The Darkening

Tucker: Chapter 7

    It was the vibration of my phone that snapped me back to reality. I had spaced out my hands unconsciously gripping onto the sheet, while staring up at the ceiling. I felt a buzzing coming from underneath my pillow, the place for which I dedicated my phone. I put it underneath my pillow so when my alarm went off in the morning I would hear it loud and clear, as its familiar sound blared into my ears. 

   
“Who the heck is calling me?” I mumbled under my breath the words coming out groggy. It’s not like they were really interrupting my sleep or anything just my staring off into space, but still what could be so pressing that they had to call me now. I mean no one ever called me, besides the gang, but even if none of them ever called me this late. I rolled over onto my side letting my phone ring. If it’s really that important they’ll leave a voicemail. 

   
“Ugh.” I rolled back over to get my phone from under my pillow. I tried to make out the number that was calling me, but the phone's light was too bright. “What do you want…?” I said aggravated.  

   
“Jeez, no need to get so grumpy.” Salem's half awake voice said. Well, it’s not my fault you woke me up at 1 in the morning when everyone SHOULD be sleeping. “But on a serious note, Mr. Sleepypants, you kinda got to come over to Collin’s house.” She paused before continuing. “It’s important.”  

“And why should I do that?” I asked, hoping that it wasn't actually important, because if it was that would mean that I would have to sneak out of the house for the 2 times this week, and then run all the way to Collin’s house. 

   
“Because I said it’s important! What about that don’t you understand?” She said, her voice rising a bit, anger filling her voice. 

“No need to get so angry.” I said mimicking her, although she definitely did not like that. I hear a snicker come from the phone, although it's farther from the phone. “Who are you with Salem?” I asked with a smirk on my face. I knew who she was with, but hearing her say it, well that...that will make for a good joke. 

“Collin…” She said her words fading as she got to the end, as if she were embarrassed. 

“That's what I thought. So you want us to come over to Collin’s house because you two are having too much fun, if you know what I mean, and you want us to babysit you guys and keep ya’ll out of trouble?” I said my smile was bigger than before. 

   
“No, that's not why.” She said in a stern voice. “It’s just that my and Collin were talking today and we agreed that we need to come up with a plan to keep you and Collin safe ASAP.” That's sweet of her, trying to rescue us from this messed up society even when our “fate” ,“destiny” or whatever you call it was already decided. We were going to be killed. We are going to die and there's no way around it. My smile dissipated quickly and now all I was left with was a broken thought, and an empty feeling. 

   
“Okay but-” I started before Salem barged in. 

   
“I don’t care, you are coming to Collin’s house right now. Oh, and don’t invite Liv. And uh tell Lanta would you?” 

   
And with that she hung up the phone. That’s odd. Not inviting Liv? Everything that just happened seemed to be off. Seemed as though she were rushing. And having a meet up in the middle of the night? It had never happened before, but I guess the following year would be full of surprises and full of things that had never been done before. 

   
“Cheer’s to new experiences.” I said sarcastically.  

   
I looked back at my phone, it was Salem, Collin, Liv, me, and Lata we were laying in the grass, smiles spread across all of our faces. That is everyone but Salem who looks absolutely petrified laying on Livs legs. I wonder how many of us will be left after this year. How many more moments like those we could have before the group was broken. How many more smiles would I smile before my last breath, and final thoughts on earth.