3 Introduction (Billy)

My eyes open, not able to ignore the ray of sun that has squeezed between my curtains. I moved just enough so it wasn't right in my eyes. It's nice to sleep in for once, first day of summer. A smile stretches my lips, until I remembered last night's fight with my folks. I feel bad for telling my mom she wasn't my mother. Truth is I barely remember the woman who gave birth to me. I remember she was thin, her eyes were like crystals. Of all the things to remember, her eyes. Not a smile or anything, just her eyes and her voice. I want to say it always sounded a little like music, maybe wind chimes. Then again what can I expect, she disappeared when I was four.

My mom now though is great, even if she is strict. It's always about school work or sports. This summer she had wanted to put me in some camp. I'm finally old enough I can be home when their at work, why can't I enjoy this summer?

Pulling myself out of bed I sigh, I have to try once more to get them to change their minds. But first, I have to make up with mom. Not bothering to get dressed, I head down in my shorts. I can smell bacon and eggs even before I reach the top step. Maybe mom wants to make up too.

As I reach the bottom step I hear my parents talking. Stopping I listen for a minute. "I think we should tell him." My mom's' raspy voice says over the sound of sizzling bacon.

"No, just because he got angry doesn't mean he is anything like that monster of a father of his. We will keep an eye." My dad ever the voice of reason, I can't help but wonder what they are talking about. I never met my real father, was he some awful guy. Maybe he beat my mom and now they think I took after him. The thought leaves me cold as I continue listening.

"He is a good boy, but I swear the room grew darker while we were arguing. Maybe just sit him down and ask him some questions." Did my reaction last night scare my mom that much?

"Char he will be fine. Like you said he is a good boy. He is a fourteen year old, they do sometimes act out. Honestly we got lucky with our boy. He always tries to be on his best behavior. If things seem to be going on, we will talk to him."

I had enough of the talk and turn the corner. "Morning" I try to hide the fact I was listening in, but I'm not sure it worked. My mom eyes me a moment before plastering a smile on her face. "Billy hon, come sit. I decided to make breakfast for everyone." I move to the breakfast table and sit across from dad.

I meet my father's eyes as he raises his coffee mug to his lips. I watch as he sips his coffee trying to figure out what to say to me. "I'm sorry mom… dad. Last night I shouldn't of acted the way I did." My dad's smile tells me I said what he wanted to hear.

Mom sets a plate heaped with eggs and bacon in front of me, then kisses my head. "It's alright baby. Maybe we can wait for a week or two and discuss the camp thing again?" I look into my moms dark eyes and smile at her, nodding my agreement.

"Good with that settled, what's your plans for today?" My dad asks before finishing off his coffee.

"Well me and a couple of the guys are going to go fishing at the creek. Tom caught a salmon last week." We fall into our normal conversations. Talks about the day while I shovel food in my mouth.

*****

I sat leaning against the trunk of a tree, while my two best friends fought over whose fish was bigger. Not that it really mattered, we always did catch and release. I laughed and shook my head when Tom was pushed into the creek. He was a big kid, the guy who protected me on the field and one of the top wrestlers, but seeing him sitting in the creek with a look like someone stole his favorite CD. It just reminds me how gentle the kid is. I actually think he keeps the flowers, he says he picks for his mom. Not that anyone would pick on him for it, standing at six feet and pushing two hundred pounds at the age of 15. Well maybe me and Rick, that's what best friends are for.

When I finally stopped laughing I realized the woods were quiet. Not a bird or bug made a noise. Standing I walked closer to my friends. "Guys maybe we should head out. The animals are quiet, could be a bear or wolf nearby."

"Yeah that's fine, I have to go change now anyways." Tom was staring a hole in Rick's back as he tore off his shirt.

We grabbed our poles and started walking back. Not even half way out of the woods I stopped. I could swear I heard a woman's voice whisper my name. Shaking my head I start after my friends who clearly heard nothing.

William!

Ok they heard it that time. We stood looking at each other and then into the woods that seem to have grown darker.

"Billy dude, you hear that?" Rick asked taking a step away from the edge of the path.

"Yeah.. yeah I did." The voice sounded familiar but I couldn't place it, it was just too soft.

"Hey what's that?" I look to where Tom is pointing. If it wasn't for the voice I would of passed it off as a trick of shadow and trees, but there was clearly a dark spot, shaped like a tall man.

William! RUN!

All three of us jumped at the sound of the woman's voice. It sounded like it was right next to us. We didn't ask any questions when the shadow started to come closer. We booked it down the path. So busy watching the shadow get closer, I ran right into my mom. What the hell?

Pushing me into my dad's arms she seemed to get larger than she already was. "Get him home!"

My dad dragged me the last few feet out the woods while I watched my mom run toward the shadow. At the car my dad stared into my eyes his voice calm and hypnotic.

"The sun was hot, you and your friends forgot to bring something to drink with you. The heat and dehydration had you seeing things."

All three of us repeated what he said like robots. Then everything got dark.