Link to Chapter One:  https://steemit.com/story/@justephen1/justin-time-mystery-science-fiction-novel

 

Justin Time

Chapter One(Part 2) The Stranger

         Justin’s heart raced and bones stiffened. He couldn’t move. The man glared at Justin with madness in his eyes and he slowly approached the boy. Regaining his senses for a quick moment, Justin let out a loud shriek! The man’s eyes popped open and he stopped.  “Justin, what’s wrong?!” The shouted question echoed up the stairs from the family room.  Ruffus’s bark then broke into an ear-splitting howl as Justin’s dad bolted up the stairs, heaving his six foot, 220-pound frame upward with reckless abandon. Then he lost his footing on a step and his hands smacked against the top landing, preventing his notes from crashing into the floor. Instantly regaining his balance, he rushed to Justin’s bedroom. He heard glass breaking just before he burst through the bedroom door. He saw Justin standing alone in the middle of his bedroom, then followed Justin’s outstretched arm, pointing at the broken window. His son was stuttering incoherent sounds, mouth agape and eyes opened wide.  “What happened, Justin? Are you all right?”

         Justin just continued pointing at the broken window. It was shattered leaving a large gaping hole. Quickly scurrying around the broken glass, William approached the window and looked outside towards the front lawn. The cloud covered stars left a shadow of darkness upon the greenery below making it difficult to assess. Sticking his head out of the broken window, he didn’t see nor hear anything as a light mist of rain sprinkled down upon his head.  William then turned his attention to the broken shards of glass on the floor. Snagged within one of the larger shards, he noticed a piece of ripped material. 

“Justin, was somebody here?”  Justin nodded.

“And he jumped out of the window?”  Justin nodded again.

“Was there only one person?”  Justin nodded.

“Everything will be all right. Let’s go into my bedroom.”

    Placing his hand behind Justin’s back, he quickly escorted Justin to William’s bedroom. Passing the California king-sized bed, he led Justin to the brightly lit master bathroom.

You will be safe here. I want to check outside for a second. Lock the door and I will be right back.” 

   William heard the click from the bathroom door knob as he ran to the safe located in the walk in-closet. He opened the safe and pulled out his dark gray 9 millimeter hand gun. It was the first time it had left the safe, as William had never needed it before. Hurrying back downstairs, he turned on the outdoor lights which illuminated the entire front portion of his fenced in property. He opened the front door and noticed something moving in the bushes hedged up against their six foot stucco wall.

    William yelled out, “Whose there? I can see you. Don’t move. I have a gun!”

    From behind the bushes a man dressed in dark clothing quickly leaped over the fence in one motion. William unintentionally let out a shot. He heard from the other side of the fence a loud wail and then running footsteps quickly fading away.  Muttering under is breath, “Oh damn!”

    William quickly closed the front door and ran back up the stairs leaping two steps at a time. He rushed into his bedroom and put his gun back securely into the wall safe.

   Chef William Time then called out to his son.  “Justin?”

“Yes daddy?”

“You can open the door now.”  Justin opened the bathroom door poking his head out. William walked over and kneeled down looking into Justin’s hazel eyes accompanying black specs.

“Are you okay?”  Justin nodded. 

“Did the man touch you?” Justin shook his head.

”Did he try to touch you?” Justin nodded.

“Let’s go downstairs. Mommy is still at work. I think she should be home soon. Would you like to sleep with us tonight?”  Justin nodded.

     William escorted Justin downstairs where he had him sit on the soft leather couch. Ruffus jumped on the couch and positioned himself lying against Justin.  William turned on their 55 inch wide screen television and then handed Justin the remote control.

“Okay, you and Ruffus can watch T.V. and I will be in the kitchen for a moment.”

    Walking into the kitchen, William pulled out his cell. He called 911. When he was asked if they were in eminent danger, William replied, “No”.

   At that point, he was briefly put on hold.

   Although Justin was frightened, it did not impede his curiosity.  While his dad was in the kitchen, crawling on all fours, he silently crept up stairs and entered his bedroom. Justin surveyed his room, but his attention went directly to the broken window. He noticed the glass shards scrambled among the turquoise carpet. His focus then turned to the ripped black and white fabric that likely was left by the intruder. Being careful as to not cut himself, he approached the fabric and picked it up. 

There were some significant "tibbits" throughout this chapter that will be significant in chapters to follow. I will post the next round in a few more days. I hope you enjoyed.

Justephen