As a child I could always remember my parents telling me to avoid the house set high up on the ominous hill down the street. Rumors of aliens, witches and vampires were constantly circulating throughout the neighborhood. For years I had heard the vivid retelling of reports of screams and shaking coming from the house. The year I turned thirteen I finally uncovered the truth behind the sinister house and the family that resided inside.
I had never bothered in doing any investigating of my own and I had never really planned to. That was until one day when I was coming home from school I couldn’t help but over hearing a group of kids talking about that same house on the hill.
“Did you see the new kid?” one boy asked.
“Yeah! I hear he lives that freaky house on Willow Ridge!” his friend added enthusiastically.
“That’s not the creepiest thing about him. The creepiest thing was what he was wearing! What was that? Some hideous form of a bathrobe?” a girl snickered.
“It was odd how he never once took his hands out from underneath that thing. He didn’t even raise his hand for roll call” the first boy pointed out. At this point I had heard enough. I didn’t need to hear them taunting the new kid, even if he did live in the most talked about house in town.
The next Saturday, driven by my own curiosity, I ventured down the street and to the house. I maneuvered myself carefully around the thick bushes that surrounded the perimeter of the lot. Once I had found a spot that yielded a clear view of the backyard I settled in for a day of digging for the truth.
The sun was high in the sky before I saw any sign of life in the house. I was stretching my legs when I noticed a small but significant movement in the house. I looked up in time to see a curtain being pulled up revealing the interior of a room. I moved closer trying to see what was inside. From what I could see the room was completely empty except for a single wooden swing that hung from the ceiling. What in the world is a swing doing in someone’s room? I thought to myself.
While I was gawking at the sight that was before my eyes I hadn’t noticed that someone had come into the backyard. It was Aderyn the new kid at school. So it was true! He did live here. The realization of my discovery caused me to clasp my hands together in awe. The quick motion of my hands only led to the rustling of leaves around me. I shut my eyes hoping that Aderyn had not heard me knowing full well that he had. When I heard the sound of footsteps coming toward me I knew I needed to act and fast. Quickly I scrambled around in an attempt to get away, but it was too late.
“You there! Who are you?” Aderyn demanded. I clenched my fists and slowly turned around walking out of the bushes and revealing myself.
“Do I know you?” he continued his questioning. I shook my head afraid of giving him the wrong answer.
“Well why are you hiding in my backyard?” he tried. Again, no response from me.
“You can tell me, I’m not going to hurt you.” He said softly. It wasn’t until he had said this that I noticed I was trembling in fear.
“I-I-I was curious” was all I managed to get out. He nodded his head encouraging me to talk.
“So who are you, really?” he asked me kindly.
“I’m Melia from school.” I said gaining more confidence in my voice. “You were new, people talk, I heard rumors. I just wanted to find the truth on my own.”
“I thought I was ready for public school. I thought I was ready to deal with society.” his piercing green eyes shown with despair. “I just want to be like everyone else”
“Sorry but, I’m not quite sure what you mean” I gave him a confused look. He shook his head allowing his dark hair fall into his contrasting eyes.
“You wouldn’t understand” he whispered.
“Try me.” I said gently coaxed him to continue talking. He gave me an anguished look.
“Alright, but promise me you won’t tell anyone.” He stared me down with an alarmingly strong gaze until I finally nodded. At this he withdrew a hand from underneath his cloak. As soon as I saw his hand I understood why he was so self conscious. I couldn’t completely call his “hand” a hand. It was glistening white color and looked feathery to the eye. When the cloak fell to the wayside I had to restrain myself from letting out a gasp. Where Aderyn’s arms were supposed to be there were wings. They were pure white and iridescent as an angel’s.
“Go ahead laugh, ridicule, stare” he spat into the ground. I couldn’t take my eyes off them. They were strikingly aesthetic in their own right.
“No, no you don’t understand. They’re beautiful.” I praised. At this Aderyn lifted his head and smiled. It seemed like something he hadn’t been able to do in a very long time and I was only grateful I to help.
