Aura

by Rebecca Lynn Talley

  I gave him a quick smile because he was right. My jittery body hadn't settled down since this morning.

  He walked over to a small wooden table next to the sofa, where he set his iPod and some speakers. Music started to play and I immediately recognized the song.

  "I love Rascal Flatts."

  "I know." He took my hand in his. "This is an older song, but it says exactly what's on my mind."

  The words to "Bless the Broken Road" filled the cabin. He pulled me close, and we swayed back and forth.

  When the song ended, he took a step back and asked, "Are you ready for your surprise?"

  "There's more?" I couldn't imagine what else he had planned after all he'd done with the cabin, the roses, and the perfect song. Our song.

  He nodded then drew me in for a long, tender kiss. I had to pull away to catch my breath.

  He pulled a small box from his pocket. He opened it and inside was a ring—a thin silver band with a small, dazzling diamond.

  "Nate—" He put his fingers to my quivering lips. I blinked. He was offering me a ring. A ring.

  "I know we're young, and we both have college plans, but I wanted to give you this promise ring. When the time is right, I want to marry you."

  My heartbeat ran up my throat. "Marry me?" I could barely say the words.

  "Yes, Crystal, I love you. I want to marry you." He brushed the backs of his fingers along my face. "It isn't much, but after we graduate from college and I make some real money, I'll replace it with a big engagement ring."

  My mind spun in a billion directions. "I . . . I . . . I . . ." It was all that came out of my mouth.

  "I know I was acting kind of weird tonight, but this ring is why." That made sense.

  "It's beautiful." I reached out and touched his arm. "You're so sweet to do all of this."

  "I want to be with you." He stroked my shoulder. "Only you. We belong together." Like a kid anticipating Christmas, he said, "Can I put it on your finger?"

  I hesitated for a moment. His unexpected words and the beautiful ring had scrambled my brain. I wasn't sure what to say or do. Did I want to promise myself to Nate?

  "I know this must have taken you by surprise, but maybe you can wear the ring while you think about it." His eyes pleaded with me. "Please?" I guess I could see us married in the future. The distant future. Maybe.

  Not wanting to disappoint him, I stuck my left hand out, and he placed the ring on my finger. I admired its simplicity and the way it sat so naturally on my hand, like it belonged there.

  "You've made me so happy." A tear fell down Nate's cheek. I'd never seen him act so tenderly. He hugged me and whispered, "I've never loved anyone like I love you." We started to dance again. I could've stayed there in his arms—forever.

  After several minutes, he stated kissing my neck. My skin responded to his gentle lips. He moved back to my trembling mouth. His kiss became increasingly passionate, reminding me of what had happened in his truck. I struggled to keep my mind clear, to remember my commitment to not let things get carried away, but it was hard. Almost impossible. He'd made the night so special and so wonderful. I wanted to show him how much I cared about him, but I didn't want to have any regrets. My rising passion clouded my mind while I argued inside my head about what to do. I didn't want to stop, but I needed to. Before it was too late.

  Slowly, his hands moved across my back, and he started to unzip my dress.

  I pulled away. "Nate. Please don't."

  "Come on, Crystal, let your feelings out. I love you, and you love me. There's nothing wrong with showing it."

  I shook my head. "Not this way. Not now."

  Again he tried to find my zipper. I stepped back.

  He gazed at me. "Why won't you show me your love?"

  "Because it's not what I want. Not now. Not here."

  "Why not?" He tenderly brushed my cheek with the back of his fingers, making it hard to keep my thoughts clear, especially with my raging emotions.

  I put more distance between us. "I'm waiting until I'm married. I've told you that."

  "But we're committed to each other. We don't need to be married to show our love." He reached for my hand. "I'll do whatever you want, if you'll come dance with me again. I promise I won't try anything."

  I agreed, and soon we were dancing again. After a few songs, Nate led me to the couch. "I don't know about you, but I'm tired. Let's sit down for a minute." He laid his head against the back of the couch.

  "When will Erin and Charlie and the others be here?" I smoothed some wrinkles out of my dress.

  Nate shrugged. "Let's not talk about them." He leaned over and started kissing me again, but I pushed him back. "Can't we at least kiss?" he asked with irritation in his voice.

  "I don't know." My feelings were jumbled up. They were twisted around and upside down. Prom, the promise ring, and now Nate's attempt to undress me while still telling me that he loved me—it had all turned my mind into a pretzel. I wasn't sure what I thought.

  After a few minutes, Nate leaned in, and I let him kiss me. He grew passionate again, and my worry gauge shot up. I was in a dangerous situation, but I didn't want to hurt Nate's feelings.

  He pulled at the sleeve on my dress.

  "Nate."

  Before I could stop him, he ripped the sleeve, exposing my shoulder. Trancelike, he kept kissing my neck, not acknowledging my reluctance.

  "Nate, I mean it. Please, stop." I tried to push him back, but he wouldn't budge. "Really. Erin and Charlie will be here any second."

  He laughed and then looked at me, his eyes almost invisible, a black shadow across his face. "I tried to talk you into it nicely. I romanced you. I gave you that pathetic ring. But you kept refusing. You are much more committed to your ideas than I thought you'd be, but I'm not leaving without getting what I came here for," he hissed.

  "What are you talking about?" He had me pinned to the sofa, his body nearly crushing mine. "Nate!" I pushed at him, trying to squirm away beneath his weight.

  "You want this as much as I do," he said, kissing my neck again.

  "No. I don't." I flailed around, trying to loosen his grip.

  "Try to enjoy it anyway."

  He yanked at the front of my dress, ripping it. I screamed. "Stop it!" Fiery tears filled my eyes as I tried desperately to fight him off. The more I fought, the tighter he held me. Fear exploded inside me. I had to try something else.

  In a slithering voice he said, "When I'm done with you, you'll never be a threat again." He forced a kiss on me. I bit his lip as hard as I could. He yanked his head back and released his grip slightly as blood sprang to his lip.

  I drew in a deep breath, and with as much strength as I could gather, pushed him off me. He flew backward, landing in a heap on the floor next to the couch. Shocked at my surge of strength, I used the opportunity to leap from the couch. I held my dress together with my hands and ran for the door. Nate lunged at me, catching my leg and making me fall to the ground.

  Again, a surge of power infused my body. I twisted around and kicked at his chest, knocking him down. "Stay away from me!" I screamed. I scrambled to my feet and gathered the front of my dress in my arms. Tears slid down my cheeks while my heart pumped erratically.

  Nate stood, his mouth covered with blood, and lurched for me again.

  "Do not touch me," I yelled as I held my hand out, palm facing him. Suddenly, Nate was frozen. Shock flashed across his face, and then it contorted with rage as he tried to move his arms and legs, but couldn't. It was like he was paralyzed. I didn't know who was more stunned—Nate or me. Whatever was holding him back from attacking me again, I was grateful for it.

  Nate's expression changed to one of remorse. "Crystal, I'm sorry. Please, come back. I promise I won't try anything."

  The words were hollow. I couldn't trust him—I wasn't sure I ever could again. I tore the ring from my finger and threw it at him. Whirling around, I grabbed my purse, opened the door and started running.

  My heart attac
ked my ribs as I inhaled cool ribbons of air. I didn't know where to go or what to do except to get away from Nate. After a minute or so, I stopped running and hunched over, trying to catch my breath. I'd never get far with my heels, so I yanked them off and threw them down. I was near the lake, not far from the main buildings. With shaking hands, I rummaged through my purse for my cell phone so I could call home, though that was the last thing I wanted to do. Nate had no right to attack me, but I didn't want my parents making this into a huge, embarrassing ordeal.

  I saw lights from the ballroom to my left. With absolutely no plan in mind, I ran again, this time down the middle of the road toward the building.

  A car approach from behind. I hoped it was Erin so she could take me home. I needed my best friend. Now.

  I slowed down and finally stopped, sure I'd pass out from lack of oxygen. I glanced over. A small, white four-door car pulled up to me. I shielded my eyes from the headlights, unsure if I should go near the car. The driver wasn't Nate, thankfully. But it wasn't Erin or Charlie either. I had no idea who it was. I argued with myself for a second, but decided it was probably one of my classmates, and if I was lucky I could hitch a ride back to my house. I walked to the driver's side. And there he was.

  Staring at me.

  Alec.

  Tears overflowed my eyes, and fear wound around me. Nate, who I'd trusted, had attacked me. Now Alec, who had been nothing but weird to me, motioned for me to get in the car. No way. I started running again. The car door opened, and footsteps smacked against the pavement behind me. Tears streamed down my face. I knew I couldn't outrun Alec, but I had to try to get away from him. I didn't know who I could trust.

  "Crystal, wait!"

  I kept running. My feet ached and my lungs were on fire, but I had to keep going.

  "Please, listen to me!" Alec yelled.

  I wanted to keep running, but my muscles screamed, and my side cramped so much I had to stop. Air burned my throat as I gulped it down. I turned around with a defensive stance. "What do you want?" I heaved in more breaths, dizziness about to overtake me.

  Alec held his hands up and said, "I want to help you. I tried to warn you that you were in danger."

  "You knew Nate would—"

  "No. I didn't know exactly what would happen, but I knew something would. That's why I've been watching you. To protect you." He stepped closer, moonlight illuminating his disheveled hair. He'd removed his tie and jacket and unbuttoned the top of his white shirt. He took another step, and I stiffened.

  "Protect me?" I said between breaths.

  "Yes."

  "From what?" Strands of my messy, undone hair hung in my face.

  Alec looked down at the ground, then back at me, his gaze pulling me in. "I'll explain, if you'll come with me."

  I wiped under my eyes, mascara staining my fingers. "No. I want to go home."

  "I'll take you home. I'll keep you safe." He sounded sincere, but I was still wary.

  I rubbed my forehead with one hand while holding my torn dress with the other. It was late, and Erin clearly wasn't coming. Nate had made sure we'd be alone so he could—a wave of nausea hit me, practically knocking me over.

  "I can explain what happened," Alec said.

  "So can I." My voice trembled as I continued. "Nate attacked me. He wanted . . ." I couldn't finish. A tear edged out of my eye and tumbled down my cheek.

  Alec shook his head. "That's only the beginning."

  "The beginning?" I stifled the sob riding up my throat. "What are you talking about?"

  "Come with me, and I'll tell you what you need to know."

  I studied him, trying to focus on his words. Dizziness still played at the edges of my vision. "No." My boyfriend, a guy I'd trusted, had just attacked me. I didn't know Alec at all, or why he was following me. How could I trust him? Believe him? My head pounded as trust and doubt played out a tug-of-war in my brain.

  "You're in danger. You have to come with me. This is no time to argue."

  "I can't . . . I don't . . . Leave me alone!" I screamed, fear digging into my heart.

  "Nate will be coming for you."

  "I don't know what's happening. I—"

  With urgency in his voice, Alec said, "We have to hurry. Come with me, and I'll take you home." His eyes filled with compassion.

  He gently pulled at my arm while thoughts swirled around my mind, none of them making any sense. Hot and cold flashes rippled through me. My eyesight went fuzzy while little black dots danced in front of me.

  And then—everything went dark.

  My eyelids fluttered open. It was dark outside and I was inside an unfamiliar car, strapped into the front seat. I jerked my head to my left—Alec was driving.

  "What happened?" I asked. My hand went to my forehead. It felt like someone was beating my head with a hammer from the inside.

  "You passed out."

  I'd never fainted before. Of course, I'd never been attacked before either. "Let me out." I placed my hand on door handle.

  He shook his head. "Can't do that."

  "You're kidnapping me?" What else can go wrong?

  "No. I'm taking you home."

  Home? Do I even want to go home and face my parents?

  Mom had warned me. But I'd ignored her because I was so desperate to go to prom. A tear leaked out, and I flicked it away then glanced out the window at the dark, winding road. The moonlight cast shadows from the tall ponderosa pine trees, and I wished I could disappear in them.

  Alec interrupted my thoughts. "I'm sorry about Nate."

  I brushed another tear from my cheek. "Me, too."

  "You're safe now."

  "I can't believe Nate would do something like that." Every time I closed my eyes, there he was. Lunging at me. Grabbing me. Pawing at me. Tearing my dress. Trying to force me . . . I pursed my lips together to stop them from quivering. After a few minutes or so, I cleared my throat. "It was almost like he wasn't himself." It sounded crazy, even to me, but that's what it had felt like.

  I gazed ahead at the highway, my head throbbing. A few cars passed as we drove toward Silver City. I didn't understand Nate's erratic behavior, nor did I understand why he looked frozen, unable to come after me.

  That sounded so . . . bizarre. Ridiculous. People didn't freeze in place like a statue. They didn't become suddenly paralyzed. I laced my jittery fingers together, my heart thumping at the memory of Nate standing there, incapable of moving.

  I must have imagined it.

  The trauma of the attack must've played tricks on my mind and made me think he couldn't move—post-traumatic-something syndrome. A nervous laugh escaped my lips. I must've been so freaked out by my raving lunatic boyfriend that I couldn't tell what had really happened.

  I rested my head against the cold metal door while tears burned down my cheeks.

  Alec broke the silence. "He probably wasn't."

  "Huh?" I wiped my tears away.

  Alec kept his gaze on the road ahead of us. "Nate. He probably wasn't himself."

  I studied him. "What are you talking about?"

  He gave me a quick glance. "I'm not sure you're ready to hear it."

  "What's that supposed to mean?"

  "Let's just say, it's a big thing."

  "Nate's a big thing?"

  Alec wasn't making any sense. This whole night didn't make any sense. I just wanted it to be over.

  Alec shook his head. "No, not Nate."

  "You've lost me." He was talking in riddles, and I wasn't interested in solving them. My mind couldn't take any more. One more thing and my head would explode.

  "Nate wasn't acting like himself, because he wasn't himself."

  "Not himself?"

  "Exactly."

  Huh? What does that mean?

  I laughed nervously. "So tonight he was someone else?"

  Alec waited to answer as if choosing his words carefully. "He was . . . inhabited."

  "Inhabited?" I stared at him, trying to understand what he'd said. "You
mean he was possessed or something?"

  Alec glanced at me and nodded.

  "My boyfriend was possessed." I rubbed my eyes. Did Alec expect me to believe that? Granted, Nate hadn't seemed like himself, but possessed? For real?

  "Yes."

  I chewed my lower lip, unsure if I should laugh, or scream, or make him stop the car and let me out. I stared ahead, counting the seconds until I would be home and away from all this craziness.

  "You don't believe in demons that can inhabit, or possess, humans?" Alec asked.

  Memories of my dad's sermons, both public and private, marched across my mind. I'd never quite understood his zeal, but he often spoke of guarding against the Darkness. That we had to combat evil with good. That some people were pure evil, and that the only way to protect ourselves was to embrace the good.

  "I'm not sure," I said. "Maybe people were possessed in biblical times. Not now. Not Nate." I shook my head.

  "How else do you explain what he did?"

  "I don't know." I searched my mind for some logical explanation for Nate's strange words and actions, even for the way he looked, but nothing came.

  "Had he been drinking?" Alec asked.

  "No."

  "Doing drugs?"

  "No. He's an athlete. Track and basketball. He doesn't do any of that stuff." I picked at the cuticles around my fingernails.

  "So, how do you explain his behavior?"

  "It was prom, and he expected . . ."

  Alec tilted his head. "Maybe."

  I massaged my temples, attempting to drive the screeching pain away. "Even if I believed you, why would a demon want to possess my boyfriend?" Nate may have been famous at Silver City High School, but not in the real world. Why would a demon come after some teenager?

  Alec said nothing.

  I gave him a quick glance. "You don't have an answer for that?" I crossed my arms as if proving that his theory was completely wrong.

  He remained silent.

  "Fine." The conversation was too bizarre for me anyway. Sure, I knew evil existed, but my boyfriend being possessed was too unbelievable, even with how he'd acted. He'd planned so much for prom, and it hadn't turned out the way he wanted. That was it. Had to be. My gaze fell to my finger, where I'd worn his promise ring for a few minutes. A part of me was sad that it was gone, but a bigger part of me was angry that Nate would try to take something that wasn't his.