The frosty night air was crisp and smelled of rain and the many fantastic things that the town had to offer, but the only thing that prevented the sitting creature from enjoying it was the purple haze and the voice in its head that changed octaves when giving commands. “this world that the humans live in… the world that my ancestors once controlled” the voice said with a relaxed tone to its voice. The creature didn’t respond to the voice it just stood like a gargoyle ready to pounce on the next poor bird that landed near it, “man. can’t get a response out of you now can’t I, got to work on that when you come back.” The voice listlessly, as the voice chattered the creature picked up on a sound nearby. It pounced on the roofs like a cat trying to find the sound “oh shut the f***k up mark, that girl was totally checking me out and you know it” a drunk voice shouted out. The creature stopped and looked taking note who it was, it was a drunk Jake walking with his friend Mark and by the looks of the bruises on Jake, he had recently been in a fight and that he lost.

“oh, have; we found someone “the voiced said bemused. The creature ignored the voice and continued to watch Jake, studying when might be its chance to pounce upon the already wounded prey. Mark sighed and held on to jakes side making sure he had enough strength to hold him, this had been the fifth time this week that his friend has gotten drunk and called him to drive home “hey!!!, I’m talking to you asshole. Why aren’t you answering” Jake bellowed into the cold knight air. Mark grunted and let go of him walking away “you know what, I’m tired of being your call to. Find your own way home” the creature made its way down watching all of this happen, Jake yelled some slurred words at mark as he walked away from him. He grunted and turned walking the other muttering drunkly to himself, the creature slinked quietly behind him watching him intently as the voice in his head finally clapped its trap shut in suspense, the creature slinked into a dark alley making sure to get some noise going to get jakes attention. Jake stopped and turned looking into the dark alley “mark... is that you, if it is, you better not be playing a prank on me” Jake walked down the alley looking around his supposed friend, he heard a rustle behind him causing him to stop and search the darkness behind him “dude, this isn’t cool “ he felt something breathe on him, before he could turn around he felt long snake like arms wrap around him and drug him into the dark. “yesses, that’s it my child bring him back to me “the voice said with a sinister hiss to its voice, Jake tried fighting and struggling in the constricting grasp, but it only resulted in his arm being broke like it was nothing. He let out a muffled scream as his struggling began to cease, the creature got ready to jump when it felt the presence of somebody coming around the corner, the creature turned quickly and locked eyes with “what is that idiot doing here, quickly dispose of Jason this instant” the creature inched forward as Jason stood shocked looking into the dark alley only seeing eyes. The creature stopped in its tracks “what the heck are you doing… stop resisting my commands you dumb fleshy thing… okay I see I have some kinks to fix” the creature let out an ear-splitting screech and dashed into the night.

Jason clutched his ears in pain falling to the ground, the apartments lit up as people flooded out to see what that loud noise was. Pretty soon they all looked at Jason and went back into their houses to catch up on their much-needed beauty sleep. Jason rolled around on the cold harsh ground, griping his ears as the ringing buzzed in his skull, the blood dripped out of his ears as he slowly faded into unconsciousness. He woke the next day looking around to see if anyone was near, to his surprise no one even was outside walking around. He got up on his feet and walked home.

The walk to school was filled with more people than the town that morning, parents and children were walking to the bus stop in a hushed scared manner. Like they’ve seen a ghost or are worried that their kid is going to get snatched up by some guy named Dave, Jason couldn’t understand the mass panic that was going on around him “I wonder why all of these people are panicking. Everything” he contemplated as he continued walking. He stopped on corner sign and went into deep thought, as he thought the entire world soon evaporated from his thoughts, before he knew it, he felt a hand on his shoulder that made him jump five feet in the air “yo, what the hell.do you want to fight” Jason shouted as he turned around his fists flying wildly” Jason, calm down dude its just me Todd. I didn’t mean to startle you” Jason opened his eyes and saw the cowering Todd, Jason took a deep breath and put his fists down.

“Don’t scare me like that Jason. You know when I’m in deep thought I can get spooked easily, why are you dressed so nice”. Jason said studying Todd over, he was dressed in a nice blue sweater and a pair of green khaki pants for once he wore his good glasses, he looked at Jason curiously “dude, didn’t you know that Jake disappeared last night. The police have been looking for him sense last night, the only thing that they have to go by is a crappy photo taken by a security camera across the street”. Jason took a step back in shock looking around him, everything was coming full circle now that Todd refreshed his memory “I didn’t know dude, but it all makes sense now, why the people are acting so strange…. But why do they get this way when the jack ass disappears…. why not Charles. Yeah, he’s not a football trailer but he was part of this community and he did everything for everyone, and when he disappears its only me and my friends searching for him”. Jason clenched his fist in upset anger, he placed his palms firmly on his face and cried softly “why… why do people care about that football jack ass but not about Charles” he muttered into tears, Todd stepped back and gave Jason his space. As much as Todd hated it, he wasn’t particularly good at making people feel good or better, every time he tried it always ended up in a shattered mess.

The bus ride to school was particularly quiet, the other two friends soon joined the other two on the bus each taking a seat next to the other two, they joined the silence on the long yellow bus. Once they got to the school Anthony tried to engage in conversation “Todd is going to ask out Michael to the dance, he says he’s going to do it when he sees him” Anthony mocked, Todd gave Anthony a rough nudge in the rib cage causing Anthony to fall back words in anguish, chess looked at them both signifying that they were getting to annoying for this bus ride. Jason ignored all of this as he continued dwelling on the way things are, why people worry about the foot ball player but not Charles, that whole thought made his whole-body tremble with rage and woefulness. The bus stopped with a jolt at the entrance of the high school, Jason looked outside the window and noticed all the signs for Jake posted in front of the flowerbed, he stood on the side walk staring at the signs blankly, his face devoid of emotion. Todd, Anthony and Chess look at Jason feeling bad about their friend. Jason picked up a rose that someone left on one of the signs and held It softly in his hands, one of the thorns pricked his finger, but he didn’t wince at the pain. He just stood there idly messing with the rose.

Jason stood up quietly and took the rose with him, the walk to class for him was quiet but the outside world was very noisy and chaotic, several kids bumped into him and of course apologized but Jason just kept his pace the same. He gripped the door handle to his classroom and sort of… shoved his face in his hoodie as he entered the classroom, he took his normal seat by the window and laid his head against the solid windowpane. a few minuets later the rest of the class entered in hushed whispers and desk’s squeaking as they were bumped into, Todd and the rest of the gang stared at their best friend earnestly. Mark came in a bit later clutching flyers to his chest, he handed one to the teacher and dashed out as quick as he came.

The fifth period bell rang for lunch, but Jason exited the class the way he entered. Todd and the others sat at the same lunch table “guys we need to do something about Jason. Its so weird seeing him all sad like this “Chess said amongst the group who were all starring at there trays. “what do you expect us to do Chess. The police dogs couldn’t even find him”, Chess sat back down and began picking at an apple like a zombie picking flesh off a bone, the group said nothing until Anthony pounded his fist on the table “damn it guys, chess is right. We need to go find him; I’m going this evening to look for him. If you aren’t cowards, you’ll join me” with that Anthony left.