The Watcher

**(This story belongs to Potatopatato)**“John! Breakfast is ready!” John squinted his eyes and shoved a baseball sweatshirt over his old superman pj shirt. He ran down stairs almost tumbling. “woah I don't know you were in such a hurry to get oatmeal.” his mom said with a face looking like she was about to have a laugh. “ no. ima go try and catch up with James and christian.” you mean those idiots who toilet papered Mrs. Candys house?” his dad said coming out of the pantry with a can of dried beans.

“They aren't idiots. Mrs. Candy is a cranky old crone. She doesn't know what she's talking about” he muttered. He ran out the door slamming it. He hopped on his bike pedaling as fast as he could hoping he could catch up with them. “ HONKKKKKK!” John swerved over to the right of the road, tumbling onto the sidewalk.

Then he saw him.

An older man, a black suit with a blood red tie. Looking right at him. At least he thought so.. He couldn't see his face. John ran fast trying to get away he wouldn't admit he was scared it was probably someone just playing a prank. He finally got to the park where christian and james met up with him.

John had left his bike behind. All he could think was about the man and how much he scared him.

It was around lunch time when they started heading back. They played around in the park center for a while and were too tired to bike more. James and christian lived a ways back on the other side of the park so john walked back by himself.

John stood there looking down at his feet. Then he looked up there he was, the same man from before. Just like last time except this time he could hear whispering. A girls voice? It was faint but he could make out some of the words. { The... victim has died?} or… { the victim is picked? }.

It had been three hours since he saw him.. But thats all he could think about. He continued to ask himself questions. Who is the victim? Did they die? Can he help? Could he have helped? But his long ever-going train of thought collapsed when he heard the sirens. They were headed to the park. John rushed out the door interested in what it was, needing to know if it had to do with the man. John ran fast. John didn't ever run so fast in his life. But he could only help to wonde- he halted. Staring up at it. Suddenly a man in a blue cap and outfit hovered over him staring in his eyes. You shouldn't be here. Said the man. I.. im sorry! John ran back home. This time slower. The cars were rushing but he could still see. He could see the dead hanging body of christian brown. When he got home his parents were standing in the den he quickly wiped the tears of his pale white face. His parents told him to sit. Do you know anything about wha- well.. You know..? No! I swear on my life! Oh okay okay its okay sweetie. You look so pale.. Ill.. i'll go make you some hot tea how does that sound? Good said john but really, tea was the last thing he needed.

It was four weeks later. They still couldn't figure out who did it. Yet, here he was it his nicest black suit standing with his mother in the front row them both looking blankly on the coffin where he layed. Where christians body sat. john looked away from the polished wood box and turned to his new fancy shoes apparently his cleats were not good enough for this situation. He looked over at James. James was in a suit too. He was crying, john wanted to hug him. He didn't think James had ever cried. But James didn't think about the way others felt he just- did James. But who knew that behind the tall intimidating 13 year old, there was a sentimental side.

Once the funeral was over, johns mom and dad took him out to get ice cream. He got his favorite. Rocky road. Usually he was happy when his parents took him out to get ice cream. But this time he felt.. Different.. Almost like he felt guilty? He knew who did it. He knew how it happened to christian. All of the thoughts rushed through johns mind like a whirl pool of emotions. He knew he wouldn't stop he would keep killing till he got his way. To recover what was lost. He needed the soul of someone true. But john was not going to let that happen. Not in his town. Not today.