The-Shattered-Dove

The Shattered Dove

Prolouge

The doorbell rang again nonstop until someone opened it for you. How polite, You
were looking for me. I was already gone by then. Having fun without you. When you
saw me, you looked surprised as ever to see what I looked like. I’ll tell you. Drunk. I
didn’t think you wanted me to see me like this, so I ran upstairs. You were
embarrassed. I was willing to dance with you, with your little green tux with a bow tie.
So cute. Me? All I had was a messed up party dress with spilled Brick tea. I asked to
change to my red one from the party hostess Then... I left. Poor child, I miss you too. I
had to go to a party. Don’t you remember?. Oh. I guess you didn’t because you didn’t
get an invitation. It was your party and you didn’t see me. Anyway, see you soon. As
soon as the last person leaves, I’ll be on my way. On my way to see you Mr.McKnight.
Just wait... I’ll be knocking at your door giving you that hug you’ve always wanted. I’ll
make you proud, you’ll be head over heels. Just be patient. Your reward will be to die
for. I’ll be there before you could spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and define it!
I’m on the way home now. This night looks weird I’ll call you when I get home. Wait?
What is that? Please! Help! No! No! Get away you maniac! No! I’m on the road lying
down crying. He’s gonna run me over with his pickup truck. No! It’s Wyman. That
maniac. Somebody help!!!!
‫ ﻯ‬I'm so dizzy, everything is spinning around me. I feel like.. I think I might pass
out. No, no I can't pass out. I'll lay down on the floor to save my energy. This'll do, for
now. But everything is still spinning. No matter, somebody will find me soon and
then everything will be alright.

Chapter 1: Home

Today, was like any other day; the wind was blowing, birds chirping, and I see the
leaves growing back on those oak wood trees. It’s a calm Sunday and I have nothing to
do. All is lost now. Everything I once had, gone. All because of her. The wind wasn’t
blowing when I realized it, the only birds chirping were crows and the leaves? They’d
make a great leaf pile to block my frustration. I don’t want to talk about this day or
any day in between or before that day but all I can say is that she’s dead. I still can’t
seem to believe it. How could this have happened? Why her? Why, just why? My
girlfriend, and once best friend, died today in a car crash on Route 47, March 15, 2005.
All she remembered before the crash was her name: Autumn Abigail Green. She
preferred being called Autumn over Abigail, even though the name is kind of cute to
me. Autumn, come to think of it, the name brings out her mood. She has brown hair
soft as a teddy bear, and had steel gray eyes that were so sharp, they could probably
cut you, her voice, powerful yet delicate... I looked at her gravestone, holding her
favorite bouquet of flowers: lilies, roses, and daisies. The same bouquet I gave to her
in the North Garden High School prom. She was smiling with a beautiful red dress
with tiny diamonds lining the borders of the dress. I was bereft because of the loss.
Depressed actually. I soon cried her name in sorrow, “Autumn, why’d you go? Why’d
you leave me? Don't you know I can’t do this without you?” In my left hand, I
clutched the necklace I gave to her on her fourteenth birthday. It’s broken now.
Shattered. She claimed she’ll keep the necklace on forever. Lie. She lied to me. Before
she died, (or think she was going to live) she took it off, and gave it to me, telling me
to “keep this in your heart, and I’ll hear it beating still”. I clenched my fists in anger
and threw the broken necklace on the ground. Liar. My hand was bleeding. I begin to
head home droopily. So while you’re feeling this scenario, let me tell you about me
and Autumn’s relationship.
‫ ﻯ‬I believe it started at Mom’s favorite store on a normal friday evening when I was
only about nine years old.With that, my light blue overall jeans covered my green tee.
My mother, Ella, with short brown hair and I, went to go find some food because it
seemed we are running low. I was about to head for the potato chips in the snack aisle
because as you might know, little kids get hungry. Fast. That’s when I saw a little girl
in a light blue skirt reaching for those same chips. I didn’t see her before, but it was
love at first sight. I tried to grab the chips quickly, she did the same, and then we
touched hands. I jerked my hand back and I could hear her’s jerk back to from the
rustling of the material in the chip bag pile. When I laid eyes on her. That’s when we
had a thing. Well, at least I did. I felt something I’d never felt before, and that’s when
I knew that I was in love.
‫“ ﻯ‬Excuse me, were you going to get that?” I asked the girl, sweating.
‫“ ﻯ‬No, that’s fine, you can get it. I was just checking to see if there was a Jumbo
sized bag and I see you got the last one.” We both laughed at her little joke. As little
kids, we couldn’t decipher what was funny or not, It’s like saying “Applesauce” in a
very funny way. Try it.I introduced myself.“I’m Winter,”
“Autumn. Call me Abigail. It sounds cute, ya know?”
We would hang out non stop after that day, and soon enough I ended up inviting her
to my seventeenth birthday after I found out she was in my school and neighborhood.
We had lots of fun together, but only as friends. That’s when the incident happened...

She was on her way home from my party, on Route 47, when a tragic mishap turned
Autumn into a truck’s bait. The police found her body. I wasn’t all excited about my
party anymore because for the first time, I realized that I worry for someone:
Autumn. I wish she was here to respond with a big hug or a kiss on the forehead
perhaps. Now, I just have lilies, roses, and daisies in my grasp.Or what was left of
them. Now she haunts me. I even hear my name whispered in her voice: “Winter
Hamilton McKnight... I am still with you. Just dream of me then we can be together...
” But things got worse, when I give her dreams, I get nightmares in return. All about
demons and ghosts and a possession of my sweet Autumn. I even hear those same
two words: “Free us.” It was like butterflies were replaced with hellhounds. The next
morning, I found a surprise, when I opened my eyes, Autumn was there smiling at
me. When I got up to try and hug her, I flew past her like running through mist. Not
only did I: (A) get hurt, (B) think I was dreaming, I found out I could talk to the dead! I
was totally psyched out when this happened I came to a doctor to see if I was
hallucinating but he just nodded and said, “It may have been a bump on the head or it
was just a white cloth on a chair or lamp or something.” I started to get
frustrated“But I saw her!” I yelled. “Who?” asked the doctor. “Autumn.” I exclaimed.
“What is going on?” asked a nurse who walked in. The doctor sputtered. “This man
had claimed to seep... uh...um... oh yeah! Autumn.” The nurse dropped her clipboard.
She ran into the other room to tell the other doctors. What did Autumn do?
‫“ ﻯ‬News claimed that a young man known as Winter McKnight had seen Autumn
Green in his head. We are not sure if he’s telling the truth.”
‫“ ﻯ‬Great! Just what I needed. Me being hunted down by the FBI over some
mindfreak.” I whined on the couch of my Livingroom. Just then a ram busted through
my door. “You need to pay for that.” I yelled
‫“ ﻯ‬Sir, we have found Mr. McKnight; shall we kill him?” a guard said on one end of
a walkie talkie. “Kill me?” I quickly cried.

‫“ ﻯ‬If it’s Autumn he wants, it’s Autumn he’ll get! Meet me in the camp so I can deal
with him!”
‫ ﻯ‬We’ll pick him up at three o'clock. Sharp!” Now I was curious. What did I do? I
woke up in my bed. It was just a bad dream. I thought. But I didn’t have time to think
about my nightmare, all I could think about is Autumn. The streets of North Garden,
Virginia were busy on a Friday morning. It was beautiful. Not as beautiful as Autumn.
She was effortlessly beautiful. Her long brown hair waved and caressed her body in a
way that made me envy hair in a way I never have before. Her grey eyes view took over
my soul and wrapped itself around my heart. I walked out the door and whistled a
high pitch that said, “Hey, Taxi. I need you!” I entered the taxi and gave the address
of my job. “108 Fifth Street” I tell the driver. It’s not that long of a ride. Just fifteen or
so minutes. I then pay the driver a twenty and he gives me back five and said the ride
was only fifteen dollars, not twenty. I then rustle the coins and bills in my back
pocket of my suit. I enter the Greenlife Inc office building and head to my quarter. I
have until two thirty five pm to get off of work. I worked an hour or so then Mr. Fratz;
my boss with a cranky attitude and a bushel load of paperwork ready to give, came to
me with that folder full of paperwork. All sloppy like, like a horribly built Jenga tower.
“Late again Mr. McKnight? It has been three days.”

‫“ ﻯ‬Sorry sir. I slept in.” I whined. Mr. Fratz then replied, “Get to work and I’ll think
about changing your report.” That put a smile to my face. During break an hour and a
half later my coworker Zack Weber came to me and pointed to the television where
other workers were and he said something that surprised me.“Winter! Dude! You’re
on the news!” I thought Zack was joking because he’s the “comedy relief”. We all call
Zack names around the office. He doesn't mind. He just thinks that he's famous or
something. But there’s one name that Zack disapproves is Zack in the Box. He usually
hides in a box form when scared and when done pops out. We scare him a few times
to test it out. Zack Weber is a nice guy. He has orange hair with a stubble around his
chin and lip. Still orange. His eyes are a sapphire green color. His attitude is calm,
gentle and wise. Although he’s a blockhead sometimes. I met Zack on my first day in
Greenlife Inc. He showed me around the office. Just like a normal person would.
During our lunch break I took out my phone and called Mom to let her know I’m ok
and just met a new friend but then put it down realizing my mom was dead. It
sounded humiliating; so every time I get a call back, I hope it’s not on the job phone,
In front of everyone. When I do I would rush and get it, and lie and say it’s an urgent
call from a customer. If it was on my phone, I would run to the bathroom, lock the
door and speak. “Hello? Mom?” I said months ago when Ella called.
‫“ ﻯ‬How’s the first day sweetie?” I blushed and got embarrassed. I was sitting on the
toilet seat and locked the door, and the stall.
‫“ ﻯ‬Have a nice day!” She blew me a kiss from the other line of the phone. I quickly
hung up before Ella started treating me like a puppy. I then flushed the toilet, washed
my hands, and went out to my desk. It happened again. But Marcus, my friend, called
me about a girl named Autumn. Some other workers tried holding in their laughs.
Finally one worker with blonde short hair asked, “Who you talking to in there?”
trying to keep a straight face. “A friend.”
‫“ ﻯ‬A friend?” Blonde repeated. “Well no. It was my girlfriend, Autumn.” The
worker didn’t laugh anymore.
‫“ ﻯ‬You mean her?” his colleagues didn’t either. They gaped and just pointed to the
television. On it screened Autumn. Smiling out to the public. And me. Why now? Why
here? I didn’t understand. But I bet my workers did.
‫ ﻯ‬She was home.

Chapter 2: Obstacle

I came to the television in shock not trying to believe anything Zack had said. But
sadly it was true. My face was shown on a news report calling me psychotic. I went
back to my desk covering up the fact that the world knows me now by not Winter
McKnight CEO of Greenlife Inc; but rather, Winter McKnight, The psycho guy who can
talk to the dead. If I could I could crawl under my desk in a ball and cry, I would.
“Don’t feel bad,” My secretary, Samantha Carson responded. She tried to make me
feel better. She had a nice voice with light black hair and an interesting way of
understanding people. I tried to sip my coffee but the desk was so crowded, I couldn’t
find my cup/ Just then the other shoe dropped when a muscular red haired worker
taunted me and said: “AWWW. Look at that. Winter’s secretary’s cuddling him like
his momma!” I didn’t look up. I was angry and just said, “She’s dead Jim. My mom is
DEAD! Do you know how that feels when someone you love is gone? Especially in
childhood?” I ran to him and punched him in the face, giving him a bloody nose. I
didn’t want anybody talking smack about my mother. I had tears all over my face now
and sat to my seat. Coffee in hand to wake me up from this hellfire.
‫ ﻯ‬Jim went to the bathroom to get a tissue for his nose. My mother Ella was nice.
Long dark chocolate angel hair that fell down to her hips. Her voice, so soft and
graceful, it was like hearing birds sing. Her eyes. An alexandrite purple hue that
shined every time she gazed into my steel grey ones, my brother James’s brown ones,
or my other brother Rick’s red ones. I can’t see those beautiful eyes anymore. She was
shot with my dad when they investigated a scene and was shot by Noah’s, my dad’s,
own partner... When I heard about their death, I had to be on my own, and I hated
that. I looked at my family photo that lay on my desk. My hands around Noah and
Ella’s necks, giving them big hugs. I cried some more and by the time I was done, it
was already two thirty five. I asked my boss to be excused in my lowest voice possible.
I went to the vending machine and bought some chips for lunch because I only had
five dollars. I then walked home munching my Pringles. I wasn’t in the mood for a
ride from the taxi. As I finally made it to the stairs of the apartment, I put the key into
the hole, I opened my door. I smelled something foul in the kitchen. My breakfast had
turned to brown egg plumps and hard as frozen steak, bacon strips. I put my
breakfast in the trash. Wierd. I didn’t recall making this. Maybe someone did it for
me? It was probably Autumn. You know how horrible her cooking is. I thought. “It’s
not possible” I said to myself out loud, taking my Eggo waffles out of its box and
popping them to the toaster. “She’s dead.” I thought about it for a brief moment,
setting my breakfast alone. My voice spoke again. Then who could have done it? It
wasn’t you. If it was Autumn she couldn’t even hold the eggs. Ghosts can’t hold eggs.
That’s crazy! I thought for a moment on what I did this morning. I had a rude
awakening, had some crackers and milk, left for the taxi, and had work. Came here,
and talked to myself just like I’m doing right now. My voice became dim with
understandment.
‫“ ﻯ‬You’re telling me that you did not cook breakfast and instead ate crackers and
milk?” I stopped talking .There was knocking by my neighbor Mrs. Lott. A nice elderly
lady with a sweet voice and a good cook. I opened the door. “Who were you talking to
in there, Dear?”
‫“ ﻯ‬Oh. Nobody.”

“Nobody?” She paused for a moment then replied. She does that when you know
something's up. “Okay. If you say so. Oh. Since you were at work and I heard you
rushing, you forgot to lock the door. So made breakfast for you.”
“That explains the burning.” I mumbled to myself.
“What?”
“Nothing. Thanks Mrs. Lott.”
My waffles suddenly popped out and I slammed the door. On the counter, my coffee
from work sit. This usually wasn’t my cup of joe when I was a kid. I spread the butter,
then pour the syrup on the waffles, sit down, and read the North Garden Gazebo, our
town newspaper. I was still on it. I took a few bites then my digital watch beeped. It
was time to go back to work. I grabbed my suitcase, wallet full of twenty-five dollars
and some cards, and my car keys. I drove to Starbucks in a Chevrolet Equinox and
bought an Ice Coffee. I drove quickly to Greenlife Inc, now awake and rushed to my
desk with a smile, still hoping Mom doesn't call (somehow). The day’s getting pretty
good. Until I lay cheek first on the floor with a bloody nose. “Jim! What was that for?”
I yelled. “Just returning the favor.” Jim smiled. Just then the office phone rang. I
answered it warily. A man with a deep voice spoke. “Come to the lobby of this
building and find two muscular guys in suits. Follow them to the back room and your
questions will be answered”. I did as told and searched for a muscular men with suits.
I found then found them near the entrance. I then followed the men. They lead me to
the back room. Garbage disposal. Why would two men lure me to the back to answer
all my questions? And why here? Its scent is so foul, no wonder anybody comes here.
It’s like the recycling bin or garbage can that nobody takes out. I had to get to my
family. My DEAD family. “I have places to go, gentlemen. I bet you do too.” I replied. I
pushed the two men out the way like double doors. It took a long time, but it worked.
As I headed back to the lobby but then the man on the right said, “We know what you
don’t. You may think we are part of some Federal Investigation, but we are not.” The
man on the left stopped me. “If you ever want to see your family, It’s a good idea to
get your hand off the handle.” Righty chimed in and gave me the most shocking news
ever.
‫“ ﻯ‬Oh. Your girlfriend. She’s alive.” he replied.
“She is?” I praised with glee.
“Yes” Lefty replied. “But you can go. I guess you don’t want to see her. I understand if
she’s not hat important.”I became furious due to that statement and yelled,“Not that
important? Are you kidding? I dreamed of seeing her!”
“Our work here is done” Righty told Lefty.
‫“ ﻯ‬Indeed” Lefty told Righty. Both muscular men shook hands and walked away
slowly, waiting for me to stop them. But what if it was a trap? Autumn’s alive! Now
you could see her! I thought. “Wait!” I stopped the men. They had smiles on their
faces. “We’ll call Small right away! Thank you for your time Winter McKnight.”
Righty eagerly barked. They both shook my hand. Autumn and I had a good
relationship. She was the bread and I was the ham and cheese. She always would
comfort me when I felt blue. Just like when I met Jay. When I adopted Jay, my very
first dog. Whom I found a stray by a storefront one night his eyes meet mine and I
just knew we were going to be as thick as thieves. Jay was adorable; he had brownish
gold fur around his body and tail. he was a Labrador crossed with a Beagle, and he had
the longest floppy ears that touched the ground. Jay had a way of telling the good
from the bad. We named him Jay because it means a willing man not giving up. But
sadly one day he had disappeared into the woods. And never returned. I was

devastated, but Autumn was right there. She was always there. I was doing this for Jay
in the end,
‫ ﻯ‬I locked the door and said, “Here I go.” under my breath. As I turned to the
elevator, Righty stood there and Lefty was behind me, covering me with a cloth.
Everything was silent after that.

Chapter 3: Pickup

I woke up in the front some stranger’s house. Weird. The same thing happened to a
teen, age fifteen. He forced the kid on the bus. The kid sat next to me, a real short one
with scruffy green hair, a button down shirt and a tie. Nathan was his name The boss
beefed. “Welcome to your new home. My name is Calvin Small. Sorry if I scared you,
kids.” He said on the bus. “Send them to the lake before we get ready for you know
what. I think he’s the one. take good care of him.” Calvin said, pointing at me. He
slammed the door then we, the driver, twelve other kids and I were off. It gotten
hotter so I knew we were heading West. “Oh my god!’’ I cried, “This is BEAUTIFUL!”
the lake’s appearance had matched with the sun’s profile. When we entered the
camp, for my part, it looked a little more optimistic than the people in it. On the less
gloomy side, the lake felt like a giant pool or a dam that has been accidentally spilled.
“I wish Autumn was here to see this.” I said quietly. Lefty must have heard me and
laughed, “You’re not going to see her, Romeo, not YET.” They pushed me along
shoving my duffel bag to me and quickly turning around. “So where am I going?” I
asked. “You’ll see…” Lefty announced. Just then a boy with brown hair known as
Dean read the first test for me as I went to put on my swimming suit minutes later
Dean was a small skinny kid. Muscular but not ripped. Wise but not intelligent. He
was a good kid. But that’s just my first impression.
‫“ ﻯ‬Your first task, kid is to swim 3 laps from this dock to those cones. Got it? Good.
” Just then another boy with curly hair came from the dock. “I’m Sam and my big
sister is Summer. Come on! The lake is this way.” We headed to the lake and I looked
at Sam. “Hey Newbie, You swimming?” I asked. “No,” Sam said “I’m not a newbie;
you are! I did this before. It’s one to sink your teeth into. You first.” I looked at Sam
again. “You are coming, right?” He nodded yes quickly with no words. I jumped in the
water and when I arose and felt something sink in my skin, I knew I would die. Some
kids pulled me out and laid me down. It was a pack of piranhas, the delinquent that
has been playing “Catch the Red Light’’ with me. I was the red light and the piranhas,
the cat. Blood dripped from my fingertips, legs, and chest onto the dock. Just then
something happened, I felt a hand on mine but no one saw it but me. It was Autumn.
She healed me with a kiss on the nose, a quick hug and I quiet “I love you Winter.”
kid’s jaws dropped to the dock floor. Dean asked “Are you God?” Calvin looked at the
driver and said, “See? He’s the one.”
‫ ﻯ‬As November rolled around, we fed that same piranha that almost killed me.
After my “Godlike” powers were shared, I became one of the most popular kids in
campus. We woke up at the first light of the sun. But it was just rising. Before you
knew it, we were going to the next game just as the sun was fully raised. I thought I
could stay in bed forever but I knew I had go. At the dock, we threw some bait in for
the fish, but when I accidentally threw the biggest piece in, they were all forcing
themselves to get the drift of my popcorn bit. When done, we headed for the beach
where the next test was. We finally started heading to those huge sandy pits but in
the casement, all you can see was people. We then anticipated our eyes for what was
going to happen next… We were going to the woods to camp out. I remember going to
summer camp by Crystal View Lake in Rocky Valley, Pennsylvania. The view was as
the title explained it: crystal. The camp was a clean area. Maybe rented for cleanup
because before, animals have been poking around. I also recall the first time the camp
was found. My camp leader has told me the story various times reminding us camp

members how important it was.
‫“ ﻯ‬Dr. Christopher Crystal was an English scientist and teacher who researched
nature.” Our camp leader said. “He was born September 13, 1956 and Crystal wanted a
place to build the perfect resting place. To the long and short of it, it wasn’t easy. He
looked all the way from Illinois to New York, and finally here, in Rocky Valley,
Pennsylvania.” Some kids fell asleep. I stayed awake. “Around 1965, Crystal started to
set up shop and built the well-known camp. He started to chop trees down and create
space for the place. When done, 100 acres of beautiful viewage was shown. It was
astonishing! Chris was ready to show his creation to the world. In 1958, Crystal
bought his students to a field trip. Based on his survival unit in health, he would do
an experiment in the camp he built and see how they would survive in certain
causes… Most students thought the camp they were going to was cheesy, crappy, and
garbage. Just like last year.” Today, Crystal View Lake sits still beautiful. It’s view is as
graceful as an angel’s singing. Not anymore. Now this place doesn’t look like a place
for angels. For people in Heaven. This place looks like Hell. That place where bad
people go after they die. The once beautiful pond is now polluted with trash, food, and
blood. It’s like a blender full of garbage poured into a giant bowl. I felt a hand on
mine. It almost gave me a heart attack. “What happened to my creation? Son, do you
recall?” I looked up. Christopher Crystal was standing there not pleased with his
“Picasso Creation”.
‫“ ﻯ‬Oh this,” I started to say. “I had no relevance on this, sir.”
‫ ﻯ‬Crystal asked again. “So what happened to my creation?”
‫“ ﻯ‬Pollution, when the environment is contaminated, or dirtied, by waste,
chemicals, and other harmful substances.” Crystal took a look around at the ruined
picture of joy. He started to cry. “All I wanted was to make kids happy. Now look at
what has become of my water.” I tried cheering the Unknown up. He faded into air.
Sam came to me. “Who were you talking to?” I stood from the dock and told Sam the
truth:
‫“ ﻯ‬Christopher Crystal.”
‫“ ﻯ‬No way!”
‫“ ﻯ‬Yes way.”
‫“ ﻯ‬He’s dead!”
‫“ ﻯ‬He’s where he belongs.”
‫“ ﻯ‬Hell?”
‫“ ﻯ‬Heaven.” Summer walked toward her brother giving him a cuddle from behind.
“What has the new guy been drilling in your brain?” she asked. I nodded my head
telling Sam to tell Summer. Sam, I could have known is one of those loudmouths so
when he told Summer who I was talking to, word spread fast. Some kids snickered,
some gasped. Most of them were laughing, calling me that same word. Psycho. I ran
into my cabin. Covering my face, not revealing the truth. No! No! I thought, not again!
I locked the cabin door as soon as I entered and sat by it. Autumn came to me and

kissed my forehead, stroking my hair, getting that feel. “What happened?” She
replied. I could see her arm wrapped around me. “It’s just that people seem to be
acting odd.” I tried to continue to tell her what had happened, but then she put both
of her arms around me, put her lips close to mine, and kissed me. “Forget the past,
it’s way behind you. You have your future ahead of you.” I repeated what Autumn had
said. Forget the past, it’s way behind you. You have your future ahead of you. What
does that mean? She then returned with what had changed my life. Her necklace from
her fourteenth birthday. “Keep it in your heart and I’ll hear it beating still.” Autumn
told me. I wanted her to return as a Normal. Not an Unknown. Yes, she can still touch
me, but it’s not the same. She and other Unknowns come in dark and low lit areas. If
not, they die forever. And their corpse? It can never be resurrected again. Autumn
gave me one more hug. It was getting a little brighter so I knew she had to go. I didn’t
want her to leave me again. Not now. I decided that if I wanted to keep Autumn safe
from the light, and with me; I had to cover her from the sun. “Why don’t you possess
me? Then you’ll be safe in my body.”
‫“ ﻯ‬I can’t,” Autumn started to say. “If I do, I’ll still interfere with light.” It was no
use. I then took an old baseball cap from my duffle bag, put it atop my curly hair and
told Autumn, “How about now?” She nodded yes. “Possess me.” As she collided
toward me like a raging bull, cool mint chill struck my heart. I fell to the ground with
a hard pain in my butt. I tried getting up but the freezing of my heart wasn’t going to
let me. I finally stood up and I heard a voice. “I’m in. It’s dark in here. How you
feeling?” I couldn’t answer. The questions flew around my brain, trying to process the
answers for them. I took my first five steps toward the door. It was like walking for
the first time toward your mother as a baby. After what’s been going through my life
right now, this would be the most humiliating. “You’re doing great!” Autumn had
possessed me. It seemed like there was something in my pants leg but I couldn’t
make out either. Nor my friends. “You alright in there?” Sam asked. His voice came
to a low. “You talk to Crystal?” “No.” “I heard you talking to someone. You just said
you were.” “Okay.” “You sure you good?” “Yup. Nothing’s out of the ordinary. Keep
this between us?” I said. I stepped out to get fresh air. “I need my space.” I said. Just
then a tranquilizer needle was shot into my neck and everything was quiet after that.

Chapter 4: Nightmare

Can you be my lab rat?” some crazed maniac said. I entered an asylum. It was a dream
I was trapped in. I thought it was a happy dream. I then spoke. “My perfect day was
playing bingo with my friend Henry. After that we played a different game called
basketball out on the front lawn. Henry got twenty five points and I got twenty three
points. We drank milk and we talked a lot about school. Then Henry had left me.
That’s when I met Winter squared, my shadow... we raced around the yard and he
beat me. Like always. There was nothing I could do. Just then out of the blue, my
mind was controlled I awoke from the dream when Autumn said. “I’ll take it from
here.” tapping me slightly on my right shoulder. Those six words still haunted me.
“Can you be my lab rat?” Soon mists of cool mint chill were filling the entryway of the
room where Winter squared showed fear and was panicking. Autumn kissed me in the
nose, hugged me for ten to fifteen seconds and said “Goodbye.” She disappeared
without a trace to stop my scared shadow from freaking out. I soon awoke in the my
cabin.
‫ ﻯ‬I decided to take a walk around the camp in the woods with Sam and Summer to
see the stars. I really liked going out to see stars. I remember going out after supper.
“Dad?” I would ask; “may I go study the constellations?” He would say yes. I type on
my computer my password for constellation study: bhj26. As days passed I saw
Ophiuchus. A rarely seen constellation. As soon as I spotted it, I rushed to dad. When
he saw the star, he congratulated me with a gasp and a “good job”. I hope Summer
and Sam don’t have the same reaction. I set up camp for the three of us for the night.
Hoping to see Ophiuchus. my neck still bleeding from the shot. A want dad to see how
I felt when Ophiuchus arrived. I thought I would be famous that night. All I got was a
“Good Job” from dad. No phone call for the news or anything special, no dinner.
Those kinds of rewards when you do something extraordinary. Like making honor roll
for four straight years in high school, or making the team you’ve been dying to get
on. All I got was a “Good Job”. What’s that? All I ever dreamed of was to be
recognized. My one step to being recognized… Is gone. I was this close to being
famous. After I stop talking to dad, He was getting frustrated. “Look, Winter. I
understand you may be mad at me…” He put his hand on my shoulder. “May be mad
at you?” I yelled. “You ruined my life.” I was crying. “Because of you, I can’t fulfill my
dream.” After dinner I apologized to my father. “You know I don’t really mean that,
right?” I rolled my eyes. “I bet you did.” He came close to me and put his arm on my
shoulder. “I understand you may be mad, but why on me? I did almost everything for
you.” Here on out, Dad’s been checking on me. Making sure I was okay and safe. Most
of all, He got to see the star too.

Chapter 5: Issues

I didn’t see the star, but I still worry for Autumn. I remember the dream the
tranquilizer man gave me. I started crying without realizing. “ I never told her
goodbye.” I told Summer and Sam. They understood. Summer wrapped her arms
around me, gave me a warm hug and said “I understand. It’s hard to say goodbye but
you’ve gotta do it. trust me.” She grasped me tighter. I knew she liked me but I was
afraid to tell her. “It’s ok and I feel bad for you. She came close to me and kissed me
on the cheek. “Gotta go! it’s eight-thirty and you know what that means. Right?” I
couldn’t answer. She kissed me! I rubbed my cheek. Soon the wolves howled their
song when it was their cue. Based on the moon’s eclipse they had it pitch perfect.
Sam and I were finding wood. The Gathering. I would sometimes call it that. We
thought we had almost made it back home in time; but we didn’t. Well Sam didn’t;
here’s the thing, Sam is a cool guy but he isn’t trying. An hour passed when I was
Gathering. I did it so hard, I almost forgot I lived. Saturday morning arrived and I
decided to go back to my area where Summer was because Saturday was the beginning
of a hunting season and I did not want to die. Not alone. “Where’s Sam ?” Summer
asked. “Taken?” I did not know what she was talking about, and then it hit me. This
was bad. “What do we do!?!?!” I was panting. “Calm down Winter we’ll find him with
a GPS on his leg. We all had one.”
‫ ﻯ‬It was a very nice day. With Sam buy my side, it would be even better. Suddenly
my inner peace was shattered by the realization that I had strayed off the trail and
was in an area that was totally unfamiliar. Sam wasn’t there. I was lost in the woods.
The sticks that had clearly defined the trail the day before was completely gone. I was
counting on that stick line to be there. As I walked, the temperature plummeted and
the cold front seized the night. Strong winds had kicked up, and the wet ground was
starting to freeze as I walked. Layers of leaves began to freeze, “crunch, crunch,
crunch”. All of a sudden I was seized with a gut wrenching fear, it grew up inside me
and took my whole body over. My mind started rushing through thoughts like “You’re
lost in the woods and you’re never going to get out!” and “you’re going to freeze out
here!”
‫ ﻯ‬I started to run blindly. I had to find Sam. My moccasins were wet and my feet
soaked cold from the stream. I slipped everywhere in a wild panic. I had totally lost it,
tripping and falling into a patch of briars. I must have looked ridiculous. With
disturbing feelings of humiliation, the voice continued, “you’ll be found by the side of
a trail, frozen to death by morning, when you could have just walked out!” All my
learning and experiences to advance my wilderness skills to those of my dad were
crashing before me…then all at once, I just stopped.
‫“ ﻯ‬Dude! What the heck are you doing?” I asked myself. I had careened 5 feet off
course, and in a moment of self-analysis, came to my senses. “Don’t go any further,
be still.” In that moment I just totally stopped and I got down on my hands and
knees. I couldn’t see the trail, but I could see and feel where the brush had been
walked on, a dull and shiny kind of thing. It was just subtle enough to require
presence of mind to see. It had only been walked on that day and the compressions
became revealed to me as I calmed down. I finally cleared my head, sat down and
thought about the situation, as soon as I did, all my fear just melted away. I realized

that there was nothing to be afraid of and that even if I did become lost in the woods,
I could hole up for the night and find my way out the next morning, but Sam went his
separate ways… He’s probably dead now. I cried by the fire.

‫ ﻯ‬Me and Summer gathered around the fire and Summer told me her trip in the
woods. She claimed that in the garden where she lived are several woods. They are all
different but have one thing in common and that is that they were all here before the
garden itself was laid out. Whoever first prepared the garden decided to keep them
perhaps as a reminder of how magnificent nature can be without the need for
coppicing, pruning and managing. Through the woods wind several paths, none of
them taking the most direct route instead winding back and forth as if in a maze.

‫“ ﻯ‬As a child I loved to explore the small woods that lay within reach of my home
many of which have been since cut down to be replaced by housing and farmland. The
trees that we regularly climbed all had names passed down to us by older children and
we in turn would pass them on to younger children. I would be curious to know
whether this tradition has survived as part of local childhood folklore or whether the
names are now forgotten. Exploring brought the danger of getting lost and there was
something oddly thrilling about this. I started writing a fairy story to try to put across
this feeling but didn't get too far. I've included what I did write below and included
one of my pictures to try to convey the mood I was looking for.”It was my turn. Then I
remembered a story Mom used to tell me when I was six by someone named Timsuzi.

‫ ﻯ‬Once upon a time there lived a boy. You don’t need to know his name as yet but you do
need to know that he was clever but not perhaps as clever as he hoped he was and that he often
felt unhappy even though he had many reasons not to be. When he was sad he would take
himself off for long walks in the woods near to the village in which he had grown up and hope
that something might happen that would bring a little magic into his life and chase the dreary
clouds away. At other times he hoped that while walking he would chance upon something
that was very special to him, which was his favorite toy from childhood that he had lost while
playing here many years before. He thought that if he found the toy then maybe it would help
to end his sadness. But no matter how hard he tried he would find neither magical nor special
toys while on his travels. One day, while wandering through the woods just beyond the wooden
gate that marked the boundary of his village he found a path that he had not ever seen before.
This may not seem so surprising unless you know that this particular wood was the dearest to
his heart and was the one in which he had wandered most often and which in his arrogance he
thought he knew from the largest oak down to the smallest brook. The path in question left the
main footpath at an angle and wound its way deeper into the wood. Perhaps the boy had not
noticed the entrance to it before because it was largely covered by the branches and spiky leaves
of the most majestic holly tree or perhaps he just wasn’t that observant. Maybe, his knowledge
of these trees and the life encompassed within them was less encyclopedic than he thought.
Anyway, whatever the reason for not noticing the path in the past counted for nothing against
the excitement of having something that was new to explore and with a little shudder he set off
down the path hoping that at its end there might be, well who knows what?

‫ ﻯ‬Down, down wound the path deeper and deeper into the wood and at each turn the boy
became more and more surprised. The path continued on over several small babbling brooks
and through dense groves of dark, somber trees until at last it reached a little clearing and in
the little clearing was a cottage. Who could live there? The boy wondered. He stood still and
listened carefully, not a sound did he hear apart from that of the wind through the trees, the
birds in their branches and the loud purring of the large black cat stretched out in the sun by

the front door of the cottage. He crept closer and the cat fixed him with a quizzical gaze before
stretching and turning to expose the other half of its body to the good warm rays of the sun. The
boy could not resist the temptation to rub the cat’s belly as he passed it and the cat
appreciatively rolled onto her back and contentedly exposed yet more of its ample stomach to
the boy’s attentions.

‫ ﻯ‬Summer knew that boy with no name was me. And my story was finally told. I
looked her and she looked at me. She understood what I was going through. We
kissed under the stars, hoping for a happy ending. We soon cuddled together in the
sleeping bag. The ghost of Sam was smiling next to Autumn’s. She whispered “I’m an
Elder,” hugged me and kissed me goodnight. Just like my mom.

Chapter 6: Spanish

Awoken from the sound of fear and terror, I was petrified. I would have boiling hot
water thrown on me daily, beatings, this man had some sick friends who he used to
invite over to the house. If I moved the slightest I would be beaten. He would tie me
up to a chair and force me to listen as he made prank phone calls to my family
pretending to be the police. He would taunt them and tell them that they found me
and that I was seriously injured. Which caused my family to get into a really bad car
accident as they raced down the highway to get to me. I think. Every day after beating
me, making me take showers in front of strangers, sexual abuse, he would end the
day by telling me when and how he was going to murder me. He had just purchased a
used car from someone and he wanted to take a trip across Canada from Toronto to
BC. During that time he would cut my body into tiny pieces starting from my feet
then moving upwards all while I was still alive and coherent. Each piece was to be
dumped in different locations across the country. He wanted to leave on in Toronto
for my family to find but all the rest would be lost and they would never find me. I was
rescued by Autumn just 3 weeks before the day the maniac planned to murder me
and. The teen’s name was David.
‫ ﻯ‬Then in the mornings I was usually waken up by either boiling water being
thrown on me or he would lock me into a small closet or bathroom and fill the room
with spiders until I blacked out. I find now that I suffer from Night Terrors and they
are getting worse as I get older. Sleeping isn't something I ly do... I guess that's what
happens when you’re twenty two and you’re still afraid of the dark. I've had to grow
and learn a lot since then. It's been a really difficult thing to find where I belong in
social circles. It took me many years to get over crippling fear and shyness towards
everyone. I still find myself pushing people away from me... not on purpose, but I
think deep down I'm afraid it could happen again. When my case went to trial my
kidnapper vowed that he would find me again when I was older. He even went as far
as to threaten my life while I was on the witness stand. I was always afraid that he
would follow through on his promise. I can still hear his voice and I can still see his
face when I close my eyes… Sam..... But life is getting better.In some small way I
think I've been able to find the positive in what happened to me. It's taught me to
look at things from a different perspective. Although it was hell ... It did partially
make me into the man I am today. My life may be hard and confusing...but I'm here. I
awoke realizing it just being a dream. I thank God for every second I have. For Sam.
Sam was a good man. He would laugh at my jokes, even if they aren’t funny. He would
be the go to guy. His hair, so soft as a dog’s fur. Mejor amigo. I would call him. I would
explain to my Spanish teacher about Sam.
‫“ ﻯ‬Sam es uno de esos tipos que se podía ir a la ayuda adicional. Sí , él puede ser el
cuchillo romo en el cajón , pero es humano.” I would explain. I would repeat what I
said to my fellow students what I said in english. Sam is one of those guys who you
could go to for extra help. Yes, he may be the blunt knife in the drawer, but he's
human. Sam agreed to talk to me in spanish, just to test me. Spanish was my favorite
language. And it was Sam’s original. “Okay,” Sam replied one day during lunch.
“Explique a mí la tarea Inglés para hoy.” I took out my agenda and showed him the
homework for tonight. “We have vocabulary unit four numbers one through fifteen.”
‫“ ﻯ‬No!” Sam bickered. “In spanish!”

‫ “ ﻯ‬Tenemos unidad de vocabulario cuatro números del uno al quince por.”
‫“ ﻯ‬Grasis”
‫“ ﻯ‬De Nada” Sam was planning to go to college, but that never happened. His main
goal was to be an athlete and be a well-known football player. He tried out but never
made it in Freshman year. Sophomore and Junior year ended up with the same result.
Finally he made the team Senior year. We came to all his games. Me, Summer, and
Autumn.(When she was alive.) Sam’s team, The East Garden Gorillas. Tough, big
players who take no for an answer. Sam’s final game against the Forestville Falcons
was a major success. He was a really good player but he paid more attention in lives in
his games more than actual life itself. I tried to bring him back to the world and said
“Stop! Please come back to me!” It didn't work. Sam just walked away and putting his
hands up in the air like some kind of model or something.
‫ ﻯ‬Sam was a nice guy before he turned jerky. Sometimes he got on my nerves. He
would never hand in his homework, he would always be slacking, and the worst of
all... He never talked to me. when I first met Sam he was a nice generous kid who
always wanted to have fun and be one with nature. Everything can't go your way but
when I met up with Sam a few weeks later, when we went to school together. He
didn’t seem childish as before. It's like a monster has been hiding in Sam's body and
hasn't come out until now. I saw him today in history class and told him, “Dude come
back. I miss you.”
‫“ ﻯ‬Silly Winter,” he said to me. “I understand how you may feel and I think you
may be jealous of my skills and superior abilities thanks to you. you're my
motivation.” As he walked out with a new posse of friends at the end of class, I had
bad feelings about Sam. What happened? During lunch, I spoke to Sam with Summer,
his sister and told him, “New Sam, tell me about yourself.”
‫“ ﻯ‬East Garden High seems like a great school for me to experience what it is like to
grow up with the big boys. I have transfered from various schools due to the incline of
bullying. I experienced two or three incidents in elementary school. Maybe four.
Mainly my favorite subject is English because I enjoy writing . When I write I feel
calm. Blah. Blah. Blah.” The list went on. Sam talked about his past, family,
everything we needed to know about the kid. His likes, dislikes, favorite food, color,
birthday, age, weight, height, hair color, and things of that nature. He said after he
joins the football team he said he’ll change his ways. That was a lie. Sam soon
changed from being sweet to a brat so I had to find out what was going on with
Summer's brother. I looked my friend in the eyes. Maybe he's telling the truth. I
thought. Maybe not. Summer thought. Sam looked at us both. “What are you two
talking about?” As soon as history was finally, over we grab the books and leave for
the door. Most of the time we would all walk together and talk about how hard our
teacher was and how difficult the homework was as well. Me and Summer walk to the
library. Sam on the other hand met his posse and walked out with them. I yell across
my shoulder, “Where are you going?”
‫“ ﻯ‬I'll be in the library and a few minutes I just need to deal with something, okay?
” At the library we check out down as many books for a history project. The War of
1812. I had no idea how busy it is. All I found was that it was a military conflict, lasting
for two and a half years, fought by the United States of America against the United

Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, its North American colonies, and its Native
American allies. Sam arrived ten minutes before the bell rang. Alone. “You’re late.” I
passed him my notes. “Here’s what you missed.” Sam just shakes his head, and pulls
out his phone and says to me, “I don’t need paper, that’s why the internet was
invented.” I rolled my eyes and Sam grabs the paper, takes a seat next to his sister
and smiles. “Look, Winter, I’m sorry. Ok? I will change. Honest.” He looked at
Summer now who now had two tears running down her face.
‫“ ﻯ‬You're my big sister and you’ll have to be there to protect me.” Sam hugged her
sister and didn't let go until the period was over. As we walk out, I whispered to Sam,
“Welcome back.” Sam held Summer’s hand to the cafeteria with love and wouldn’t
let go.

Chapter 7: Secrets

I don’t know why but I think we are going to die. In three…two…one… silence… Me
and Summer did not die and let’s just say that the sun rose into a clear blue sky over
the city of North Gardens, Virginia promising a warm and pleasant day. Nothing in
the day's dawning indicates that this day would be any different from its
predecessors. But this day would be different, very different. This day would change
the world. On this day David will return to drop by and bring his friends to wreak
havoc almost beginning a new world war. The hour was early; the morning still,
warm, and beautiful. Shimmering leaves, reflecting sunlight from a cloudless sky,
made a pleasant contrast with shadows in my garden as I gaze absently through wide-
flung doors opening to the south. Clad in drawers and undershirt, I sprawl on the
living room floor exhausted because I had just spent a sleepless night in my house.
Suddenly, a strong flash of light startled me - and then another. So well does one
recall little things that I remember vividly how a stone lantern in the garden became
brilliantly lit and I debated whether this light was caused by a magnesium flare or
sparks from a passing trolley. Garden shadows disappeared. The view where a
moment before had been so bright and sunny was now dark and hazy. Through
swirling dust I could barely discern a wooden column that had supported one comer of
my house. It was leaning crazily and the roof sagged dangerously. Moving
instinctively, I tried to escape, but rubble and fallen timbers barred the way. By
picking my way cautiously I managed to reach the door and stepped down into my
garden. A profound weakness overcame me, so I stopped to regain my strength. To
my surprise I discovered that I was completely naked How odd! Where were my
drawers and undershirt?
‫ ﻯ‬What had happened? All over the right side of my body I was cut and bleeding. A
large splinter was protruding from a mangled wound in my thigh, and something
warm trickled into my mouth. My check was torn, I discovered as I felt it gingerly,
with the lower lip laid wide open. Embedded in my neck was a sizable fragment of
glass which I matter-of-factly dislodged, and with the detachment of one stunned
and shocked I studied it and my blood-stained hand. Where was that survivor?
Suddenly thoroughly alarmed, I began to yell for her, Summer, Summer! Where are
you? Blood began to spurt. Had my carotid artery been cut? Would I bleed to death?
‫ ﻯ‬Frightened and irrational, I called out again 'It's the end of the world! Dean,
where are you? The end of the world came!” Dean, pale and frightened, his clothes
torn and blood stained, emerged from the ruins of our house holding her elbow.
Seeing her, I was reassured. My own panic assuaged, I tried to reassure her. “We'll be
all right,” I exclaimed. “Only let's get out of here as fast as we can.” She nodded, and
I motioned for her to follow me. I glanced ahead and saw an Unknown. “Autumn…”
We started out, but after twenty or thirty steps I had to stop. My breath became short,
my heart pounded, and my legs gave way under me. An overpowering thirst seized me
and I begged Dean to find me some water. But there was no water to be found. After a
little my strength somewhat returned and we were able to go on. I was still sweaty,
and although I did not feel the least bit of shame, I was disturbed to realize that
modesty had deserted me. On rounding a corner we came upon a soldier standing idly
in the street. He had a towel draped across his shoulder, and I asked if he would give it
to me to cover my face. The soldier surrendered the towel quite willingly but said not
a word. A little later I lost the towel, and Dean took off his sweater and tied it around

my neck.
‫ ﻯ‬Our progress towards the hospital was interminably slow, until finally, my legs,
stiff from drying blood, refused to carry me farther. The strength, even the will, to go
on deserted me, so I told Summer, who was almost as badly hurt as I, to go on alone.
This she objected to, but there was no choice. She had to go ahead and try to find
someone to come back for me. Dean looked into my face for a moment, and then,
without saying a word, turned away and began running towards the hospital. Once,
she looked back and waved and in a moment she was swallowed up in the gloom. It
was quite dark now, and with my Summer gone, a feeling of dreadful loneliness
overcame me. I must have gone out of my head lying there in the road because the
next thing I recall was discovering that the clot on my thigh had been dislodged and
blood was again spurting from the wound. I pressed my hand to the bleeding area and
after a while the bleeding stopped and I felt better.
‫ ﻯ‬Could I go on? I tried. It was all a nightmare - my wounds, the darkness, the road
ahead. My movements were ever so slow; only my mind was running at top speed. In
time I came to an open space where the houses had been removed to make a fire lane.
Through the dim light I could make out ahead of me the hazy outlines of the
Communications Bureau's big concrete building, and beyond it the hospital. My
spirits rose because I knew that now someone would find me; and if I should die, at
least my body would be found. I paused to rest. Gradually things around me came into
focus. There were the shadowy forms of people, some of whom looked like walking
ghosts. Others moved as though in pain, like scarecrows, their arms held out from
their bodies with forearms and hands dangling. These people puzzled me until I
suddenly realized that they had been burned and were holding their arms out to
prevent the painful friction of raw surfaces rubbing together. A naked woman
carrying a naked baby came into view. I averted my gaze. Perhaps they had been in
the bath. But then I saw a naked man, and it occurred to me that, like myself, some
strange thing had deprived them of their clothes. An old woman lay near me with an
expression of suffering on her face; but she made no sound. Indeed, one thing was
common to everyone I saw - complete silence.
‫ ﻯ‬I looked at my family picture from my jacket and told Sam what had happened. Of
course, he reacted like he heard that his dog died or something, but he just sobbed.
That was the first time seeing Sam cry. I never saw Sam cry. Not unless I began to cry.
Which I did. I hadn't cried until I looked back at the photo of me, my mom and dad.
Then without paying attention, a tear dropped on my photo. Showing me smiling
with my two front teeth missing. We cried on his bed top and then he hugged me.
That day, we felt the same way we never felt before. Lonely.

Chapter 8: Bond

“Susan; it’s Susan;” her real name was beautiful. It danced all around my head. But
the destination we were set at was dark, quiet and abandoned. I was in chains and so
was Summer. At least we could reach each other to hold hands. But that was after a
crime we did not commit. It was my brothers, Rick and James. My brothers grew up as
a bunch of trouble. Unlike me. How do I know them? You ask… well believe it or not I
was a part of that. It was claimed that in 2002, James and Rick were a devilish duo! I
was not the sort. I was only 3 months when a fire occurred and my mom saved me and
she left Rick and James with my dad because mom doesn’t trust dad with me. But
they are dead. But Rick and James escaped with me. In their hands. Tight. They had a
good inside them but they couldn’t see. They soon tossed me in a basket and ran
away. They had a good side at one point. and I knew it. Both brothers were really
good. Except James.
‫ ﻯ‬James was a center for the North Garden High School basketball team and he
seemed to be one with the wild based on the choices in life sports and future. To help
me. James’s grades have been going down lately and it didn't seem good. If he kept up
the coach said, “I'll kick you off the team and never let you play again.” That's scared
James. He wanted to play for Coach so badly he decided to skip all of his homework
for the week ran up to the coach and said “Look I really want to play for you please let
me on the team I'll get my work done as soon as this game is over.”
‫“ ﻯ‬Game?” The coach asked “Don't you mean season?” Coach talked to James and
had a big conversation.
‫“ ﻯ‬So…” James continued.
‫“ ﻯ‬So…” Coach repeated. “Can I be on the team?”
‫“ ﻯ‬How are your grades?”
‫“ ﻯ‬Who are you to ask?”
‫“ ﻯ‬The one who wants to stay on the team.” James looked at me, the coach and me
again. He was speechless. His grades weren't the best He wasn’t going to make the
team. I knew it.

Chapter 10: Similarity

The tray didn't just hit the floor. It crashed and smashed her lunch to pieces. I was
staring again. We all were, me, Marcus, John and Andrew, my classmates and good
friends. She stood stock-still and looked down at the food. Suddenly I got up and
moved towards her. I hadn't intended to, didn’t want to help her. I called to the
woman behind the counter. She closed her mouth and brought a cloth to clean up the
mess. I picked up food, put it on the tray. There was a soppy stain on her skirt and
through it you could see just how long and brown her hair was. Then she smiled at
me. A wonderful smile that creased up her worn face and totally surprised me. Wow. I
thought as she scurried away, to her table. I knew she liked me. She called me to her
table for a minute and told me that she’ll come to my house. She knocked on my door
the next day and introduced herself. I was scared to figure out how she knew where I
lived.
‫“ ﻯ‬Lindsey Grey,” she said. “Linn for short.” I held out my hand. “Winter
McKnight.” I said. Instead of shaking my hand Linn literally leaned over and kissed
me on the nose, and giggled. This was the third girl that has kissed me. Maybe
because of the grey eyes. That’s what Autumn thought when she started dating me.
“Why don’t you come inside so we can chat, ok?” I said. She came inside. Her long
brown hair touched my skin. I never felt anything like this. I was hypnotized. “Who’s
this?” Linn asked. “Oh just my mom and dad.” I answered. she sat on my sofa,
crossed her legs and said “Explain.” I told her about my mom, Ella. She was a nurse at
North Garden Hospital. She died with my father. I remember she would give me
kisses on my cuts when I was eight and gave me surgery to insert a lung. (Long story).
My dad Noah was tough! He works as a police officer and almost arrested me! Lindsey
didn’t miss a beat. Then she motioned me upstairs to my room hours later. It was 8:
30. She headed in the bathroom and got undressed. When she came out, she was in
her undergarments with a tanktop and her best looking shirt. She looked like she was
going to sleep. We were. It was late. (Unless you were one of those crazy people who
stay up at 9:00.) She told me to lay on my bed and go to sleep. I did. Lindsey, still
wrapped around me, tight, I heard breathing, then a snap of a camera. I got up as
soon as I heard the camera.
‫“ ﻯ‬What was that?” I asked. Lindsey was confused. She got out of bed slowly. I went
into the lounge and turned on the lights. I picked up the telephone and then put it
down deciding not to call the police due to stalking. I looked around for an address
book, but couldn't find one anywhere. On top of the television set, there were some
old family pictures set in silver-plated frames. I soon crossed to them and picked
them up one by one. putting them in a certain organization, trying to find the camera.
I looked back at Linn, who now had an outfit on and said “Look, you know I have
someone already. You can’t be doing this stuff to me, ok?” She was upset and looked
like she was about to cry. No no, don’t cry! I hate when people cry. It makes me cry. I
gave her a hug that says. “I still like you, but can we just be close friends?” I gave a
suggestion. “Why don’t you stay for a while?” I asked. Linn wiped her tears “Sure. For
a few weeks. Ok?” I smiled. “A few weeks is all I need.”
‫ ﻯ‬A few weeks later, I had decided to let her stay and I set up her room in the guest
bedroom for the nights ahead. I came to my kitchen and I smelled something
wholesome. “Is that eggs?” Linn took those cheesy delectable scrambled eggs from a

clean pan and set it on a plate on the table, next to a cup of orange juice. Cut with
water. Just like I wanted it to be. We both sat down at the table and had our breakfast.
It was my first time actually having breakfast with someone besides my parents. She
read my mind. “So how are your parents?” I looked up, buttered toast in hand. “good.
” Lindsey looked to the left. “They look sweet.” She smiled.
‫“ ﻯ‬They were so kind, genero… wait, you see them too?” She nodded yes. YES! I’m
not crazy! I nodded to the food. “It’s good.” She giggled a little, acting jealous. I
started loving Lindsey. She’s not bad. “So where’d you come from?” I answered
quickly like a kid easily spelling a word on a spelling bee.“Highton Bridge,
Pennsylvania. You?”
‫“ ﻯ‬North Gardens, Virginia.” Days later, I finally realized Linn loves the outdoors.
So one day I took Lindsey for a walk in the woods. We stopped to the most beautiful
tree ever seen. It’s leaves so soft and the flowers, blooming so beautifully. This is it. I
decided to man up and ask, “Lindsey Grey, will you marry me?” Before she can
respond, the answer was in her face. Winter McKnight, and Lindsey Grey. Make that
Lindsey McKnight. Months passed and we soon got married. Our diamond rings
glistened in the sunlight.

Chapter 11: Blind

Summer’s bags were by the door. I didn’t understand. I tried to tell her “please don’t
leave. She looked divine. “See!” Summer replied. I tried grabbing her hand but she
was quick. I somehow got ahold of the photo though. I sat near the coffee table and
studied the miniature cubic rectangle that showed an image of me and my new wife
Lindsey. That’s when I perceived a crash and a thump of a tire. I ran outside and saw a
truck up in flames, and blood under the tire. I soon flipped over the picture and saw a
quote.
You can gather as many leaves as you want but one will actually flip over.
I couldn’t understand then I heard a knock on the door. Five ladies were there at the
door. I think they were friends of Linn. They introduced themselves. They were in
school clothes. April, May, June, July, and August. I took a good look at the ladies. I
showed them the way in. After talking to them. I made a chart in my head. I learned a
lot about them. August was the youngest. She seemed to have blue eyes and blonde
hair and a bow. She seemed hyper and loved reading. April I believed was the oldest
and from my perspective, the smartest. She had brown, blonde hair and black eyes
covered with another set of silver circular eyes. She seemed wise but very quiet. May
and June were the youngest. May had black hair and June had blonde yellow hair. They
always had smiles on their faces. Most of all, they loved giving and receiving hugs.
They were the softest and most loving of the bunch. Last of all, there was July. July
was an odd one out but she was shy. She also loved giving hugs but something about
her made me like HER the most. So I crossed my fingers behind my back. She was the
second youngest and she had green hair and the most beautiful purple eyes you ever
saw. May, June, and July motioned for a hug. So I did. I felt safe. I knew Summer was
dead. Or so I thought. I saw her coming to my door. I hugged her in delight. She was a
little dirty though. It didn’t matter because she was here and I was happy. Autumn
came down and hugged Summer as well. Everyone did. I then shook hands with
Summer and apologized about Lindsey. She didn’t mind because she was too busy
crying. “Oh! You found my friends.” Summer said nodding to the five girls on the
couch.
‫“ ﻯ‬Oh sorry about the Lindsey thing.” I murmured scratching my head. Summer
accepted my apology. “Here.” she said, handing me a small envelope. It’s actually
been awhile seeing one. Instead of seeing what was in the letter, Summer caught a
glimpse of writing on my left leg. “ What are you looking at?” I asked calmly.
“Nothing.” Summer quickly responded. The writing inscripted a tag name. Another
knock. A boy with black hair came to me and shook his hand with my right after
stating his name. “Danny Brown.” Just then Danny invited me to his house to talk.
“My girlfriend said there was something on my leg and I didn’t understand. Could you
check it out?” Danny gasped. He pulled up my pants leg sleeve and words formed. It
read Patient Eleven. “Patient Eleven?” Danny grabbed a sack and placed it over my
head blinding me. I then heard the engine of a truck go off. He took the sack off and
we were in the middle of a desert road “You are the one, Brother Winter. You are now
a Chosen, one of many Huntress. I am an Ancient Chief, I have seen the Unknown for
years to come.” It was my turn to gasp. “What’s the Unknown?” Danny nodded his

sorry little head. He handed me an audio player. “Listen to it.”

‫ ﻯ‬Welcome to Seeking for dummies. The Unknown is a new breed of a human species. The
Unknown can live long but can die faster than Normals or humans. If a Normal dies, the
Unknown spectrum of the Normal will appear. If you want a Normal to live once more, you, the
Seeker, has the ability to bring the Unknown back to the Normal . Be warned though, if a
Seeker dies, they can’t touch the Unknown. That means no healing. If you’re a new Seeker,
you’re a Patient. There are five classes of Seekers, Chosen, Chosen Chief, Ancient Chief, Ancient,
and Preacher. Ancients are the long lasting Seekers who have a decent amount of Unknown
knowledge, while Chosens do not. Chiefs of each class are the leaders

‫ ﻯ‬May had gotten worried about my disappearance as she tried to reach out to hug
her scared friend June. April was busy reading a book. “Well, we can’t find Winter just
by standing here.” July rolled her eyes. “Thanks Sherlock.” Autumn and Summer had
been calling me trying to reach me. Nothing. Sam tried to go to the Realm’s
townhouse and spot me by sending dozens of Unknowns. Nothing. I plugged my
headphones back in and listened to track two of Seeking for Dummies.

‫ ﻯ‬Welcome to track two of Seeking for Dummies. By the way my name is Calvin Small.

‫ ﻯ‬That name shock me.

‫ ﻯ‬If you’re an Ancient Seeker, raise your hand.

‫ ﻯ‬Danny did as Calvin was told. It was like he was controlling him. Was he a
Preacher?

‫ ﻯ‬Ancients like the ones raising their hand, are able to go to the Realm. The Realm is a place
for the Unknown, not Normals. Chiefs of the Ancient creed, can warp back into Wisps, or from a
ghost to a human without death. Don’t let a Normal see you do it though. Why? Luke “Lucky”
Goldstone.

‫ ﻯ‬Danny paused the audio tape and focused on the road. “I don’t wanna hear that
name ever again.” he cried “What, Luke? What’s wrong with that name? It’s a good
one.” Danny pressed the brakes. “Don’t you see Winter?” He showed me his leg. It
was gone. Replaced with a prosthetic one. “What? He cut your leg?” I asked not
caring. “No. He killed my friend. He was an innocent Chosen. Luke Goldstone killed
an Unknown. He even used his bare hands and killed him slowly.” “Was he an
Unknown?”

‫“ ﻯ‬No. He’s Forgotten.”

Chapter 9: Opposite

Before we met, you showed me your diary.” That is what Summer said about me. I
read on I had to:

‫ ﻯ‬I must confess that I am still confused by this sequence of events, as, I imagine, you must be
confused by my decision to leave your life so suddenly. I've gone over everything in my head
time and time again and I can't shake the feeling that, somehow, everything got mixed up.
Though this may seem a flimsy reason to you, it is reason enough for me. I don't understand, so
I'm going to leave.Before we met, you showed me your diary and then we were having sex on
the wooden floor of your living room. I still remember the way the plants filtered the sunlight
and the sound of the tea kettle building up steam. Then our son was at the foot of the bed,
asking me where you'd gone. "I don't know," I told her, "I expect I'll be back soon." Today I
went into your study and found that you'd converted it into a gallery. The first photo of every
roll of film we'd ever had developed was there, somewhere. I found that I could date everyone,
even the ones that hadn't happened yet. They seemed to go on forever, a jumbled mess of
happy memories, each one partially obscured by blinding white light. I knocked over a jar full
of tacks but when I went to pick them up I was overcome with vertigo and I had to leave.

‫ ﻯ‬We were making desperate love in your basement when you told me about space time. You
said that the future is just as real as the past. You told me that just because you aren't there yet
doesn't mean it isn't real. You said it was like Baghdad still being real when you're in London.
You talked about personal time and light cones and folding space and I didn't understand
anything except the way that your breasts moved and the way your breath misted in the cold.
Then we were on a roller coaster and you were screaming and you said, "This is what it's going
to be like all the time." A balloon seller lost hold of his wares and they floated majestically into
the sky. It was beautiful. After you introduced yourself, we resumed our date and I asked you
again why you'd chosen a drive-in. You told me that you had a special soft spot in your heart
for B-movies. You said that there was something endearing about the earnestness of it all. You
said that they called out to our imaginations in a way that big budget films can no longer
achieve. You said that all science fiction - no matter how dismal - was optimistic in that it
assumed that there would be a future at all. We were in a board room and you were explaining
to the assembled group of investors about the Machine. They were smiling and nodding. They
didn't really understand but experts had told them that your idea showed promise and, after
all, a war was on. The coffee tasted terrible and I kept fidgeting in my seat. You were radiant.
No one thought to ask what would happen if the Machine broke.

‫ ﻯ‬Today, I watched an egg assemble itself on the kitchen floor. It made a strange popping
noise as the last bit of eggshell attached itself. It flew into the air up and up and then came to
rest on the counter. A helicopter roared overhead and our son came in and told me he was
scared. I didn't know what to tell him. The war has begun and no one can say how or when it
will end. I remember your reaction when you read this letter. I remember how the last line,
where I say "we weren't meant to live like this," brought a tear to your eye and you turned
away. But how could you explain? What does 'gone' mean? Then we were lying together under
the stars and when the first fireworks went off, you leaned over and kissed me for the first time.
You tasted like popcorn. I can't blame you for choosing a new boyfriend. When you finally came
back, you were younger. That was the hardest for both of us, I think. We didn't share the same
memories anymore. You held me and told me that it would be alright, that you had hardly
changed but I think that we both know now that that wasn't true at all. Time changed people.
That's how it worked. Today, I went down to the basement and stared at the Machine. I can still

remember the day you turn it on. How could you not? It was the most important day of your
life; to make me happy. You saved us from the enemy and ended the war. You asked me to stop
it. There's nothing I can do. The future is just as real as the past. There is no before or after
anymore. Because of you, there never was. We weren't meant to live like this.

I cried at night. I knew what Summer’s parents were like now.

Chapter 12: Solution

Is that like another breed of Seekers?” I asked Danny in curiosity. His answer made
me take back my question. “Luke Goldstone is a danger to us Seekers. The Forgotten
are mortal enemies disguised as Seekers. You know the rule, right?” I nodded my
head no. “There are three, actually. One: Don’t die. Two: Don't come in contact with
Forgotten; ever. Three: Never revive Forgotten. Even if you think they’re one of us,
think again. See how fun it is to be a Seeker?” Danny smiled sarcastically. Just then
an injured boy was on the road. He looked like Dean. We were about to run him over
when Danny stopped. I hopped out and headed for the boy. Just as the boy wailed and
moaned his last sound, an Unknown appeared. It was graceful. “My first Unknown
interference.” I mumbled to myself. I tried touching the spectrum. I braced for falling
on the dirt, but I didn’t. I actually stayed standing. I then bought the Unknown back
to the boy. When awoken, the boy asked, “Did God give me a second chance?” Dean
wanted to join because he needed to go home due to the lack of help. I gave up the
passenger seat for Dean so he can have the AC. Just to be nice.
‫ ﻯ‬Sam rushed back to the girls as fast as he can floating through the scented air of
my living room. “I think I’ve got something you’ll really enjoy.” Sam kept blabbing
about how excited he was to tell the girls. that’s when Summer got frustrated.
“Dammit Sam! Stop making my ears bleed.” Autumn, April, May, June, July, and
August gathered. “So?” Summer urged. May interrupted. “How can you understand
him?”
‫“ ﻯ‬I’m an Ancient ” Summer replied.
‫“ ﻯ‬Oh.” May answered. Sam finally blabbed about the kidnapping. “We were there.
” Sumer nodded. “Winter’s been taken to the Preacher to…” Summer finished her
brother’s sentence out loud to everyone in my living room “To start the Feeding of
Forgotten.” Sam’s ghost fainted and Summer caught him. Sam got back to his feet.
“While I was searching for Winter in the Realm, I saw an old Unknown man wailing.
He cried two words…” Summer finished the sentence again, but this time in shock
“Free us” “Wait, how do you know what I was going to say? He thought for a while
“I’m your big sister so I had to look after you since our parents died, remember?”
Autumn interrupted the Harris’ argument. “I told Winter that same thing. To warn
him” “Warn him for what?” Summer asked. “Feeding of Forgotten. It’s a trap!”

Chapter 13: Enemies

It was quiet, in the bedroom. Very quiet. All you could hear were kisses. Just silent
kisses. So silent I couldn’t hear a thing. Well I did hear one thing, a song. the ticking
of the clock. A special clock who sang a special song. It made me go to sleep last
night. I looked up at the ceiling of the house. The ceiling of the bedroom. I looked up
and saw where the kissing was from. The kissing was from an old AC. It was kissing
me with cold icy air. So cold, it could freeze me up at night. Dean slept calmly next to
me on the air mattress. It was cold, very cold. It had a number seventy seven next to
it. Atop my bed, a seventy seven hung. By my bedside, there was a wall which was
surrounded by brick. A room was formed out of the wall and three more. I closed my
eyes hearing the sound of the ticking. I felt kissing of the AC to my left and ticking to
my right. I fell asleep for a few minutes then woke up from my dreaming. The ticking
was still going on and the AC cooled me down. But I felt like something was missing.
How was I going to get tucked in? Now that mom’s dead I feel scared and alone. Just
then Danny came in to check on me in the guest bedroom where Dean and I kept our
slumber. He didn’t knock. Dean still slept. “Hey, you alright?” were the first words
he’d said. I nodded my head yes and said the exact word of my head’s movement.
“Yeah, fine.” He turned on the light switch and asked “you sleepin’ alright?” “Yeah,
fine; why’d you ask? Are you gonna tell me something I don’t know; because after
being taken and brought to this house and all, I’m lost. ” . “Why am I here again?” I
confusingly questioned. Danny came close and whispered in my ear two words that
made my Unknown die, The Test. It was to see if you could survive the Feeding of the
Forgotten. It is said that if you die, you’ll be infected with Forgotten blood or in a
Seeker’s terms, The Missing. It will turn you Forgotten. Danny then pulled out a small
journal that looked like it was left in a fire. It had a date. 2005. “See here. There are a
couple of Forgotten out there except for one.” I took a peek at the journal. “There’s
the Brute, the Morpher, the Silent and the Jumper.” I was confused. I repeated the
phrases. Brute, Morpher, Silent and Jumper. “How do you tell them apart?” Danny
nodded his sorry little head. “Colors. Red is Brute, blue is Morpher, yellow is Silent,
and green is Jumper. Remember that. It’s useful.” He closed the door behind him.

Chapter 14: Memories

Down in the kitchen I saw water in the sink. Dishes and silverware of different sizes.
They were being washed by themselves by an open dishwasher on a nice day. I seen
this before. Fourteen years ago. Then I saw an Unknown. He wasn’t unrecognized, I
knew him. “Dad?” I said. He turned around. “Son?” I was surprised to see him in one
piece after the collision on Route 47. “You ok?” I asked. He nodded yes with no
contact to my face. Noah finally turned around. An eyepatch on his left eye seemed to
be placed. Suddenly two boys came into the kitchen. The one one the left snickered
and replied to the right: “Well, if is isn’t the lone wolf. How long has it been brother?
Fifteen years ago?” I finally recognized them. Rick and James. I was surprised to see
them survive under such quandary after the fire. “Fourteen actually.” I replied. I tried
to get the Forgotten phrases out of my head. “I’m thirty two. you two should know
that. Rick, you're twenty six and James, you’re twenty four.” The clueless brothers
looked at each other. Rick spoke up first. “How’s the girl you been goin googly eyes
for? Where’s she? I wanna meet her. Now!” No was my answer. James got frustrated.
“No dummy! Where is she?”
‫ ﻯ‬I pointed to the couch. Autumn was there watching television. America’s Story.
The same America’s Story I had to sit through in History in High School with Mr.
Grayson; periods 6, 7. James and Rick saw nothing. nothing but couch. James
scratched his head and gave me a look calling me stupid. “You are stupid. There is
nobody there. Maybe it’s a figment of your imagination. But to me, nothing.” Dad
came out of the kitchen with a plate in hand. Dad put a hand on my shoulder and
came to my ear. I could feel his large hands like a butterfly net catching an innocent
ant. “Lucky you” he replied. Dad took his left hand and shook Autumn’s right. “You
must be Autumn Green. She didn’t answer. She just smiled. Rick and James thought I
was on drugs; but alas, I wasn’t. As Autumn came into the kitchen, she gave me a hug
and decided to help Noah with the dishes.
‫“ ﻯ‬I remember when I helped Dad with dishes.”
‫“ ﻯ‬What the heck is going on!” James yelled in a dishonest way. Rick tried to calm
his scared brother down. Weird. I never saw James this scared. Except for when last
summer arrived and we went to the zoo. When Rick and I got along, We loved to play
pranks on James. He has a major phobia of spiders. So Noah took us to the zoo to view
all kinds of different animals. I then told James we saved the best animal for last. I bet
you can guess what we saved in store. Yes. Spiders. A whole room full of creepy
crawlies, big and small, hairy or not. Then a professional zookeeper came out with a
tarantula that didn’t bite. I think. We got to pet it and all. It even crawled on my hand
a few times. Everyone enjoyed the tarantula. Everyone except James. He was in the
corner staying quiet viewing the snakes not caring about the spiders.
‫ ﻯ‬When James calmed down he switched the subject and started asking questions
about Autumn and me going Bad Cop mode and things of that nature. I’m guessing
Rick was on my side because he asked James why he’s asking me questions about my
life. Isn’t my life supposed to be anonymous? Why does James have to go Sherlock
Holmes on me just about a girl? It’s not like he wants to date her. Or does he? We
decided to settle this in my bedroom.

‫“ ﻯ‬Are you ok?” I asked, scared.
‫“ ﻯ‬Rick, leave. Let’s have some brother quality time. Oh, and lock the door. Tight.”
I saw a yellowish shine in his eyes. James had a red strap on his right arm. Oh no.
“It’s just you and me now Winter McKnight.”

Chapter 15: Brothers

James wasn’t just Forgotten. He was a Brute. The toughest of them all. He swung his
left arm. “James!” I yelled in shock. “Get ahold of yourself!”
‫“ ﻯ‬Fourteen years looking after you. Fourteen years!” The Brute’s strength
combined with the Missing’s infectious energy and James a more muscular rotten
body. All in all he looked like the Hulk. But instead of green skin, rotten zombie flesh
replaced it. It was nasty in any way possible. He still had a red wristband on his right
arm. I wasn’t an Ancient Chief yet. I’m not even close. I couldn’t turn Wisp and warn
all Unknown. I was a Chosen Chief. All I could do was revive. I couldn’t warn all
Unknown but I did warn Autumn. She then faded away in fear. Before she diminished,
she yelled one word that awoke everyone in the house.
‫“ ﻯ‬Forgotten!” Dad and Mom came out with weapons, Dean came with an umbrella,
Danny came too. With nothing in his hands. Just like that Forgotten that killed
Danny’s friend. He was mad now. “Go to Hell!” he yelled. Those were the first words
before everything went for the worse. Everyone, big and small, dead and alive, brave
and cowardly fought the beast that consumed James’s heart, and appearance. James
was a good man. Brave, strong and one who won’t take no for an answer. The beast
now that once was James became frustrated and started smashing the floor of my
bedroom. I wasn’t thinking this through, but as soon as James knocked me from him
ready to charge again, I tackled him and we both landed in our backyard. I wanted to
do what bullfighters do and shout “Ole!” As he ran to the door; but I didn’t, I didn’t
want the fight to enlarge into our hallways. James, on the grass of our backyard tried
to get up but could not. I felt bad and tried to pull him up. Yes he looked like an ugly
freak who tried to kill us, but he’s my ugly freak. My brother. Brothers stick like glue.
They’re always by your side. James wasn’t on my side. But Rick was. “Finish this freak
of nature!” Rick yelled from my bedroom above us two. I didn’t want to but I had no
choice. I dug my hand into James’s chest. Slowly. “Sorry brother.” I then squeezed
James’s heart in front of him, In front of everyone. In front of me.
‫ ﻯ‬I had killed James Hamilton McKnight. I grab a shovel from the shed and dig a
hole big enough for my dead brother. Autumn came down and hugged me. “It’s ok.
You're going to be fine. Look at me. You’re going to be fine.” I didn’t listen. “What
have I become? Man or Monster?” I gently lay James into his new grave and bury him.
I had Breeder blood all over my arm. I didn’t want to be infected with the Missing. I
checked for a wristband. None. Phew. I thought I had to die now of the crime I
committed. Danny came down and saw my arm. “Wash that before the Missing gets
you. Do you wanna lay here with your brother?” I ran into the bathroom, washed both
hands just in case and I met Rick by the bathroom door as I left for a Q Tip. “You did
good brother, James was a good man. Annoying at times but good.”
‫“ ﻯ‬James is one of those guys who you could go to for extra help. Yes, he may be the
blunt knife in the drawer, but he's human.” I said the next day at our “Funeral”. “He,
” I continued. “was a good man. Brave, strong and one who won’t take no for an
answer” I bet in heaven James agreed to that. Or not. I didn’t know what I was capable
of. Killing James? I called it a crime. My dad just called it work that needed to be done.
At dinner, I feared that James’s Unknown might haunt me. “Oh! I’m telling Luke
Goldstone and all the other Forgotten about you, Winter. Soon, I’ll have my revenge.”

I worry for him to say that. My voice came to me and spoke.
‫“ ﻯ‬Congrats! You’re a serial killer! What’s next on your killing spree? Any specific
suspects?”
‫“ ﻯ‬I’m not a serial killer! I just…”
‫“ ﻯ‬Killed my brother. It’s ok. You can say it. I know I have.”
‫“ ﻯ‬What?”
‫“ ﻯ‬The point is that you seem to be in these crazy scenarios which ends up getting
someone killed. Look, Winter. I’m your voice, I know what’s going on in your head.
I’m technically living in it. Right?” I nodded yes. After drinking a couple cups of
Snapple, I had to think about what my voice had said. I called out to him. “Hey! I need
you!”
‫“ ﻯ‬What?”
‫“ ﻯ‬You may be right.”
‫“ ﻯ‬Told you, I’m technically living in your head. If this was a news report, You'd be
famous!” “Shut up. It’s good that you’re back though; but shut up!” I didn’t want to
hear about the event yesterday. All I want is a normal life. I took one last sip of tea
until the phone rang. It was from Calvin Small.

Chapter 16: Call

I slowly and nervously picked up the phone and answered in my “bravest” voice not
trying to sound like those announcers for like NBA games or like Super Smash Bros.
or anything. Just a normal, yet convincing, “Hello?” Calvin took a minute to respond
but alas he was finally here to talk. Calvin was acting odd lately though. I did not like
it at all. He finally answered.
‫“ ﻯ‬Yes, is this Winter?"
‫“ ﻯ‬Yup." I was still sipping some lemonade until it needed a little water in it. So I
added water. Now, sipping my mixed drink, Small began talking again.
‫“ ﻯ‬I came to inform you about your recent murder convicted on your brother." I
stopped drinking and finally spoke up; but not too loud so my family could hear.
‫“ ﻯ‬You listen here Squirt! I have a perfect life right now, A wife, people who care for
me, and a decent house. Yes, I may have lost a few things, but that doesn't give you
the right to just call random people and embed names like that to people for
convicting murder! You were always like my dad and even he knows better. But look
where he is now. I'll give you a hint: four letters, opposite of alive."
‫“ ﻯ‬Oh." he slyly replied. "I never knew you felt that way. All I was trying to do is
help you calm your nerves and make sure nobody finds out."
‫“ ﻯ‬Well , I got news for ya. Mission failed. My parents saw it, my siblings saw it,
well, one of em. My girlfriend saw it."
‫“ ﻯ‬Wait. Wasn't your girlfriend killed, isn't she like, pronounced dead?"
‫ ﻯ‬I stopped dead in my tracks and dropped my glass on the floor of my kitchen.
Then he said something that made me worry.
‫“ ﻯ‬If you're an Ancient Seeker, raise your hand." I forcefully did as Small said, and
so did Danny; Then he finally snickered. "You're in my stage now and you Ancients
are my marionettes. All I want to do is talk."
‫“ ﻯ‬Fine" I sighed, "What is it?"
‫“ ﻯ‬Pretty simple you see..."
‫ ﻯ‬All he wanted was dinner at seven. Dinner? At his house? That’s weird. Usually he
doesn't invite guests, unless his guests include his relatives.

Chapter 17: Dinner

Mom liked dinner served by other people because she doesn't like cleaning. Lindsey
came too. She held my hand on the way to the dinner party. I didn’t know what Small
was up to, but it was fishy. Just like the dinner he served us when we arrived hours
later. Salmon. “Welcome! It’s nice to have guests! I rarely do.” He welcomed every
single person that walked through his door. Making them feel welcome. Something
was especially fishy. He started acting nice all of a sudden. Calvin's two boys, Lucas
and Isaac came down. I forgot Calvin was a father. A dad. “Daddy,” Isaac told his
father. “We wanted to let you know that we need your help for something.”
‫“ ﻯ‬Don’t you see I’m a little busy with my dear friends?”
‫ ﻯ‬Dear friends? I thought. Since when did Small call us dear friends?
‫“ ﻯ‬Maybe he turned a new leaf.” Autumn mentioned. I forgot she was in my head.
“Is mom home?” Calvin asked his boys. They both nodded no. Calvin impatiently got
up from his seat. “Ugh. Come on. Excuse us.” As Calvin went upstairs, I let Autumn
unpossess me. She sat on an empty chair beside me. My wife cuddled by my side
comforting me.
‫“ ﻯ‬Ahem!”
‫“ ﻯ‬What?”
‫“ ﻯ‬Who is this?” Autumn asked. “My wife, Lindsey. Is there something wrong?”
She didn’t answer. I then lowered my voice.
‫“ ﻯ‬I’m sorry.” I replied kissing her forehead, stroking her hair, getting that feel.
She smiled. Her hair seemed soft. It was always soft. Just then I heard footsteps. Not
Small’s, Isaac’s, or even Lucas’s. My wife still sit in her seat cuddling me like a
newborn but this time, in a scared way. The footsteps came closer. “Miss me?” It was
James! In Small’s body? “Calvin is dead!” I yelled. As me and James fought, Summer,
Dean, Mom, Dad, Rick, Sam, and Autumn rushed upstairs. Sam, Mom, Dad, and
Autumn just passed through the roof of the first floor. Summer and Dean had to run
upstairs. Lindsey stayed with me trying to be brave. James punched me in the
stomach, I jabbed him in the face. He choked me making me not breathe, then got a
knife and stabbed my heart. I tried to pull it out until he reached for my heart. He
slowly dug his hand into my chest. “Sorry brother.” James then squeezed my heart in
front of him. In front of everyone. In front of me… James had killed me. I was laying
on the floor. Heartless. Rick came downstairs and saw James with my broken heart in
his hand, and me dying. Slowly. Rick became mad he had took the knife and stabbed
James in rage. Summer came to me. All of my family did too. My wife held my hand.
“Before I…die, I wanted us to have… a… child.” That was my last word. My last
thought. I had died. Lindsey cried and then promised to meet me in heaven sooner or
later.
‫ ﻯ‬At the hospital, I had surgery done to replace my heart with a robotic one. It took
approximately three hours for it to place. I had to be knocked out. (I already was and
Lindsey called 911.) In the end, I lay there silent. I was technically turned robot. “Are
you ok?” The doctor asked. “Affirmative”

‫“ ﻯ‬He’s alright.” the doctor replied to my friends. As soon as he got the ok,
everyone seemed to rush in and check on me. “Do I look human?” I asked Lindsey.
She hugged me in delight. I was ok. Everyone greeted me, shaking my hand. As they
ended, the doctor ran some tests to get me on track. I needed to change my electric
motor every seven hours or else I’ll malfunction. The doctor invited Summer and she
invited Autumn to remind me about my likes, dislikes, favorite food, color, birthday,
age, weight, height, hair color and name. Now that I’m a robot, I don’t know about
Seeking, so Danny came and gave me the Seeking for dummies audio player as an SD
card and inserted it in the back of my head. As it soon entered my brain, I knew
everything about Seeking. “Well?” Danny asked. “Can you see the Unknown?” I
answered yes. I could happily see Autumn again. She had a ghostly face that smiled.
Seven hours later, I had to remind Lindsey to change my motor. As she opened a
trapdoor on my back and inserted the new motor for the hours ahead, she suggested
to drive us home. As we left, some of the stores we passed, I didn’t recognize. When
we got to my house, the first place to go was in my room to my computer. Four hours
passed and we prepared dinner and had it, put away dishes and cleaned. For dinner
we had chicken, penne pasta, and spinach. Another hour flew by while I was watching
tv. The last two hours passed when I was reading the mail. Signing checks, and
appreciating the notes my family had given me. “Motor replacement needed.” I
replied. Lindsey, in a calm tone, did what she had to do and discarded the old motor in
the trash. Just then a knock was on the door. I went to answer it. Calvin Small was at
the door. Lindsey was beside me. He looked at Linn. “If you excuse us, we need to
chat”
‫“ ﻯ‬Winter… I forgot to give you something. May I?” Calvin then took me to his van.

Chapter 18: Sanity

Calvin told me to call everyone I knew. So I did. I had to remind him that every seven
hours, my motor would have to be changed. As I finished calling my friends, Minutes
passed and Small shocked me as Lindsey came the abandon factory in quickly after. I
fell to the ground. My motor rolling out of my back. My SD card Danny gave me,
wiggled out of my head. My memory, gone. He then put me in a cell and started filling
it with icy water. Lindsey ran up to the cell and put her hands on the glass, trying to
break me out. “He’s a robot!” she sniffed. “Do you know what happens to robots
when they interfere with water?”
‫“ ﻯ‬I don’t know? More power?” Calvin suggested. “NO!” Lindsey appointed. “THEY
DIE!”
‫ ﻯ‬As Lindsey tried to free me from my cell, I became a powerless bunch of flesh. I
believe it was too late for Lindsey to try. She cried at my own watery grave, hoping I
had another chance to live. Alas, that did not happen. I float adrift in the watery pool
which turned to my resting place. Cold. Alone, and scared. Everything I had was gone.
Everything but hope. I just believe that inside this piece of metal they called Winter
McKnight, everyone sees me from inside. With that belief, I jerked my head up, my
eyes, demon red. Red with rage, anger and hatred. I busted through the glass with my
bear hands; wet from the water that still hugged my insides and out. “Lindsey.” I
replied to my wife. “I’m back.” As soon as Summer, Dean, Rick, Sam, and Autumn
arrived, the puzzle was complete in their brains. When Calvin saw the seven of us
together, he faked a tantrum of fear. “What’s he doing?” I asked. “When fear takes
control, bad things happen.” Autumn replied. “You done?” Calvin asked. He then
handed me a letter.
‫ ﻯ‬Dear son,
‫ ﻯ‬As your parents, we should let you know that the Realm is a good place for us to live as
Unknown. We heard about your death so now you're a robot? That’s pretty dang cool. After all,
that’s what you wished for, right? To be one of those Transformers you loved so much? What
happened then? Will you ever join us in the afterlife? I saw your girl’s Unknown here. She
seemed pretty nice. She heard you’re an Ancient Seeker now so good for you.
‫ ﻯ‬Love your parents, Ella and Noah McKnight
‫ ﻯ‬My parents? Alive? I thought that they were done for at the crime scene that
night. It was nice for them to keep in touch with me. Now they know I’m okay. I
think. After my “moment” Calvin told us to step on 7 colored squares. He said choose
your favorite colors. Out of the red, yellow, blue, indigo, violet, pink and brown
platforms, we all stood together. Summer chose red, Dean chose blue, Rick chose
yellow, Sam chose violet, and Autumn chose pink. It was our turn. I stood on brown
while Lindsey stood on indigo. Just then ghost proof glass cells covered us. Not again!
I thought. Water started filling. The machine started and Calvin left in a hurry. Before
he left he said. “Nice choice! It matches you! Hope to not hear any of you tonight!”

Chapter 19: Power

I couldn’t swim. That was proven at the lake. and now my motor would die and
nobody would be able to replace it. What have I done? I have put all my friends in
danger. To my left, I saw Autumn, who was helplessly floating, preparing to drown.
On my right, Summer, trying to rescue me. Everyone was. Hoping I would escape first
because I am Humanoid. Strong, knowledgeable, and powerful. But with my motor
gone and running out of juice, It would be the end. I never wanted it to end like this.
So I set myself to Rest Mode to erase my problems and fill them with memories I still
tried to hold inside.
‫ ﻯ‬After Lindsey said yes to my proposal, I was the happiest man ever. When I first
laid eyes on Lindsey. It was like that scene from that movie Love Actually. To be
honest, it was like it was from Romeo and Juliet made in 1968. After our wedding, we
had a reception and danced to even years old by Lukas Graham, my mother’s favorite
song and artist. She and her husband danced to the same song at their wedding. I
wanted to do the same. Follow tradition. In the end, we both drove in my Chevrolet
Equinox home on Route 47. The same route that my parents died on. Although it was
the happiest day of my life, I couldn’t drive here. I stopped, cried, and decided to turn
around. We came home hours later instead of fifteen or so minutes.When upon
arrival at my house, my wife lay sleeping on the head of the passenger seat. I let her
sleep there because she was in peace. I slept beside her at the wheel. In peace.
‫ ﻯ‬At the view of sunlight, I awoke in the passenger seat and Lindsey at wheel. She
saw me perk up and greeted me like any nice person should. “Good morning
sleepyhead!” I was still in my tuxedo but my wife in some cargo pants and a green T
Shirt. We drove for another hour finding breakfast. “How about IHop? They make the
best omelettes in town.” I suggested. I didn’t want Lindsey to argue so we pulled up at
the parking lot at IHop at seven o'clock. A waiter by the name of Dave saw us and
asked. “Table for two?” I nodded yes; and next thing you know, we are sitting by the
window near my Equinox. As soon as another waiter named Greg arrived he asked
about drinks. “Can I please have some coffee?” I asked.
‫“ ﻯ‬And for you ma’am?” Greg asked, notepad in hand.
‫“ ﻯ‬I’ll take what he’s having, thank you.”
‫ ﻯ‬Minutes later, our coffees arrived. Hot and tepid at the same time. It took a while
for it to cool down. When Greg came back, he asked for our orders. I asked for the
Hearty Ham and Cheese Omelette and Lindsey suggested the Bacon Temptation
Omelette. We both decided to share a plate of Hash Browns as well. Our omelettes
came another few minutes later. They were as hot as the coffee. I forgot to change my
clothes. I asked Lindsey to save my seat while I change. I came back with a plaid
button down, blue jeans and some Converses. By the time I sat down, my omelette
was bitten. “What?” Lindsey asked with a mouthful of ham and cheese. “I was
hungry.” After breakfast, I decided to take my coffee to go with me. We then drove to
our house. In happiness. We both knew we loved each other and it showed in our
facial expressions. Smiles. I held my breath one last time and busted the glass cell. If
not, me and my acquaintances. My wife. We were all going to drown together. And I

would be the cause. I pushed harder.

Chapter 20: Frozen

‫ ﻯ‬I gasped for air. I had made it! I frantically put my motor back inside, I inserted my
SD card, and everything else I needed for remembering my family. With everything
back, I busted Summer’s cell, then Autumn’s and they busted everybody else’s.I took
a while to manually insert something on your own that you never did before. I hugged
my wife. Hapilly. “It’s ok. I’m here.” As soon as everyone else escaped, Autumn
possessed me. “Good job out there! What made you do that?” I shrugged my
shoulders like I didn’t know the answer. “I don’t know.”
‫“ ﻯ‬There should be a good explanation for this.” I just shrugged again and hurriedly
ran out to the exit of the abandon factory. All eight of my friends followed. We
seemed to be in a friendly 2K. Jogging to the exit like there’s no tomorrow! Being free.
Like those moments when you just have to let it go. Speaking of which, when my
sister who’s gone now was around, she loved Disney. So as a gift, I took her to see
Frozen. She loved every moment, singing all of the songs and being enjoyable with
her life that once masked that inner shyness. Afterwards, My sister Mari would be
quiet as she grew. One night, she was sad that her parents were going away and
wanted them by her side. Tears dropped by her cheeks the next ten to fifteen
minutes. I crouched into a ball beside her, and sang her favorite song. “Do you wanna
build a snowman? Come on let’s go and play…” Mari was never this depressed. When
torturing my lungs singing rounds of “Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?” like a
broken record, Mari looked me in the eyes, smiled and said. “Thanks, brother. You
always make me smile. I like that.” Those were her last words before she moved with
her boyfriend Finn to Virginia Technical Institute for the months ahead. Now that
she’s out of my life, I’ve been secretly singing that same line “Do you wanna build a
snowman? Come on let’s go and play…” It still made me cry wanting to hear Mari’s
voice again. With that thought, I started crying while running. Just then it hit me.
After that line, everything changed. Everyone had made it out. Except me.

Chapter 21: Race

As my friends ran and floated I lay helplessly on the floor. My motor had run out of
juice. I didn’t pay attention. I was thinking about Mari. I put in the Lazy Motor.
Lindsey had to stop and replace my motor. After that, a voice bellowed in the air
commanding us all to stop in our tracks. “Where do you people think you’re going?”
Luke replied. I turned around to see Goldstone smiling at us eight. I was on the floor
in push up stance. Lindsey motor in hand. “That’s not how you do it!” Luke replied.
“This is how.” He suddenly snapped his fingers and a horde of about twenty or so
Forgotten stand in a line all war like. Their shadowy shape overlapped their zombie
fleshed skin. All burnt like out of Hell’s Kitchen. I pictured them with trojan shields
and spears or something from a History textbook, but I couldn’t picture anything. My
motor’s not inserted. I’m still on Power Off. Just then a computerized woman whose
voice sounded like she was from the UK said: “SELF DESTRUCT SEQUENCE
AVAILABLE. CONTINUE?”
‫“ ﻯ‬No!” Lindsey cried. As the Forgotten army walked closer with Luke as their
leader, we were going to die. My wife and I. “Tell my parents, I’ll be on my way.”
‫“ ﻯ‬SELF DESTRUCT SEQUENCE AVAILABLE. 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… GOOD BYE.” A wave
of inferno pushed Lindsey back. I had exploded into bits. The Forgotten had
diminished so did all my Unknown friends. There was nothing left.
‫“ ﻯ‬And that is what would have happened if my motor didn’t get changed.” I
replied to my wife, still in push up stance. She still looked at me clueless. I raised my
voice. “PUT THE DARN THING IN!” She did so with no caring expression. When
inserted, I got up, I looked at my wife and said what my sister once did with a smile.
“Thanks, Lindsey. You always make me smile. I like that.” Her lips pressed into mine
and we kissed. Just as predicted, Luke came with his army of Forgotten. Forty. Fifty.
Sixty! Sixty Forgotten men stand all in a line. Thirty on both side. As we soon viewed
those enemies, Goldstone said something that scared all of us. Especially me. “Ready
men? Charge!” I hate getting chased by someone who tries to harm me. As the word
“charge” came out of Luke’s mouth I ran. I was fast. Not as fast as Usain Bolt, but
fast. I easily became tired halfway waiting for passersby. I couldn’t go any further.
Suddenly, cool mint chill possessed me and I felt Autumn’s warm hug but shook my
head to refuse the possession.

Chapter 22: Punishments

I ran in confusion away from the watery jail. away from Luke’s Forgotten army.
watching them slowly march like zombie hordes. Suddenly they stopped. The twenty
on the front left were Brutes and on back were Morphers. The front left were Silent
and back, Jumper. As soon as Luke said. “Ready men? Charge!” I ran. I was fast. Not
as fast as Usain Bolt, but fast. I was scared. I. Did. Not. Want. To. Die! Finally I did
something I later regretted. I came in contact with Forgotten and tried to punch the
creature in the face. It worked but it didn’t last. Groups of Brutes surrounded me. This
was the end. Just then cool mint chill possessed me again and I was dragged to the
exit. “What the HELL were you doing Genius?” Autumn was mad at me for facing a
Forgotten. Not only did I: (A) Break a rule, I (B) Put my loved ones in danger. Autumn
tried to slap me but she faded so she possessed Summer and Summer did it for me.
Just then Calvin Small appeared. “You are DEAD MEAT MR.MCKNIGHT! Not only did
you break a rule. You would have lost your Seeking privileges.”
‫“ ﻯ‬But… ” I tried to say.
‫“ ﻯ‬No! You are Suspended!” With that I became Normal and Autumn was out of my
view. I sat there on my knees helplessly and looked up at Summer. “At least your not
a Seeker, right?”
‫“ ﻯ‬Well…” She started to say. “Never mind.” I replied. For the next few days. We
drove home in Danny’s Honda Odyssey. I sat in the back and thought about my
privileges. Just then, Autumn reappeared. I thought I lost this! I thought. I also
thought Autumn was here to make me say “I’m Sorry.”
‫“ ﻯ‬You broke a rule.” Autumn replied. “Now you will never see me again. Goodbye
Winter. I love you.” That’s what Summer told Autumn to tell me.

Chapter 23: Protection

Autumn. Gone? This was worse than my thoughts. My girlfriend that I loved so much
is now taken away from me. Why? I still can’t seem to believe it. How could this have
happened? Why her? Why, just why? I just wished she didn’t die. It was that drunk
truck driver that ran her over. If he was here, I would kill him and tell him, “Why’d
you do it? Why did you kill my girl? My only love?” If he was here, I would kill him and
not come to his funeral. If I was put in jail for this, I’ll say my reason is that he killed
my girlfriend. My love. I just wish that if he gets away with this, I’m coming for him.
And I want revenge. That doesn't make sense though, why would he kill Autumn and
not care? I’m not old enough to but I should confront him in court. Lindsey sat beside
me when we stopped for Denny’s, my favorite restaurant as a kid. I didn’t eat my
omelet that I always eat. Lindsey didn’t either. She feld bad about my loss. “Why are
you so sad?” She asked me when we packed to take our things to-go. I pointed to the
table for two by an old painting and said, “There is where we had a thing. Where we
liked each other. Our first date.” I grabbed Lindsey’s purse and handed it to her. Since
the Unknowns were gone, Me, Lindsey, Danny and Summer were the only ones in the
Odyssey. I sat next to Lindsey in back. I took out a notebook and found an entry from
our first date.
‫ ﻯ‬3/15/04
‫ ﻯ‬After meeting this Autumn girl, I started liking her. Secretly, I wanted to be her boyfriend. I
was just too shy to confront my inner feelings. Because I liked Autumn, I took her on the first
and last date of my life. I loved going to Denny’s so I took Autumn there. That was the first time
I ever saw her smile. Especially in public. I laughed. Then she did the same. She displayed every
nice emotion. On that day, Autumn was the girl for me. I walked her home because I didn’t
have taxi money and I was trying to protect her from anything in the night. As we came to the
front yard of her home, she thanked me with a kiss. Not any kiss. A kiss that said. “Thanks for
everything.” At her door jingling the keys of her house, she opened the door calmly. When the
door was open ajar, she snuck in. Before entering she said “call me.” and closed the door of her
house. Yup. Autumn was the girl for me.
‫“ ﻯ‬But that was before…” I stated.
‫“ ﻯ‬Before what?” Lindsey asked, arm around me.
‫“ ﻯ‬Before Wyman Hill.” I replied. Wyman Hill was a man who would always carry a
shotgun. Some say he’s a duck hunter. Others say he’s psychotic and kills anyone
who messes with his shotgun or what he names Bessie. Every time I try to talk to
him, he’s too busy smoking his cigarette, drinking, or shooting. He’s the only one
who acts Hillbilly in our town of North Garden. He drives an old pickup truck and
looks as old as Mater from Cars. He seems crazy like he’s on flakka, a new drug found
in Florida. Hill killed Autumn and my parents. That was proven because at Autumn’s
death, Hill said he knew my family. He said he was a coworker with my dad at the
North Garden Police Force or NGPF. Four to five years have passed and Noah worked
with Wyman ever since. When one case occurred and Wyman had to investigate a
chemical plant warehouse while Noah and Ella scanned the body for the weapon used
to kill the victim Gregory King. Wyman hid the gun used to make holes in King’s

chest, pointed it at Noah first, and pulled the trigger. Wyman did the same for Ella.
He pointed it Ella second, and pulled the trigger. Unfortunately the event happened
on my birthday, the same day Autumn was ran over by the same pickup truck Wyman
drove. Wyman ran over my girl. When the newspaper came the next morning it read:
THIS JUST IN! MAN KILLS PARENTS AND TEENAGE GIRL ON SAME NIGHT! I went to
the NGPF today to ask if Wyman killed my parents, and Autumn. When I approached
the front desk, I spoke up. “Excuse me? Is my father here?” The guard spoke up “Kid!
You're not supposed to be in here! Where are your parents?”
‫“ ﻯ‬I’m trying to look for them.”
‫“ ﻯ‬What’s your name?”
‫“ ﻯ‬Winter Hamilton McKnight.” The guard looked at me in the eye and pulled down
his cap to his heart and said to me,
‫“ ﻯ‬Winter, right? Your dad, Noah McKnight is dead. He was shot. I believe your
mother was shot too, right? What’s her name…? Elise, Emma, Ellen…”
‫“ ﻯ‬Ella?” I said, heartbroken.
‫“ ﻯ‬Yeah. And we know who did it thanks to our surveillance system. His name
seems to be Wyman Hill.”
‫“ ﻯ‬Is Wyman dead?”
‫“ ﻯ‬No. Just in custody. Now, you should get home. ” The guard's second chief,
offered me a ride home. She led me to her car and drove me to my house, 108 Fifth
Street. “I’m sorry for your loss.” She replied as we arrived to the front yard of my
house.
‫“ ﻯ‬Have a good night.”
‫“ ﻯ‬You too.” I replied.
‫ ﻯ‬I couldn’t. I now know the truth. Lindsey leaned her head on my shoulder. I
stroked her hair. “Now you know it too Lindsey.” I told my wife as I held my family
picture of us three. I needed to get away from my parent’s deathly ashes so I needed
to move. It took me a while but I then decided on a two bedroom house in a quiet back
street near my parent’s. Well, it would have been quiet if the trucks hadn't used the
street as a bypass. It was certainly quiet when we saw it on the weekend. Actually it’s
a mile or two down. 476 Pine Road was our new address. It took some time to move
into the house. As the days progressed into weeks and weeks into months, and so on,
our new home would take shape. Lindsey and I were satisfied. Our house has smooth
brick exterior shielding us from inside. Inside, a tannish vanilla hugs the interior’s
walls. the trims of white display on both top and bottom of the walls. They are white
with little dots carved in pattern. The living room has two or three boxes marked:
CHILD’S ROOM. All three rooms are next to each other. All painted that vanilla color.
Hugging us inside. The rooms are like two feet away so when Chris begins to cry in the
middle of the night, we’ll easily change his diaper so he doesn't poop himself. But we
will cross this bridge when we come across it. Every room was set up. Except Chris’s. I
sat on the couch of the living room, drinking a cup of coffee; watching the news.

Lindsey is in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. Fifteen minutes later, her show came
on. At the same time, breakfast would be done. Lindsey sat my plate of scrambled
eggs, sausage and buttered toast on the table, looked at the TV and said “Oh! Nature’s
Greatest is on!” Oh brother. Here she goes again. Nature’s Greatest is like Planet
Earth but less animal.
‫ ﻯ‬Months of planning for Chris’s arrival came When Lindsey gave me the news. We
headed to North Garden Hospital, trying to keep Lindsey calm and possibly, alive. I
sped the twenty mile limit on the Hornerstown Park Highway and I saw red and blue
lights flying behind me. I slowed down to let the cop pass when in reality, it was for
me. The officer had to stop me on the shoulder of the road. I was in trouble. I started
to cry. On the inside I was dead. On the outside I stayed strong. “Excuse me…” I
started. The officer asked me for my license, if I was drinking, on any drug, or doing
anything drug related. All I said was that I was heading to the hospital because my
wife was pregnant. The cop was speechless and nodded his head. “I understand.
Don’t let it happen again.” With that, he handed me a ticket. I shoved it in the
glovebox and was on my way. An hour or two later we were in the parking lot of the
hospital which was apparently closer called Diamond City Medical Center. As soon as
I entered the main office, the doctors knew what to do. Before Lindsey left I said,
“Call me.”
‫ ﻯ‬It was silent after Lindsey left with my new son, Chris. A few days later, the call
from Lindsey came in. I rushed to Diamond City Medical Center to see my son. I went
to the information desk. When they saw me the doctor said, “You must be Mr.
McKnight. She’s in room 4B. I entered slowly and to my surprise, viewed a baby girl.
“Piper. Her name’s Piper.” Piper? A girl? You spent all those boy toys for nothing? I
thought. Piper was like an angel. Her steel grey eyes were resembling mine. “Can she
see them?” I whispered. “The Unknown?”
‫“ ﻯ‬Piper’s just born, She doesn't know.” Lindsey said.
‫“ ﻯ‬Aww. She’s adorable. She can see me. I know she can.” Autumn interrupted
quickly. Her ghostly figure wiggling her fingers in front of Piper’s face making baby
sounds. Months anon, I had to bring Piper home in her car seat. I thought how
amazing it was to have a daughter. Piper McKnight. To think about it made me feel
good. “And she could see me and your family too.” Autumn replied, arm around
Piper, kissing her cheek softly. “You’ll make a good Seeker. I know it.” With that, we
came home and had our first party. Together. Piper said her first word on her birthday
years later. “Dada?” I recorded every moment and shared it with everyone else.
Including Lindsey. When she arrived, a necklace with a color of amethyst was shown.
It represents royalty, nobility and luxury. Autumn appeared and said “Dearest Piper,
You will always be a part of me and with this necklace, I’ll be here.” As the days grew
older, so did our daughter. From princess themed parties at age five to twelve year old
bowling parties and finally her sweet sixteen, Piper was growing into a young
woman… just like my mom. Her long ponytail covered the shining silver chain that
overlapped her neck, holding the crystal. Next morning came quickly as the alarm
clock beeped and signaled me to get up. Piper was already in the bathroom, brushing
her teeth, and doing her hair. Singing. I almost forgot I had a bathroom in my
bedroom and did the same as Piper. No singing involved. My wife got up and headed
downstairs. I could hear her footsteps. I smelled eggs and thought Linn was making
them, but to my surprise, it was Piper.

‫ ﻯ‬She set my food on the table, said good morning and kissed me on the cheek.
“Any news coming up?” I asked. “Sports, health, anything?” “No…” Piper started to
say until she redeemed herself. “There is a game coming up. At my school. It’s an
away game. After school actually. Entry is five dollars. Can I go?” Here she goes again,
yapping her lips till she can’t shut up. I tried to quiet her down. “Sure. What time
should I pick you up? You have a ride home?” Piper just nodded her head yes with
pride. “Now, eat your eggs before they get cold.” she demanded. “Yes Ma’am.” I
joked. With Piper in school and me at a new job called X Ecutive, things were turning
out good. As I came home today, I picked up pizza. Everyone at the McKnight
household had something to say.
‫“ ﻯ‬I saved a life!” said Lindsey.
‫“ ﻯ‬I got a raise!” I replied after.
‫“ ﻯ‬I got in a fight!” Piper said hoping for excitement. “You what?” I questioned.
“Got in a fight. The best part? I won!” Piper excitedly responded. “Isn’t that great?”
‫“ ﻯ‬Are you okay?” “Yes mom, fine.” We ate our pizza in silence. “How was the
game?” I asked heading for a pepperoni. “I didn’t go. The fight I had with this kid
named Luke Goldstone just made me change my mind for some strange reason. I
asked my friend Harry if he could record it. He did. He told me our team won.”
‫ ﻯ‬Autumn came back to me. “What is it?” Lindsey asked. “Did Piper just say Luke
Goldstone? That same one that almost killed you?” Autumn susurrate. Just then I
fainted. “I forgot to change his motor!” Lindsey replied. Now I know that Luke is in
proximity with my daughter, A Seeker. I needed to be a Seeker again. Now? I have to
wait. Wait in a Normal’s body. I also needed to save Piper. But first, let me wake up.

Chapter 24: Troublemakers

My father’s a ROBOT? Awesome.” Piper responded with glee. “He’s kind of like the
Terminator now, but weak.” She looked at me. “No offence.” As I got to my feet, I
almost forgot about Piper and asked, “Who is this delicate creature? Is it one of us?” I
sounded smart. Just like CP30 from Star wars, but not that smart. Lindsey made sure I
was okay then turned the dial from Pure Genius to Normal. “Darn it.” I said, “I
wanted to be Pure Genius.” “You can’t have everything your way” Lindsey reminded
me. As she screwed the last bolt and made sure it was in place, I was ready to go.
“Were you? Were you really?” My voice was different. It sounded like a british
teacher. Age twenty six perhaps. I looked at my plate and motioned for me to get back
to eating. I remember how smart I was. Rick was smart too; but James wasn’t. James
found out the hard way.
‫ ﻯ‬James was a center for the North Garden Grizzlies, our basketball team. James
made sure that all of his fellow “grizzlies” work to dominate the opposing team.
James was referred to be the Alpha of the pack. When the team rehearsed their
defensive drill, James had to make the others get drinks of water due to his power. His
coach, Mr. Jackson smiled, patted James on the back and said, “ Stop making my team
work. That’s my job.” James wasn’t smart. To be honest, he was dumb. Not stupid but
dumb. He cared more about sports than us two and our schoolwork, That was a major
problem. Although James handed in his homework, his quiz and test results didn’t
prove that he did. His grade decreased day by day. From B- to C+ and C+ to D. James
just says: “I tried.”
‫ ﻯ‬She nodded her sorry little head.“I tried doesn't work, mister. Ella said, holding
James’s report card. Containing a C- for every other class besides one. Gym. Ella took
a look at me and Rick’s report cards. Both contained a solid A. At least one B but still a
solid A. That was for me and Rick’s report card. For James’s? a C-. For our celebration,
Ella asked us where we wanted to go. “Hometown Buffet!” We both said in unison.
“Can I go? I need to eat too you know.” James moaned.
‫“ ﻯ‬There’s some pasta you could heat up in the fridge. Call that dinner.” Ella
responded getting her coat.
‫“ ﻯ‬Are you saying?” James started. We closed the door in James’s face At the buffet,
I kind of felt bad for James. All he had was chicken alfredo, some juice, and bread.
Nothing else. I wanted to do something. I snuck a sugar cookie under my shirt and
asked Ella if I could get one myself to go. She said yes. When I came home I gave
James the second cookie and he gobbled it up quickly, cleaning his face up right after.
I awake in a bed which sits in the corner of the left two walls in the back next to a
massive window with sunlight bleeding through the four clear squares stacked two by
two. The room is different. It’s not even mine. It’s not the guest bedroom because it
doesn't have that vanilla painting on the walls. It’s ocean blue. Is this my house? I
thought. I yelled for my wife. “Lindsey!” I did the same for my daughter. “Piper!” The
room I was in was filled with old furniture Things you may find in a yard sale. Wierd. I
thought again, I’m sure I unpacked this. All of it. I felt scared now. Alone. In some
stranger’s room. Even worse, their house! I didn’t want to ruin anything. It was like I
was reenacting Goldilocks and the Three Bears. I slowly stepped out to the hallway. I
then walked to Piper’s room. It was so neat. So tidy. So… so…

‫“ ﻯ‬Dad?” Piper asked. “What are you doing in my room?” I put down the item I was
once holding which was a family photo of us three and stole the photo and left the
frame on the nightstand. I looked Piper in the eyes and apologized. I rubbed my eyes
and looked back to the Guest Bedroom. The walls weren’t the ocean blue color, it was
vanilla. The normal color that I liked. It seemed right. I ran to the living room and
grabbed my coat for work. I was late. I did not want to run all the way to the bus but I
had to. I said goodbye and ran out of the house in a haste. I looked at the photo and
put it on my desk when I came into the X Ecutive office building. I handed my story to
the editor and he approved. He had handed me another letter and wanted ME to
answer it.

‫ ﻯ‬Mr. Young, My name is Abigail. Abigail Greene. As you know, I have to write this to explain
my complaints about the newspaper and I have a bunch to say. Let me start by saying your
stories sound like a lullaby They are so boring they make me want to go to sleep… I look
forward to hearing from you as soon as possible to resolve this problem. If I do not hear from
you within four days I will file complaints with the appropriate consumer agencies and
consider my legal alternatives. I am enclosing copies of my receipt. I may be contacted at the
above address and phone number.

‫ ﻯ‬I didn’t know what to say so I started writing Abigail back,

‫ ﻯ‬Dear Mrs. Greene I can see that you are mad at Mr. Young. It’s not his fault. It was mine. I
am the editor of the North Garden Gazebo and my name is Winter McKnight and I apologize for
this error. My team and I will try to fix your errors.

‫ ﻯ‬Lost and scared, I never apologized to Autumn, I mean my client. It reminded me
of her. I just wish to see her again, Her face so smooth like a baby’s. Her voice, so
calm it was like listening to ocean waves crash onto shore. I love Autumn so much. I
just wish to see her again. I just want to feel her skin and run my fingers through her
hair, getting that feel. I want to look into Autumn’s steel grey and I want her to look
into mine and then we can both kiss. But I have Lindsey. Lindsey is an outstanding
wife. When I met her I was head over heels with her. I was in a good mood, so I invited
Linn to coffee. I was expecting her to make it, but with the promotion and everything,
she would come ten to fifteen minutes later.

‫ ﻯ‬She did.

‫ ﻯ‬That was okay though. At least she looked beautiful. Her long hair that was once
the size of a rope was cut to the bottom of her neck. The worst part? It wasn’t brown.
It was dark blonde. I completely forgot about the anniversary gift I was going to give
her and pointed out her hair. “Lindsey? What did you do?” I tried to say “yes” but
inside tells me “no” to her question afterwards. I hate choices. I just took a deep
breath and said: “Look, I like what you did but couldn’t you let me know next time?”
She nodded ok. We drank our coffee in silence. I bet she wasn’t in the mood for an
expensive 69.99 hair curler she always wanted. It’s no use now.

Chapter 25: Movies

We drove home in silence to the tune of Seven Years Old. I didn’t feel like singing.
Today, the X Ecutive office needed me for an important “meeting” they presumed to
call it. When I got the call. I drove Lindsey off, kissed her goodbye and promised to
call her as soon as I made it safely to work as we stopped in our driveway. As I entered
the X Ecutive office building minutes later, my boss was excited to see me. “Ah! Mr.
McKnight. Glad you could make it.” The company needed me to edit a movie. Actually
a company called Motionsphere Studios needed me. To my surprise, the company’s
remaking a movie called The Silent Citizen based on the book by Franklin Rice. I’ve
actually got to share my ideas with RiceRice about one of my favorite scenes.
‫ ﻯ‬I had to describe the “Moving In” Scene where Lisa and her parents enter their
new home for the first time. Lisa is played by Chloe Collins, a dear friend of mine
around the office. Lisa had to be worried about this new house so I explained it to Rice
and Carter at the same timeRice, trying not to stutter. “The roof is high and rounded
and is covered with brown ceramic tiles. One large chimney sits at the side of the
house. Several long, thin windows let in plenty of light to the rooms below the roof.
The house itself is surrounded by paved ground, with a small pond at one side and
various potted plants all around the house.” I let Rice read my script long and hard,
having some emotional thoughts and visual laughs in between. Here’s the long and
short of it: “(LISA enters with a box full of stuff going to her new room. She is worried that she
will not fit in with her new neighborhood. The expressions on her face is fear and worry. Either
she is scared or nervous. If it is, it’s doing a good job taking over her. (TITLE APPEARS ON
SCREEN)” I viewed the script various times and hand it to Rice. Like usual he nodded.
As soon as he finished reading, he held up his megaphone and yelled the magic word.
“Action!” Chloe enters out of a red car and looks at her new house. She looks left then
right and then breathes in a puff of fresh air. When she does, she starts coughing and
drastically tries to calm down. “CUT!”
‫ ﻯ‬As everything gets back into place, I hand Chloe a water bottle. Five minutes
later, take two is in play. Rice takes his seat and he holds up his megaphone and yells
the magic word. “Action!” Chloe enters out of a red car and looks at her new house.
She looks left then right and then breathes in a puff of fresh air. No coughing, good.
After a good walk through, the film is finished. I go home in a positive manner and
unlock the door to my house. With that being said, I enter to view a nonchalant and
calm Lindsey with a suitcase. “She’s alive!” She yells. I think that Piper is dead then
resurrected but I notice her on the couch texting. Then it hits me. “Wanna meet
Autumn?”

Chapter 26: Party

It was lunch time. I sat across from Marcus, my Hench-guy. We were sitting at the loner table -
which Mark explained as the 'too-cool-for-you' table, but in reality it was the 'unpopular'
table. A food fight raged around us, and I dodged a missile of mashed-potatoes. The place was
insane, kids jumping on the tables and screaming happily. Of course, we all knew that would
end when you barged in. Me and Mark were trying to avoid detention, not getting involved.
But, of course, it wasn't our fault that pink ice-cream landed in Mark's hair. We couldn’t help
but fight back; no guy should be forced to endure that punishment! We were ninjas, dodging
and fighting back.

‫ ﻯ‬I turned the page of my journal. Just then, an idea hits me; a thought really. She’s
alive.

‫ ﻯ‬I looked at Piper, then Linn again and headed for the door, “Want to join?” were
my words. We headed for the door with positivity in us; I headed to my Chevrolet
Equinox and put the key in the ignition. I started the car and pulled off. I was very
nervous as well. What if she doesn’t remember me? I thought. My fear was spread
around my face. Then Piper looked to me.

‫“ ﻯ‬Don’t think anything bad, she’ll probably remember you or she’ll dump you. I
know I did with my first boyfriend, Grayson. Grayson Parkers. He first tried to ask me
out I middle school because he’s lonely and blah blah blah……” See? Here she goes
again, yapping her lips till she can’t shut up. I changed the subject quickly before I
could be forced to listen to Piper’s backstories.

‫¨ ﻯ‬You remember her, don’t you?” “Yeah, I think. Wasn’t she your girlfriend or ex-
wife?” We pulled up to my old house where the party took place. On my doorstep,
there she was. Still wearing her party dress. So deadly. So beautiful. So… Forgotten. I
honked my horn to signal her. Her steel grey eyes hypnotized me. She got off her butt
and blew me a kiss and waved at Piper. I let Piper drive because she has her license. So
me and Autumn can chat it out in the back. Instead of doing just that, Autumn sat on
my lap and kissed my cheeks, then my lips and finally my forehead; then began
touching my hair, getting that feel. (She actually stroked it.) Before she gave us a
warm hello, she grabbed a little note on the step. When she opened the car door, a
wave of memories engulfed me.

‫ ﻯ‬She was drunk, and I was a Normal , I presume, I don’t remember all the details,
It must have been all the Brisk Iced Tea I had… I think. Autumn got into a fight with
some other girl about how she thought she was stealing me from Autumn. Love, I
thought, then I just realized I put on BYREDO Rose of No Man's Land Eau de Parfum.
A fancy schmancy perfume for men. Anyway, I got the ladies. Kind of. The girl’s name
was Rachael Anderson, an outgoing, social, open person who does not like being
alone. Easy to read. Warm-hearted and popular, tends to put the needs of others over
their own needs. Interested in serving others. Values relationships and families over
intellectual pursuits. Group oriented, affectionate, complimentary, loving,
considerate, and altruistic. Feels a strong sense of responsibility and duty. Well-
developed sense of space and function. Organized. Follows the rules. A planner.
Regular, orderly, clean. A finisher. Consults others before acting. Dutiful. Values
traditions and security. Values organized religion. Likely to be religious. Thinks life

has purpose and meaning. Dislikes science fiction. Does not like strange people or
things. Likely to be intolerant of differences. Need positive reinforcement to feel good
about self. Content. Positive. She was the popular girl in school and My legs wanted to
tumble over so I could fall for her. I bought Autumn close to me. “I got one already.”
Rachael Anderson grumbled and tapped her “boyfriend” I believe to settle the
argument. Louis Spears I believe was his name.
‫ ﻯ‬So Louis had to stop his talking and come to me. “You messin’ wit my girl?” I
seen him in school before, he was serious, quiet, with loner tendencies. Enjoys
solitude and tends to sit back and observe. Private, rarely talks about their feelings.
Can be insensitive to the hardships of others. A planner. Well-organized and
hardworking. Works steadily towards identified goals. Focused, with well-developed
powers of concentration. Will usually accomplish any task once they have set their
mind to it. A perfectionist. Clean, thorough, detail-oriented. Avoids mistakes. Logical
and analytical. Not adventurous or spontaneous. Realistic. Doesn't appreciate
strangeness. Conventional. Interested in supporting and promoting traditions and
establishments. Dislikes countercultures. Dutiful, always follows the rules. Punctual.
Finishes tasks. Responsible and dependable. Prepares for worst case scenarios,
cautious. Interested in security and a peaceful life. Would rather be friendless than
jobless. Holds people to high standards and does not accept apologies easily. The
qualities of a tough guy.
‫ ﻯ‬Autumn cracked her knuckles and jabbed Rachael in the lip. Five minutes later,
Rachael and Autumn went from guests to UFC enemies, jabbing and kicking each
other outside of my house. Long story short, My girl just showed another not to mess
with me. Rachael became worried and didn’t need her “boyfriend’s” help so she
called the police. (coward) When they arrived, Rachael, like the popular girl she has
always been, snitched with her big mouth and told the cops directly what happened.
Bawling at the same time. Louis knew what Rachael was up to and lied as well. I was
shocked. I did not realize Autumn was that capable of taking over a couple’s
relationship and keeping ours together. I didn’t know, at all, that an ordinary girl like
Autumn could be such a lion tamer for these cubs. Autumn strutted off like a model
feeding the not so loving Romeo & Juliet couple her dust. While she walks past me, a
slip of paper is inserted onto my palm:
‫ ﻯ‬Pleading of lovers
‫ ﻯ‬Nothing now collapsing slow
‫ ﻯ‬Trees sway gently yet
‫ ﻯ‬I didn’t understand then I heard a crash and that’s when I perceived that crash
and a thump of a tire. A girl with a drink in her hand dropped it when the sound of
flames entered her ear. “Uh… guys, sorry to interrupt but a girl is dead.”
‫‘“ ﻯ‬Dead?’” Marcus said with a Sprite in hand, “Don’t you mean drunk?”
‫“ ﻯ‬No. Blood and flames EVERYWHERE! Dead.”
‫ ﻯ‬Oh no! I thought. I ran out to the front lawn where fire welcomed me, hugging
Autumn in a not so calming, soothing, relaxing way. The fire, illuminating the night
sky. The light conquering the darkness But the light conquered something valuable,