"Goodnight Ian." Cara Oculis crooned softly to her son as she gently shut the door.

But Ian couldn't and wouldn't sleep. He instead fidgeted constantly with excited 7-year-old energy,, as tomorrow he would be 8. He stared at the cake alarm clock that sat on his bedside drawer and watched the minutes tick by.

Could you go any slower? Ian thought as it finally ticked to 8:06.

8:07
8:08
8:09
8:30
8:54
9:18
9:45- Wait. What was that?

Ian crept out of his bed and to his window. White lights shone brightly outside, their source the headlights on a large white truck. Then two people clothed in gray stepped out of the back, heading towards the house. They knocked loudly on the door, and Ian's mother let them in. He heard their loud footsteps echoing through the house, seeming to be getting closer and closer...

Ian flew back into his bed and threw the covers over his head, then shutting his eyes tightly and pretending to be asleep.

"I love you, Ian... I wish I didn't have to do this..." His mother's voice choked in his ears.

Something sharp inserted into his arm, but he could not move, as another hand held his arm down firmly. Ian grew tired as the serum worked it's way into his body. He tried to open his eyes, but they were weighed down by sleepiness.

"Mommy...?" Ian whispered before he drifted off into to darkness.

"Goodbye, Ian."

~