Scars of the Earth

by C. S. Moore

  “I love you.” Kaedin quickly said, making Amanda smile.

  “No you don’t have to repeat anymore.” She said.

  “I wasn’t repeating, I just love you. Ever since you walked through that wall, I have felt safe. Like maybe he can’t hurt me anymore. I never felt that way before.” The child said looking up to her, though she couldn’t see.

  “Are you okay to stand up?” Amanda asked. Kaedin jutted out her chin as if it were a rude question.

  “Of course I can stand up.” She squirmed off the bed quickly and stood next to her. “Now what?” She asked.

  “You tell me. You’re the boss here. What is it that you want to do?” Amanda asked. Kaedin thought for a moment.

  “Well I always wanted to scream just as loud as I could, and not stop until I just am too tired to keep on screaming.” Kaedin said in a rush.

  “Okay let’s do it together.” Amanda said drawing in a breath.

  “No! No, no. Frank will hear, and he will come get us.” The spirit said frightfully.

  Amanda closed her eyes and searched the scar. She could feel Frank. He was strong, because Kaedin’s memories of him were so powerful. But she was stronger than the mirage that was him. He wouldn’t be able to overpower her. Amanda was so much stronger now, compared to when her first Scar had taken her. Of course she was barely more than a baby then.

  I passed out every time and left them all…still trapped. She thought.

  This was different, there was no other choice. She had to gather all of her powers. This spirit didn’t have the time that the others had. She concentrated harder and could feel the physical presence of the Demon hiding in shadows throughout the house. She opened her eyes and noticed that her silence had frightened Kaedin.

  “It’s all right, I’m stronger than Frank. Remember, I have magic.” Amanda said.

  “You will stop him from hurting me, right?” Kaedin asked grabbing hold of her hand.

  “Right, Frank is not stronger than the love I have for you.” Amanda told her.

  Kaedin felt her love and knew that Amanda wasn’t just saying the words. So she took in a deep gulp of air and started screaming at the top of her lungs, holding nothing back. Immediately Frank was at the other side of the door.

  “You stop that! Stop it or I’ll get the bat again!” He shouted, he was strong but she kept him out of the room easily enough. Kaedin paused for a moment at his threat and Amanda squeezed her hand in encouragement. Kaedin smiled at her and started shouting words that she had given her.

  “I AM SPECIAL! I AM STRONG!” She screamed. Amanda could already see the change.

  She’s not the only one changing. She thought, sensing the Leach Demon growing angry. He wasn’t quite ready to leave. Amanda took comfort in the fact that Kaedin didn’t need much. She was such a resilient spirit all she needed was to have someone that wanted to help her. Someone that believed her, that believed in her. And she now had it. Frank beat at the door with more ferocity, and Amanda squirmed. It was getting harder and harder for her to hold him back.

  “PEOPLE LOVE ME!” Kaedin cried. With every shout, Amanda could feel Kaedin getting stronger. Soon the little spirit would be free. Amanda sensed the dark energy pulling, before she saw it and drew up her strength. She knew that she would need it.

  Find someone else to feed off of scum bag. She thought.

  All of the shadows left their hiding places. Creeping out of the corners, seeping up out of the floor boards, even Amanda and Kaedin’s own shadows abandoned them; turning to tar and bonding into a mass of darkness. The small room was unnaturally bright. All of the shadows were gone from their natural spaces and standing in a heaving blob before them. At that moment Amanda was glad for Kaedin’s blindness.

  “I WASN’T YOURS TO TAKE!” The small girl shouted.

  The darkness moved in a rush, squeezing under the shabby door and into Frank. The demon had found a place to gather strength. Still holding Kaedin’s hand, Amanda dropped to her knees unable to remain standing. She searched inside herself looking for more power. She shut off everything in her body that was expending energy and focused it on to the door. Her ears didn’t hear, her eyes didn’t see, even her racing heart beat slowed. Everything she had in her small frame held the beast back. If Kaedin felt frightened, it would be nearly impossible to free her. It beat at the door with more fervor than Frank had.

  It’s stronger than me. She thought.

  A sound ripped out like the call of thunder as the door disintegrated into a shower of splinters. Kaedin began screaming, not in power, but in fear. Amanda lay beside her blind and deaf to the scene around them. Franks body, bulging and discolored by the demon within, began its disjointed journey across the room.

  “Amanda wake up! Amanda please, use your magic.” Kaedin pleaded.

  The power of the demon was too great for her and it took all she had just to keep consciousness. She could feel the darkness pressing down on her urging her to return to where she belonged. The temptation was usually too much for her. The sweet promises of the dark made it so easy to give herself over to unconsciousness, without even realizing she had.

  No, not this time! Kaedin can’t possibly wait any longer. Who knows when this Scar will find another Healer? The demon has so much of her life already. I have to be strong. She thought.

  The demon was upon them, wearing an inhuman smile that stretch Frank’s face into a grizzly mask of terror. He opened his mouth wide and Frank’s skin, stretched too tightly, split open. Tissue dangling, the monster began raining torrents of blood onto the floor. Amanda could feel the delight the creature took in the gruesome scene.

  It stepped closer to them becoming larger and more grotesque. Yet still, Kaedin remained kneeling by Amanda’s side. She could sense the little spirits fear, and heard Kaedin’s silent prayer. Amanda’s heart swelled with love as she found both the fear, and the prayer, where for her. The demon paused in its approach, sensing the change in Amanda.

  Now it’s afraid. She thought, gaining confidence. She took advantage of the demon’s hesitance and sprang to her feet throwing Kaedin behind her.

  “Kaedin don’t be afraid, it can’t hurt you. YOU ARE STRONG!” Kaedin took a step forward, brow knitting together in determination.

  “I AM STRONG!” She shouted.

  Amanda felt that strength and threw up a protective shield between them and the demon. The dark creature attempted to move forward but was unable to get a step closer to them. It pushed against the invisible obstacle several times, but was unable to weaken the blockade. Frank wilted to the floor, the dark mass leaving him.

  It knows that it’s lost. She is free. Amanda thought turning to look at Kaedin.

  I’ve never seen a spirit so bright. She thought. Kaedin smiled at her; like it was natural for her to smile, like she smiled all the time. Like she had before she was taken, like she was happy.

  “YOU CAN’T HURT ME ANYMORE!” Kaedin screamed out. The room felt light, warm, and the air tasted sweet. Amanda noticed the nightstand begin to shine, and the shimmer spread across the room. She looked up at Kaedin and smiled, knowing this was the time to say goodbye.

  Glad I met you kid. She was forming the words when Kaedin’s face dropped back into a veil of pain.

  Amanda spun around, but she was too late. The dark mass of shadows was upon her teeth thrashing. Its jagged teeth sunk into her side and she was immediately searing in pain. The demon’s poison rushed through her veins and set them on fire. It shook its head furiously sending black tar splattering across the floor boards. It flung its head powerfully before releasing her. She flew through the air slamming against the far wall. She bounced off the plaster and landed on her face, unable to catch herself.

  My arms don’t work! She thought. Through her tears, she could see Kaedin on the floor, eyes closed and rocking herself.

  Kaedin you can do this without me, be strong, be brave, move on. Her heart sank when she realized she wasn’t speaking. I can’t speak either! Her
inner voice shrieked.

  Darkness was taking her; the scene began to dissolve around the edges. Until the only thing left was Kaedin’s tear-soaked face, and then that too was gone. Amanda knew that she was dying. She felt sad for Madgie and Nell. And Cole’s handsome face flashed before her. But her heart’s last prayer was for Kaedin.

  Someone free her, don’t let that one fade.

  Chapter 2

  “I don’t know! I’ve never seen anything like this before.” A very distressed Nell cried out.

  “They’re rare and you’re young. Myself being the opposite, I have seen these marks before. I know how she got them. I just don‘t understand…” Madgie paused.

  “What? What don’t you understand?” Nell asked.

  “I’ve seen them; but they’ve always been on dead bodies. I’ve never seen a living person bear them.”

  Never seen a living person bear them? Am I still alive? No, I can’t be. Amanda thought. She found the mere idea ridiculous, having already come to terms with her death and her eternal sentence. She could still feel the Hell fire burning her insides. Scorching all that had once been pink into a charcoal black.

  This is right. This is fair. I should be in Hell after all of the spirits I failed. Why did I have to run away? If I had just accepted who I was at the dredging age I would have been properly trained, instead of being a seventeen year old novice. I could have saved her. She thought, choking on emotion as her mind brought up an image. The last image she had witnessed as a living-breathing person, Kaedin holding herself tightly. Her sweet face turned upward wearing the most pained expression she had ever seen.

  I didn’t think a person could convey such torment with one look, one expression. She thought.

  She kept tracing and retracing the lines of Kaedin’s small face, the creases in her forehead, the tears on her cheeks, and those haunting blue eyes. Amanda’s heart was broken, not because she was burning in Hell, but because she had witnessed a spirit being broken today.

  She can’t hold the demon off long now; she is easy prey, as is anyone with no hope. If it hadn’t already been done, I would ask God to damn me. She thought. .

  “Amanda, come back to us. Don’t linger in the darkness a moment longer.” She could just make out Madgie’s muffled words reaching out to her. Her voice sounding as if she was at the far end of a tunnel.

  “Amanda Sarah Cates!” Madgie’s voice was becoming clearer. “Wherever you are get your skinny ass back here now! S-B my dear, don’t leave me.”

  That really is Madgie! Amanda thought.

  Madgie had called her S-B since she was a kid. She thought it an odd nick name, since S-B wasn’t even close to her initials. Six months after the nick name was established she finally felt comfortable enough around Madgie to ask her about it.

  “Madgie is there a reason you decided to call me S-B, or was your senile old brain just on the fritz that day?” Madgie laughed at her with her whole body.

  “I thought, since you hadn’t ever asked, you must not have cared. But no, you’re just the kind that likes to let something stew until you have driven yourself absolutely crazy. Right?” Madgie asked. Amanda evaluated herself and nodded her head.

  “Yeah I guess that’s a fair depiction, but I’m done stewing. So tell me, why S-B?” Amanda asked. Madgie threw a thin arm around her before replying.

  “Stands for sugar beet.” She said smiling.

  “Sugar beet huh? I’m not sure that you’ve given me the right nickname.” Amanda said.

  “Sure I have, sugar beets are something sweet that God decided to hide in a layer of dirt. And that’s you to a tee.” Madgie said.

  Amanda snapped out of her revere when she heard Nell’s voice. When Nell spoke it was nearly too soft to hear.

  “Amanda?” Nell whispered.

  Her eyes shot open, making Nell shriek out in fear. Amanda’s large eyes, once a bright blue, now bore an eerie crimson red all the way down to the pupil.

  “Oh dear lord!” Madgie shouted clutching her chest.

  “Madgie! I have to go back!” She was surprised to find her voice actually hanging in the air.

  I can speak. She thought, but as she attempted to sit up, she realized her limbs where still of no use to her.

  “Has it moved yet Madgie?” She asked.

  Her mentor was speechless staring wide eyed at her. Still as a statue, Madgie looked as if she were bracing for a rattle snake to strike.

  “Has the damned Scar moved yet?” Amanda shouted. Madgie’s shoulders loosened two notches at her impatience. She had always been dreadfully impatient and Madgie seemed satisfied that Amanda was in fact herself, and not some creature set upon their destruction.

  “You watch your mouth Amanda Sarah, Nell is here.” She said shortly. Amanda’s eyes stretched wide in anger, which usually amused Madgie. But in their current state just gave her a cold shiver.

  “Yes the Scar has moved. Are you alright S-B? Is your head hurt, are you thinking clearly?” Madgie asked.

  It has moved. She thought. Her blood felt like lead in her veins, weighing her down. And she didn’t know if she would ever get up.

  Kaedin will fade. She thought. Scarlet tears began to fall freely from her swollen eyes. Amanda gave herself over to the screams of pain that had been waiting to come forth, only stifled by her will to save Kaedin. Madgie’s thin eyebrows shot up in surprise.

  Madgie had seen Amanda fail other spirits; she came out of Scars broken hearted but not weeping. She was there the day a young Amanda was brought to the Hovel in the Dredging; almost all of the other children cried for their Mothers, but not her. Madgie was even the one to tell her not to hope for a family, Healers couldn’t have children because they were always being pulled into Scars and only they can exist on that plain. So a pregnant Healer would lose her child unless it too was a Healer. Which was a million to one shot. Madgie had been there through all of these things and she had never seen Amanda shed a tear. She turned to Nell quickly.

  “Go find out what is taking those nurses so damned long!” Madgie shouted. Nell was out of the double doors before the request was complete. She wanted to put some distance between herself and Amanda’s frozen body, the marks, those red eyes, and her relentless shrieks of pain.

  Amanda forced back the screams and tears, a thought occurred to her.

  Find her! Can I find her? I’ve never heard of it being done, but that doesn’t mean anything. She thought.

  She just needed to get her head back on straight. This was difficult considering the amount of pain that she was in. She looked over at Madgie. Her face was unusually readable, worry creasing every line on her face. Amanda cleared her throat and spoke.

  “Healers for the Healer, don’t you think that’s a bit redundant?” She was trying to take away the line of worry Madgie wore between her eyebrows. Her shot at humor had no effect. Madgie spoke in a whisper.

  “There is no reason to be frightened. The Ancients have been called; they will know how to fix you up.” The tone of her voice made it clear that Madgie wanted to believe that the Ancients could solve any problem. But her words didn’t comfort Amanda.

  ‘It’s just best to go through life never having to meet the Ancients.’ That’s what she told me the one time I questioned her about them. And now she is hoping that they can help me? I must look pretty awful…the screaming probably didn’t help. She thought, kicking herself for worrying her friend. She looked up and saw Madgie’s unfocused eyes and distant expression. The pain made her thoughts jumbled and broken. It would be hard to question Madgie with any kind of success, but she had to try.

  “Madgie since you haven’t drilled me with questions since I came to, I assume you know what happened to me in that Scar.” She said plainly. Madgie snapped out of her far away thoughts and looked over at her.

  “I know where these marks came from. But I don’t know exactly what happened to you in there.” Madgie replied.

  These marks? They said something about marks earlie
r. She recalled. Amanda was still in a semi frozen state, but she attempted to look down at her stiff body. Which, she now realized, had been stripped completely naked. Her first instinct was to cover up but her dead limbs where of no use. Unable to move even slightly her eyes could just make out the indistinct curves of her body, but that was more than enough. The ominous marks were covering every inch of her once beautiful body. Her eyes strained to focus and make a clear picture but without the ability to lift her head it was impossible to really see herself.

  “Madgie could you get me a mirror?” Amanda asked. Madgie knitted her thin eyebrows together.

  She’s worried I might be too weak to handle the sight of myself. That’s not an encouraging sign. She thought and spoke a bit louder.

  “Madgie get me a mirror, please.” She said. Madgie left for a moment and came back with a petite wall mirror clutched in her unsure hands.

  Madgie is never unsure about anything. She thought. She wanted to know what she was dealing with. She cared little about what she looked like, but she didn’t want her appearance to hinder her. It would be much harder to travel the world looking for Kaedin, if she didn’t look like a normal person. Madgie stepped tentatively forward and after a few tries she had the mirror angled so Amanda could see herself.

  After she came to grips with the fact that her eyes looked like the devil’s own, she studied her body. Her whole left side was a dark bruise. Though it looked like no other bruise she had ever seen. It was too dark and the colors within it swirled and danced like an oil slick on the surface of a puddle. The living bruise stretched across her belly in thin waving fingers until it tucked back under her right side. The bruise made sense to her she remembered the demon sinking its teeth into her side and tossing her back and forth like a rag doll. She didn’t understand the rest of the marks covering her body, black marks running in every direction tracing her veins.

  It looks like my heart is circulating tar. She thought.

  “Madgie? What are these?” Amanda asked her voice full of panic.