This Is No Game
This is my entry into the wewrite freewrite contest, by 
https://steemit.com/wewrite/@freewritehouse/we-write-11-home-alone-last-week-s-winners-announced
This Week's Prompt
Home Alone
by
An inky air crept through the twilight hours, and now pressed against the windows of the house. Inside, Nathan aimlessly flipped through the TV channels, the living room calmly lit. He was getting impatient.
A thump, thump down the stairs made him jump, but he managed to keep his composure. His mom hurried into the room. Her oversized coat and mittens signaled she was ready for the autumn chill outside.
“Alright, I’m heading out,” she said. “I’ll probably be gone for a few hours, so call me if you need anything. Remember there’s leftovers in the fridge, and try not to just watch TV. You know that book from—”
“Mom,” he interrupted.
“Yes?”
“You’re going to be late.”
“I am, aren’t I?” She agreed, but ran over to kiss his forehead anyway. “I’ll lock up, be sure to stay safe.”
“Yes, Mom.” He rolled his eyes. Their corner of suburbia had always felt like the most boring. Nothing bad could happen here.
As soon as Nathan heard the front door close, he leapt up and looked out the window. The streetlights cast heavy shadows on his mom’s car as she drove away. When she was out of sight, he whipped out his phone and texted his best friend, Mark. “It’s time.”
Mark had gotten his hands on some horror games, including the much coveted Bloodhunter 4, but his family wouldn’t let him play.
Nathan wasn’t allowed to either, so tonight was finally their chance. Impatience turned to excitement as he switched the TV to his Xbox. Mark lived on the same street, so it wouldn’t take long for him to get there. After gathering soda and snacks from the kitchen, he heard a sharp knock on the door.
••.•´•.••My Part Begins••.•´•.••
As soon as Mark headed out the door to go to Nathan’s house, he realized he’d forgotten the house key his mom had given him in case his parents were in bed when he got home from Nathan’s house. Mark’s parents were glad the two boys were studying together for a change, rather than wasting time playing games. Mark chuckled when he thought about his parents believing he and Nathan were going to study.
After getting the key, he left the house again, carrying his History book with him. As he walked along he thought about playing Bloodhunter 4 as soon as he got to Nathan’s house, so he picked up his pace. As he came around the bend though, he could see a woman that looked very attractive talking to Nathan at the door. He wondered if Nathan was up to something he wasn’t aware of.
But then, out of the shadows at the edge of the porch, this big guy rushes up, grabs Nathan and drags him into the house. Then the lady goes in and shuts the door before looking around to see if anyone saw what took place.
So, when an out of breath Mark tells his dad about what happened to Nathan, his dad, whose real name is Carson Foretto, quickly dials 911 and tells them what his son reported seeing at their neighbors’ home. Mark got on the phone as the cops wanted to hear what happened directly from him.
Using a hedge as cover, Carson waited either for the guy and the gal to come out and walk down the sidewalk, or for the cops to get there. As it turned out, the guy came out alone at first, coming down the sidewalk. As he got closer, Carson saw the woman and Nathan exit the house.
Carson put a scissors hold on the guy’s legs, tripping him and landing him flat on his face. He then grabbed the guy from behind and put a sleeper hold on him. The criminal was soon out cold. In the meantime, Nathan had elbowed the woman in the mouth immediately when he saw Carson attack the guy, and she was crying, slobbering and bleeding from a few teeth that got knocked out.
When his mom got home, Nathan was watching TV. She seemed cross and said, “Nathan, I sure hope you did something other than just watch TV the whole time I was gone!”
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