by Willa Alders
“Here give her this sometime soon.” She said handing me an ancient amulet she used to wear it was pink and purple and was not huge, it was little just like Aralynn.
“What for?” I asked taking it.
“It will help her strength not to be weakened by your sister and it will also help you well because as long as she wears it your essence is in it. You will heal quicker if you face your sister, and it will make you stronger, as well as her.” She smiled.
“I have to go your love is out of the shower, and she will be coming in here shortly. I have to go.” My mom said standing up.
“Will you come back?” I asked not wanting her to leave.
“Yes my dear Archer. I will return as soon as I can. Make sure you give that soon to her my son. You remember it was mine. So give it to her, soon I put a special chant on it. Try to spend as much time with her as you can and away from your sister, my dear boy. I will see you again soon. I love you my son.” My mom whispered taking me in a huge hug even though I stood a good five inches taller than her. I bent down and she kissed my cheek then she was gone.
I picked the picture back up, and put the amulet in a tissue and a baggy in my pocket. I looked at the picture once more wiped off my face and walked into the other bathroom. I sprayed on my cologne. Then I walked back into the bedroom where Aralynn was showering. I sat back down on the bed thinking that why now, why would my mom would have came back now out of all times. Then I started thinking about what she said when a thought came to my mind. It was someone who could mind speak but it was not Kilyn. It was my mom.
Archer, next time a chant I will give you my dear son. The dead can’t chant I didn’t think, that’s weird, I thought to myself.
Thank you. Please return soon…. I spoke back then I sat up when I heard Aralynns’ mind. She was thinking that she loved me but she shouldn’t, and how she was going to tell me her secret. I smiled because I was thinking the same thing. Then she broke my train of thought as she walked out of the bathroom.
“I can’t believe these two. They packed a dress. You see it?” She said pointing to it.
It was a pretty dress it was black and had like purple detailing on it with three quarter length sleeves it looked like it would come down to her knees. I would guess. It had rhinestones around it. It was very pretty.
“Yea, it is pretty. Just try it on.” I shrugged at her, and she grunted at me but slid it on anyways.
“I guess it’s ok but really. A dress come on now, at least pick out something that’s me.” She smiled she did like it but she wouldn’t let them know that.
“You look gorgeous though.” I smiled at her getting up and hugging her then kissing her deeply.
She stopped after a few moments. “Thank you, can you hand me those heels.” She said pointing to the heeled boots they had packed.
I grabbed them, and she slid on the leggings, and zipped the boots up. She went back into the bathroom brushed her teeth and did her face then came out. She smiled and I kissed her again telling her she was beautiful. We threw the breakfast stuff away then headed out the door her hand in mine. I opened the door for her.
I got in and we headed toward Sam’s. “I have something I want to give you later.” I smiled as put her hand on my lap.
“Oh, later huh, why later?” She asked with a curious grin.
“Just because I want it to be me and you, and you know they will know that something happened right?” I asked her smiling as we pulled into Sam’s.
“Yes, I am counting on that. However Avery may try to beat the life out of you.” She smiled at me.
“Yes, but it will be worth it.” I smiled back getting out as she did when we headed up to the door.
Avery and Sam were already there, no sign of either Carmina or Caleb’s’ cars which were good. Avery was standing there with his date from the night before and Sam was standing there clapping.
“Bout time the two love birds arrived.” Sam smiled. “Did you two do anything?” He asked, as Aralynn blushed a bit.
Then the part that she had warned me about happened, Avery jumped over the side of the railing and drilled me right in the face. I punched him back, and he hit me again and one more time I hit him, then Aralynn broke us up.
“Avery I initiated it. Calm down, both of you, come on get used to it Avery I am not four anymore. You can’t protect me from everything and he isn’t going anywhere so can you two try to get along please.” She said as she stepped in between us, and pushing us apart.
“Sure, but doesn’t mean I have to agree. If he hurts you…” he grunted and turned toward me. “You hurt her, I will hurt you. Do you get it?” Avery yelled wiping his face off spitting some blood.
“Yeah I get it and the same goes for you.” I said calmly.
“Good. We understand each other.” Avery said shaking my hand then he stormed off out to the water.
“Dude ignore him, he’s a bit overprotective. Nice bro and nice Ara.” Sam smiled wrapping his arms around both of us while we headed inside.
Aralynn and I helped put the finishing touches on the brunch, but the whole time I was thinking about what my mom had said to me. About how that I needed to tell her, and the chant supposedly she was supposed to say to protect me. Most of all I was thinking about why someone would send my mom back now to protect me, regardless it didn’t matter. I had two of the best things today seeing my mom again and being with Aralynn.
CHAPTER 8 ARALYNN
Brunch was very uneventful. Everyone seemed to get along or approve of Archer, for the most part. Caleb struck up a conversation with him which was nice, Carmina sat there quiet. I was glad that she hadn’t been there to prepare the food because we would have starved. Even Avery was mildly nice to him, I guess the small fight outside did Avery some good, even if he was not happy that I said they had to get along. Archer sat there holding my hand again under the table. After brunch was over, Caleb and Carmina headed out to go get some things from the store, but Carmina mind spoke to me after they left.
We know about the bears moving in closer. We are trying to get something going to maybe help you focus better on the movie reel characters. But for now we’ll focus on everything we can do on getting you better at your current abilities in case the bears attack you in the meantime. We will start tomorrow after you get out of class.
Caleb interrupted her, during this and mind-spoke as well to me. Do you believe that Archer is in on this? I shook my head no which traveled to him. Good. I have something we are going to attempt tomorrow during training sorry kid; you will need a few hours for the next few days to train even harder. Not tomorrow but one day this week Car will get you out of school to train a full day.
I nodded and they were gone. Avery twitched a small upward smile which meant that day he would be training me. Despite the fact that I got hurt the majority of the time training with him, I had to admit I liked to train with Avery the best. He was the only one that would push me the furthest, and go the hardest with me. That’s what I wanted was to be pushed to my limits and he would make sure that I was.
“So you two, what are your plans for the rest of the day?” Sam asked us.
“I’m not sure. Why what are you guys doing?” I asked Sam.
“Not entirely positive, I’m sure Avery will disappear for a bit. I will probably go plan the next party.” Sam smiled. “Behave Ara.” He said as we went outside and I got in Archers’ car.
Archer talked to Sam for a moment, and I texted Kilyn back. We had made time to hang out together sometime soon without the guys. I told her I would talk to her more tomorrow because Archer got in the car and we headed to Salem Woods. It had become our spot and it was a perfect place to cast a silent chant; so maybe I could try to figure out who Archer’s sister was. At least I hoped it would or maybe he would give me the thing he said he had for me. Either way Salem Woods was going to be interesting today. He opened my door and let me get out. I put his hand in mine as we walked down to the water.
“So what did you have to wait till later to give me?” I asked as he sat down and laid his coat out for me.
“It’s nothing big, but it was my mom’s and I think it would look good on you. It brought her luck, and strength she used to say. So I thought that maybe it could do the same for you. It’s been in my family since as long as I can remember before me.” Archer said smiling as I turned toward him.
He reached into his pocket, and pulled out what looked like a tissue in a Ziploc bag. I looked at him and then the bag kind of puzzled. I didn’t understand why he was giving me a tissue in a bag. Archer just smiled even bigger as a deep roar of laughter escaped him. He clearly figured out that I wasn’t understanding and thought it was funny.
“I’m not giving you just a tissue Ara. Don’t worry there’s something wrapped in it” He smiled handing it to me.
I opened the bag slowly as I pulled the tissue out. The tissue definitely had some weight in it. I felt something thin rolling around my fingers in the tissue. I started undoing it when the chain was revealed. I knew he had given me a necklace of some sort. This was going to be too much. I finished unwrapping the tissue and in the center of the chain was a small circular amulet with a stone in it. The front had black winding swirls all the way into the center of the amulet highlighting a small pink stone in the middle with tiny purple crystals surrounding it. The light hit the stone so perfectly it sparkled radiantly. It was absolutely beautiful and breathtaking.
“Do you like it?” Archer asked quietly looking at me.
“Yes I love it, it’s beautiful. Are you sure you want me to have it though since it was your mom’s? I would understand if you don’t.” I told him looking at the amulet.
“Yes I am positive beautiful, she would want me to give it to you. She would want someone just as beautiful of a person as she was to have it. To me that is you. So yeah I want you to have it if you want it.” He smiled kissing my cheek.
“Yes, I want it. Thank you so much it is perfect.” I said leaning in clutching the amulet in my hand and the other in his.
He leaned in and kissed me. I got lost in his kiss so easily, so when he stopped he leaned back in and started kissing me again. When he stopped once more I turned around so he could put it on, and clasp it together. The amulet hung perfectly around my neck centered just right in the middle of my chest not to low or too high. He smiled my favorite smile again as I turned around to face him.
“It looks better on you than in a tissue.” Archer said cradling my face and tracing his other hand along my neck.
“Thank you so much. ``I love you.” I whispered wrapping my hand around the amulet, and the other in his hand. “It won’t come off.” I said looking back down at it.
“Ok, glad you like it beautiful.” He said kissing me again, this time I got lost in him again.
His hands were around mine, and his kisses were gentle; they were the kind that were easy and simply to get lost in and lose track of time. Especially since everything was just so perfect with him. My eyes were closed as if we any good kiss they should be. I should have just stayed locked in the moment but I couldn’t. I got pulled because the movie reel started playing again, I tried hard to ignore it; I didn’t want to see the couple right now. The moment was too perfect, for it to be ruined. My trying to ignore the premonition didn’t work the vision was coming anyway regardless. No matter how hard I tried to ignore it. The only thing I saw this time was the buffs, then the bears looking at each other then they started charging toward the girl, she held her hands up, and then it flickered off. I was growing use to seeing it, so I didn’t jerk away from kissing him I did stop for a brief moment to catch my breath. Then I kissed him a few more times so I didn’t make him question anything.
“I love you Aralynn.” He whispered in my ear kissing my cheek.
“I love you too, thank you.” I said back as we stood up, and headed around the trail a few times.
Then we got up to go to the car it was getting dark out. So what felt like a few minutes must have been a few hours there. He opened the door again for me as I got in, then he walked around and got in on his side. We decided to go to back to Sam’s house to work on our project for a bit, just to add some of the finishing touches to the visual presentation we had to put on. The rest was just a typed summary which we would do tomorrow. Then we would be done two weeks ahead of schedule. His hand stayed locked in mine while we were at Sam’s dining room table working on it. After about three hours of working endlessly Archer got a text from his sister, saying to come home, he grunted.
“I have to go beautiful. The amulet is gorgeous just like its new owner. Last night was amazing we will have to do it again sometime.” He smiled kissing me at the door.
“Yes we will, and thank you. I don’t want you to leave, but I will see you tomorrow. Please don’t let her hurt you.” I said hugging him.
“She won’t not as long as I can think about you and you wear that necklace I will be ok beautiful.” He whispered back as he kissed my forehead.
“I won’t take it off. I promise.” I whispered he kissed my cheek and left.
I went back into Sam’s, and Sam was sitting on the couch watching some TV show that looked particularly uninteresting. I thought he was asleep, he wasn’t. He sat up and looked at me, and came over to where I was sitting at the island. He grabbed water out of the fridge, offered one to me and I shook my head no.
“What’s wrong Ara? You saw the reel again didn’t you?” Sam asked looking at me taking a sip of your water.
“Yeah, you know about that?” I asked puzzled that he knew.
“Yeah Caleb and Car and Avery filled me in they said it may happen somewhere around here. You know so I can be prepared for my safety as if I really need to be safe. Ha.” He laughed. “That’s what you all are for no one will hurt me, but apparently it sounds like they are after the couple. So I think I’m good. What did you see this time?” He asked leaning his arms on the island.
“This time nothing except the bluffs and the bears lunging at her. I have a sick feeling since I know that I’ve heard the voices before, I kind of guess that it is going to be someone I know. Something tells me in my gut the girl is me or someone who looks like me at times like Carmina. I’m not sure; I am going with the second option though.” I said tossing a wrapper in the trash.
“So write a chant, say it, and burn it like you always do. Tell it to take you to the exact place where the reel happens and then maybe you’ll be able to see more of what will come. I’ll go with you if you want me too.” Sam said.
“That’s not a bad idea. You have paper and can you go with me?” I asked.
“Here, and yeah as long as you write me in to go with you I can.” Sam said handing me some paper, and I began writing out a chant.
It definitely was not a good chant, but I hoped it worked. He came back and I hugged him saying the chant.
The movie reel, plays forward and backwards. The scene I have seen before, but where. The movie reel play forward and backward take me to the place where the scene is, and include Sam with me. Take me there. The movie reel plays forward and backwards.
Sam laughed, and I did too it definitely wasn’t one of my best but hopefully it worked. I lit the paper on fire as we watched it burn away into thin air. Like that Sam and I had a glowing swirl around us, it swirled us around a few times as his living room disappeared. I closed my eyes because the swirls were moving so fast making me very dizzy. When they stopped we were outside standing close to the edge of the cliff, the water ripples were all we could hear. I looked around me, staring at everything. I didn’t see the broken tree log laying anywhere, but it may not be there yet. It was dark too so that was interfering with my sight. Sam turned on a flashlight he must have brought with him.
“Hey Ara, you may want to look. It’s my house down there.” Sam said pointing at his house, and you could see the glow from the kitchen window.
“You’re right.” I said as feeling bubbled up in my gut.r />
“At least you have your place is there anything missing?” he asked looking around.
“Yea, there’s a broken tree log its big with little branches off the side, I don’t see it.” I said looking for it.
“Come on.” He said grabbing my hand practically pulling me past a few trees. “Here.” He said lifting me up over some stumps and mud.
We walked a bit more past a few trees, and then came out to another part of the bluff. A part that I’d never seen before and didn’t know it existed. It was almost the same as the other clearing we were just in. I couldn’t believe it. Sam walked ahead of me pointing to a huge tree that was broken straight in half. I followed him looking around. Right beside the split tree was another broken tree—the exact one that had a few branches missing off of it. It was the same tree that I had seen over and over again in the movie reel. I turned around and looked back from where we came out, and then I noticed we were in the exact spot where the bears emerged from in the movie reel as well.
“Sam you’re a genius.” I said kissing his cheek. “This is the exact place, now all I have to do is figure out when it happens, and who the girl and boy are.” I said as the smile faded but Sam brought it back.
“Bout time you kissed me, wait till I tell Avery he will be insane. I won’t tell Archer though; it will be our little secret.” He smiled a devilish grin. I knew he’d tell Archer the very second he could. I laughed and punched his arm, and when I did, he laughed at me.
“Seriously though you will figure out who it is before the battle, I think maybe that you should bring Archer up here, so you can see if you do something with him being near you to see if it triggers the reel?” Sam said seriously to me.
“I might, how do you get this? You’re so calm and collective, and understand more of it than I do at times.” I asked him.
“Oh Ara you can be so naive sometimes. Your family is kind and I have known them for many years. In fact I’ve known them for 120 years since I’ve met Avery. You see I was one of the chosen ones by the Kintana to be told about you all. You didn’t really think I gotta stay young for just keeping your secret did you? Although I’m sure it was a part of it.” am raised his eyebrows.