I froze. Partly fear. Partly shock. Partly freaking out internally while not knowing at all what to do about this situation. For some reason, I figured if I didn't move, it wouldn't see me. Even though it was looking right at me.

"Caw!" The bird squawked at me.

I jumped. It sounded way louder when it was in this small space with me.

The bird looked me up and down. Staring. It ruffled its wings and blinked its beady eyes. Like it was sizing me up or something. I already knew that if push came to shove, I didn't stand a snowball's chance. I was terrified. I mean, what if it touched me while it clawed my eyes out?

"Caw!" It sounded again.

Even though I should have seen that coming, it still made me jump. I was so lost and confused. What was I supposed to do in this situation?

"Why are you yelling at me?" I asked. A waste of breath, considering birds don't know English. Or probably any language.

"Caw!"

"I don't know what that means!" I threw my hands out. "I don't speak crow!" I didn't know what else to do. I picked up an eraser from my desk next to me and tossed it near the bird in an attempt to scare it.

He only flapped his wings; aggressively, I might add. Then he squawked at me again.

"Get out of here!" I tried not to raise my voice too high so my parents wouldn't hear me. "Shoo! Go!" I tossed a pencil at him next. This hit the bed post and bounced onto the floor.

The bird had its head turned so it could look me up and down again. Something about the way it handled itself made it appear pompous and cocky. I ultimately didn't like his attitude.

"Out the window!" I hissed and flung my hands forward, trying to shoo it away.

The bird remained, repositioning itself on the post. "Cool it, kid." The bird said in a voice that was deep and very much human-like. Also, very much like some mafia gangster?

My eyes widened. I froze again. Apparently, when it came to fight or flight, my response was neither. More like "fright." I only stared like a deer in the headlights waiting for the incoming impact.

"I'm not gonna hurt ya." He said cocking his head, "Just don't do anything funny."

"Am I..." I stuttered, "Am I being robbed?"

"Nah." He chuckled a deep laugh, "I've been watching you for a while. You haven't got anything I want."

"How are you talking right now?" I was still feeling frozen physically to my spot.

"With my vocal cords." He said matter-of-factly. "It's only weird if you make it weird."

"No, this is definitely weird!" I assured him. "You're literally a talking bird!"

"Talking birds aren't weird. Talking rats are. You ain't a rat, are ya?" He did that thing where he looked me up and down again.

"What?" I was confused by his question. As well as a little offended. "Rat?"

"Rat." He repeated, "Squealer. Nark. Informant. Turncoat. Source. Blabbermouth. Snitch."

"Yeah, I know what a rat is." I winced, "But what are you talking about?"

"Look, kid. They got eyes and ears everywhere. I can't be too careful. Ya dig? So, let's keep this little rendezvous between us."

"Oh." I looked around. "Okay?"

"Here's the deal." He flew over to my computer and made me jump away from the desk entirely. "I don't like you and you don't like me."

"I don't even know you..." I said sadly. "You don't like me?"

"This is strictly business, kid. Can't get too attached." He scolded me. "But the thing is, we can help each other."

"How?"

"I got eyes on the sky. And you. You've got arms and... human parts."

"What do you need human parts for?"

"Hands, kid. I need those hands."

"I'm literally having a panic attack right now." I told him. "I still don't even know if this is real life or if I'm hallucinating because I've been looking at birds for too long."

"Pull yourself together, kid. I want you to meet me somewhere. A specific place at a specific time. Think you can manage that?" He looked at my computer. "Who are these bird nerds?"

"Um." I wasn't sure how to answer. I felt a little exposed and slightly embarrassed. "Just online people?"

"Idiots. The lot of them. Do I look like a drone to you?" Although he didn't have human features, I could feel the sting of his look.

"Well... you are talking." Was this real? Was I really having this conversation right now?

"Again, birds can talk." He reiterated. "Write this down. Eight tomorrow night. 1323 S. 28th Olive Ave. There's a shed behind that house. You'll want to-" He snapped suddenly, "Write this down!"

"Oh god!" I fumbled to reach my desk, trying to somehow extend my arms out as far as they would go to avoid getting close to him. I snatched a pen up and wrote the directions on my hand.

He went on, sounding more annoyed, "There's a shed behind that house. Follow it into the woods. Eventually, you'll come to a creek. Follow the creek downward and out of town. You'll see me when you see me. Eight o'clock tomorrow. Make sure you aren't followed."

"Wait, wait." I stopped writing, "You want me to enter deep into the woods... alone... at night."

"Oh, I'm sorry." His words dripped with sarcasm, "You ain't a rat, but you're a cat? A scaredy cat? I didn't realize you were so delicate."

"You're very mean." I frowned, "Is this usually how you ask people to help you?"

"No. Usually, I just eat their eyes with my friends." His voice took on a deeper tone. "And it's been a good while since we ate a human. So, you help me. I help you keep your skin on your bones, eh? Cause I'm not the only one watching you. The men are, too."

"If they're watching me, was it really safe for you to come talk to me?"

"Hey. I do my job. You do yours." He snapped. "Now, what did I tell you?"

I looked at my hand, "1323 S. 28th Olive Ave. Shed. Woods. Creek. South. I'll meet you there. Make sure I'm alone."

"Smart kid." He flapped his way over to my window and landed next to the bird house I had made. "And get rid of this box. It's insulting."

"Okay." I felt the sting again. I had worked really hard on that box. I thought it looked really good. But clearly, he must have had something to do with the bird that escaped.

With that, he flew away into the night.

Coming back into reality, I shut my window and closed the blinds again. Now that I knew this bird was watching me far deeper than I had ever imagined, I was very uncomfortable having my blinds open. I sat back at my computer, feeling confused and uncertain about my life.

RobinBanks: You there, Hawk?

Apparently, they had been trying to get into contact with me, lighting up the chat while I was focused on other things.

HawkwardMoments: Here.

I wasn't supposed to tell anyone. I wasn't supposed to be a "rat." Was he still watching me somehow? I didn't want to risk it.

SweetTweet: Did you catch another bird?

I was supposed to get rid of the box. I had almost forgotten. I opened my window long enough to retrieve my birdhouse. Then sealed everything up again. Heaven forbid I accidentally catch another bird and gain their fury. Could all of them speak? Was it only the crows? Was it only that specific crow? What could he possibly be luring me into the woods for?

This was like the start of every horror film. A call to action that leads into the woods at night just for the protagonist to be ripped to shreds. But come on. This wasn't some horror story. It was a soft comedy at best because, let's face it, my life was a joke.

The worst part about this was that I couldn't tell anyone. The online people would go nuts to hear this information. But I more wanted to tell Phil. I knew he would join me in the spooky woods at night if I asked him to. He may have even believed me about a talking bird. He was just that kind of friend.

Was I allowed to tell my parents about it? They would sort of be curious where I was going so late at night on a school night. Oh man. School. I couldn't be out all night if I had school the next day. Priorities. There was a bird telling me to meet him in the woods at night and I was worried about getting enough rest before I had to be to school the next day. I was a good student though. I tried to be anyway. Mostly right now, I was just trying to get my mind off the meeting altogether. I was not looking forward to it.

BirdFlew: Did you catch another bird, or what?

HawkwardMoments: No... No I did not.

BirdsEyeView: Did the men come to your door?

HawkwardMoments: No. I don't think they know anything.

Or maybe. Another thought came to mind. What if the bird really was a drone? What if it was a trap? What if the men in black were watching me? What if they were the ones luring me into the woods? What if they wanted to silence me? I mean, why would I be so trusting of a bird anyway? They couldn't peck away at my flesh if I only ever left my home to go to school and back. They wouldn't attack me in broad daylight or when I was with someone, right? Basically, I was trying to talk myself out of this meeting. Surely, I could just skip the whole thing. Live to fight another day.

I had to tell someone, right? Just in case I disappeared. I had to let someone know where I was going. If I even went. I had all night and tomorrow to think about it. I had been wanting to get to the bottom of this for so long. Here was a potential lead with all the answers I could have hoped for. Yet the doubt in my mind was there. My paranoia. Less paranoia, more common sense.

My fingers hovered over the keys on my keyboard. I thought about telling them. I really considered it. But I didn't. Instead, I closed out of the chat and went to spend time with my parents. Who knew if it was the last night I would have with them.

As the next day was coming to a close, I realized that I was beyond exhausted. Mentally more than physically. I had spent my whole day wracking my brain, torn between leaving or staying for the night. I had made a mental list of pros and cons. Deciding if it was in my best interest to go. The sun was setting. I had about two hours to make my choice.

I spent time with Phil in my room. This time we were actually doing our homework. I hadn't said too much as we worked. I wasn't in a particularly chatty mood. Not to mention, I was worried I would slip up and want to tell him.

"That's weird." He said out of the blue. Then let out a snort, "You haven't mentioned birds all day. You good?"

"Hm?" I didn't even look at him. Scared he would somehow read my eyes, and I'd give myself away.

"You. Normally you're all about birds and plans." He sounded almost concerned already. "You haven't even talked to your bird friends online."

I just stared at him now for a solid few seconds trying to decide how best to approach this topic. I decided to embody his carefree attitude. I shrugged, "Why are you so obsessed with birds?"