Chapter 2

The night air was still and quiet. The sun had long ago dipped away to rest and yet the moon was bright and full. Its rays reflecting light and shadows across the greater Wolferton Valley area. It was that time when all manner of insect and bug or even small animal had found a private spot to rest.

As Gabe walked home the sound of his sneakers slapping the sidewalk was the only thing breaking the quiet late summer air. Gabriel decided to take his normal shortcut thru the high schools lacrosse field. It wasn’t really allowed at night, but it would take off at least fifteen minutes from his route home and no one had ever caught him. Plus it was so nice out.

The school was completely dark. Gabriel had never seen it like this before. There were normally some lights, on for security. But he couldn’t recall if he had been to the school this late at night either. The lack of lights made the layout of the grounds a bit confusing even with all the moonlight. It take Gabe maybe the better part of an hour to find his bearings and locate the “shortcut” to his street.

The grass on the field was wet. Why was it wet? There hadn’t been rain in days and Gabriel knew that the school didn’t use the old sprinklers. Dean Wells had installed astro turf years ago. It didn’t really make a difference to him, but Gabe had heard so many of the guy of the lacrosse team bitch about it. About how it didn’t feel the same when they had cleats on. Gabe knelt and reached out, touching the ground. He looked at his hand, but couldn’t make out what the liquid was. A small cloud had suddenly passed in front of the moon, blocking its bright light and shrouding the field in darkness. The wetness was much warmer than the cool night air, but Gabe couldn’t see what the liquid was. He fumbled for his phone in his pocket. Struggling to turn the light on, his heart was pounding in his chest, his hands shaking. Gabe couldn’t tell what the dark liquid was. Finally, the cloud moved and the field was lit up brightly.