Sebastian watched her shut the front door behind her. He couldn't hear any yelling, the house remained as still as ever. It was always a quiet place, but he could occasionally see Mr. Meeks working in his backyard. There were signs of life. When was the last time he saw the old man?

He turned around and walked to his house. He slowed as he approached the front of his house, but Sebastian he kept walking. Did his mom even know he left? She'd lose it when she found him gone. He continued on. Eventually, he made a left down a road toward the middle school.

The street was quiet. The same in the day as night. Maybe someone would walk a dog. You could nod at them, maybe they would wave back. No dog walkers right now.

Along his path, he heard a voice call out to him. A man was resting on a sleeping bag, propped up on a backpack. He wore a loose flannel shirt and stained jeans. He scratched the scraggly beard on his chin.

"What are you doing out here this time a night?"

"Just walking," Sebastian said.

"Just walking. Man, be careful. It's a strange summer, this one."

Sebastian nodded and kept walking. It was fall, wasn't it? Behind him, he could hear the man call out.

"Look up every now and then!"

Sebastian glanced back. The man waved.

Sebastian kept walking. He realized he left his phone at home, his mom was likely panicking. He'd head back soon.

But he could only focus on Marlene's face. The way it twisted, a mix of disgust and humor. Look at this sad sack of shit, it seemed to say. He knew that look well, but never wanted to see it from her.

She could've have just left. Did she have to say that? But he also thought about the tears. She was upset. She wanted to leave, but something made her go back. She needed help, didn't she? He had to try, even if she hated him, didn't he?

That's what friends are for, right? Good times and bad.

He stopped and sat down. Located at the back of the middle school near the cafeteria exit doors was a bench made from a rough plastic material designed to look like wood. Carved into the back rest were the words "Buddy Bench." The idea was, you sat there and people would ask you to hang out. You could make friends. When Sebastian started sixth grade he sat there one day.

The Buddy Bench is precisely where it all went wrong.

"Man, screw this bench.," Sebastian said. He kicked at the rocks on the ground and sighed. When he looked up, a tall man stood over him. A very tall him. He was night in the night, darkness that swallowed light. The man made a clicking sound. Sebastian started to inch rightward, hoping to drop off the bench and run.

But the creature was too quick.