FirstLineFiction beta

from Contest #6

      Almost everyone thought the man and the boy were father and son. I could see it in their eyes every time they looked at us. And I would do anything to protect him. As I stand on the deck of the Gateway Clipper with my five year old son I look down and smile at him. It's his birthday and he wanted to ride the "big boat". I remember this morning, his excitement when he looked out on his bedroom window ledge. Attached was a tiny chrysalis. He had spent hours sitting there watching it. Sighting a tear in the casement that morning he rushed to get me excited and bouncing from the room back to me yelling for me to hurry. Slowly it emerged, then sat there flapping its wings to dry them. What sat there now was a silky white moth. Tiny but vibrating with life. What a fantastic start to our special day. I was grateful to still have my son with me. Looking down at Johnny, I watched him closely. His wispy reddish-blond hair blowing in the breeze. Such an active lively child. A big change from a few years ago when I thought I had lost him.

      I had met Evelyn a year and a half prior to Johnny's arrival. We hit it off immediately. I remember her telling me her name meant filled with the light of life. When Johnny arrived he was a perfectly healthy child. We had decided to breast feed the first three months for nutrition value. We shared in responsibility and care. Three months passed. He seemed like the perfect child. Went to bed without a fuss and slept through the night. He smiled and laughed bringing a joy to my life I had never felt before.

      Then I began to notice a change in Evelyn. She became moody as her irritation level increased and tolerance and patients decreased. Around the middle of the fifth month I began to notice Johnny growing weak and pale. The doctors performed test. All the doctors could say was an iron deficiency. Given a supplement we went home and waited. Evelyn acted as if she didn't care. Tired of the arguing between us I slept in the guest room. Johnny slept more and ate little.

      One evening I awoke from my sleep with an urge to go to the bathroom.. Relieving myself I I headed back to bed. As I walked back I began to hear a buzzing sound. Following the sound led me towards Johnny's room. Looking down the hall I could see a faint glow emanating from his partially opened door along with the sound. I felt terror clutch at my chest. Part of me wanted to run, but that was my son in there. The hairs on the back of my neck began to rise as I slowly made my way towards his room.

      Over the buzzing I  could hear Johnny making weak cries. Opening the door slowly and looking in I  saw them standing there looking down at Johnny in his crib. There backs were turned. The light was emanating from those watching my son.

      What were they and what were they doing? As the watched the light intensified. Johnny cried out and that moved me into action. I stepped into the room hearing a growl that built to a howl of rage. I realized it was coming from me. They turned towards me. They appeared to be forms of energy. There glow brightened, and I could sense anger from them. I could feel myself growing weaker as if they were draining my own energies. I fell to the floor and two of them turned back to Johnny. I could sense time was running out. My mind tried to focus as think of what I could do.

      Crawling across the floor, feeling.... as though ... time had slowed. I heard Johnny cry, weak and faint. I struggled to my knees and grabbed the humidifier from the floor. Opening the top I pitched it towards them allowing the water to cover them. There was a brightening of the light and a crackling as they faded away leaving a burning smell in the air which helped to move me to motion. Weak and nauseous I went to Johnny. He was breathing but faintly. I picked him up and rushed from the house to the hospital. Johnny and I never returned to the house. Evelyn was never found. We moved to Pittsburgh to get away from the past.

      Johnny tugs at my arm bringing me back to the present. We have docked. I reach over and ruffle his hair as we walk to our parked car. Evening has come as I place the keys into the lock to open the door. Time to go for a late dinner. I hear the sound of footsteps from behind us and reflexively pull Johnny towards me. Turning I see Evelyn approaching us. In the darkness I see a glow where her eyes should be. I feel a pull on my arm from the child I have tried to protect. Looking down I see the same glow in his eyes.. His hand slips from mine. In my head I hear a voice telling me he will come to no harm. He is going home and returning to who he really is. His true self. I look and see that they have both become beings of light. I reach my hand out in an attempt to call him back. My eyes widen in surprise as I see my hand glowing, the light moving up my arm.

      I was the CHRYSALIS! Now I have emerged! I move towards my family and together we head home.

back to Contest #6