Don't talk to strangers

"Okay, come over here," Mike said as he slowly got off the bed and pointed at the glass window.

"You can go from here, to there." He said as he slid his finger against the left side of the glass to the right.

"You can go a bit further than that but remember that if you can't see me, then I can't see you."

"Okay... I still want you to come with me."

"I would if I could... I'm sick."

Mike was 13 years old and his brother Will was 9. He had been protecting Will from their dad by taking the hits whenever their dad got angry.

Several dark purple bruises were hiding under his shirt and shorts. Although Will knew that Mike was protecting him, he didn't know the extent of it.

"Now, remember. I'll shine the torch through the window when it's time to go. Don't make me go down there and shout in English okay?" Mike chuckled.

They had planned that he would be calling him out in English since it was so distinctive as a last resort. Although, that would never happen.

"Hehe, okay."

Will gave his brother a big hug.

"Thanks, Mike."

"It's okay."

They stayed like that for a while.

"Now go!"

Will went downstairs and put on a red raincoat from his bedroom. Mike stood at the window and watched him exit the house.

"Oh, and don't talk to strangers," Mike said through the walkie talkie.

The weather forecast said that it was a clear sunny day. Suddenly it had just rained unexpectedly but the timing was also perfect since their parents were out. The rain was the heaviest they had since spring.

Since the curb side was a bit flooded, Will placed his boat on an artificial pond. The boat slowly drifted from the pond until it entered the street gutter and sped up as it floated on the stream of water.

Will put a spotlight on it with his torch and followed it excitedly. The inanimate toy boat was now a real boat riding on water. It was awesome.

Will imagined himself on the boat going on a journey and seeing a myriad of fantastical sea creatures.

The boat picked up speed and since it was so dark, he didn't see the storm drain ahead. When he spotted it, he panicked.

He started running ahead of the boat but then slipped. He ignored the hurt and quickly got up. If dad found out that a toy is missing from the box without permission, they would be in serious trouble.

As the boat got closer to the drain, it seemed to be moving faster. He dived and reached for the boat but couldn't grab it, instead, it was pushed down by a prod of his finger.

"NO!" he shouted.

Will started peering into the gutter but it was too dark to see anything.

Then suddenly a pale face appeared in front of him.

"Ahh!" He fell back with a shriek.

The face belonged to a teenager and was smeared black on the lips, eyes, nose, ears and the hairline. Although the hair was black, the light of the torch revealed that his or her hair seemed to be drenched in a black ooze... Despite that, this person was bewitchingly attractive.

Will's eyes swivelled towards the boat on the palm of the stranger's risen hand.

"Is this boat yours?"

The voice sounded like a boy.

After a moment of silence, Will finally answered.

"Yes."

"Do you want it back?"

"Yes, please," Will asked nervously.

The stranger looked at the boat and spotted writing on its side.

"USS William... Is that your name?"

"Yes... but my friend's call me Will."

"Will... That's a nice name."

"Thanks," Will said out of courtesy.

There was another silent moment.

"My dad said not to talk to strangers..."

"My name is Hikaru. Will is your first name, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, that's my first name too. Since we know each other on a first-name basis, we aren't strangers, anymore right?"

"I... guess so...

"So, do you like boats?"

"Yea, I do."

"What's your favourite?"

"A battleship..."

"Ahh, those were legendary ships during the world war. The Iowa-class battleships have 16-inch guns that could shoot nuclear warheads. It's a classic."

"Yes! I love battleships! Do you like boats too mister?"

"Haha, yea although I'm really interested in the newest Zumwalt-class destroyer. It looks straight out of a sci-fi movie. They even have space for new laser weapons if they get invented in the future and then Bzzzzt Bzzzt Boom"

"Boom Boom Boom Hehe" Will mimicked the sound of a battery of battleship guns firing.

"Bzzzzt Hahaha!"

Then Hikaru suddenly stopped laughing and black slime gushed out of his mouth and nose. He stared at Will while exuding an ominous look from his piercing eyes. Will quickly got uncomfortable.

"Why are you down there?"

"Oh, it's a long story. I got into a fight, got melted and washed up down here."

"Oh..."

Will believed the part where Hikaru said he melted. Seeing the black slimes oozing out of him, Will knew people can't melt so Hikaru must be something inhuman like a fairy, like some otherworldly creature. Maybe even a monster.

"Sorry, I have to go back home."

"Wait. Weren't you looking for this?"

Hikaru lifted the boat closer to the drain. Will remembered that he and Mike would be in a lot of trouble without it. Although he was scared, the boat seemed easy to get.

"Take it, Will."

Will slowly reached out with his hand.

"Come on Willie, take it," Hikaru said in perfect English.

Will was stunned.

Hikaru's encouragement only made Will move more slowly and cautiously. Hikaru slowly moved the boat away. Will stopped, looked at Hikaru confusedly and then Hikaru encouraged him again with his eyes to get it.

Will reluctantly pushed his arm further into the gutter.

Hikaru grabbed his arm and opened his mouth wide.

It stretched impossibly large to the size of a giant lamprey's mouth. In the black hole were 30cm long spikes arranged in circular rows.

He shoved Will's arm inside and chomped it off.