Fireworks

I don't usually celebrate the 4th of July, but I kinda like it when I can walk outside and see the fireworks shooting up and lightning up the sky. However on one occasion, I never leave my house because of what happened last year. During the 4th of July I had been with some friends in some park filled with nothing but trees. We were all waiting for the firework show to start, but it would take a couple of hours to start. I who was fifteen at the time decided to leave the park and go into the smaller park deep into the woods. No one understands why I leave the park to the little park in the deep woods. I lost someone important to me and it was the only place I felt comfort in. She was the beautiful girl that I knew. It was just us and nobody else. The only thing left to remember her was the bench that was made for her the day she lost her life. It took several minutes to reach it, but it was still there. I smiled and sat on the bench. I stared at the broken swings, the old metal slide, the monkey bars, and the pirate ship. I actually crawled inside the broken pirate ship and was amazed to see that all our drawings and pictures were still attached to the inside of the ship. I remember pulling off a picture of her right next to her tree, smiling at me for the last time. I curled up and buried my head in my knees. I don't know what happened after that, but I remember waking up and looking around and seeing the night had become dark. I crawled out and stood up realizing that it was already late and I might be missing the firework show. I began to walk down the gravely path just wondering if anyone noticed that I was gone. As I grew deeper into the woods I suddenly heard something running down the gravely path. I turned too see, but it was dark and nothing was out of the ordinary. I was facing behind me for several seconds before I bumped into something. As I looked in front of me, I felt my stomach turn the moment that I saw someone facing away from me. I tried not to show fear, but my voice sounded so quivery when I asked if they were alright. No response at all. Not even a single movement was shown. I stood there shaking now and thinking whether to move him or tap him. I chose to shake him. The moment I put pressure on his shoulder, he fell apart. That's when I realized that what I was talking to wasn't a person, but a dummy made for a distraction. By now I was running faster than ever hoping to leave the area. As I ran I heard someone yell from behind,

"HES GETTING AWAY!"

Then came the sound of several footsteps steps running on the gravel. By now I'm at full speed rushing out of the gravel and into into the trees to hide. As I kept running, I began to hear popping noises getting louder and louder. Then I could see the lights. Finally I get out of the area, not before turning around and looking into the woods one last time. As I looked around the fireworks shined just enough light to show four silhouettes standing next to a tree. Each time the fireworks popped the lights revealed the figures moving closer towards me. By the time I got up the small hill, they were gone. I stood there watching the trees to make sure they were gone. A friend of mine came and asked me if I had seen Thomas. She explained that after it had gotten dark she had sent him to find me. As we stood there all we could hear was the sound of screaming coming from the woods.