Death on My Doorstep By: Makenzie Davidson I walked in the front door, and called out to my mother.

I felt tired, and my school bag felt tremendously heavy on my shoulders. I laid it down carefully on the floor. I felt like if I dropped it that it would leave a crack in the hardwood. Walking through the first hallway rubbing my shoulders with my hands, I called my mother once more. Shes here. I heard a noise in the kitchen like a chair sliding over the tile. My mother stumbled in front of the hallways entrance with a face covered in liquid, but she immediately took on a new light. It looked strong. It looked prepared for the worst to come. Her new face stared at me, and my face stared back. I have to tell you something, the face said to me. Did you stub your toe? Dont joke, It retorted with ferocity. Sorry, that was inappropriate, I froze realizing the severity of the liquid drops on my mothers face. This all felt wrong. Did my cat die or something? I dont know how to say this to you with compassion, my faith has been shaken, and so, I am just going to tell you. Do I need to know? I asked appropriately. I think you want to. She said almost unconsciously. At this point she seemed less and less like my own mother. Her face took on new qualities like strength and doubt. Then tell me. I said plainly. I had taken a seat in a bar stool in the kitchen now, but I couldnt precisely remember how I got there. I was so focused on the conversation. Allen died this evening. I presume no one at school has heard yet. My world stopped violently, and then fast forwarded to more or less of three days later. I kept feeling nothing, and I cant remember what

happened those days, but suddenly I was there at his funeral. I stayed until he was completely buried. Then I fell on my knees and screamed. Why? I woke up midway of falling out of my bed, and I hit the floor with a loud thud. I smashed my face on the hardwood, and instantly had a headache. I rubbed the base of my neck with my hands. I realized that all of my covers were ripped off with me. I looked at the window behind my bed, and then touched my face to find saltwater covering it. I was crying in my sleep, but it was only a dream. Allen is okay. The windows curtains were blowing wildly and it was completely open. I jumped up quickly, and gathered all of the blankets in a huge mess in my arms. I laid them down on the bed in a hurry so I could close the window. It was cold out tonight and the wind was even chillier. I turned to my clock, and it was three in the morning exactly. I got back in bed, and then looked around my room. It seemed okay, but my closet door was cracked just a tiny bit. I got up slowly out of my bed. I dont know why I didnt turn the lights on. I dont remember why I didnt. I was just going to close the closet door, so why did I open it? I froze there, and my throat closed. Death was strangling me. You need to scream Heather. Why didnt I scream? Why didnt I say anything? Why didnt I move? I couldnt do any of those things, so I just knelt before him. My hand reached out, and I dont remember why. I dont think I told it to do that. I think my hand has a mind of its own. Do not touch him. It touched him, and then I screamed for it to stop. No.

I jerked my head up, and I was awake. The scream that decanted from lips was terrifyingly loud; it shook me to my core.

It was only a dream. Looking around I noticed that my clock said one-thirty in the afternoon. I slept today, but I felt completely exhausted and emotionally drained. My mom and dad would be at work by now most likely. I put my head back down on my sullen pillow and looked at the ceiling. It looked back at me. Hey, up there. Did you know Im psychotic? I laughed hysterically, and I instantly felt better. It was definitely time for food. I headed down the large stair case, and into the hallway leading to the kitchen. I felt a pressure there. I almost felt like I was missing something, but then I realized it must be food. My tummy was laying down the law, and it knew it wanted pancakes. I knew it too. Mom isnt here usually when I wake up on the weekend, and Ive evolved. I know how to make omelets, bacon, pancakes, and French toast, but it really all depends on what my tummy says I get. I always listen to her. It didnt take me long to make them. I just poured the batter Id whipped up onto the skillet, and they were done before I knew it. I ate in silence; no music, no television. The syrup was warm, and the butter had melted perfect. They were moist, fluffy, and completely delicious. After I was done eating I felt like I had the whole day to forward to. The sky was the limit. So, I slipped on a good pair of jeans and a shirt, and head out the door. The sun was shining extremely bright today and you could smell fall. Fall is the best season because its so mild. You never get the extreme of anything, and I love the feeling of perfection. Thats what the balance of fall is, perfection. The trees to the far left of the house are almost a mile off the first hay field, and the driveway is about four hundred yards to the road. The second hay field to the right goes on almost as far as the eye can see. You can only see a glimmer of the tin roof of our neighbors, the Middletons. They have a hundred acre horse farm. My family own two hundred and eighty six acres of land. The Middletons and the Lacys

owned the same amount of land twenty years back, but the Middletons farm almost went under. My Grandpa Jay bought some of their land up to help settle their debts. Ive always considered him a gracious man since I heard that story. Allen Middleton was who I was off to see that day. No school and no parents for either of us meant a day on the horses in the cow pastures, but as I was walking I saw him coming for me too. He looked blurry at first, but he cleared up once I took a better look. His curly hair was blowing in the breeze, and he hand his hands tucked into his pockets. He was muddy. So, he must have just come out of the barns from morning chores. Hey there stranger, I said to him jokingly. He came straight to me and hugged me. I pulled back a little because it felt different. It didnt feel real. It didnt feel right. I dont remember anything else about it, except that I was glad to see him. He hadnt been at school all week and I was itching to know why. I dreamt about you last night, I said. I couldnt remember exactly what I had dreamt at the time but we always told each others dreams. Really, He said inquisitively. Yes, really, and It was sad. Did I die? He asked. Yeah howd you know? I just did. Forget about the dream its not important today, He smiled. I see you didnt wear boots, and you wore your good jeans. That wasnt very smart for horse riding, but I suppose we do that every Saturday. We could go back to your house if youd like? Sure, I could play for you. Sounds like a plan to me, come on. He took off walking back to my house, and I trailed behind. When we go to the porch he opened up the door for me, and we went inside. He started into the leftover pancakes while I got some music. I sat down at my bench and looked over the keys of the piano like I always did before

playing. The thing was a couple decades old and had some soft spots. There were to broken keys and one was stuck. The pedal was hard to push down and it was a little out of tune. I started playing, and he came in with the pan of homemade syrup and a plate complete with melted butter and six pancakes. He listened and he ate. He seemed content and I was glad. He laid his plate down on the floor and relaxed. I played a soothing piece, one I had written myself. By the time I was done he was snoring and my fingers ached. I got up from my bench and sat beside him. He started, and I felt bad for waking him. It sniffed a bit, and then he laid his arms over my shoulders. It didnt feel right. I didnt feel the same I always did when he put his arms on me or he touched me. I didnt feel the same security. I didnt know why, all I knew was it didnt feel good. So, I eased myself away from him. I got up and stood before him. What are we doing? I asked him. We are doing nothing. He answered. I want to do something. I said sadly. What do you want? He asked I knew, but now I dont remember. What do you want? I asked. I need not a thing nor do I want to do anything. What we are doing is fine. He stated. When are you coming back to school? I asked him. Im not. Jess took me out. Shes going to home school me or some stuff. He said indifferently. Jess couldnt teach a bird to fly. Youll be dumber than a sack of bricks. Thanks for the support, darling. Its my pleasure. Are you coming over tonight for dinner? I asked. No, my parents are and Penny, but dont mention me to no one. Jess told me I wasnt to see you today, but I disobeyed her and shell get mad. He state matter-of-factly.

Okay, youll be sneaking out tonight. I said. Sure I will. I always come at three in the morn. He told me as if I ever noticed the time when he crawled through my window ever other night of the week. We talked. We talked about his stepmother, and we talked about how Penny was doing. I loved Penny just like I loved her brother; with my whole heart. You know Billy Fisher asked me to the Halloween dance at school, but I didnt know what to say. You shouldve said no right there. Hes a drunkard, and steals beer from his dads stash for the after-party of every dance. I dont want you going with him. Well who elsell ask me Allen? I said. I said no. You can with anyone but him. Well, how about Martin Bradfort? Hes the church boy who spends all his time down at the precinct! He should be good enough for me, huh? Yes, surely you can go with him if you can convince him Halloween and dancing arent against God, but you got a double negative there. Im not sure if thats going to work out for you. He smiled at me. The conversation was over. I was going by myself. He always did this to me. Later that evening his whole family came over without him, and I honored my promise to stay quiet about our day together. I didnt want Jess or Brian on his tail for breaking his punishment. Come give Aunt Heather a kiss! I exclaimed to Allens little threeyear-old sister who I adored. She ran into my arms, and the rest of my evening was centered on her, and I dont remember much of anything else that happened. When they left I proceeded to get ready for bed. I was pretty much exhausted. I really didnt get the best of sleep the night before what with all those crazy dreams. The shower unlike everything else that could not be rushed, but when I got in it didnt feel right. It felt wrong. It didnt feel

good. I dont remember why but, I got out much quicker than normal. When I fell asleep it seemed like almost immediately I awoke to Allen fitting himself through my window. Hey there beautiful, you look good with damp hair and bags under your eyes. He chuckled almost silently. Youre real funny. I wouldnt have bags if I was waking in the middle of the night every other night. He came at me into a hug. It surprised me, and it didnt feel right either. It felt wrong. It didnt feel good and I pushed him off of me. He seemed almost drunk. His body was heavy on me and I couldnt force him off. He was limp and for a second it flashed in my head. I saw water. I saw a light. I saw him. He looked at me with glassy eyes, and then he was gone. I couldnt see him. He wasnt there. Then, he was there again. I could see him. He was there. Am I crazy? What is wrong with me? I dont know what is going on. Im being picked up. Large, strong fingers overlap on my arms. His face is evil. What is he doing to me? I cant speak, and my throat feels tight. Is he strangling me? I cant tell. I have no clue whats going on, and I cant remember. Then, Im in the air. Im struggling in the grasp. I keep trying to get free. How did all of this happen, and where did Allen go. This isnt Allen, this is evil. This is pure Death. I think Death is strangling me. Death opens my bathroom door, and I fall to the ground. I cant feel Death anymore because I think it left me. It could be outside the door it closed. I cant face it. Who knows what Death will do to me next? I feel wet. My hands are soaked in blood. This is a nightmare. I look back up and the bathtub is overflowing with bloods. Wet, sticky blood is running down the walls, in my hair, and its soaking my clothes. I get up and the

blood turns to water. Clear, lucid water coming out of nothing but the tub, and I am dry. I had found Allen. You need to scream Heather. Why didnt I scream? Why didnt I say anything? Why didnt I move? I couldnt do any of those things, so I just knelt before him. My hand reached out, and I dont remember why. I dont think I told it to do that. I think my hand has a mind of its own. Allen was lying in the tub. He was alive. He was in bondage, and I had the hairdryer. Death whispered, Drop it. I dropped it. I woke up sweating out of my mind. I was screaming. I was screaming so loud it hurt my throat, but I kept screaming the petrifying scream as loud as I could, and I couldnt stop. My throat started to close up and I couldnt move. I couldnt scream anymore. I saw Death he was there. Hes here right now with his hands. Death is strangling me. I am dead.