RUSH

  NOVEMBER 1992

  MINDEN, LA

  Shhhh, I think. Must be quiet.

  It is snowing outside. Ice sticks to my window. I am hungry. I want a snack. A good snack. Dinner was baked beans and potato. Ophie says that money is tight right now and that we are going to grocery store tomorrow. But u can’t wait till then. I need a snack now.

  Ophir doesn’t like me to be out my room at night because that is when the monsters roam. But I will be as quick as I can. I have done this six times before. I am an expert.

  Mr. Bear sits on my pillow. He is sleepy.

  “Stay,” I tell him. “I’ll be back. And then we can read superhero comics together.”

  After turning on my light, I crawl on all fours on the carpet to avoid making a noise. When I reach my door, I lean my ear against it. The hallway outside is silent. My mouth waters. Extra peanut butter and jelly on white bread.

  I jiggle with the doorknob until it loosens and place my lucky pencil back in my backpack. I leave my bedroom and skip down the squeaky step. The light switch is not working. I like to play hide and go seek. It is the best game in the world. I play at school with my friends. I know the best hiding places. My friends tell me so, because I am very quiet. I wish I was at the playground. Lots of space.

  Our Christmas tree is in the living room.

  I am a ninja. Ninjas are very quiet.

  The house has no space.

  The kitchen floor is wet. Very wet.

  My tummy was growling. I want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Ophie sent me to bed, but I don’t want to. It is only nine o’clock. I want a snack. I will be fast, so Ophie does not see. I reach the kitchen and stand on a stool to reach the peanut butter jar and bread. The plastic lid is too tight. I try to squeeze. It’s too tight. I begun to turn as hard as I can. The light of the fridge shines in my face. Cold air.

  The peanut butter jar falls from my hands.

  There’s a man’s foot sticking out from the couch. His shoelaces are untied. There is red. A bright red puddle. It smells like metal. The red stains the cushion. I take a step forward. The man is not asleep. There is more red on the wall. The bad door is open. Wide open.

  The man is hurt. He is very hurt.

  My teacher says that if someone is hurt, I call 911. I don’t know if we have a phone. I’ll look.

  There is a very heavy crash from downstairs. Someone screams. I duck from behind the kitchen counter and peek with one eye. My hand is shaking. Heavy footsteps rush from the basement stairs, and I climb into the lower cabinet beneath the sink and close it until I can see just a crack. The cleaning supplies and bottles press into my back. I crouch behind them, the smell meeting my nose.

  Ophie leans against the basement door. Ophie has red all over them. Ophie is breathing heavily. Ophie is very sweaty and holds a hammer in their hand. Ophie runs to the man on the ground and raises their hand with the hammer. Ophie hits the man again, and again, and again, and again until their sleeve is completely red. Ophie throws the hammer and kicks the man in the stomach.

  I sit very, very still. I try to remember what my teacher says. I need to get help. But I sit still.

  Ophie comes around the couch and rests their hand on their forehead. Ophie looks up and sees the open fridge. I see black in Ophie’s eyes. Ophie stares at the peanut butter jar on the floor. The lid has come off. Ophie stares for a very, very long time. I see the red on Ophie. Is Ophie going to do that to me? My stomach hurts. There is so much red.

  I’m not hungry anymore.

  “Rush?” Ophie asks, but their tone is shaky. “No, no, no—” They raise their arms over their head. “No!” They rush towards the front door, flinging it open, a cold gust of snowy wind escaping through the house. They look for footprints on the porch, but don’t see mine.

  Ophie locks the door again.

  “Rush!”

  Shhh, I tell myself, hugging my knees.

  Ophie stumbles forward, awkwardly stumbling on the soaked carpet. Ophie sniffs and wipes their jaw as they slowly walk to the kitchen. I hold my breath. My palms are sweaty. When Ophie leans against the countertop, they leave a red handprint against the surface. Ophie keeps looking around the kitchen.

  I see Ophie’s bare feet and jeans, covered in red. My fingers wrap around a bleach bottle. I loosen the cap and quietly set it down. Ophie is peeking under the table. My arms shake.

  ”Rush…I know you’re here. Can you be a big boy and come out? Please, just come out.”

  Very quiet.

  The telephone is in the bad room, where I hear the voices at night. I don’t like the bad room, but that is where it must be. I will go. I clutch the plastic bottle of the bleach tight.

  “I know what you saw scared you, buddy,” Ophie whispers. Ophie opens the cabinet doors, one by one. I don’t see Ophie’s face, but I can hear their voice tremble as they stumble over their words. I take a slow breath.

  “Please, just come out. Come out.” There is a pause. I curl into a tighter ball. “Rush…there…there are things that you don’t yet understand. I just need you to come out.”

  The cabinet door on the left slams. I hold my breath. My heart is beating very, very fast.

  COME OUT

  I jump. Ophie fights back a sob. Ophie is sad. But I see the red on Ophie’s arms. What about the man lying in the living room? Ophie is going to get the red out of me. I shiver.

  ”I’m….I’m not going to hurt you. I would never hurt you. Please just…if you would just let me explain, you would understand better. Just let me explain. You don’t have to hide from me.”

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  My fingernails dig into the bleach bottle. The smell is making my nose burn.

  After a few moments, Ophie kneels on the kitchen floor and sniffs. “I’m so sorry. I…I didn’t mean to yell at you, baby. These things—they absolutely have to be done.” I see Ophie’s hand inching towards the cabinet door. I brace myself, watch their red fingers.

  One, two, three, four, five, six—

  The cabinet door hinges creak. I exhale.

  Ready or not, here I come.

  The cold air rushes in. A shadow. As hard as I can, I swing the bleach bottle in my hand. Something giant splashes into Ophie’s face, and I hear them scream on the top of their lungs. I leap out the cabinet. The empty bottle clatters against the kitchen floor as I scramble to my feet. I trip and land my arm, bruising my elbow. Ophie is bent over in pain, doubling over in the puddle. They try to grab me, but I bite their hand as hard as they can until they let go. A red mark is visible on their palm.

  Ophie is clutching their eyes.

  For the first time in my life, I am heading to the basement. With all my might, I push over the Christmas tree, causing the ornaments to fall and roll upon the ground. I glance behind me as I see Ophie rising and sprinting towards me. I don’t know who this person is. I don’t know where they came from. Ophie’s eyes are a dark red, just like their skin. They look like a monster. I scream as they lunge forward, water streaming down their lips.

  I don’t glance at the man on the ground. I don’t have time to. I need to find the phone. I reach the basement door just in time and slam it before turning all locks to the side. My fingers are shaking as I stand still.

  RUSH

  Gasping for air, I take a few steps backwards on the landing. The doorknob twists and turns. There’s another strangled shriek, before a heavy pounding settles on the cracked surface. A crack on the wood. I whimper and rush down the stairs, halfway tripping. The room is very strange. I see very large shapes on the ground, but they’re covered in colorful squares. Many of them. The floor is drenched in red, and it coats my bare feet as I walk. My sweaty hand grips the railing. The basement door is rattling.

  RUSH

  Where is the telephone? Where?

  PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME

  I don’t see it. My eyes get wet. I hug my arms and lean against the wall. It is very cold down here, and the room is halfway lit. I spy the washing machine and dryer. Maybe I could hide in there. I want to go outside through the window, but the snow has frozen it shut. The metallic smell is even stronger down here.

  PLEASE RUSH PLEASE

  The splintering sound of wood makes me scream. I see a very big axe slice slice through door, causing pieces to fly through and fall on the steps. I curl up in a ball on the ground, shaking. I can’t stop screaming. Ophie raises the axe again after pulling the blade free from the surface. Ophie has tears running down their face. They see me looking at them through the giant crack in the door. They drop the axe and tug at the doorknob.

  I slowly away.

  ”Rush,” Ophie weakly says.

  There is a flashing light. I wipe my eyes as I turn my head. A computer, with many wires, is attached to the wall. The screen is glowing so bright it makes my skin look blue and green. I take a few steps forward. It’s a pretty light. I sniffle and approach it as something appears.

  OPEN THE DOOR

  I see a very strange pink shape. Peeking over the keyboard, I place both elbows on my desk. Maybe there is a phone in one of the drawers. But before I can open one, the light completely surrounds me. I see the pink shape is looking at me. I stare back at it. I try to run away, but its gentle voice follows me.

  “Come here, sweetheart. Don’t cry.”

  I shake my head, wiping my eyes.

  OPEN THE DOOR NOW RUSH

  The pink figure looks down for a moment, before slowly taking my hands. “You may not know me, but I know you. I held you in my arms when you were born. This is not a safe place for you. I have one prepared for you.”

  “But there’s a man upstairs who’s hurt very, very bad,” I say. “We need to help him.”

  PLEASE

  “We will,” the pink figure says. “We will return to this spot together. But in the meantime, we need to get you away from here. Away from the monster outside. You leave that to me and everyone else. You let me take care of it.”

  ”Of the monster?”

  ”Yes. It will never come near you again.”

  I stare at her.

  ”I’ve so many mistakes, Rush. I’m not making them twice.” They caress my face. “I won’t.”

  ”How do you know my name?” I ask, tilting my head.

  The pink figure’s eyes are watery.

  NO GET AWAY FROM THERE

  ”I’m…I’m scared,” I whisper, trying not to look behind me. “Ophie hurt that man.”

  ”I know, love.” The pink figure slowly pulls me into an embrace. I close my eyes. They are warm and fluffy. “Everything is going to be okay. I promise.” They whisper in my ear. “I will keep you safe. I’m here. I’m always here.”

  DON’T TAKE HIM, DON’T TAKE HIM

  I’LL DIE

  I’LL DIE WITHOUT HIM

  The basement door flies off the hinges and lands to the ground. I hear Ophie’s rapid footsteps coming down the stairs. The light glows brighter and brighter until the basement disappears. The pink figure keeps her promise. She holds me tight, and I cling to her arms as we float up, up, upwards into space.

  * * * * * * *

  “Will he be okay?”

  ”Quiet Oliver, you’ll wake him up.”

  ”Well, he’s coming to.”

  I open my eyes. I am lying on something green and soft, and a blanket is wrapped around me. I am in a cave with strange colored creatures, looking down at me. I am scared. I run to the pink creature’s arms and she holds me. I look down. My skin is gray.

  “It’s alright, love,” she says.

  I blink and look around. We are on a very high cliff, with woods surrounding it. I notice the pink creature has one wilted star on the top of her head. She gives me a weary smile and places a cup in my hands—-do I have hands? Mine look very much like hers right now. They are paws. But they are tinier than hers, and much harder to grab and pick things up.

  I like this place. It reminds me of the park Ophie and I go to ride my bike. A pit then settles in my stomach. I don’t want to think about Ophie. I’m scared of seeing Ophie.

  ”Where am I?” I ask.

  “Drink,” she says.

  I do. It is better than peanut butter and jelly.

  The blue figure sighs. “I hope you understand the repercussions what you just did, Juno.”

  Juno grits her teeth. “That filth—“

  “I know. I know. I’m just telling you that we need to be prepared. Now that Rush is here with us, we can no longer take chances. The Programmer is going to do everything in their power to crash the game. They’re slipping. Usually they’re so composed and calm, but it’s something this time. I can’t exactly pinpoint what, but I know.”

  Juno gives him a nod. “As agreed, Nolan.”

  “This little one will need to remain in a well guarded place,” Nolan continues. He studies the group. “I know just the location—I’ve already examined the code multiple times. Everyone will need to do their part. We have a child’s life in our hands. When the Programmer enters the game, remember our plan. We must remain alert at all time.” He kneels in front of me. “Rush, I need you to be brave. I know that this very confusing and scary for you, but we will explain more once we get you acquainted with this world.”

  I shiver. “Yes, sir.”

  ”You must follow directions and listen closely.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Nolan gave a gruff nod. “Very good.”

  I pause to glance at Juno. “Will we go home together and get help for the man in the house? He’s lying on the living room floor.” I begin to cry. “Ophie hurt the man. The man is bleeding very bad. Who’s gonna help him?”

  Juno scoops me up in her arms. Her face is wet. I see everyone gathering and murmuring around me. Nolan stepped away, fighting back tears as he approached the mouth of the cave. He heavily sighs. Juno places a kiss on my forehead and looks at me. Her eyes are the same color as mine—yet are kind.

  ”Yes, love. We will.”