Marked

by Stephanie Arehart

Guess someone’s finally getting used to college.

  Jenna stared out the window as she finished her tea, watching the other doctors-in-training going about their business on their own free day. She thought about how nice their lives must be. Jealousy still reigned even though she’d started to come to terms with her own situation, determined to forge ahead and make the best of things. A fake birthmark couldn’t change that about her personality, if it were true. She wrestled with the question of why she hadn’t bothered to ask Chris, Cody, Heidi, or Kenneth about her own situation. Perhaps Jenna wasn’t seeking the truth.

  Jenna noticed a stack of papers on her desk that she didn’t recall putting there. Thumbing through the pile, she determined it was a bunch of leaflets and pamphlets about birthmarks. Vivian must have brought this junk to her, possibly trying to make a sarcastic point. Maybe she was sending a not-so-subtle message for Jenna to stop probing.

  Generally, the information seemed to be pretty tame, mostly just how to learn more about the history of the Registry and get a personal scan with career counseling. But one small business card stuck out to Jenna. It was a colorful psychedelic design labeled “Claire Seaburg – Mark Medium.” There was a phone number and description that said, “Unlock your spiritual potential.” Jenna wasn’t sure what to make of that, but she stuck it in her pocket as she heard Vivian moving around behind her.

  “Good morning, Barbie,” Vivian croaked.

  “Sounds like you have a serious case of morning voice. How late were you out last night?”

  “I don’t know. It’s all a blur. On second thought, I may be dead. I sure do feel like it,” Vivian answered with a slight laugh, and Jenna giggled.

  “Did you put all these papers on my desk?”

  “What papers, Barbie? I didn’t touch your precious stuff. In fact, I didn’t even expect you to be here for the weekend. What’s up with that, anyway?”

  Jenna didn’t respond to Vivian’s annoying and invasive questions, assuming she was just trying to divert attention away from her own petty behaviors. Instead, she got dressed and walked out the door without any further conversation, leaving Vivian behind in a heap on her bed.

  She strolled through the campus, unsure where she was headed, just enjoying the crunching of crisp autumn leaves underneath her feet. Her phone buzzed viciously in her pocket, instantly ruining her idyllic moment. She stopped walking to fish it out.

  It was Noah calling, which seemed a little strange for early-ish on a Saturday morning. Jenna wasn’t mad at Noah, but she wanted some alone time and didn’t know how to explain that stance gracefully to him. She silenced the call and stuck her phone back in her pocket. As she started to walk again, something bright caught her eye on the ground. It was that card from her desk.

  Jenna tried to just leave it there and walk away, but something inside her wouldn’t stand for it. Maybe it was that the eternal good girl couldn’t justify littering, or maybe it was something more. Something related to destiny. She bent down and scooped up the card while rolling her eyes at her own irritating behavior. Before she could lose her nerve, she pulled out her phone and dialed the number on the card. A smoky, sultry voice answered.

  “Hello, this is Claire.”

  “Hi, this is Jenna.”

  “Yes, Jenna, how can I help you?”

  “I was wondering if you could meet with me. I mean, I want to utilize your services,” Jenna fumbled.

  “Oh, of course! I have some time open Monday afternoon, or Thursday as well.”

  “What about today? Do you have anything sooner than Monday?”

  “I didn’t realize this was an emergency. I could probably make some time at 11:00, if you’d be able to make it here by then.”

  “Yes, that works for me. So where are you located?” Jenna realized she could be pretty far away from this woman, but hoped she wasn’t, based on the area code.

  “I’m two blocks from campus, at Hines-Whitmann.”

  Jenna breathed a sigh of relief. “Awesome! This is meant to be. I’ll see you soon.”

  She continued to amble across campus, choosing to walk through the grassy areas instead of the sidewalks, a rebellious act. Since she had a little bit more time to kill, Jenna found a nice spot to sit and lounge in the grass. Despite the cool air, she removed her shoes and socks so she could feel the sensation of the ground on her feet. It was so relaxing to her that she wanted to meditate for a while, but she forced herself to stay alert for her upcoming appointment.

  She pulled small piles of leaves over her legs first, then around her torso. Jenna could hear her mother’s voice in her head, telling her to watch out for snakes and that her clothes could get dirty. But her father had always played this game with Jenna when she was little, so somehow it made her feel safe. She noticed a few people walking on the sidewalk nearby, so she gently slid down to be fully hidden from ridicule and suspicion.

  If someone finds me now, they’ll surely take me away for a psychiatric evaluation.

  She pushed a tiny peephole through her leaf blanket so she could spy from her hideout. Someone was out there searching for something, probably for a lost dog. Then he turned so Jenna could see his profile. It was Noah!

  Feeling beyond embarrassed at her current situation, she chose to remain hidden. He looked around for another minute, and then walked away in the direction of Jenna’s dorm. She didn’t know what to think.

  He seemed like he was looking for something or someone, most likely for her. But she couldn’t figure out what could be so urgent at this time of day, and she didn’t have a clue how he was so close to her. If she didn’t know better, she would think he was tracking her. But she pushed that suspicious thought away, and convinced herself he was just checking on her; perhaps he had some news to share about Vivian.

  An itch distracted her from her paranoia, and Jenna quickly shed her leaf suit. She completely vacated her hiding spot, trying to rid herself of ground clutter as she walked away. Her goal was to blend back into the crowd, however small it might be, in case Noah came looking for her again. She was prepared to play it cool if she ran into him, but luckily she managed to arrive at her appointment without any other encounters.

  Jenna double-checked the address written on the back of the card to see that it matched. The door was dark purple, and much smaller than other business doors in the same shopping center. It was also further inset than the other entrances, with makeshift steps from mismatched stones, almost like it was an afterthought to the rest of the building. Jenna stood at the bottom of the steps, looking around in bewilderment, half-expecting someone to jump out and yell “Gotcha!”

  When that didn’t happen, she gathered the courage to walk up the steps. She grasped the funky jeweled doorknob and twisted it gingerly. The heavy door creaked open ever so slightly. It was only a couple of inches, but that was enough to release a hazy puff out into the street.

  Jenna coughed and moved forward, pushing the door open more with her shoulder. Inside, the room was cool and dark and felt like an enormous underground cave, but Jenna was sure it wasn’t nearly as large as it seemed. There was a subterranean stench too, yet somehow this cavernous void felt comfortable instead of terrifying.

  As her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, she was eventually able to make out small dancing flames and random glimmers here and there. There were also some whiny but soothing sounds drifting in from the back of the room. She continued to stand there awkwardly, in the hopes that Claire would materialize and magically answer all the questions of the universe. A quick phone check let her know she was still five minutes early, so she opted to take a seat on one of the giant multi-colored floor pillows and wait.

  “Hello! Hello! Shut that phone off, please. We don’t need negative energy coming into this space.”

  The upbeat voice startled Jenna and took her back to the early days at home with her parents, feeling like a scolded child. She complied with the request in dramatic fashion, turning her phone off and setting it down on th
e counter. Jenna’s body language demonstrated her cynicism of everything Claire represented. Or at least, she assumed this woman was Claire, though the high-pitched voice didn’t really go with the sophisticated name. She was also much older than Jenna had expected, based on the cool and colorful business card.

  The woman with a young girl’s name rushed around the room, moving things and softly speaking, sometimes even chanting, to herself. Jenna wanted to make conversation, but she didn’t know when to interject and didn’t want to interrupt Claire’s hurried yet hypnotic routine. At one point Jenna thought she might have offered her tea, and she did eventually introduce herself as the one and only Claire.

  “What brings you here today for an emergency reading?” she asked as she gestured for Jenna to take a seat.

  “Well, it’s not really an emergency, per se.”

  “There’s no need to be nervous. This is supposed to be a fun experience, so start by relaxing a little. You only live once!”

  Claire plunked down on a pillow in front of Jenna and put a hand on each of her shoulders. Then Claire guided her tense customer through a few simple deep breathing exercises until she could tell it had helped, and asked her again.

  “All right, I think you’re in a good place now. Are you ready for this?”

  Jenna nodded slowly, as if she was trying to convince herself, but she was really just stalling as she self-talked her way into lowering her own expectations. She had to remember that this wasn’t science after all, just some nutty lady who was making up stories. None of this stuff mattered. It was just a fun distraction.

  The two women sat facing each other, legs crossed and knees almost touching. Claire held her hands out and motioned for Jenna to follow, which she did. Then the strange woman grasped Jenna’s hands for a moment, a thumb in the center of each palm. She closed her eyes and hummed softly. Jenna was compelled to close her eyes too, to mimic Claire’s every motion. But she felt too vulnerable to achieve it, so she compromised by partially opening one eye.

  Claire released her grasp on Jenna’s hands and began lightly rubbing her wrists, on up to her elbows, using her thumbs to create tiny circles. After about three minutes, she abruptly stopped. The sudden shift in atmosphere pulled Jenna back to reality. She opened her eyes and pulled her hands back, waiting for some kind of answer from the manic medium.

  But Claire didn’t react to Jenna’s jerking; she didn’t speak or even open her eyes. Jenna began to feel uncomfortable with Claire’s near-comatose state, even more so than she’d already been. She started to consider getting up and sneaking out, but wasn’t sure she could do something so impolite. Claire slowly opened her eyes and relaxed her posture.

  “Why are you thinking about leaving? Don’t you want to know what I’m seeing?” Claire enticed.

  Jenna felt like a spotlight was cast upon her, exposing her inner feelings like an emotional x-ray. A rush of emotions tore through her, from shock to embarrassment to anger. She didn’t want to respond, but couldn’t help but wonder what else Claire knew.

  “I’m sure a lot of people that come in here want to leave. You have to admit that this whole thing is, well, it’s a little weird. How do I even know you’re the real deal?”

  “I understand your skepticism. It’s not the first time. Go ahead and test me. Ask me anything.”

  “Okay, then. What brought me here?”

  “You’re seeking answers. You have an internal conflict that’s ripping you apart.”

  “That’s a little vague, don’t you think?” Jenna asked.

  Jenna stared at Claire, who stared right back, searing a hole straight into Jenna’s soul. Jenna wasn’t convinced whether she was uncomfortable because this stranger could touch her and automatically know things about her, or if she was aggravated because it was all a farce. A really good farce.

  During her internal skirmish, an instant urge to flee the awkward situation took control, and Jenna got up to leave. She mumbled a “thank you” as she walked toward the door, and asked how much she owed. Without waiting for an answer, she pulled out a stack of cash, setting it on a little silver tray. As her hand met the doorknob, Claire spoke again, her voice a little deeper than before.

  “You want to know about Ramona.”

  Those words stopped Jenna in her tracks. She could hear her own pulse, blood rushing faster, pounding in her ears. She slowly turned to face Claire, who was still sitting casually on the floor. A flood of questions came pouring out of Jenna’s mouth before her brain had time to filter any of them.

  “Who’s Ramona? Is that Vivian’s real name? How do you know about her? Do you know what she did?”

  “Ramona’s buried deep, but I can still see her. She’s tried to change her destiny and is now struggling with her choices. Lots of conflict within. I see danger surrounding her.”

  Danger surrounding her? She is the danger.

  Jenna was intrigued, to say the least. Unless she was part of the Sub, there was no way Claire could have known about Ramona, or Vivian, or Amelia. Whatever her name really was. She moved closer to Claire like a timid animal being propositioned with food, cleaving to her every word. Claire didn’t offer anything further, but she looked way too calm delivering her shocking revelation.

  “Am I in danger too?” Jenna finally asked.

  Claire sat still, reflecting on the question and carefully choosing her words. “You could be, but you’re a very smart girl. Danger is all around you, but I’m not worried about you.”

  “But should I go to the police?”

  “I don’t give advice. That’s not my thing. I’m only a vessel telling you what you honestly already know, at a deep level. I have the gift to pull things out of people that they choose to block.”

  Jenna was a little frustrated at Claire’s pushback, though she was starting to believe in the medium’s abilities. There were a million more answers she wanted, but her mind was too clouded. The energy was humming, jamming her brain’s frequency.

  “What else do you see about Ramona? Why is she hiding who she is?” Jenna asked.

  Claire spoke softly, “She doesn’t know.”

  “What do you mean she doesn’t know?” Jenna asked suspiciously.

  “Doesn’t know that she’s hiding it. She doesn’t know herself. She’s lived a lie her whole life,” Claire said. “Now she’s trying to move forward, but her past won’t let her. She must face her destiny to overcome it.”

  “And just how is she supposed to do that?”

  “Acknowledgement. Self-awareness is the key. Let go and give in to the pull of the universe.” Claire’s voice was nearly hypnotic.

  Claire was starting to speak in circles again. Jenna didn’t know what any of it meant. She just wanted answers, not riddles. Her head pounded from the constant flood of adrenaline to her system. “Anything more specific? More actionable, perhaps?”

  Claire shook her head. “No advice, remember? You already know what you need to do.”

  “I just want to know if she’ll be able to overcome this, or if she’ll get caught. Can people really just erase a birthmark and create a new destiny for themselves?”

  “Ahh,” Claire chuckled. “You want to get philosophical.”

  Jenna wasn’t amused. This discussion was serious business to her. Someone’s life was at stake. Maybe several lives at stake, including one raving maniac. Hell, maybe the entire premise our society’s been based upon is at stake.

  Jenna felt the weight of the world bearing down on her figurative shoulders. She waited patiently for the medium to explain herself. Claire nodded empathetically.

  “You’re starting to question the Registry. It’s normal for someone your age, becoming an adult, going off on your own for the first time.”

  “Everyone goes through this?”

  “Most people do. Humans are naturally inquisitive. It’s normal to challenge what we’ve been told, to test the boundaries. I can’t tell you if the Registry is real or not, but I can tell you that you do contro
l your own destiny. It’s all up to you where you go and what you become.”

  “So doesn’t that, by definition, negate the Registry?” Jenna asked.

  “If that’s your interpretation. I’m not inclined to get into the specifics of government operations. I’m legally required to tell you that these words are merely my opinions.”

  “Your opinions based on experience with people like me and Ramona?”

  Claire looked slightly puzzled by her question, but remained calm, ignoring Jenna’s attempt to ruffle her feathers. “Do you think you and Ramona have anything in common?”

  “No, absolutely not. I just meant that we’re two different people that you’ve helped today, even if she doesn’t know it.”

  “Yes, I see. Maybe Ramona can visit me herself, when she’s ready to know more.”

  “Not likely. There’s no way I’m going to tell her about coming here. She doesn’t believe in any of it.”

  “I think Ramona has an open mind. You need to give her more credit. Look past the tough exterior. There’s a fragile girl inside.”

  Jenna felt annoyed at Claire’s defense of her roommate, her dismissal of the seriousness of what Vivian did to break laws: disguising her past so she could commit heinous crimes under a veil of secrecy. She resisted the urge to lash out at Claire, and instead chose to politely thank her for her time once more. Jenna removed the cash she’d originally laid out and instead paid with the credit card her father had given her for emergencies. Claire was cordial and more professional during the financial transaction part of their encounter. Then Jenna walked back out into the crisp afternoon.

  The sunlight felt harsher than she expected, making her reconsider retreating back into the cave-like cocoon with Claire. But Jenna summoned her strength and soldiered on, back to her dorm. She stopped at a sidewalk café and grabbed a pre-made sandwich, taking it to go so she could nibble along the way. She wasn’t particularly hungry, but enjoying a café meal during a leisurely stroll seemed like the thing for a college student to do on the weekend.

  Chapter 13