Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The new dawn, a strange word for a new day as the boy slowly awakened from a restless sleep. With images and fragments dissipating when he slowly awakened. When he stretched he felt stiff, and sore. Sitting up he wiped and noticed the straw, which was stuck to his back. Held on by the dried blood against his skin, where the chains dug in and pinched him. The chain link edges were sharp as they twisted and turned against him when he moved the night before, leaving marks and cuts. It gave him chills thinking about it and a new resolve with new reason to escape another house of horrors and a father’s whip.

 

EJ looked outside through the cracks in the wall to see where he was. “It looks like I am on some old abandon farm, a good mile from the house. Good, hope they’re not looking for me because I am not looking for them that's for dang sure. I am only glad this time I chose to leave in the summer or I would have frozen to death last night,” EJ said as he laughed at himself. “That would make them only happier. Considering they thought this would keep me from running off; since they locked all my clothes away except my faded boxer shorts,” as he remembered the home he left not so much as feeling of regret.

 

There was something shining, a glimmer that caught the boy's eye. Over in the corner under a tarp, he could see an old cracked mirror as it reflected off the sunlight. Finding it like a prize for a king for him. He just needed to uncover it. “One, two, three aaachuu and aaachuu,” he sneezed as he rubbed his nose because of the dust. Then tossed the old tarp covered with dust in the corner. “Now let's see if I can lean this against that wall and have a gander.”

 

He unwrapped the horse blanket around his waist, the boy stepped in front of the mirror. “Well at least I still had my boxers on, hope nobody saw me last night; might have given them the wrong impression that I was streaking through town. Need to find some clothes, can't go anywhere just like this, people might notice, a 10 year old boy with blue eyes brown hair only wearing striped, torn boxers, barefoot and no shirt and little beat up,” He looked quite skinny, some would say it aged him or he was on a hunger strike.

 

He looked down at his left and right side of his rib cage he noticed two huge bruises “Looks like I will be leaving with a matching set. Thanks to a parting gift from good old dad and couple on my legs where the belt struck across. Ouch still stings a bit.” He said taking a closer look at his face in the mirror he noticed that most of swelling had gone down from his left eye and few little cuts and bruises on his feet and a fat lip. “All in all I say chaps I’ve been in a prize fight, that's what they would say in an old English pub. Well times a wasting need to find some clothes and see about springing my brother from the grips of hell and the noose.”

 

The old barn had many things that would interest a 10-year-old boy. Odd gadgets and gizmos of yester years gone by, but none he had a use for, but out of the corner of his eye. He thought he saw a shape, a human shape. Fear crept and held him tight, he dared not speak. His ears listened for every sound, every tiny hair a quiver, his mouth dry, unable to swallow.  He tried not to make any sound at all. His mind raced, his heart beating fast, he crept forward placed one foot in front then the next. Stops...  His heart beat faster, eyes strained for the tiniest movement. EJ crept forward again placed another step closer. Beads of sweat began to form on his forehead and the palms of his hands. It was just few more steps, as he crept forward again taking another step, thinking. “If I can just make it back to that wall, I can peek over it and see them or who they are and they won't see me.”

 

EJ winced a little from the pain still fresh; the boy's anger pops into his mind, which in turn overrides his fear, "I know one thing. I am not going back,” he said firmly in his mind.

EJ crept forward, springs for the wall and huddled into the corner where the darkness is like a mother's protective blanket. His ears listened to every sound, his eyes open for any movements beyond this wall; wondering what dangers lay on the other side of this wall. Pressing his body flat against the wall, he winced now and again because of the pain, slowly and carefully; he slid towards the figure that was sitting in the shadows, which seemed to be waiting for him.

 

The boy's heart beat was fast every second as if it was going to jump right out of his small chest at any given moment. EJ got closer he could see an old farmer sitting on old haystack.

“I thought I was alone out here. What's he doing sitting in a corner, sleeping drunk I guess? The misses must have put him out here tonight. Just great how I am going to get out now with him by the door looking like this in broad daylight? I can just see it now walking down street in only my boxers. “Hi ya folks how ya doin” and not to mention the cops they'll have a hay day.” He replied softly to himself thinking of the reply they would most likely make.

 

 

“Hey boy, did you know you are not wearing any pants and by the way what about those bruises.” Then they'll grab ya take you back home so they can beat you some more, no thank you, well I have had enough. Maybe I can wait tell he leaves, he's bound to wake up sooner or later after all the misses will be calling him home,” he said under his breath.

 

EJ sneaked back to the corner where he had a good view of the farmer and felt fairly safe.  He brought his knees up to his chest to keep him warm and huddled in the corner he drifted off to sleep. When the boy awakened, the sun was setting in the later part of the evening, not yet dark. Irritated that he allowed himself to fall asleep in the first place, he glanced over to see if that old farmer was still there, shocked and dismayed struck.

 

“I can't believe it. He still there, will he ever leave? What's keeping him here?” He said softly in a heated whisper. Anger was building up inside due to feelings of being trapped like an animal. Thinking, he needed to leave. “Maybe I can distract him long enough to escape, then run. If he is drunk he won't be able to catch me. If I wait long enough it will be dark soon and I can I hide in the shadows where nobody can see me,”

 

EJ finding some small pebbles along the wooden planks at bottom of the old barn, the small boy puts them in pile near him. Hoping the farmer would just leave and he could just make a break for it, but as time went on; the day was slowly turning into night. With one last sigh it was time to strike. The first pebble missed its mark and hit the ground just below the old farmer's feet. EJ heart leaped right out of his chest as he sprang for the corner as he waited for certain doom.

 

He waited, and waited, not even a sound, no shuffling feet. No voices, nothing; not even a grunt or stir. His heart raced and his eyes squeezed tightly shut. EJ gathered enough courage to peek. Finally he peeked underneath his eyelids to see if there was any movement at all. Nothing had changed, the farmer was still there setting on his perch fast asleep. EJ irritated and mad “stupid old farmer,” he said softly irritated.

 

EJ realized he needed to get closer. With a hard swallow before bending down, he slowly gathered his pile of pebbles then slowly crawled along the wall towards the old farmer. His eyes never leaving the farmer; he slowly laid the pebbles next him not daring to blink an eye or barely breathe. One by one he slowly adjusts the pebbles according to their size. He carefully examined the next pebble in his hand looked up at the old sleeping farmer now nearby.

 

He aims the pebble then tossed it; “kerr plunk,” missed again this time right above his head.  EJ ducked; quickly behind the wall as he waited to be caught for sure this time. The boy peeked through the small cracks in the wall. He could still see the old farmer has not moved, not even an inch. Relived yet at the same time he felt angry and frustrated; thinking either that farmer is deaf or so drunk he doesn't know he is even there. It angered him as he kicked the dirt with his big toe. EJ decided what to do next. “Either he’s leaving or I am; one of us is leaving that's for sure,” he said softly to himself.

 

Nighttime had now fallen once more, leaving him clothed in darkness and moon giving off her guiding light. He thinks to himself, “Stupid old farmer, why won't he leave for home? Do you not, have any food waiting there or a bed to sleep in?” he said underneath his breath.

 

EJ sees the horse blanket nearby; slowly he reached for it with one eye on the farmer. Carefully, EJ slid along the wall not to draw any attention then quickly crawled back into the darkest to deepest part of the shadows; an idea formed in his mind and he smiled then rubbed his bottom lip, “Ouch that still hurts a little.”

 

EJ placed the old horse blanket around his shoulders and then looked over at sleeping farmer. “Maybe I'll play a little hide and seek” he said smiling, and then grinned, “ouch that smarts” touching the side of his lips. “This time I am to going to sneak up and see how drunk he really is or enough to sneak past him right under his noses,” he said very softly.

 

Again carefully not to make a sound EJ began to crawl against the wall, then keeping to the shadows with the horse blanket on his back as he used it to hide under while crawling on his hands and knees. Stopping every few inches to listen, while lying on his belly slithering slowly through the shadows like a snake, with his eyes open and ears poised for any signs of life on the figure set before him. Quietly, ever so silently EJ reached the nearby corner where he could almost touch the old farmer? 

 

This is the closest he has ever been to him all day, yet he still does not stir nor does he make a sound. The feeling of fear nearly filled his mind, yet excites him at the same time; blood is pumping through his veins feeling his heart beat faster.  EJ wanted to turn back, but now knowing he must go on to survive. He told himself. “I have made it this far and we are not caught yet, we must go on.”

 

EJ stayed well hidden under the horse blanket, he could see there's a small pillar of light beaming down from the adjacent windows above the old farmer. The old farmer was wearing one those old red and blue checker shirts, bib type overalls with a ten gallon hat to boot; ”I wouldn’t be surprised to see if he was wearing cowboy boots.” he replied with a soft snicker.

 

All of sudden a noise was heard "BANG" he heard something move from the outside. EJ jumped back into the corner, his heart raced a mile a minute he made sure that he was covered completely in darkness.  Seeing lights flashing through cracks, his thoughts raced… “Oh no! They have found me, I've been caught!” quickly hiding under the horse blanket...not daring to come out, he waited for the lights to fade. It was just a car backfiring going down the road.

 

The lights and sounds slowly returned with the darkness and shadows are where they belong with him at the moment.  EJ peeked underneath the horse blanket towards the old former he noticed he never moved. "Strange? There's something very odd about him. I wonder what he looks like under that old ten gallon hat,” he said very softly.

 

Finding a twig nearby he began to carefully lift up the corners, trying very hard not to disturb the sleeping old farmer. EJ knew one false move and he would be caught for sure, his very survival depended on it. All of sudden he slips… the twig "snaps" in two and the hat falls, crashing to the ground, with a startled scream “WHAYAAAAA!” EJ fell backwards, sprawled upon his back. Scrambling quickly, backing into the far reaches of the corners of the barn. His heart pounding, knees, pressed hard against his chest, quivering with fear as his eyes gazed towards the old scarecrow, not wearing his hat dressed as an old farmer as the boy's shivered in the dark. After a few minutes he smiles; falls on his back laughing at himself for being sacred of a stupid old scarecrow.

 

After feeling so humiliated EJ went over to the scarecrow. “Hope you had a good laugh today, now it's my turn.” He said as he gazed down upon it, he poked his fingers at him making sure it was made of straw, then rubbed his chin and smiled then shook and nodded his head with amusement.

 

“Humm this shirt a little big, but it will do for now, what do think old Mr. Scarecrow?” He said as he puts it on. “Let’s see I'll try on those overalls to if you don't mind. Ya see I am not that picky at moment how about you? No? Good. By the way where's your hat?” EJ said as he looked on the ground to where it fell.  “I'll be needin that hat too if you don't mind?” he replied as he placed it on his head, “I would take your shoes, but you aren’t wearing any. I guess scarecrows don't need them or can't find your size.” He replied as he laughed at the old scarecrow and himself.

 

“Now then let's see how I look in the mirror? Not bad, not bad at ta'l.” He said rolling the legs up a little tucked in the shirt, “I almost look like Huckleberry Fin going to a western. Maybe I'll put some that peroxide crap into my hair to bleach it out a little and grow my hair long. Nobody would recognize me what da ya say to that Mr. Scarecrow? They’ll never find me.” He said as he rubbed his chin stood in the mirror. “That reminds me if and anybody comes a callin I wasn't here. Got it? Time find some grub see ya later,” he said with a simple wave of the hand.

 

The moon had resin above the treetops giving off her wonders-us guiding light. EJ slowly reached the door, made sure the cost was clear before making a break for the nearby trees. Fear and excitement filled him with a watchful eye for any approaching lights. Wondering the possibilities if he was part rabbit with his eyes, ears and noses twitching as he listened for every sound, every smell. Weaving in and out between the trees. Securing long quickly across the ground, crouched in thickets of nearby underbrush, not far from the ditch bank there's was a cornfield. Trying not to make any sound that might alert even a dog to bark in his direction. He broke off three patches of corn then quickly hurried back to the nearby underbrush to eat them.

 

While eating he never realized how hungry he truly was and devourers the corn eagerly, but not being greedy either, yet mostly the fear being caught drove him not to go back for more. For he knew very well the hell his brother must be going through and if there was a chance he must try to break him out. Provided he could break him out at all. EJ also knew he had to least try or he could never leave without knowing without the guilt that he had at least tried or at very least said goodbye.

 

Cutting a path through the field was the easiest way to get there without being seen. Now the hard part choosing which path to take....

 

“I could go around the cemetery or through it? Let's see, the road is lit near the houses? Bad idea. Ghosts and old bones which don't seem to say much when their dead, well at least sometimes, depending on their mood. Humm I'll take the ghost's any night at least they don't try to beat me to death. Hey maybe I should have brought old Mr. Scarecrow, but right now he doesn't' have thing to wear to the party.” He laughed to himself. Making a dive for the cemetery the boy noticed a car coming up the road, a cop car. “Oh no it's slowing down, great this all I need.” He said with anger in his voice remembering a time of yesterdays.

 

The cop’s searchlight searched the area where he dived into the cemetery. His body quickly flattened against a tree, he tightly closed his eyes, hoping, and dared not to breathe. The cop’s searchlight slowly scanned the tree nearby and around the area before driving off. EJ let out a gasp of air and sighed with relief. “That was close, thought I was goner for sure. Now I am glad I did not take the road by the houses that's for sure.” He said very softly to himself that only a few ghosts might hear.

 

EJ leaped from one tombstone to another as he crisscrossed in between some more trees. It soon became a game for the small boy. After a while he was through the cemetery not single ghost was seen nor heard this night. For they figured he had or was going to have enough problems of his own to be a bothered or play with a poor little boy. He was nearly there; just over the next ridge around corner was where his house and brother waited him.

 

Getting there would be easy. “They most likely won't be expecting me. Now getting out again that's the real problem. The other problem is to where to go next when I leave. The old barn is too far away for my little brother, he would never make it on foot not without his bike and we can't take it because they locked it up inside the shed. Hope they lest put his breeches on because I don't have spare with me. Just because he still wets the bed now and again, even though it's his sister’s fault getting him in trouble on purpose, by spilling warm water on the bed while he is asleep is not fair. I swear one day she'll pay the price. I don't know how, but she will,” he said to himself.

Reviews

[Writer #00]

"...where the darkness is like a mother's protective blanket."

[Writer #00]

The above line is particularly moving because of the irony it contains when contrasted with the boy/ EJ's actual mother. I couldn't help but think that the boy still longed for a family... : (

Wonderful narration, as always!

[Writer #00]

The " :
( "
was supposed to be a" : ( "

[Rawrocky]

the scarecrow scene was hilarious! You are so good at describing what's going on (:

[Shep]

I try to please and suprise

[Shep]

are you coming back to read?

[Pax]

now this really gets familiar...I'm really intrigue with the turn of events... like a thrilling game for the little boy...
Great!

[Shep]

are you coming back to read?

[Xerclipse]

"After a few minutes the boy; smiles, falls on his back laughing at himself for being sacred of a stupid old scarecrow."

Shouldn't it be scared instead of sacred?

I like how you had EJ talk to the scarecrow. And the suspense was increasing as the farmer got closer. Great chapter by the way.

[Shep]

thanks i will make those correction when i get a chance.

[Xerclipse]

okay then. ;) I just posted Chapter 3

[mariah]

hey, the only complaint i have is the very begining where you repeat "slowly awakened" in two sentances by next to eachother. i know, i know, it's not really a grammar misstake, more of just a writters mistake. i really can't find much grammar stuff, but im trying!

now for the story, i am most certainly enjoying! it's original, i have never read anything like this. awesome job! will read more in the morning :P

[Taylor H.]

Do you not, have any food waiting there? Beds to sleep in were I do not?” ----where
(that last part was kind of confusing)

”I wouldn’t be surprise to see if he was wearing cowboy boots.----surprised
and fix the first "

Seeing light's flashing through cracks, his thoughts raced----lights

EJ let’s out a gasp of air and sighed with relief. ----let

Those were the only mistakes I found. Great job!

[Shep]

Thanks made the corrections.