Hanna Rae in Feel the Fear

Luca Lane, I knew, but I had never heard of The Avenue. Mom was still in bed, so I left a note on the table. Grabbing my blue woolly pullover, I was free. Walking past the prison, I called school, I felt like I was being watched. A shiver ran up my back. I started to run as I rounded the bend at the corner. I ducked my head down to miss the low branches on a pine tree.

I screamed as someone grabbed my shoulder. I turned to look into the face of a wrinkled, fat, old man. His breath smelled of smoke, and the glare in his eyes frightened me.

“Where are you going in such a hurry, little lady?” He sputtered out in a cranky voice.

“Let go of me. It’s none of your business, where I go!”

“I saw you yesterday at the far end of town. You sure get around, don’t you? Where’s your little blonde friend, anyway?” He said barring dirty teeth and a sneaky smile.

I shook myself free from his grip and ran. Two blocks down was Luca Lane. It was a better area of town. I’d be safe there. I slowed down, when I thought the old man wasn’t behind me.

I walked to the end of Luca Lane and seen no avenue. I turned to go back. There, hung under the edge of a droopy pine, was a twisted sign. I felt uneasy after my encounter with the old man, but I was too close to Enya’s to turn back now.

The smooth road, between the pines, was mud covered. It twisted down a gully. The sky was blocked out of view by the thickness of branches. The air was filled with a heavy fog. Flies seemed to come out of nowhere. I walked faster. I could see a lone, half hidden house just ahead. I turned and looked back. From where I stood, this spot seemed concealed from Luca Lane. Whoever built her house wanted to be alone, with no houses in sight. All I could hear was the buzz of the flies trying to drill a hole into my long knotted hair. I swung my good arm wildly around trying to hit the flies.

The road was lined on each side with thick-branched pines. I noticed a large patch of purple and white asters. Caught up in the moment, I picked a few good handfuls for Enya. I looked up only to be thrown back to the ground in shock. There sat Airy, statue still, starring at me. Sitting on top of… . Oh my God! It’s an old graveyard. I dropped the flowers and stumbled backwards to the edge of the road. The grass was overgrown and hiding the contents of the clearing. The stones were old, broken and moss covered.

Airy jumped down, only to hesitate at the bunch of flowers on the ground. He stared at me with his motionless eyes.