Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 63214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
“What the fuck?” I tried to yank the bag off, but it wouldn’t budge. At least it returned to a normal temperature.
Then the whole yard exploded in light. Brilliant, eye-dazzling light. I shielded my eyes until they adjusted.
Where is this coming from?
All around me. Tiny sparks of light appeared and then blurred away. They dangled from the trees and hung all over like Christmas decorations. Green and blue. Red and purple. Silver exploded into gold. They were fireworks without the explosive sound.
Frozen in fear, I sat there and tightened my hold on the bottle. I didn’t know what I would be doing with it. Either drinking all the contents due to my going crazy or beating the crap out of whatever came after these lights.
I should call Mom. Maybe, Brett is right. She might have done something crazy to the property. Not that I believe in that stuff, but. . .maybe I should now.
No one appeared. But music played. That messed with me the most. The melody reminded me of one of those jewelry boxes that had a set of pins placed on a revolving cylinder.
“La-di-da-di-da-di-da.” Over and over, those same notes filled the air. “La-di-da-di-da-di-da.”
I jumped up from my blankets, but kept the bottle in my hand just in case I had to knock someone in the head. My nerves flared on edge. I’d been around Mom enough not to fear the unbelievable—the things that couldn’t be explained. However, that didn’t mean I couldn’t be scared out of my mind.
Feminine giggles sounded.
“Hello?” I must’ve spun around in circles, searching for the women who were laughing.
A rush of wind came and my little camp fire went out. The sparks of color left too. But the music continued and a lovely scent filled the air. Juniper berries or maybe pine needles.
What’s going on?
The bag cooled and then vibrated against my chest. I didn’t touch it. Backing up, I held my hands out to the sides and prayed to God. Mom always said that when dark things came, just pray and God’s light would make them run off. I said a prayer, but the music continued to play. I backed up fast, but when I looked down I was still standing right next to the first empty bottle.
I need to call Mom, after I run out of here screaming.
My feet wouldn’t let me move. They remained stuck in place. Planted even. Like trees that had grown and lived in the same forest for decades. I’d rooted myself to the area and would not leave.
And then the light returned. More color sparkled in front of me. It was a pyrotechnic show. Electric blue lines zipped above my head. Ruby bright pinwheels. Gold light dotted the sky. Glimmers of silver exploded like rockets.
Gasping, I covered my mouth, scared to scream.
God is here. God is with me. There is nothing to fear out here.
And then the whole space warmed. It didn’t make sense. Snow covered the ground and the moon hung in the air, but heat whipped against my skin. Suddenly it was summer and I just needed to get out of my clothes.
“Hello? Hello?” I hated myself for yelling that word out.
How many times had I watched a heroine in a scary move scream out hello, as she crept through a dark alley? The heroine always died no matter how many times she unknowingly tip-toed closer to the monster and whispered, “Who’s there?” Some beast or mad man always jumped out and slashed her face or choked the life out of her.
What the fuck? Run. But. . .why can’t I run?
The heat became unbearable. Although standing on snowy land, I stood in the inside of an oven while some huge, imaginary giant had twisted the knob and raised the temperature. I tried to move again, but my feet remained planted there.
Women giggled to my right. I turned that way and saw nothing. Not even the mermaids. I checked the mail box. Santa had moved.
“No. Where the hell is Santa?” My bottom lip shivered.
I have to find Santa. If I can find Santa, then I’ll feel better, I think. What am I saying? Santa didn’t move. He was. . .over. . .there. Right?
I turned to my left. Santa leaned next to the car.
Okay. I know damn well I didn’t sculpt him next to my car and then stick him against it. What the hell is going on?
Sweat trickled down my face. I pulled off my hat and unzipped my jacket.
“La-di-da-di-da-di-da.”
The notes danced within the breeze. And it was an odd breeze. Earlier it had been freezing outside. Now, I was hot as hell. If I closed my eyes, I would’ve thought I was on the beach. Instead of the winter moon’s soothing glow. It felt more like the sun baring down on me. I yanked off my jacket and dropped it to the ground.