The Unseen

Prologue

I slowly come to my senses as I awake from my deep sleep. I quickly reach out my hand in a desperate attempt to ensure the rifle I placed next to me last night is still, in fact, where I left it. As my hand glides across the cool metal, I sigh in relief.

Do you ever have that feeling that a noise is what awoke you, but once your fully awake you're not even sure there was actually a noise at all. That is exactly what just happened.

I sit up from the uncomfortableness of my makeshift cot, only to have my head slam up against the clothing rod. Apparently, I forgot again that I had slept in the safeness of my closet last night. Seems like I will have a permanent bump on my head from repeatedly hitting my head in the same place every morning.

I grumble unhappily as I rub the, now sore, bump on my head. Then I hear it again.

Footsteps.

At a time like this I never know if it is a good thing or a bad thing to hear. But if this week were to teach me anything, it would tell me that it is not a good sign.

I hear the person, with their heavy and steady footsteps, approach my closet door where I still lay. I slowly, but quickly reach for the rifle while my heart pumps my body full of blood and fear. My heartbeat thumps against my chest so hard that I'm sure the stranger can also hear it. But, like every time, he just walks away.

I guess I should start from the beginning. My name is Macey Faye Taylor and I'm 18 years old.

I was a senior in high school before all of this happened. But when I say "all of this" I am still uncertain of what "this" is.

My life way normal. I was the popular girl in school. I had so many friends that I could hardly keep up with them all. And.....I had a family.

I know I shouldn't say it like that, because I'm sure they are still out there somewhere. But as for right now I have to focus on hiding from the men who search every house in my neighborhood every day at 9:00 sharp every morning.

I lean back against the wall of my closet and think, again, about the last time I saw my parents.

*Flashback to last Friday morning*

"Macey Taylor!! You better get out of bed right this second. You're going to be late for school!" I heard my mom yell from the other room.

I hated mornings. And the other thing that was worse than mornings? A morning person. My mom was very much a morning person. The weekdays weren't that bad because I woke up to just my mother. But on the weekends I would wake up to her plus the stupid vacuum cleaner, followed by her singing loudly.

I rolled over and look at the clock. 6:30 comes WAY too early. I had been up late studying for my English test over Julius Caesar. I set up and rubbed my eyes and let out a monstrous yawn.

"Now that's not very lady like, Macs." My mom said jokingly from the doorway of my room. Macs was everyone's nickname for me.

"Well then good thing I'm not a girly girl then, huh?" I said as I teasingly threw my pillow at her. She caught it and put it back on my bed as she leaned in and kissed me on the forehead.

I stood up and walked to my closet as she left my room. I had taken a shower the night before so I just had to straighten my hair. I found a pair of dark wash skinny jeans and slipped them on and then matched them with a red tank top underneath a baggy lacey shirt that fell off one shoulder. I walked over to my shoes and picked out my black combat boots and slipped them on. Now for my hair.

After straightening my hair and adding a few soft curls I looked in the mirror. Project complete.

I never wore makeup. Mostly because I didn't like the feeling of cake on my face. But also because I really didn't need it. I had a warm olive complexion and I rarely got zits. So I had nothing to cover up.

I quickly made my bed and threw my pajamas into the laundry hamper before skipping down the stairs. I could already smell breakfast, which if I could guess from the smell I would say was French toast. As I rounded the corner, my thoughts were confirmed as I looked at our plates on the table of French toast, eggs, and bacon.

My parents made small talk over breakfast in between bites. Which mostly consisted of school grades, school events, crazy Aunt Sally who just left her husband again, and the Senior Trip to the woods over by Lake Hatcher tonight. I expressed my excitement for the trip, even though it wasn't to the beach like we had attempted to talk our parents into. But we all agreed on Lake Hatcher instead, since it was only about 30 minutes away from our home town. They also had some conditions that we had to agree to such as; at least three adults must be with us, no drinking, no drugs, and no wondering off in the middle of the night without an adult.

For me, none of those conditions were an issue. None of my friend's drink or do drugs and since the principal and some of the teachers were going they sectioned off the boy's and girl's sleeping tents so nothing bad would happen. I was just excited that we get to go.

After finishing breakfast, I quickly ran upstairs to brush my teeth and grab my backpack. As I was heading down the stairs I pulled out my keys. I look towards the dining room table where I left my parents only to see it empty.

"Mom? Dad? Where are you?" I yell as I enter the living room.

"Down here, Macs! In the Music Room!" I hear my mom yell from the stairs that lead into the basement, which also doubled as a music room, that was over in the corner of the living room.

As I started down the stairs I could hear my dad playing the piano. It sounded like he was playing Beethoven again. He has always been trying to get me to learn the piano. I had always said no until recently, I had been setting down here watching his practice after he got home from work one day and I noticed how much playing helped him relax. He played it with not only his fingers, but with his heart and soul.

After that I had secretly been teaching myself. I chose this song to learn because it was one of his favorites. I was planning on playing this for my parents on their wedding anniversary, which is in about 2 weeks.

I reached the bottom step and observed how my mother was leaning on the piano with her eyes closed, just listening. The picture of love.

"Have a good day baby girl. Don't get into any trouble." My dad said with a wink. He always says that even though I'm probably the least likely person to get in trouble at my school.

"Oh, I can't guarantee anything, dad." I said laughing as I kissed him on the cheek and then kissed my mother on the cheek.

I headed towards the door and they both bid their farewells with words of endearment and encouragement. As I exited the house I couldn't help but notice of how lovely the day was.

I hopped into my silver Ford Raptor and made myway towards school.