapon?"

     "Do not be fooled by the ways of Tape Face.  He is dangerous," Michael gasped, almost offended by my remark.  "Your friend, Cassidy, said she saw him kill a boy with oven mitts!"  I was taken aback by that. Not out of fear, but by the crazy response.

     "Seriously? We are still on this?" I jumped at the sudden voice of a new person entering the room.  It was my dad, and I smiled widely as I got up to hug him. He smiled in return and held me close, "Don't listen to these knuckleheads."

     I looked up at him, smirking as I searched my dad for the truth, "Is Tape Face real?"

     He chuckled, "No, it's just a myth all the kids here came up with.  A small town can get boring. Gotta keep the mind entertained somehow."

     Michael frowned, "He's real, dad.  I saw him."

     "Oh did you now?" I teased with a raised eyebrow.

     "Yeah! From a distance, but I did. He went into an alleyway near the deli and never came back out!" Michael explained.

     "He used shadows to escape," Sammy added, as if she had discovered a new element to add to the periodic table.  I only rolled my eyes in response at the two, not believing a word they were telling me. When I was their age, I too had made up stories with my best friend, Cassidy.  This was nothing new.

     Later that night, after I had my first family dinner since I had been back, I volunteered to take out the trash.

     When I brought the bag out and threw it into the bin, my heart skipped a beat.  Once I had looked up from the trash can, my eyes focused on a figure in the distance underneath a street lamp that illuminated the person under the night sky.  They stood next to a wooden bench that sat beneath the street lamp, and chills went up my spine. I couldn't make out who they were, but they were wearing dark clothes that I couldn't fully distinguish. I couldn't see their face as well due to the distance, but what freaked me out the most was that I could tell they were staring straight at me.  But the second I blinked, they were gone, and a shiver immediately overwhelmed me. I kept telling myself it was a trick of the mind. My siblings had just freaked me out and my brain was playing tricks on me. Yeah. That's all.

     I had never run as fast as I did back into the house that night. 

~~~Author's Note~~~
One thing I would like to add.  This story is like they are in another universe.  Yes, I used Wills for Heidi's last name.  And yes, her name is Heidi because it was Tape Face's favorite judge, but this isn't the judge Heidi!  Thank you so much for reading Chapter 1 of my story!  I promise, Tape Face will be fully introduced soon! ^-^  Just stick around, I promise you won't be disappointed.  Remember to smile!