The Dark Shadow

Run!” Kia yelled holding his little sister’s hand. 

It was a mysterious day in the town of Cane. Nothing was predictable. Kia was just about to leave for his first day of school when he heard his mother call. “Sweetie, remember today is Cassy’s first day at kindergarten you are supposed to drop her today. I am trusting you to keep her safe.”

Kia turned around and saw his little sister with her backpack and a big smile on her face. “Oh right, fine I’ll do it” he whispered walking back to the front door but this time with his sister holding his hand. Cassy skipped as they walked through the neighborhood streets. Whenever a kid or a grownup walked by or noticed them Kia would let go of Cassy’s hand and walk ahead. “I am going to be so embarrassed if someone sees me with Cassy. All my friends are going to make fun of me” Kia thought as he let go of Cassy’s hand once more. Cassy’s brown hair bounced as she skipped. Her blue eyes were sparkling. “Kia why are you not holding my hand?” Cassy asked, trying to catch up to her brother. Kia who was trying not to look back answered “because we are getting late” and he was not wrong the school was still few blocks away.

Few minutes later the children came to a lovely path full of pretty flowers and cute animals. Cassy who was mesmerized at the path quickly remembered something her mother had told her couple of weeks ago. “Kia, I think we are not allowed here, Mom said” she whispered catching up to her brother. Kia could understand her fear. He shivered as they continued to walk. Rumors were told that this part of the neighborhood is haunted. No one in the whole of Cane dared to enter. Kia knew this very well. Once a new kid came to this part of the neighborhood and did not return until next year Christmas and when he did, he had scratches, bruises, and cuts all over his body. But this was the only way they could not be seen, and Kia knew this very well too.

Kia held onto his sister’s had tightly. Sweat dripped off his forehead wishing Cassy wouldn’t notice. As the beautiful path started disappearing, they now walked into a street full of abandoned houses and bare trees. The sun started vanishing behind the clouds, everything seemed gray. “Don’t be scared I’ll protect you” Kia managed to say as they came closer to the school. He knew in his head that this was a lie, but he had promised his mother to keep his sister safe. Suddenly everything went dark. Cassy’s grip loosened. And she was nowhere to be seen.  Kia’s head was clouded with all kinds of thoughts and he began thinking “What will I do? I promised to keep her safe and what will mom say when I come home with scratches, cuts, and bruises all over my body and no Cassy. What if we don’t make it out alive?” Kia thought looking around for light. “Cassy, where are you?” he called out scared and worried. 

Cassy in the meantime was frightened, she was surrounded in darkness and her brother was nowhere to be seen. “Kia” she called out. Suddenly a small fire shone bright in the distance both Kia and Cassy went towards it but when Kia started going back the light appeared to pull him closer soon Cassy and Kia could see each other again. They were reunited. “Cassy you’re ok!” Kia cried running to his sister. They both hugged, tears started dripping of Cassy’s face forming rivers on her cheeks. “I was so scared” she cried looking at her brother in sadness. Everything was well when a dark shadowy figure started to approach them. “Run!” Kia yelled holding his little sister’s hand.

 The siblings ran and ran when Cassy’s shoelace came untied and she tripped. “Cassy, watch out!” Kia yelled reaching out his hand. Cassy grabbed his hand and picked up her shoe. The black creature came closer. “Stop, don’t hurt her” Kai yelled bravely putting both arms out to protect his sister, a blast of wind blew. Cassy tied the shoe’s laces as quickly as she could. “Come on let’s go” she whispered. Kia nodded and ran behind her. They ran some more when they came back to the lovely path. Kai smiled and high fived his sister. But the shadow creature was smarter than you think and was not easy to lose. “Kia!” Cassy yelled pointing to Kia’s foot. “Huh?” Kai replied looking down. And there was the shadow creature grabbing for Kia. Kia ran with Cassie in front of him. They ran and ran, into the silver school gate that Mrs. Sally forgot to close. They stopped for a minute to take a deep breath before closing the gate shut then they slowly and cautiously walked to the playground. They had made it just in time! Kia’s friends looked at him then smiled. “Oh no! here we go” Kia thought getting himself ready for embarrassment but instead his friends asked him if he wanted to play basketball with them till the bell rang. Kia smiled too. “Maybe I was wrong walking my sister to school isn’t embarrassing.” He thought.

“Hey Kai, can I help you walk you sister to school, she looks so cute?” a voice called out. It was Amanda the girl that Kia had crush on. “Oh um… Sure” he blushed. Amanda smiled and walked away everything was normal. Kia walked to Cassy who was playing on the swings and whispered, “what happened today is our own little secret and I bet this not the last of the shadow creature so keep a lookout.” Cassy nodded and went back to playing. Kia gave her a thumbs up and she gave one too.

In the meanwhile, the shadow creature went back to the haunted part of the neighborhood and smiled “Oh foolish children you will see a lot more of me now. Hee hee hee ha ha.” he laughed ….