by Taryn Eason
“You’ll be fine.” He replied as he shut the door and we collected our luggage.
As we approached the door, I saw it fly open and long dark arms appear from behind it. They wrapped around Lye’s neck and a woman followed, pulling him into a warm embrace.
“I missed you so much!” She exclaimed.
Lye laughed, embarrassed as she kissed him on the cheek. “Calm down, mom.”
His mom looked over towards me. “And you must be Maybelle! I’m so excited to see your powers!”
I smiled, thankful that I didn’t have to hide myself around them. Not too much, at least. I still have to watch myself at all times, regardless. “Thanks. I’m honored to be the new holder of the Reeki.”
“Honey, you don’t have to be so formal around us. We know you don’t really know the family you have up here, so we’re more than happy to welcome you into ours.”
It was a small community, so she probably knew why my parents didn’t associate with the Lakinobes anymore, but, since I have the Reeki now, I guess I’m in with the tribe. Or Lye’s family, at least. “Thank you,” I replied.
I followed Lye inside where we were met by more people. Lye’s mother took a place on a stool beside a man who I assumed was his father. A young woman sat on a couch in the adjoining living room beside a toddler. A glance at an old family picture on the wall confirmed that she was Lye’s older sister.
Lye was young in the photo, maybe ten or eleven. The photo showed that he was the youngest of three. His older brother and sister were posed behind him smiling in the generic family photo layout. Names were hand written under the children. “Julia, Grayson, Lysander” were the names printed in descending order.
“So, Maybelle, are you going to show us your power?” Lye’s mother said.
I turned around nervously. “Yeah, I’ve always dreamed of seeing the Reeki in person!” Julia chimed in.
Lye was giving me a concerned look. His family seemed like good people, but how would they react to my powers? They seemed like they would be happy to see anything, with how much they romanticized the Reeki. I glanced around for a hint of what to do when I noticed Lye’s mother was preparing pasta to boil over the stove. I walked over to her. “Mrs. Adair, could I help you with that?” I asked, struggling and failing to be confident.
“Sure,” She replied curiously.
I grabbed the pot off of the stove and placed my hand over it.
“Watch out, darling, it’s hot!” She said frantically, reaching out her arm to stop me.
I smiled, taking pride that something that could do so much harm to anyone else had no effect on me at all. “I’m fine, ma’am. Just watch.”
I still felt uncomfortable with all the eyes in the room on me. I was terrified that they would judge me, or that I would somehow become the laughingstock of the Lakinobe tribe. It was probably a bad time to realize that high school had taken a toll on my mental state, but that’s never stopped me before.
The pot quickly heated to a simmer and I grabbed a wooden spoon to stir it with my other hand.
“Mommy, how does she do that?” The toddler asked, tugging on Julia’s arm. “How do I make my hand glow?”
“She’s got superpowers, darling. Isn’t it pretty?” Her mother replied.
I let out the breath I had been holding in a relieved sigh. They saw what I could do, the evil, destructive ability I had, and called it pretty. I sat down the pan on the stove for Lye’s mother to continue to cook.
“That’s amazing!” She said, staring at my hand. “Is it only in your hand?”
“No, I can do it everywhere.” I said, still afraid of rejection.
“I can’t believe you already have so much control of your powers already. I guess Winona knew what she was doing after all.” Lye’s father mused.
I walked over to Lye. “I did it!” I whispered excitedly, swallowing the lump in my throat.
“Well, my family’s not the leaders of the tribe, but at least it’s a good start.” He replied, smiling.
Soon, his mother called us to the table where we all sat and ate as I answered the Adairs’ seemingly endless questions about my life. Yes, I’m mostly white. No, I’ve never lived by the tribe. Yes, I’m still in high school. No, I have no idea how I’ll use my powers in the future.
When it was over, Lye’s father picked up my bag and gestured for me to follow him with a big smile that looked identical to Lye’s. “Come here, I’ll show you where your room is.”
He led me to a tiny room with two twin-size beds in it. Lye’s high school diploma was hanging on the wall. The graduation date was only six years ago, so Lye couldn’t have been older than twenty-five. It was strange how much older he looked. There were little league trophies on a shelf near where Mr. Adair sat my duffel bag. Some of them had Lye’s name on them, but about half of them were printed with “GRAYSON ADAIR”. I knew Lye had his name tattooed on his arm with a military helmet, gun, and boots, but I didn’t know anything about him. Julia, his sister was in the other room, but there was no sign of Grayson anywhere. The fact that Lye had his name tattooed on him meant that he must respect him a lot. Maybe he wasn’t alive anymore and Lye got his tattoo as a tribute. Either way, my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to ask.
“Mr. Adair, I see Grayson’s name on some of these, but Lye’s never mentioned him before. Does he not live around here?” I asked innocently.
Lye’s father sighed. “Grayson was Lye’s older brother. He was in the Marines and he died in Iraq about seven years ago.” He stated emotionlessly, exactly like Lye would have.
I didn’t think far enough ahead of what to say. “I- I’m sorry.”
He sat down on the bed in front of me and continued. “That’s kind of what I came in here to talk to you about, Maybelle.”
I was skeptical. “What do you mean?”
“Lye looked up to Grayson so much. He idolized him. When he joined the Marines, Lye vowed to be just like him. Lye was seventeen when he died. It was hard on all of us, but it absolutely wrecked him. He barely graduated. He started hanging around the wrong people. He started getting tattoos and doing drugs and-“
“Sir, where are you going with this?” As much as I wanted to know about Lye’s past, it was incredibly inappropriate for his father to be saying all of this to me. I wanted to hear Lye’s story from himself, not some watered-down skewed version from his father. “How does this relate to me?”
“Well, Lye is bad at picking the right people to associate himself with. Now, I love my son, but you seem like a sweet, innocent girl. I don’t know where Lye found you, but after you go home, it would be best for you not to be around him anymore. He’ll just bring you down.”
I was fuming at his words. The sweat on my hands began to steam as he spoke, each word making me angrier than the next. As soon as he finished talking, I was prepared to light him up with my words, but someone else spoke before I could.
“What the hell?” Lye said from the doorway. “Is that what you think of me?”
His words held a pitiful mixture of hurt and anger.
“Son, she has the Reeki. I love you, but we have to make sure she doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.” His father said evenly.
“And I’m the ‘wrong hands’, right? I’m the one who got a little off track as a teenager because my brother died and instead of helping me you disowned me. I come back for the first time in over three years and the only reason I’m even accepted is because I brought her.” He said, pointing to me. “But yeah, I’m the ‘wrong hands’.”
Mr. Adair was silent.
Lye let out a broken sigh. “Maybelle, I’m going to stay in a hotel tonight. You can stay here if you want.”
I glared at his father. “No, I’m going with you.” I replied, throwing my duffel bag over my shoulder and following him out wordlessly.
“I’m so sorry, Lye.” I said, watching him drive with one hand on the wheel and his other leaned against the window on his forehead.
“I understand. My dad stresses me out too. I guess dads just know exactly what to say to upset you.” I tried to ease the tension.
“It shouldn’t even be like that though. Dads are supposed to love and support you, not tell people you’re a bad influence.” He put the cigarette to his lips and took another hit. “I mean, I knew my dad didn’t think much of me anymore, but it just hurts worse hearing him say it, you know?”
I had never seen his side of Lye before. He was so vulnerable.
“Well, if it helps, I don’t think you’re the ‘wrong hands’ for me.” I thought of how much Lye had helped me understand this whole thing. I had no idea where I would be by now if it weren’t for him.
“Thanks, but I really am. I went really overboard when I was young and I’m still trying to recover.”
“Well, you have a car, a stable job that you’re amazing at, and a house. I’d say you’re doing just fine.”
He half-smiled. “Yeah, I guess I am now.”
We made it to the hotel, where Lye asked me if I wanted a room to myself. I didn’t want for him to spend any extra money on me, (plus I didn’t want my father seeing me ring up a charge for a hotel room a state away on his credit card) so I declined.
We entered the room. It was a decent-sized room with two queen beds with fluffy white comforters and a flat screen tv. I chose the farthest bed and fell onto it, a hotel habit I’ve had since childhood. “What now?” I asked.
Lye was staring at his phone texting. “Well some of my old friends want me to come to a party tonight. Wanna come? It might help ease some of your nervousness about tomorrow.”
I stared at him. “I thought you didn’t want me to drink?”
He shrugged. “Well, I’m stressed out and I need some form of relief, and you seem to like having fun too. Besides, one night can’t hurt, can it?”
I smiled. “I guess not. But who’s going to drive?”
“Well, I chose this hotel because my friend’s house is right down the block.” He smirked.
“See? You’re responsible. I’m definitely in the right hands. Now come on, let’s go get wasted and forget how shitty today was!” I joked, pumping my fist in the air.
Chapter 11
As soon as I felt the pounding bass of the music and smelled the smoke that hung in the air, my happiness vanished. I looked around the crowded yard and saw Caleb in every guy there. Not so much in looks, but in their assumed personalities. All of my nerves were on edge and I felt like a cat who had just wandered into a pin of dogs.
Lye headed to a table with drinks on it and I anxiously followed close behind. He felt like my only beacon of safety and if I wandered too far away, I was so afraid of what would happen. I eyed the selection of alcohol and nothing seemed too appealing, so I just grabbed a bottle and prayed it would take the edge off of this party.
“Lye! What’s up, man? Long time no see!” A guy with shoulder-length wavy blonde hair called.
“Adam! How are you?” Lye responded.
They exchanged enthusiastic handshakes and Adam looked at me, his eyes quickly scanning me from bottom to top. “Hey there cutie.” He smiled. “Damn, Lye. I’d have to be rich to score one like that.”
“Excuse me?” I spat, “I’m a person, you dick.”
Lye put his hand on my arm and gently guided me back, which I was glad was so difficult. My arm was hot enough to punish him for trying to restrain me.
“Still into the feisty ones, eh?” Adam chuckled, “At least you know your type.”
“Actually, we’re not together. She’s just a friend from where I live.”
Well, that one still hurt. Maybe getting drunk tonight didn’t sound so bad after all.
Adam smirked. “So you’re free?”
“Not for you.” I replied and began to walk away.
Lye followed me. “Are you okay? Sorry about Adam. He’s kind of a douchebag.”
“Trust me, I noticed.” I replied as I walked, aiming back for the hotel room, bottle in hand.
He sped up and turned around in front of me. “Wait, where are you going?”
I sighed. “I’m just not feeling the whole party scene tonight. I’m going to go back to the room.”
I heard a girl’s voice come from behind me. “Hey, Lye! How have you been?”
I turned around to see a small redhead with way too much makeup on. She looked to be in her mid-twenties and even with the dark circles under her eyes, she was still pretty.
“What are you doing here?” Lye asked, seemingly unamused.
“I heard you were in town and I just couldn’t resist seeing you.” She looked up at him confidently as she stepped closer.
She was only inches away from him and my blood began to boil.
As usual, Lye had a good response. “Leave me alone, Melanie. I’m done with you.”
She touched the lapel of his jacket as she eyed me from bottom to top, finally resting on my eyes and meeting me with the same glare she was getting. She looked back towards Lye. “But baby, even after all we’ve been through? Don’t you miss me?”
He stepped back. “Nope, I still hate you.”
I smirked at the hurt in her eyes. She was silent, preparing her next idea.
I took my chance to step in and help him out. I reached for Lye’s arm, squeezing it affectionately to get his attention. “Hey, I’m going back to the hotel room. I’ll meet you there later.” I smiled, throwing one last look at Melanie before walking away.
Thankfully, the hotel wasn’t far. I entered the room and poured my drink down the bathroom sink. I was feeling so much more confident after that incident that I didn’t even need alcohol. I was still glad I left, though. I was so uncomfortable there. I didn’t know anyone and hanging around Lye like a lost puppy was making me feel more pathetic than usual. I flipped on the tv and searched for something to watch until I finally fell asleep waiting on Lye to return.
I was awakened by the doorknob's wobbling. It seemed Lye was having a hard time getting it opened. I yawned as I dragged myself to the door to help him out.
"The doorknob too difficult for you?" I said, rubbing my eyes.
"YeahIguessso" Lye responded. There was something definitely off about that. It instantly sent a red flag that woke me up. He was moving in an odd, too-fast manner, rocking from side-to-side. His dilated pupils made his eyes look even darker than normal.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yeah, I'm totally fine, completely." He responded, waving his arm.
"Lye, what's wrong with you?" I had never seen anyone on any hard drugs before. High school kids had so much more tame parties.
"I'm fine, I'm fnnne. I only did a few lines. Can I come in now?" He waved his arm again and accidentally hit it on the doorframe, triggering something within me.
I was suddenly twelve years old again. I was sitting at the kitchen counter with my midnight snack. I should have been in bed, but I woke up craving another slice of my mother's chocolate cake.
The front door opened and my father entered. He was always working late nights at the hospital. He looked at me and slammed his fist into the wall.
"Janet!" He stared at me, then punched the wall again, leaving a dent in the shape of his fist. "Dammit, Janet, answer me!"
Janet was the name of my grandmother who had been dead for years. Why was he calling her name?
He stumbled over to me, reeking of alcohol. "Why did you come back?" He stared me in the eyes as I sat there, petrified. I had never seen my father act like this.
"You spent my entire life torturing me, and then I finally got away. I graduated from college and med school with no help from you. I got married and I had a perfect little angel all without you. Then you came back."
"Dad, I'm." I whimpered, "I'm Maybelle."
"You're a monster. You're a mistake." He hissed, only an inch away from my face.
I felt a tear roll down my cheek. Did my father really think those things?
He seemed to suddenly have gained a little more lucidity. He stepped back and stared at me. "I hate you for looking like her." He said before walking away, leaving me there crying out of fear.
I stared at Lye in the doorway, shaking and struggling to hold myself back.
"Go away." I spoke.
He walked closer to me, looking confused. "You don't really want me to leave, do you?"
His proximity to me sent me over the edge. "Leave me alone. Please, please leave me alone." I sobbed, my tears beginning to sizzle.
"Hey, calm down. I'm good. What's wrong?" He asked, reaching to put a hand on my arm.
I flinched and swiped his hand away before realizing what I had done.
He cursed in pain and held his seared hand.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry but please leave." I gasped, my body getting warmer by the second.
I slammed the door and rushed into the bathroom. I turned the shower on and sat in the floor of the bathtub as the cold shower sizzled on my skin, praying that it would calm me down.
The water muffled my sobs and soon, I was too tired and afraid to leave the bathroom and face the drugged-out version of this guy I hardly knew, yet foolishly followed on a road trip alone to another state. I was such an idiot. I pulled all of the towels off of the rack and tucked myself in.
I woke up in the bathroom with only my fireproof undergarments on, wrapped in a cocoon of damp towels. I stretched out, assessing the crick in my neck from sleeping in such an awkward position on the floor. My eyeliner had run, making the dark circles under my eyes look even more prominent.
I left the bathroom to find the last person I wanted to see sitting on one of the beds.
"Hey, um", he started awkwardly. "I brought breakfast."
The paper plate of waffles and muffins looked amazing, but I still felt terrible from last night. Lye had a bandage wrapped around his right hand.