Growing Pains by K.R. Moore
“Just be honest, you think I’m lying.” Logan and his blonde condescending friend Zach sat across each other, eagerly debating the truth.
“I never said that… just share your big secret or whatever from the beginning. You think there’s what in our town?” Zach muttered.
“A killer… no, worse than that.”
Logan clasped his hands together, reminiscing. “Ever since summer ended, I’ve been on edge. Coming home from school on the last day was incredible. Pizza and signed yearbooks to go around. But as I fell asleep exhausted from the day, I couldn’t help but hear commotion outside. Just out the door, I could hear a voice… a young boy’s voice around our age.”
“Kids were making a noise on the last day of school hyping up summer vacation, what a surprise…”
“It’s not like that! Listen, I could only hear it just a little bit, but the second I cracked open my window, I swear I heard the sounds of screams. A boy’s voice pleading for help before it was suddenly cut quiet.”
“…What else?” Zach quietly asked.
“The next one I believe you were near the sight as well but never saw what I witnessed. During that one incredibly hot day during vacation when you, me and a bunch of neighborhood kids were at the beach. I went back to my dad’s car to get the cooler you forgot and heard a kid crying from one of the alleyways.” He took a moment to recollect his thoughts. “When I stumbled upon the boy, I found many things I was hoping to never see. A slit wrist, tears and blood stains even up along the walls.”
“I remember the ambulance coming to pick someone up but… I never knew what happened. Is that why?” Zach groaned, allowing the curiosity to be displayed on his face for just a second.
“Shortly after that day, those missing child reports that have been everywhere on the news lately started popping up. Each kid leaving behind a small mess as they vanished.”
“So, you’re saying a serial killer is loose somewhere in the city? I could buy that.” Zach’s face changed to that of a skeptic once again. “But then again, that’s what the news and police have already been suggesting. Why bring this up now? Why to me?”
“I already said it earlier, I think it’s worse than just a mere serial killer.” Logan thought for a moment longer, “You know that one preppy kid from last year that suddenly got all doom and gloom the second the new school year started?”
“You mean former Mr. Class President?” Zach scoffed, “What about him?”
“Well, I was trying to invite him to lunch the other day and maybe in some way, try and see if he was curious or knew anything at all about all the violence and disappearances happening all over San Diego lately. I suppose with how he’s been acting recently; it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise he blew me off without a second thought.”
“What worries me about him, were the scars he was trying to hide. Painful looking marks along his neck and wrist, those couldn’t have been made by accident.”
Zach was losing his patience, “His wrists? If Aaron has something serious like that going on, we should be telling a teacher, not debating crazy conspiracy theories about him!”
“My reports aren’t crazy; I’m just trying to keep you out of danger!”
“Look, I get that these past few months have been a bit scary, and especially bizarre… but you worrying yourself to death with these thoughts isn’t going to help. Let’s say there is some… super werewolf or whatever mauling kids. Talking isn’t going to help.”
“I said nothing about a stupid dog, just listen to me! What we should do is-” But Zach finally had enough.
“What we need to do now for example is call Aaron up and just try to hang with him for a bit tomorrow, make sure everything is okay with him. Got it?”
“But…” Logan reluctantly nodded, “Okay fine, we’ll put a pin in this for now. I know something unnatural is going on here in the town and something must be done… But all I can do is watch for now.”
“Good, now since I’m assuming you forgot your phone at your place again, go get mine. It’s in the shed in the backyard.”
Logan groaned and hopped up from his chair, “Seriously, why do you keep leaving it in there?”
Hurrying down per Zach’s instruction, he threw open the door and didn’t bother turning on the light as it was conveniently right by the door on a desk. “Here it is.” He grabbed the phone but quickly dropped it at the notice of a warm fluid along the screen.
“Gross… what’s this?” He leaned in and surveyed the red substance. “Blood?” Another drip fell on the phone. Slowly, Logan looked up to find something sourcing the bleeding. There, hidden in-between the roof beams was a familiar boy’s body laid unmoving. The blonde and black hair with the once often condescending face made it all too clear to Logan who it was.
“Oh… oh god!” He staggered and tripped back to the feel of someone’s legs touching his back.
“I have to say, you’re a pretty smart kid. You witnessed several of my actions thoroughly and nearly guessed what’s going on. That’s commendable, I’m not joking.” The boy Logan at first thought was Zack leered over him, the bloodlust slowly becoming more visible in his eyes.
“Zach… the real one! What did you do with him?” Logan slowly backed away deeper into the shed, the being that wore Zach’s face licked the blood off his lips as he walked under the stream.
“Is that really the question you should be asking right now?” He placed a hand on the trembling boy’s shoulder, his fingernails extending into long black claws and achingly scraped against his skin.
“Things are changing around here soon Logan and you were among the first to catch wind of such. Nice work. Yet I can see the developments are causing you quite a bit of stress…” The smug creature chuckled and tightened his grip on Logan’s shoulder, eventually breaking skin as the boy shrieked, “Regardless, I can help you with those growing pains.”
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K.R. Moore is an author that likes to bring joy and look at the positives of life. Channeling them within his writing into the craziest, most bizarre ways possible with fun at every turn. When you pick up a book from Moore, you can expect to go on a journey with unforgettable teams of heroes and comedy always close by.
When he’s not writing about saving the world before game time, he’s usually deep in his study researching the best and most inspirational media out there to come up with outlandishly incredible magic systems in hopes of impressing future readers.
