It was Friday afternoon and Lane Deveaux sat impatiently at her bedroom desk. Every couple of minutes, she took her eyes away from her drudging school assignments to peek over at the clock that rested atop her bedside table. A week had gone by since her mysterious dream and her efforts to get it out of her mind had gone unavailing.
Her mind was flooded with the realization that she had actually dreamed about someone that she had not known and met him the very next day. It seemed to her, impossible, but it really had happened. It occurred to her that if the boy in her dream had become a reality, what about the eerie voice she had heard? Convinced that it had to have meant something, she concentrated as hard as she could to reenact the scene in her head. She envisioned the storm, she heard the wind and the thunder. Everything was there in her mind, except for the voice. Disappointed, Lane took a deep breath. She desperately needed a break.
Her mind was flooded with the realization that she had actually dreamed about someone that she had not known and met him the very next day. It seemed to her, impossible, but it really had happened. It occurred to her that if the boy in her dream had become a reality, what about the eerie voice she had heard? Convinced that it had to have meant something, she concentrated as hard as she could to reenact the scene in her head. She envisioned the storm, she heard the wind and the thunder. Everything was there in her mind, except for the voice. Disappointed, Lane took a deep breath. She desperately needed a break.
Lane decided that she was going to pay a visit to her treasured reading spot. She rose from her chair, picked up a warm, knitted sweater that had be thrown beside her bed, and got her favorite novel from her bookshelf. As she hurried down the steps she called out to her mother.
“I'm going out! Be back later!” Her mother was in the kitchen, chatting away on her cell phone. Lane listened for a moment for her to respond, but all she heard was laughter. “Well, don't say I didn't try,” Lane mumbled to herself and she ran out the front door, slamming it behind her, annoyed. She never quite understood her mother at times. Some days, she was genuinely a great mother. Other days, it would seem that Lane did not even exist to her.
The loneliness that had been nudging at her heart lately, began to seep back into her emotions. It had occurred to her very recently that she had gone 17 years without having a friend in the world. Her school work and reading books had always been able to mask the desolation, but it was becoming more and more disheartening every time she thought about it.
The loneliness that had been nudging at her heart lately, began to seep back into her emotions. It had occurred to her very recently that she had gone 17 years without having a friend in the world. Her school work and reading books had always been able to mask the desolation, but it was becoming more and more disheartening every time she thought about it.
Lane darted up a wooded trail that originated at the foot of her dead-end road. A pair of squirrels were chasing each other through the series of trees that guided her way, causing many bunches of rusted leaves to make their inevitable descend toward the earth. Moments later, a clearing lay before her. In the center of this clearing was a massive weeping willow, secluded from the rest of the trees, with branches that came downward, barely gracing the soft grass of which it sheltered. At the bottom, two roots escaped the large trunk and divided in such a way, that it made for a perfect seat to nestle in and get lost in a good book. Lane stood there for a moment, underneath the branches and took a look around. She took a good long breath, basking in the peacefulness of her surroundings, and finally took her throne and opened up her book.
She had not realized how long she had been there. It wasn't until she noticed she had been squinting to see the words written on the pages, that she looked up and saw that the sun had just set for the evening. Disgruntled by the fact that she had lost track of time, Lane shut her book. She stood up and began walking back to the trail.
Amidst the trees, an owl hooted, announcing his presence. As she walked, she could have sworn a twig snapped behind her. She twisted her head around, but saw nothing that could have done such a thing. Her pulse began to race and fear was overtaking her. Lane had never been there at night--in the darkness—and had to remind herself not to let her imagination get the better of her, but to no avail. She attempted to walk more swiftly, but the lack of light was making it difficult to see what was in front of her. A rock that had settled in the middle of the trail tripped her, almost causing her to tumble to the ground. When she caught herself, she paused for a moment. Somewhere close by, she could hear a slight breath, or at least she thought she could hear it. Once again, she looked around and saw nothing. Still, her gut was urging her to get out of there and fast. She sprinted. As she ran, she looked behind her to make sure that no one was following her. She still saw nothing, so she turned back to see where she was going and when she did, her sprint was halted by a barricade she was not expecting and she let out a deafening scream. A set of hands took hold of her arms that she had lifted to her chest in order to guard herself. She struggled to be released.
Amidst the trees, an owl hooted, announcing his presence. As she walked, she could have sworn a twig snapped behind her. She twisted her head around, but saw nothing that could have done such a thing. Her pulse began to race and fear was overtaking her. Lane had never been there at night--in the darkness—and had to remind herself not to let her imagination get the better of her, but to no avail. She attempted to walk more swiftly, but the lack of light was making it difficult to see what was in front of her. A rock that had settled in the middle of the trail tripped her, almost causing her to tumble to the ground. When she caught herself, she paused for a moment. Somewhere close by, she could hear a slight breath, or at least she thought she could hear it. Once again, she looked around and saw nothing. Still, her gut was urging her to get out of there and fast. She sprinted. As she ran, she looked behind her to make sure that no one was following her. She still saw nothing, so she turned back to see where she was going and when she did, her sprint was halted by a barricade she was not expecting and she let out a deafening scream. A set of hands took hold of her arms that she had lifted to her chest in order to guard herself. She struggled to be released.
“Hey! It's ok!” The figure in front of her emitted a very familiar and amicable voice. It was Kent Harper.
“You scared the crap out of me!” Lane exclaimed. “What the hell are you doing out here following me?” Lane was relieved to see him, and in fact, quite happy, but that idea was to remain in her thoughts.
“Well,” he began, “I was bored so I went for a walk. I saw you and I wanted to say hi. I didn't mean to frighten you.” They walked the path next to each other as they spoke.
“Wait. You live around here?” Lane had just realized that he must have been very close by.
Kent replied in an excited tone. "You live around here?"
“Yeah! I live down the road at the end of the trail!” Lane answered. She felt a hint of comfort in knowing that she could have possibly met a friend.
When they came to the opening at the end of the trail, Kent stopped and turned to Lane. A smile stretched across his face. He looked up at the sky for a second and looked back at her. "So, Where are we going?"
When they came to the opening at the end of the trail, Kent stopped and turned to Lane. A smile stretched across his face. He looked up at the sky for a second and looked back at her. "So, Where are we going?"
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