Cursed

To say my parents were freaked out would be a bit of an understatement. My mother was beyond worried and she wouldn’t let go of me all night. She even insisted on having me share the bed with her and dad! Not that I mind…my heart is still racing from what happened. Still…I’m not five.

Just because I act five it doesn’t make me five! Geesh, mother. Weren’t you the one who used to tell me I had to stop being so childish? That will never happen my friends I promise you that.

The next day the cops come by. They ask me questions like do I have any enemies, is there anyone who I feel has or would have done this, did I get into any type of trouble recently, etc. Of course, I wasn’t much help. I couldn’t think of anyone who would have had reason to do this. I’m such a nice person! For real, don’t you laugh. I’m being serious.

“So what did they say?” Shailey asks from her spot in the lawn. She’s sitting Indian style with her hands grasping her ankles.

“Not much…they’re talking to my parents now but they said they’re going to keep an eye out for anyone suspicious. They offered me an escort but I don’t really want a creepy guy following me around all the time. I’ve already got Finnegan.”

“Oi!” Finn scowls at me and I giggle. Quickly, I wrap my arms around him to inform him that I don’t really mean that. He knows I’m teasing! Teasing is fun, especially teasing Finn. That is the best because he’s so damn cute.

“Are you sure you don’t want us to stick around?” Shailey asks after the cops have left and everything has been talked over. My parents asked me to have Shailey and Finn leave. It’s obvious they want to talk to me and try to figure things out. I really wished they’d let Finn stay. For some reason, I feel safest with him around.

Finn bites his lips when I sigh and answer, “You know I’d like you to but my parents…”

“If you need anything, call me,” Finn orders more than suggests. He doesn’t have to tell me twice! I nod and hug Shailey once more. As she’s walking away I grab Finn and hold onto him for dear life. Really, I want him to stay.

“You’ll be fine. I swear I’ll never let anything happen to you.” And Finn holds me close, even places a kiss to my temple, making me blush slightly. It’s normally me initiating the kissing. Finally, we’re getting somewhere! I’m one step closer to having Finn to myself. Muhahahaha!

“Promise?” I ask and stare up into a pair of golden orbs that always makes me feel relieved.

Finn nods and I smile. Sighing, I decide the hell with it and push up onto my tip toes to press my lips to his. Finn, being just as shocked as the first time I did this, is still but only for a second until he realizes that yes, I am kissing him. His lips move with mine and once again I think that this is ok, he doesn’t mind it and he feels the same for me as I do for him. Sadly though, the boy pulls away and just like the other times he whispers, “I…w-we can’t.”

Damn it. Why must be ruin the moment? I just want to make out with him and and love him and eventually have amazingly hot sex. Is that too much to ask for? Stupid Finn, give in already! Give in!

Shailey clears her throat, catching both our attentions. Finn and I reluctantly pull apart and he leaves, taking Shailey along with him. Once they’re out of view, my parents call for me and I go inside to answer any questions they have for me.

~

“Are you sure? Kieran, you can sleep in our room tonight.” Mom brushes the hair from my eyes.

I nod. “It’s fine. I’ll take the couch.”

My dad locks the front door and the windows before closing all the curtains because I ask him to. Both of them head back upstairs to their room and I lie down on the couch. Pulling the covers up over me, I curl into them and try to disappear. That obviously doesn’t work. Only gnomes can disappear. Dirty bastards, they should share their knowledge! Can’t they see I need it? If I get taken away or killed whose socks are they going to steal? Exactly. Sharing is caring, my little gnome friends.

Although I’m exhausted I can’t seem to sleep straight through the night. There’s this gut wrenching feeling inside me telling me that something is wrong. So my eyes open and I examine the room. There’s nothing there and I shut my eyes. I feel sick. My stomach is twisting and then there’s what feels like a cool breeze ghosting across me. The hair on the back of my neck stands up and my eyes shoot open.

Once again, nothing. At least, that’s what I saw at first. It’s so dark. The curtains are shut except one. It’s just barely cracked and the moon is illuminating a corner of the room. A soft breeze is coming in through the open window…

Wait…open?

I sit up so fast I feel dizzy. Clutching my now spinning head, I stare at the open window, which was closed. Not only was it closed when I went to sleep but it was locked and that curtain was shut. Someone’s in the house. There’s someone…

And that’s when I see it, letters carved into the hardwood floor of our living room just by the couch. Stay away from him.

I’m ready to scream but there’s a screeching sound, like doors on a hinge, behind me. With wide, horrified eyes, I slowly turn my head to see the front door wide open. Whoever did this had just left…

I’m scared.

I can’t move.

I can’t breathe.

The fear is eating away at me and one would think I’d shout for my parents who are just upstairs but I don’t. There’s only one person on my mind, one person I want to see and I scream for him until my dad is running down the stairs, begging me to tell him what’s wrong. Mom is holding me and dad is, I’m assuming, calling the cops. I scream so loud my voice begins to crack and my throat burns and soon I can’t make a sound louder than a pathetic squeak.

I just want Finn. I want Finn. I want Finn. I want Finn. I need Finn.