• tab tab tab tab tab tab tab tab tab Chapter 1: The Letter


    tab “No, don’t go! Don’t leave me!”
    tab A faint voice echoed in a girl’s mind as she wandered blissfully in her own mind. She continued to think why she had said those words so long ago, but her mind just couldn’t grasp the reason why. She wondered, “Was it a boy? No, that’s impossible!” As she thought, her mind wandered off once again, but it traveled to a more recent time – her junior high years.
    tab She remembered it, but only faintly. It was like a soft breeze that gently travels by you, and then swiftly leaves as you acknowledge its presence. She remembered it was almost sunset. She was sitting atop a comfortable rock under a blooming sakura blossom tree. She loved its beautiful color that appeared every spring. She sat and gazed at the sunset that was occurring in front of her. She did not want to leave nor did she want the sunset to end. But, sadly, it had to, and so, it did.
    tab Sadly, she turned around to return back home as her worried mother would begin to become terrified that her daughter had not returned. Because she did not want her mother to worry, she sprinted back to her mother. She ran past still buildings and twinkling stars in the night sky and past an alleyway where a wandering cat that she named Smokey lived in. Suddenly, someone had grabbed her when she passed by a thick green bush. She struggled as the stranger held her tightly and covered her mouth to preclude her from screaming the slightest sound. She thought her life was over if this stranger was to keep her to himself. She began to cry at the thought – all the missed opportunities, the meaningful play dates with her friends, everything. But something had come up. Something sudden.
    tab An item had appeared out of nowhere and attacked the stranger at the back of his head. It was not enough. The stranger, along with the girl, turned around.
    tab “Attack me again, I’ll kill this girl!” The man yelled.
    tab Nothing had come. Nothing tried to save her. Again, the girl began to cry as she thought that light was going to save her, but it burned out.
    tab “I thought so. Now then little girl…” The man began to dig into his brown jacket pocket, possibly to grab tape to cover her mouth that so desperately wants to yell. She muffled as the man began to make her move. Another thing had appeared, however. A thump sound came from the back of the girl. Looking down, she realized she was free. Quickly, she turned her head to face where the stranger had gone to. He was lying on the floor.
    tab What happened to him? She thought. Another thump originated nearby. She glanced from left to right to discover where it had come from. As she squinted her eyes to try and see who it was, she saw a boy. He seemed like he was a little bit older than her, possibly by a year. He slowly walked up to her and presented her a folded piece of paper. She took it, awfully surprised. Then she scratched her eyes to see if what she saw was correct, but as she opened her eyes once again, he was nowhere to be found. The paper he had given her was still on her hand. She decided to keep it, so she placed it in her jean pocket. The stranger who was lying on the ground unconscious began to slowly move, struggling to regain his balance.
    tab She quickly turned around to continue on with her journey back to her home before the man had realized what happened. When she returned home, she was greeted by her mother.
    tab “Meadow, darling! Where have you been?”
    Meadow’s mother, Mrs. Sky, sprinted to her daughter to hug her.
    tab “Mom…” She did not want to tell her mother of the incident for she would be gravely worried. Meadow knew that her mother wouldn’t allow her to visit her most favorite place. Most of all, she didn’t want her mother to figure out about the mysterious boy that had saved her life. Remembering the letter he had given her, she excused herself and headed towards her room. She could hear her little brother playing with his toy cars downstairs.
    tab “Vroom! Vroom!”
    tab Meadow continued to walk to her room, ignoring her little brother’s adorable sounds as he played with his toy cars. Once she entered her room, she closed the white door and locked it. Meadow stood at the entrance to her room with her reflection from her rectangular mirror staring at her. She looked frightened, but excited at the same time. Once Meadow was relaxed, she calmly walked towards her bed that laid near the window which gave her an excellent view of the sunset and a sea that laid far away. She rolled from side to side on her bed, wondering if the letter that was given to her was something of a threat or it was just a message.
    tab Overwhelmed by curiosity and eagerness to open the white folded letter, Meadow took it out from her pocket and opened it. The letter said:


    tab tab tab tab tab To Meadow,
    tab tab tab tab tab tab tab Please be careful.


    tab That’s it? Just those three words? Who is this letter from? Why does he want me to be careful? I don’t even know him! thought Meadow. He must be a stalker…But then if he was a stalker, wouldn’t he have, at that moment when we were alone, did something to me right there? tab Meadow’s body was turned to face her white wall that was filled with different band posters. She turned again this time to face her window. Meadow slowly stood up, expressionless and blank-minded. She placed her head on her arms which lay atop the window’s windowsill. Meadow gazed at her view for a moment before thinking once again. Why would he want to protect me? I’m nothing of importance to anyone… She folded the letter again and placed it in her pocket.
    tab Her eyelids began to droop down. Before Meadow knew it, she was fast asleep.