by Mark Peters
On the morning of March 19th, dozens of children across the Eastern Seaboard stretched and rose from their beds. Invigorated by a full night of rest, each was imbued with a fixed purpose.
In Manassas, Glenn Arnatsiaq chuckled as his daughter described the creature she’d met in her dreams, a bearlike dancer with alabaster fur. Rebecca, just five years old; what an imagination! The creature taught her how to waltz, she said, demonstrating with clumsily timed steps. Her father laughed until his cheeks were sore. Only later, when Rebecca lunged at him and tore out his throat, did Glenn understand what a mistake laughter had been.
In Piedmont, Martin and Esther Eubanks argued over their son. Earlier, Xavier shared with them the dream in which he’d been handed a glimmering parchment by a statue with no face. Now he was obsessed with recalling the instructions written therein. He was twelve, Esther said, too old for such nonsense. Martin felt they should embrace the boy’s creative mind. Distracted by their bickering, neither mother nor father noticed Xavier pedaling his bicycle in a northeasterly direction, pumping so hard his ankles hurt. He would never see his parents again.
In Rhinebeck, little Ethan Delvecchio had the most important role of all. Wearing a crown fashioned from the feathers and skull of Mrs. Ianacone’s (former) pet parakeet, Ethan strolled down Main Street, humming Stravinsky. Droplets of blood winked up at him from his shirtsleeve, but he was too busy to be concerned. It was time to arrange the field for the guests. Should he gather some flowers? Should he bring snacks? The details of his dream were fading as the day wore on, so he had to move with haste to set the required scene.
At precisely 11:06 PM, they would begin. And what a grand season of rebirth it would be.
End
Mark Peters is a writer, primarily of dark fantasy, who always strives to convey a sense of wonder with his stories. When he’s not writing or reading, Mark enjoys watching movies and spending time with his family in New York. Find him on Twitter @markthebooknerd.
