Mirror in the Forest: Book One

by B. Groves

  She then opened them to find a group of boys, most likely freshman based on their looks, staring her down.

  She looked at them questioningly, and one of them did the gag motion, putting his finger down his throat, making his friends snicker lowly.

  The old Jessica would have hurried out of the study hall to go cry in the bathroom, doing nothing about it, however the new Jessica wasn’t going to take their taunting her.

  Jessica stood and grabbed her books. She was in no mood for this today. She made sure she left a heaviest book out of her backpack. She threw the backpack over her shoulder, and stomped over to the laughing boys.

  She made sure the teacher who was overseeing the study hall was still half-asleep in his chair.

  “That’s funny huh?”

  “You gonna puke on me? Then you gonna run away and cry?” A freckled boy sneered at her.

  Jessica gave the boy her sweetest smile. “No, but I’ll do this.”

  The book hit the boy square in the nose, and he began to scream as blood began to pour from it, and she thought she felt a slight crack through the book. Jessica never knew her own strength, making her smile even wider. “What did you want to say to me again?” Jessica asked as the other boys stood up in shock.

  Jessica continued to smile in satisfaction as the teacher came over demanding what happened. The other boys started pointing fingers at her. She smiled sweetly again, taking full responsibility for her actions. The teacher picked up the crying boy on the floor, and put a tissue to his nose. He turned angrily to Jessica, telling her to go straight to the principal’s office. Without another word, but a grin still plastered on her face, Jessica did as she was told.

  The principal decided not to give Jessica any punishment, but warned her to keep her temper in check and go to a teacher if she found she was being bullied. “We are here to help you when something like that happens, Jessica,” he explained to her. Jessica sat there and listened, knowing full well they have never done a damn thing to help her in the past.

  Satisfied with the outcome, she left the principal’s office. “You have less than a year to go, and you’re a model student, but please don’t do that again,” he added, as she gathered her book bag to leave.

  “I know, sir,” she answered, closing the door behind her.

  Luckily, the boys’ nose wasn’t broken from what the nurse said, and she heard later the group of boys was in for a week of detention for instigating her.

  Danny waited for her outside of the principal’s office.

  “Since when did my girl become a fighter?” He asked, smiling proudly.

  “Since I got sick of everyone’s bullshit,” she answered, as they made their way to their next class.

  “If that happens again, let me know, okay?” He said, seriously.

  Jessica stopped and took Danny aside.

  “Danny, I appreciate it, but I can take care of myself,” Jessica replied. She didn’t need or want his help.

  Danny looked at her a little in shock. “Okay, I was just offering.”

  “I know, thank you.”

  “I tried to call you last night, but I kept getting your machine,” he suddenly said, disappointed.

  Jessica sighed. Why didn’t he just go away?

  “I’m sorry. I had to run an errand for my mom, and it took longer than I thought,” she answered.

  She knew Danny didn’t believe her, but he didn’t say anything just yet.

  “Are you going to be there tonight?” He asked, hopeful.

  Jessica wanted to feel bad, she really did, but she was just sick of him, and knew she was getting tired of stringing him along. It almost time to tell Danny Davenport to move along. She had better things to do.

  “I should be. I have to do a few things, but you can call me,” she finally said.

  The bell rang before Danny could say anything else.

  Jessica was grateful. She didn’t want anything to do with him tonight. She had to go see The Spirit of the Mirror.

  She spotted Kelly and Amber with their group as she passed the tryout sheets for basketball. They gave her funny looks, because they knew she had already signed up.

  Jessica was determined to show them that Mandy Cooper could not beat her, and neither could they. She would prove that with the help of her guardian angel.

  Jessica made her way through the forest after school and smiled as the leaves fell from the trees and silently hit the ground as she walked along her favorite path just below the mountain.

  Her sneakered feet crunched the already dead leaves on the ground. The lake was a little rough today, making her stop to admire the beauty of the shimmering water, reflecting the setting sun.

  Soon, all of the trees would be bare except the evergreens. She looked forward to their first snowfall in the area. At their elevation, the snow would come right after Halloween.

  Her thoughts drifted back to Sara Miller lying dead on the shop floor, and Jessica shuddered wrapping her jacket tighter around her. She knew it was an accident, wasn’t it?

  Jessica reached The Spirit of the Mirror, and he immediately appeared to her. She was always fascinated when the mirror began to swirl, while the glass, like molten lava formed The Spirit into the humanoid figure. She would never get bored watching that.

  “I never meant for her to die,” Jessica said, after greeting the Spirit.

  The spirit smiled at her. That worried her a little. Sara had said some strange things to Jessica when she was there, and it made her wonder…..

  “If nothing had happened to her, you might not be where you are now, ready to take on a new challenge” he answered.

  Jessica felt the tears threaten as she removed the dagger from her jeans.

  “I know, but Sara was such a nice lady,” she said in remorse.

  “Jessica, you did what you had to do, and Sara would have ruined your future,” he said, taking the dagger from her hand and admiring it.

  “She didn’t have to die though. I could still be caught,” she argued. She surprised herself, when she felt tears threaten to fall.

  “You were not seen, and it was a tragic accident. You will learn that accidents happen all the time, and sometimes the outcomes are not what we expect,” he said looking at her sympathetically.

  Jessica wiped her eyes. “I felt scared for myself. Scared that someone was going to walk in on me standing over her body, and then I would be arrested right there. Is that wrong?”

  The Spirit tilted his head in introspection.

  “There is nothing wrong with the way you feel. Any human with regret would feel the same no matter how much they try to deny their feelings,” he answered.

  Jessica was itching to ask him a question that had been bothering her.

  “What do you want to ask, Jessica?” He questioned.

  Jessica let out a breath and tried to calm her raging emotions. She never saw Sara’s face after she was killed; however the body was enough.

  “Did you push the heater to help me?” She finally asked.

  The spirit’s eyes glowed a little brighter at her question.

  “Sometimes fate needs a helping hand,” he answered.

  She had her answer, and she didn’t know what to do. She was in so deep now that there was no going back, and she knew it.

  First, Mandy Cooper permanently paralyzed from her fall, and now Sara Miller the antique shop owner was dead because of her gifts for The Spirit.

  She looked back up to The Spirit and asked, “Are you evil?”

  “I am here to make your life better. Do you think that is evil?” He asked steadily.

  “The way things are going, I am not sure,” she answered truthfully.

  The Spirit tilted his reflective head once more and said, “You have a choice Jessica. You can walk away now and never see me again, or you can have your wish fulfilled, and continue to progress into the person that you’ve dreamed of becoming.”

  “You said this is the last thing I have to steal?” She aske
d, hopefully.

  “Yes, child.”

  Jessica walked around the area balling her hands into fists so tightly, her knuckles turned white. She felt the wind whistle in her ears and her hair fly across her face as she closed her eyes, deciding on what to do next.

  Taking many deep breaths, she opened her eyes, and eyed the spirit steadily.

  “I’m ready,” she said, knowing she would control her fate.

  She then felt the familiar changes as he touched her shoulder. He informed her the new reflection would not change right away, however, it would soon, and they would be subtle.

  Jessica began to have this strange feeling that with each wish that was granted to her, she was losing another little piece of her soul.

  Chapter 22

  The funeral for Sara Miller was held the next weekend, so most of the town was available to attend.

  The church was packed with mourners, not only from Leon’s Crossing, but from all over the country, even the world. Jessica sat with her parents in the church, and Jessica only half listened to the eulogies during the service.

  Jessica sank down into the pew uncomfortably, while she looked around at all the people gathered to mourn a great woman.

  She wanted to get up and run out of the church and get away from everything about Sara Miller. The guilt of what really happened that night was so overwhelming, that Jessica was feeling a little sick to her stomach. She thought she wouldn’t feel the guilt or remorse, but she did.

  One thing that Jessica had been able to smile about was that she made the basketball team as promised by The Spirit, much to everyone’s amazement.

  Mr. Cranston was so impressed by her skills that he wondered why she never tried out before now.

  “Jessica Winters, I never thought I would see the day,” he said in total awe of her.

  Mary had taught her strategies, but Jessica found that she already knew them and didn’t need her mother anymore, but she still listened to be polite.

  She was then quickly promoted to varsity becoming a starting player, making Power Forward, much to the delight of her family, and the shock of everyone else.

  Her parents took her out to dinner to celebrate her perfect grades and making the varsity team the night before with Danny.

  “My little girl is going to be the best Power Forward this school has ever seen,” Don said, proudly.

  “Thanks, Dad,” Jessica said, blushing.

  Jessica was happy everything was going great with basketball practice so far. However, she knew it was almost time to deal with Danny, and break it off with him. She had strung him along long enough.

  Danny’s mom didn’t know Sara Miller, and so he did not attend the funeral with her, but she promised him that she would see him soon, even though she didn’t want to see him at all.

  She was still thinking about how to let him down gently, but wasn’t sure how to go about it yet. She never had this situation before, and certainly did not want to get advice from her parents about it. She would never hear the end of it, since her parents liked Danny.

  Tessa and Jessica were on good terms again, which made Jessica feel better. Tessa was the first one there cheering her on when she made the team.

  Jessica had caught Kelly giving her constant side-glances, and did not congratulate her. Amber was a lot nicer, telling Jessica she was impressed by her skills, wondering why she never tried out sooner.

  Jessica had a feeling that Kelly Martin would be trouble eventually.

  Jessica shook herself out of her thoughts, and returned to the present. The funeral was closed casket, because Sara’s injuries from the electrocution were too severe to be viewed by the public.

  Jessica could see Sara’s sister and daughter sitting at the front of the church with the rest of her family. Jessica was grateful she would not have to speak to them at all, and if she did she would avoid eye contact.

  Jessica spotted her mom wiping her eyes and her dad putting a comforting arm around her mom’s shoulders almost making Jessica groan. She hoped it was over soon, so she could get the hell out of there, putting Sara Miller to rest.

  Jessica was planning on meeting Tessa after the funeral so they could go to the mall and shop for Halloween costumes, which was only days away.

  Then Jessica was surprised to look up and see Mark McKenzie get up and walk to the podium. She had been so lost in thought; she never realized that he would be there. She didn’t even remember seeing him enter the church.

  He was dressed in full formal uniform, and Jessica had to smile. He looked quite handsome up there.

  He stood at the podium and shuffled his notes for a moment, and then started to read his prepared speech to the crowd of mourners.

  Jessica had to admit that his eulogy was both moving and thoughtful.

  It brought her to tears along with the rest of the crowd, with Mark clearing his throat a few times while he was overcome with emotion.

  He spoke of Sara helping him care for his mother while she was dying of cancer, not only making Jessica want to burst into a sobbing mess, but making her want to run far from the church too.

  She had been the one to help him with arrangements among many other things she did for the family in a selfless act that he could never repay as long as he lived, as he put it.

  Jessica was able to hold back becoming a blithering mess, even though she noticed the family sobbing uncontrollably in the front of the church. God, she needed to get out of there!

  Even though she would’ve loved to walk out of the church right now, she really wanted to walk up to the podium and hug Mark till it hurt. Well, she wanted to do more than that, she thought slyly, and then cursed her naughty thoughts. She was in a church for Chrissakes!

  After Mark’s moving eulogy, the service was concluded, and Jessica couldn’t move fast enough into the fresh air, even though the day was damp, and drizzly.

  Jessica moved among the crowd to make sure she caught Mark’s attention while he was speaking to her family. It worked.

  His eyes caught hers, and they stared for a moment. He smiled slightly, and waved a little. Jessica waved back, hoping she would have a chance to speak to him after the service at the cemetery.

  The crowd began to move to their cars, and Tessa came over for a moment before they headed to the cemetery.

  “Are you getting your mom’s car?” She asked.

  “Yep! I will go home and change, and come pick you up,” Jessica answered.

  “If you don’t mind, I am going to get a ride with you, and change at your house. My brothers are driving me nuts,” Tessa said, shooting some glares at her family.

  “Sure! That would be great. Did you need to stop and get some clothes?”

  “Nah, I got them in my mom’s car already,” Tessa answered.

  Jessica smiled at her best friend. Tessa’s mom let her brothers get away with murder, and it drove Tessa up the wall. She said she couldn’t wait to get out of her house either, and thought about joining Jessica in New York.

  Jessica would soon be informing her own parents that she was applying at New York University. She knew she could not procrastinate about it any longer. They needed to know her plans, and her dreams of moving out this state forever. When they had toured the local and state colleges around the area, and they just didn’t impress Jessica.

  She knew she was taking a blind chance going to NYU and not touring it first, but her heart was set on it, and she had four recommendations from her teachers.

  She had already done her standardized tests months ago, and was ready to just start applying. She did have back up schools ready, just in case she was denied entrance to NYU, but she seriously doubted it would be an issue based on her transcripts.

  Jessica’s parents were finally ready to go, and Jessica tried to catch the Sheriff’s eye again, but he seemed to be busy.

  Disappointed, she decided she would try again later.

  The service at the cemetery was crowded, and Jessica was ready to get out of her
dress, change into jeans, and a sweater, and go to the mall for some shopping therapy. Tessa must have been arguing with her mother and father again before they arrived at the cemetery, because she walked over to stand by Jessica, Don, and Mary during the final service.

  Jessica looked around among the tombstones and spotted a figure standing by one of the headstones. She immediately recognized him; it was Rick Tanner.

  Everyone in the town knew of the tragic fall of Rick Tanner. He had gone to school with her parents. They had once been the best of friends, but drugs and alcohol had made him broke and homeless. He relied on the charity of others to gain work or a fix. The deputies always charged him for disorderly conduct, public intoxication among other petty charges. Her parents always said he was harmless, and would never hurt anyone.