His dirty blonde hair was curtained over his turquoise eyes as he sat hunched up with his knees hugged to his chest. Although most people would find the corner of an unkempt backyard, riddled with weeds unappealing, he sat quite comfortably.

The menacing types of weeds had barely bothered him, as his baggy grey jeans and long sleeved black t-shirt protected most of his pale white skin.

Thoughts were scrambling around his mind like a mental whirlpool.

One question in particular that continuously came to focus was; "Why am I so different?"

The next few days progressed with little change.

The Summer days rolled on.

"We're going to the lake for a swim and picnic, Jacen." His father said, although he was not expecting an answer as Jacen rarely spoke. This was not due to not having the ability to, but simply, he did not see the need to.

Jacen had no-one to talk to, anyway. He was somewhat of a recluse when it came to social etiquette or, a 'loner' as most people who even bothered to notice his existence, called him.

Being home schooled hadn't exactly helped him make friends either.

The drive to the lake was gruelingly long, almost like the car was being powered by a family of snails. The car slowed to a halt on a gravel clearing, the lake lay just beyond a line of trees.

The aqua waters sparkled under the setting sun which was spreading a salmon pink across the sky.

Jacen wandered along the shore away from his parents watching the sunset together.

He found a large rock to sit on near the waters edge, close to the tree line.

His next thought was interrupted by what sounded to him like a twig snapping underfoot. The sound had come from the trees behind him to his left, fear had frozen his legs to the spot, "I need to see who or what that is.." He thought "I must!" Jacen slowly swiveled his head , listening carefully in case the 'creature' moved.

Headlights shone at him through the thick foliage. Jacen ran. His parents were packing up when he overheard his mother say "What a wonderful evening, no-one else is even close to this amazing lake!"

Jacen was worried. Last time he was targeted for being different he was bashed and beaten, left with broken bones.

They said they'd be back for him.

He started checking windows and closing blinds frequently in the next week. "I can't be too careful" He thought.

Jacen's increasing paranoia escalated in the following days, he was always on edge. His parents thought something was a little more out of place with Jacen then usual and began to worry.

His father had talked to him on Saturday morning just as he'd awoken. He said " Son, I've gotta work today, because it'll only be you and your mother at home today, id like you to tidy up the basement a bit." He explained. He left for work without a reply.

The Basement had a long wooden staircase down to a large cluttered cement room, with an old hanging light bulb on the ceiling and a dusty cupboard door in the far corner.

Jacen got to work, flinching and freezing at any sounds he didn't make himself, at least intentionally.

A shiver electrified his spine and fear shot through his body as he heard a noise. He turned to see the doorknob on the door in the corner turning. Jacen screamed. He was frightened out of his wits.

Jacen's mother came running, to find her son backed against a wall with sweat lining his features. He was staring fixedly at the storage cupboard door.

"strange" she thought. She opened the door and said no one was there.

Jacen thought for a while and reached a conclusion.

"You're helping them kill me!" he screamed. "Go away! Help!" Sheer terror splayed her features.

Jacen's parents enrolled him in the Mental Institution in the children's ward, where he was to remain until recovery.

The staff weren't extremely surprised about his lack of speech and friends who, in this place could've been a lot worse then he was.

After a few weeks of 'Settling in', Jacen joined the other kids in the almost barren fenced off field, where the only thing that grew were weeds.

He sat with his dirty blonde hair curtained over his turquoise eyes, and his knees hugged to his chest.

He whispered "The summer days rolled on."