SOMETHING ROAMS THE NIGHT...

SIX

I peered through the cracked window of Ezra's old, one-storey house. The roof looked as if it was going to collapse any moment, and the wallpapers were already worn out.

It was as if they had been living in an abandoned house, and didn't even bother to do anything about it.

No wonder he had never invited me over to his place.

It had been almost two months since I had found out that Ezra had left town. I had been so curious on where his house was, that I began asking around for his address.

He had probably mentioned it when he was giving me one of his endless talks. The talks that I never listen to.

So here I was on a Saturday afternoon, peering into his empty house. I didn't know why, but I missed him.

I missed my best friend.

Missed his jokes, his laugh, his face...Damn it, I missed him so bad.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing?" I turned to look at the speaker- a lady in her thirties. She had a huge frown on her face-I felt like an innocent child from the way she looked at me like that.

That was one thing I hated about this town. Everyone seemed to care too much about other people's business. It was a town full of nosy people.

It was as if they were always taking precautions every step of the way, making sure their people behaved,making sure that the town was safe. But then there was the irony.

The town wasn't safe.

"I was just...looking," I didn't feel like talking.

Just go away already...

"Don't spy on people like that," she snapped at me. "It's rude."

I wanted to say something, but shut my mouth. Who did she think she was?

"Go on home, you don't want them to catch you spying on their house."

Almost immediately I felt my skin prickle with goosebumps. It was probably the way she said it, with that far away look in her eyes.

"The Kanes," the lady said. "They may have seemed to have left town, but they're still watching over their territory."

Seemed to have left town? Territory? What was she talking about?

"Ah, don't bother," the lady waved her hand. "Just run along. You don't want to be next..."

Before I could even say a word, she was gone, swallowed up by the darkness of the alley she headed to.

You don't want to be next...

What did she mean?

I shuddered, and wrapped my jacket tighter around me.

Why did I have the feeling something terrible was about to happen?