He heard the voices again, only this time they were not talking to him. Where were they? Who were they talking to? Devin knew he must find them. They could not hurt anyone else. He pushed his way through the heavy brush, following the sound until he emerged on the edge of a clearing. He observed the situation from the safety of a bush. 

A little girl stooped down to touch a frog. The frog, innocent bystander in their plot, stood unaware of the danger the girl was in, but Devin knew. The voices called to her. Masquerading, they beckoned her, and sure enough just as she almost touched the frog, it leaped towards the woods. The girl followed.
 
No, not if I have anything to say about it. “Stop, leave it alone. It’s a trap.” Devin jumped up from his hiding place. The voices ceased, the frog, startled, took a long leap into the undercover, and the girl screamed. 

“No, don’t scream. I came to help.” Devin took a step forward, hand outstretched in friendship.
 
“No –” Backing away, the girl stared at him. The fear in her eyes tore at his spirit. He recognized the look. For as long as he could remember, he heard the voices. He thought everyone heard them until he mentioned them to his mother. Since then, he met that look from family, friends, doctors and strangers. 

“It is okay, really.”

“Mommy, help!” She turned and bolted towards the house. 

“Marissa?” A woman opened the wooden screen door, and froze for a moment before springing into action. Grabbing a rake, she pushed her daughter behind her. “Call nine-one-one.” 

Her eyes mirrored the expression in her daughter’s – the look Devin detested. Holding his hands in the air, he backed up before he turned and crashed back into the bushes. 

Damn, I screwed up again.