Chapter Two :

The Day Things Started To Change /

Today after school, I walked home - which isn't unusual for me because I almost always walk; riding the bus just gives the other kids more time to mouth off to me. But while I was walking past town, I noticed that almost no one was outside. No children playing in their yards, no one sitting on their decks, no one driving vehicles or biking down the sidewalks or anything... Town wasn't normally this quiet - standing there, I could hear only bugs chirping and the breeze rustling the grass and trees. I kept walking home. 

When I got home, my parents were sitting at the kitchen table. My father was doing some paperwork and my mother was reading a book. How was school? They asked me. Fine, I replied, and handed them my papers. What's going on in town? I asked. What do you mean? My mom questioned. There's no one outside - like they all disappeared, I stated. They're probably all in their houses, my father said. You know how it is, Lavender. Not everyone is like you, enjoying the outdoors. 

But it wasn't about how they weren't like me. I knew something was going on, I just didn't know what. If only my parents had seen it - even the streets were completely empty. 

I walked upstairs to my room to change into something more comfortable. My window was open, a cool breeze blowing in and rustling my curtains. I didn't remember leaving the window open this morning... I guess I was a bit busy earlier, though. I took off my pants and T shirt and put on a long pastel pink sundress. 

I walked back down the stairs and found my parents sitting on the couch together, watching the TV. Which was weird, because my parents don't care for television. Did you have something planned for us to do today? I asked. If not, I'll just play in the backyard. They didn't look away from the screen for a second. Sure, honey. My mother replied... Sure to what? I wondered, then went outside.

It was almost time for dinner, which made it even stranger that my parents were just sitting and watching TV. And what my mother had said was strange, too. She hadn't directly answered my question. I walked behind my house, into the backyard and into the forest. It wasn't quiet out here - there were sounds of bugs buzzing, the wind whipping through the trees, the creek bubbling and splashing. It smelled incredible, the summer heat and flower blooms. I must've walked for about 20 minutes, and stopped because I heard something besides the plants rustling... I ducked behind a nearby tree and waited. I could tell it was someone running, but I didn't know who. Out of all the years I had explored these woods, I had never seen another soul. Suddenly, whoever it was stopped. And started towards where I was hiding.

A pair of big, glassy eyes peered at me from around the tree. I almost screamed in terror but stopped. It was just a baby deer. I breathed a sigh of relief. Come here, I called to it, clicking my tongue quietly. I stepped out from behind the tree, and I could fully see it. It was so adorable, with its big fuzzy ears, brown and white spotted back, little snout and huge eyes. After a few seconds it moved slowly toward me. I reached out and could pet its soft, furry head. It then turned and started deeper into the forest.

I thought that I should follow it.