THE WILL STORY
The pain came from his arm. He slowly tried to extend it, but the needling sensation caused him to quickly pull it back to his chest. He wasn’t going to be able to use it. He needed help, but where could he get it? Was he safe? Was he even alone? How would he manage...
Will turned to run and instantly, the black bird opened its wings and flew from his shoulder. He dashed back into the cover of the woods in a desperate attempt to find a place to hide. Being in the open grass seemed the very worst of his options. After thirty seconds...
“She doesn’t,” a gravelly voice spun Will around on his heels. Barely visible beneath a wide-brimmed black hat shone two steely grey eyes above a wide and confident grin. He knew he’d startled Will, and it didn’t look like he had plans to apologize. The individual...
Will’s first thought was that he needed to be careful. He had to get back inside quick, but if he made too much noise or came around the corner too quickly he could scare the bird away, or worse yet, his parents could find out. Will began to take slow and...
It looked like some sort of bird. It was very thin and mostly black. To Will it reminded him of a crow, except it had a thick strip of glowing purple lined by neon pink across shoulders. The color continued across the trim of its wings and down its slightly elongated...
He looked down at the purple bottle in his hand, and without giving his conscience a moment to tell him otherwise, he quickly shoved the entirety of it into his pocket. Now if you’d asked him later I doubt he’d really even fully understand why he did it. It wasn’t so...
Will did his best to answer the question as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. “Yeah, I think I got up to use the bathroom or get some water or something,” he said. “Get some water.” His father muttered as if puzzled. “Everything ok, Dad?” “No, it’s… it’s fine....
The next day Will was awakened early for church. His mother did so kindly enough by scratching his back and singing that dumb little “Happy Mr. Sun” song. Afterward, she zoomed off and to the edge of the door. “I want you up, ready and dressed in fifteen minutes,” she...
His parents were whispering. He stopped for a moment, scrunched his eyes and tipped his head ever-so-slightly to the side to hear better. It was no use, all he could make out was the occasional sharp S-sound amidst a haze of muddled words. He’d have to get closer....
The rest of the day was frustrating and boring. Will did nothing, or at least what felt like nothing. He played a few video games, organized his power bots, and pulled off the stickers of his Rubik’s Cube all the while as he snacked on pretzels, cheese, and granola...