Nightswim

I'm a hero. I just want to start by saying that. No matter what they say, I know it. You see, I can do things. Special things.

It started a few days ago. All by accident, really. We were exploring down by the old Halltown Mine. It's been boarded up since my parents can remember but Tubby and I- Tubby's my dog- we slid under the boards at the entrance. I had a lantern with me and we went pretty far down. It was pitch black and Tubby got the scent of something and went racing down further in the mine. I yelled for him to come back but there was no stopping him. What a dumb dog.

I knew it was a little dangerous going down there without someone else- but my buddy Tim was sick in bed with the chicken pox and Curry- he's older but doesn't mind hanging out with me even though I'm in Junior High- he was working on his beat up car. So, Tubby and I just went on down with out telling anyone. Maybe that wasn't so smart- but I'm glad I went. It changed me forever.

Anyway, I ran down after Tubby, got tripped up and fell flat on my face. I dropped the lantern. Thank God it didn't go out, though. I don't know how it didn't. But, I was cussing Tubby and threatening to leave without him, even though I think we both knew that was just a bluff.

I picked myself up, got the lantern and called after him. I could hear him somewhere down farther in the dark. He was barking at something and, I have to admit, it kind of scared me. The mine was supposed to be abandoned. What if a bear had gotten down there or a vagrant with a knife? That seems pretty funny now. Because it wasn't a bear or vagrant. It was something else altogether.

I was edging my way down to Tubby- being extra careful not to fall this time- when all of a sudden I hear Tubby yelping. And he was coming back my way. I stopped and tried to look really hard but couldn't see anything. I called his name again and almost screamed when he came barreling out of the dark. He ran right by me and I started running after him. Then I could hear them. It was the most awful thing I'd ever heard.

It was like a thousand little moths came out of nowhere. Only they weren't moths. I could tell right away from the way they moved and the little chirps they made what they were; bats. Hundreds of them. Only a lot smaller than any I'd ever seen before.