Prologue

Just a small prologue

A small bell rung as the dust laden door creaked in protest. The convenience store was dimly lit, with cramped aisles filled with cheap food and pharmaceutical supplies. A heavy, sickly sweet stench permeated the storefront �" likely a whole canister of air freshener to get out of a week's worth of janitorial duties.

“Yeah, get'em!” hollered a small child, smudging the dirt on his runny nose as he wiped it with his darkened sleeve. Several other children, maybe seven to thirteen years of age, aimed their menacing water guns at each other. A white clad clerk clumsily lumbered towards them, waving his arms wildly and shouting, “Stop! Get out of my store!” Sneering, the youngest and grungiest child spun around and pulled the neon trigger, feeling like an agent in a spy movie. The clerk cried out in disdain as his blue apron was assaulted with red paint. The child flipped his greasy bangs out of his eyes and grinned wickedly. The clerk's face turned the same bright shade as his apron, and a chase ensued.

The other children scattered, assaulting youngsters, the elderly, everyone and anyone in their warpath. The lone security camera was next. Red paint dripped from every corner of the store, though it was almost cheery in comparison to the yellowed, curling wallpaper. The customers quickly fled. Alone with the wild children, the clerk soon realized he was outnumbered.

“Okay kids, you got me. Nice joke. What do you want? Candy? Toys?” The children shook their heads, and the oldest stepped forward. His blonde hair was slicked back, and a wad of gauze was taped over his left cheek. His skin was bruised underneath.

“I'm sorry...this is my fault. I'm babysitting right now, but the neighbors next door were fighting. I grew up with my parents always at each others throats before the divorce, and it wasn't pretty. I didn't want the others to have to see that, so I brought them here so they could play in a safe place.”

The clerk was dumbfounded. He stared into that young teenager's moonlit eyes for a long time, sympathy surging through his veins. Losing himself in that emotionless stare, the boy's blue eyes as captivating as priceless crystal, he heard a footstep behind him. He turned around to greet one of the rowdy boys.

Then darkness consumed him...

Author's Note

Ignore the bad formatting - site won't let me tab in. Anyways, does it draw you in? How does it make you feel?