On Top Of Sun Hill

Chapter 1

The man makes his way up the hill towards the body lying on the ground. Stopping looking at the once young man, reaching into the blood-soaked coat, fumbling around, searching for something. His fingertips touch a cold circular coin. Pulling it out, and laying his eyes on the coin. Examining it, appearing to be made of gold. Wiping the blood off the coin to reveal a sun with a face on one side. Flipping it over and seeing the all-seeing eye. Staring into the coin, a grin comes upon him. The sun rises from behind. Looking beyond to the hill across from him, a dark figure stands there. The figure begins to laugh. The hills burst into crimson flames. The figure continues to laugh, the man screams. Waking up and Realizing it was just a dream, he quickly gets out of bed and searches under it. He pulls out an old red oak box still locked. A sense of relief comes over him, as it has not been tampered with.

"Untouched as always." He tells himself.

Looking into the mirror hanging on the bedroom door, and looking at his old self. In the mirror, seeing on the opposite wall a plaque from his service with the FBI, the plaque has his name engraved on it.

"RICHARD MARKS." It reads.

Richard walks his way to the bathroom to freshen up. starting a hot shower. The steam fogs the mirror as he takes off his pajamas. Stepping into the shower and closing the curtains. Scrubbing his old skin, and seeing his worn body. Suddenly feeling as if eyes were staring on the back of his head. Pulling the curtains slightly to look into the bathroom.

"Nothing." He thinks. "You're being paranoid."

A few minutes later stepping out, and grabbing a towel from the towel rack. Drying himself off, then wrapping the towel around his waist, and looking into the fogged mirror, the water drops roll down, slowly revealing himself again. Grabbing his toothbrush and begins to brush his teeth. Spitting into the sinks and taking a handful of water to rinse his mouth. Swirling the water in his mouth. Looking down and spitting again. Looking back up at the fogged mirror. A dark figure seems to be standing behind him. Wiping the mirror with his hand, only to see nothing is there.

"You're being paranoid." He thinks to himself again.

Cleaning off his face with a hand towel, and walking back into the bedroom. Looking around and seeing boxes taped up and bags packed, stepping to the closet door where an outfit is hanging on the doorknob. After getting dressed he starts picking up a taped-up box and walks out of the room into the hallway. Passing through the hall and into the kitchen and passes up the fridge with a calendar hanging on it.

"TUESDAY JULY 17, 2001." It reads.

"The day is here." He thinks. "Moving day."

Passing the dining table with a brochure laying near the edge.

"SUNNY HILLS FLORIDA." Typed in bold.

This brings him back to a memory from a few months ago.

"So, as you can see this is a very nice neighborhood. This area is in a very nice school district..." the real-estate lady stops. "Are you married by any chance Mr. ..." unable to remember his name.

"Marks Richard Marks." reminding her. "And no, I have never married.

"Oh, well that's fine. Some of these houses are more suitable for one." She says making a few notes on her notepad. "There is even a local library if you're a reader."

"That sounds great! I do enjoy a good book."

"So, Richard, what makes you want to move."

"Well, I've just retired a few months back and." thinking to himself for a second. "Just wanted to make a change in my life."

"Oh, what did you do for a living? I hope you mind my asking?"

"I was a FBI agent."

"Oh wow! Must have been interesting working in that field huh, and thank you for your service."

"Yes, it was a very... interesting career, And you're very welcome."

"Well Richard, I can assure you, this neighborhood is a perfect place for retirement. It's a very quiet place, I don't know if you notice, but there aren't a lot of people living here."

"Oh yes, I notice that there are a lot of streets made with no housing, why is that."

"Well as a little history lesson. This neighborhood was built in the early 70s with the hopes of a major highway being built going past it, but the highway was never made, and the funding for this place ran out before all the houses could be built."

"Oh, I see."

"Really this is a perfect time to buy. Some are saying that the highway is going to be built soon, which will be perfect for going into the cities."

"SUNNY HILLS." He thinks, walking out his house with the box in his hands.

Placing the box into the back of his truck bed, and going back inside to grab more boxes and bags to do the same. After getting seemingly all of his belongings loaded into the red Chevy, he goes back and into the room and bends over to grab the box under the bed. Bringing the red oak box to the truck and unlocking the tool box in the back. Placing it nicely in the center, and putting a blanket over it and locking the tool box.

Going inside to make a second check. Being sure to have everything put into the truck, but the apartment is empty.

"You're being paranoid." He thinks again.