Come Home

Fredrick

                The world had become eerily silent during the last ten minutes. The vicious wind suddenly stopped, the steady stream of cars that had gone past on the old highway disappeared, and the motel was almost completely empty except for us. We were waiting in the trees expecting the change any minute. We knew it was coming tonight but we weren't sure when or what it was.

              A light became visible down the highway accompanied by the gentle pur of an engine. Soon, a run down Ford pickup turned off the road and parked in front of the empty motel. We waited for the door to open so we could see the object that was supposedly going to change our world forever but nothing happened for nearly an hour until a thump came from the other side of the truck. A moment later, the vehicle backed out and sped back the way it came as wildly as if the driver feared being caught by something or someone.

               Once the truck is out of sight, we see a form laying down and shaking a bit where it had been parked a moment ago. Looking to my left, I make eye contact with my brother as we contemplate what to do next. Glancing back towards the object, we notice it shifting to face the motel. After a few minutes of looking up at the building, the object suddenly whipped it's gaze towards the highway and then ran towards the motel, trying all the doors hoping for one to open. With no luck, the creature ran towards the woods and started climbing one of the trees. Just as they made it ¾ of the way up, another vehicle arrived and parked where the truck had been just a few minutes earlier. The door immediately opened this time and a man stepped out looking around for something. Apparently not finding what he was wanting, the man pulled out a phone and held it to his ear.

                "Where is she?" he demanded. "You had one job. Leave her outside of the motel and stay silent but you couldn't even do that. You're weak Jethro and now you and your sister will pay." 

                 The man hung up and began to march towards the motel office. Once he disappeared, I quickly moved towards the tree the creature was in and began to climb up it as swiftly and silently as possible. Once I was directly under the creature, I reached up and yanked its leg towards me and threw it out of the tree towards the ground. Declan quickly moved to catch it and put his hand over its mouth to smother the squeal. He immediately ran back into the forest and disappeared. Jumping back down, I moved towards our original hiding spot and waited for the man to come back out of the motel. It didn't take long since the worker probably had no idea what had been going on outside. 

                   When he reached his car again, he opened the truck and dug around for a bit until he came out with a metal suitcase. Setting it on top of the car, he pulled out what looked like a french horn and a small bottle filled with a liquid. He opened the bottle lid and poured the contents into the instrument, then started walking towards the woods with his phone being used as a flashlight. He looked up into the trees and down into the bushes. I followed him deep into the woods until it was almost morning. An hour before dawn, Conner arrived to take over my job of tracking the man and I ran back home after my brother. At the edge of my property I slowed down to a light jog and ran into the house. Everyone was just starting to wake up and I could smell the pancakes being made in the kitchen.

                 "Good morning Mom, do I have time to visit Declan before breakfast?"

                 "You have exactly 20 minutes before you miss out on breakfast. And good morning to you too." 

                    Heading up the stairs I quickly walk down the hall towards Declan's office and knock on the large oak doors. "Come in," came from the other side and I pushed through and sat on the couch next to the fireplace.