One Night

Ch 8. A light

I looked over at the clock on my nightstand. It is 8:04. What could be so special about 8:15?
I looked out my window to see if anything has changed. But there were still no people outside. All that was different was the fact that it was going to start getting dark soon. 
I looked over at my neighbor's house and admired the big apple tree they have in their backyard. It was so tall that it was taller than most of the houses in the neighborhood!
Just then, I saw one of their light turn on. Someone was inside the house. Someone else was out there other than my family and Lexi! 
I opened my bedroom door and ran down the stairs to put my shoes on. I needed to ask if they knew what was going on.
I ran to the front door and put on my shoes.
“Mom, Dad, I’ll be back in a bit ok?” I yelled.
“Ok honey, just be careful,” My dad yelled back.
I opened the door and stepped outside onto my porch. 
Everything was so quiet.
No dogs were barking.
No kids were screaming.
Everything was quiet.
I ran across the street and knocked on my neighbor’s door.
I heard some shuffling within the house, but no one came to the door.
I knocked again.
This time, there was no shuffling, but still no answer. 
I knocked for the third time, and this time I yelled my name.
“Hello? Is anyone home? It’s me, your neighbor Easton.”
I heard the lock click, and the front door opened. 
A little girl, who couldn't have been older than 5 or 6, was staring back at me. She had really bright hazel eyes, long brown hair, and she was wearing a long white dress that covered her feet. 
I got down on my knees to meet her eye level and touched her little arm. She was shaking. 
“Hi there. My name is Easton. Are your parents home?” I asked.
Her eyes got big and started filling with tears.
She ripped her arm away from my hand and ran inside the house crying.
I got up and started running after her. She was fast.
“Wait. I just need to talk with someone!” I said, still running after her.
The little girl ran up the stairs and into a large bedroom. She dove under a huge bed that was in the center of the room.
I sat down next to the bed and started to catch my breath.
“I am sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset,” I said in between breaths.
I heard the little girl trying to cry silently from underneath the bed. 
I took a deep breath and slid my hand under the bed. 
“You don't have to hold my hand if you don't want to. I just need you to know that I am not here to hurt you, ok?” I said softly. 
After a few seconds, I felt a little, trembling hand touch mine.
I smiled and looked under the bed. I saw two little eyes staring back at me.
“It’s ok now. You are safe.”