by T. S. Hall
She stopped brushing her hair and sat back in her chair with a sigh. Looking across the room, she stared at the wall where the orb was hidden. Allora got up from the chair, walked to the wall, and performed the combination to open the hiding spot. When it melted through the wallpaper, Allora grabbed the orb and sat back on the bed. Why is this piece of rock so important? She asked herself, twisting the orb in her palm. A black glint sparkled against the dim light. Staring into the almost-liquid interior, Allora felt a surge of energy flow into her hand. Something was missing, but now was not the time to dwell on it.
The bedroom doorknob twisted, and Allora quickly shoved the orb in her purse right before Milly opened the door.
“You sure you want to go to this?” Milly asked.
“Yes mom, I want to go,” Allora said rapidly. “I’m good. No more fever and I feel good.”
“It’s just that a few days ago you almost died, so I completely understand if you…” Milly just stared at her daughter for a moment.
“Mother…” Allora said, tilting her head and raising her eyebrow.
“Well, you should probably get ready. Everyone will be here soon,” Milly said, closing the door.
Allora slouched forward, letting out her breath. Katie showed up while Allora was putting on her dress, and she walked in with her own white dress in hand, along with more makeup and paraphernalia than any one woman could use in her lifetime. “Oh my God! Allora, you look hot!”
“Shut up,” Allora said, pulling up the middle of the short, strapless number with ruffles here and there around the bottom. The bodice was tightly wrapped with a purple band that fit snuggly around her waist, and the dress beautifully accentuated Allora’s long, muscular legs. Open-toed black heels finished the ensemble, with a web-like pattern over the heel and a strap across the top of her foot.
“You look amazing,” Katie said. “Brandon’s gonna love it.” She put her stuff down and began putting her dress on.
“Yeah? Well, he’s not the one I’m trying to impress,” Allora said, looking at her reflection in the mirror and pulling the sides of the dress down to eliminate wrinkles.
“If its Tanner you’re worried about, don’t. He’s gonna be so jealous and feel like a fool for being there with her instead of you,” Katie said, pulling up her dress. Like Allora, she had rented a strapless, short dress that flowed outward. It was white, with a satin sash that tied in the front, and it perfectly matched Katie’s personality. She had never really liked clothing that inhibited her ability to run.
Allora ignored Katie’s comment and went to the bathroom to put on her makeup. Part of her wanted Tanner to be jealous. She knew it wasn’t the right way to go about getting his attention, but Allora was hurt that he was taking Kim, of all people. She applied her lip gloss and a few other minor cosmetics, then joined Katie in the living room.
Katie noticed her friend pulling at her dress. “What are you doing?”
“I hate thongs,” Allora said, tugging on the fabric. “Who invented these things anyway? I don’t know how you ever convinced me to wear one. It’s like I’ve got a constant wedgie.”
“You never know what might happen tonight,” Katie said with a wink.
Allora turned to Katie, who was smiling widely. “I know what’s not gonna happen.”
She pointed her finger at her friend and sent a small purple spark in her direction, shocking her.
“Hey!” Katie yelled. “Quit zapping me.”
Allora smiled. “Serves you right.”
“Girls, your friends are here,” Milly said as she walked in from outside. “Oh my!” she said, catching a glimpse of her daughter and Katie. “You both look beautiful, though you went a little heavy on the makeup, didn’t you, Katie?”
“Even the Mona Lisa was painted,” Katie said with a wink, then rubbed her side while she greeted her classmates.
The first to arrive were Jenny and Tanya. Allora couldn’t believe two of the girls she despised in the beginning of the year were now going with her to prom. Behind Jenny was Brandon, dressed in a black and white tuxedo and a black bowtie.
“You look amazing girl,” he said, walking up to Allora, tugging at his collar as if he was very uncomfortable.
“Uh… thanks,” Allora responded without much enthusiasm, never one to take compliments very well.
Katie’s date, Kyle, was dressed in an eighties-inspired retro red suit. He walked through the door with a huge smile on his face and strolled up to Katie, who was holding her hand to her mouth, unable to believe his outfit.
“Are you kidding me?” Katie exclaimed.
“I know, right? I saw it and had to have it,” Kyle said, holding his jacket sides outward and spinning around. “Awesome, huh?”
Allora couldn’t help but burst out laughing, and Katie sneered in her direction. “Yeah, it’s totally, uh… rad,” Allora joked.
Jenny’s date to prom, Robert Mondrach, came in a few minutes later, looking incredibly handsome. Robert was dressed in a black Armani suit with a matching black vest. The tie was silver and hung perfectly down the center of his chest. In his left front pocket was a silver handkerchief that matched the tie, and his shoes were polished to such a sheen that they seemed to sparkle, even in the dimly lit room.
Tanya’s date, Chris, the starting center for the football Pioneers, came in next. He was six-five and very muscular, and he’d already been given a scholarship to play for the University of Oregon in the fall. Chris was one of the reasons Mondrach had such an amazing season rushing the ball, and he cleaned up nicely for as tough as he was on the field.
Dax came in with his date moments later, a girl Allora recognized as Erin. She was a sophomore on the cheerleading team, and she’d been at the rock quarry the night of the rover attack. She looked as incredible as any of the other girls in the room. Her dress was pink, tight, and very elegant.
“Hi, Erin,” Allora said, assuming the girl might be nervous about being one of the youngest in the group.
“Hey,” Erin responded. “That’s an amazing dress. Where’d you get it?”
Allora looked down. “This rental?” she joked. “Found it in Portland.”
The adults congregated in the kitchen with their cameras in hand, and Milly appeared around the corner to address everyone. “Okay, guys, picture time!” she said, holding up her camera.
“Hey, we’re missing someone,” Allora said, looking side to side. “Where’s Tanner?”
Dax popped his head forward. “He texted me and said he’s already with Kim and that he’ll meet us there.”
Everyone filed through the front door. When they were all outside, they huddled up with their dates, boys in the back and girls in the front. The rhododendron bushes were blooming behind them, which made for a great backdrop.
Allora grabbed her stomach, feeling queasy. There was something wrong. With every flash of the camera, she caught a glimpse of Tanner being beaten and tortured, and over time, the flashes became more intense. Her heart began to beat faster, her mind swam in her skull, and a tingling sensation made her limbs feel funny. She closed her eyes and heard a scream come from within, “Allora!” from a voice that was unmistakably Tanner’s. The second the adults were done with the photo session, Allora ran to the bathroom.
Katie was the only one who noticed the quick departure and ran after her, wondering why she was so upset. Katie rounded the corner to see Allora over the sink, splashing water on her face. “Don’t! You’re gonna to mess up your makeup,” Katie said.
“I don’t care,” Allora snapped.
“Look, Allora, I know Brandon’s not Tanner, but he obviously tried to look nice for you, and you should give him a chance. It’s rude to leave him standing out there just because—”
Allora grabbed Katie by the shoulders. “It’s not that,” she said.
Katie had never seen her friend so upset before. “What is it then? What’s wrong?”
“I can’t really explain it, but I need to go check on someth
ing.”
“What do you mean?” Katie asked.
Allora let go of Katie. “I need to borrow your car. My mother is leaving soon to help with the prom setup. I need to leave as soon as she’s gone.”
“But what am I supposed to tell Brandon and the others?”
“I don’t know, Katie. Think of something. Just tell them I had to take care of something. Please do this for me. It’s… important.”
Dax came around the corner to go to the bathroom.
“Allora is leaving for some reason,” Katie told him, then turned back to Allora. “What about dinner? And where are you going?”
After a long pause, Allora said, “I have to go check on Tanner.”
“C’mon, Allora! Can’t you just let it go this one night?” Katie said.
“I need to make sure he’s okay.”
“He’s probably just getting some pre-prom nookie,” Dax teased, smiling.
Katie turned around and smacked her brother on the shoulder. “Why do you always have to be such an insensitive jerk?” Katie said.
Allora ignored the twins and snatched Katie’s purse from her grasp, but Katie was too busy lecturing her brother to notice. Allora removed the car keys and dashed out the door while the sibling rivalry raged on.
Milly gave her daughter a goodbye hug, then left with the other adults to go help with the setup and serve as chaperones. The second her mother was out of sight, Allora jumped in Katie’s driver seat and turned the keys.
Suddenly, the passenger door opened.
“I need to go, Katie,” she said, but the individual who hopped into the seat next to her wasn’t Katie.
“So what are you waiting for? Let’s go,” Jenny said.
“Huh? You don’t even know where I’m going,” Allora said, confused.
“I overheard you talking to Katie. I don’t trust that Kim girl either. Something’s not right with her, and I still care enough about Tanner to want to make sure he’s all right. A girl like that digs her stilettos in a guy, and who knows what she’ll do.”
“I have to do this alone,” Allora responded, frustrated that Jenny was holding her up.
“Don’t make me call your mom,” Jenny threatened, wearing a stern expression. “Let’s go.”
Allora thought about it and realized her mother would have preferred she go with someone anyway instead of running off on her own. Besides that, she knew she didn’t have time to argue with Jenny. Without another thought or any more debate, she threw Katie’s car in reverse and sped out of the driveway.
Allora weaved through traffic, pushing down on the gas pedal. The house where they’d dropped Kim off before wasn’t that far away. Allora pulled the car into an area that couldn’t be seen, and then both girls silently crept along the road, till they found a row of hedges that gave them a perfect view of the house without exposing their whereabouts. Allora knelt down next to Jenny, placed her purse on the ground, and they waited, not knowing what lay behind the dark red door of the Nelson house.
A loud, and obnoxious ringing erupted from Allora’s purse, breaking the silence. Frantically, she fumbled around the purple bag.
“Hello?”
“Where are you?” Katie asked. “We’re about to leave.”
“I’m at the Nelson’s place,” Allora answered just as the front door of the house crept open. “I gotta go.” Katie’s frantic voice trailed off as she ended the call.
Jenny tugged on the purple fringe of Allora’s dress. They both ducked down and watched Kim strut out of the doorway. As they gazed between the branches of the bush in front of them, they saw Kim carefully scanning the front yard from side to side, like a sentry. They remained silent, waiting impatiently.
Slowly, Kim stepped off the porch. The crunch of leaves beneath her feet grew louder, then stopped at the edge of the bush. Both girls held their breath as they looked down at Kim’s shiny red heels through the twigs. Suddenly, Kim’s feet snapped around, like a soldier on patrol. After a few agonizing minutes, she went back to the house.
Jenny popped her head up in time to see Kim lock the front door, turn, and walk out onto the road.
They peeked around the bush to see her rounding the corner. “Where the hell is she going?” Allora asked.
“I don’t know, but I love her dress,” Jenny said.
“Really?”
“Can’t fault the girl for having good fashion sense.”
“Where’s Tanner?” Allora asked, scanning the windows of the house. The question hit Allora right in the gut, and her breath escaped at the thought of anything happening to him. Panic stricken, she became more determined. “We have to get inside that house.”
Jenny had to hike up her long yellow dress to keep it out of the rain-soaked lawn of brown, thick grass that no one had cut in far too long. They inched toward the side of the house and stood on their toes to see inside the window. Flakes of paint peeled away from the windowsill, as Allora lifted herself up to get a closer look.
“Does anyone even live here?” Allora asked, dropping back down into the mud.
“I don’t know, but I saw her lock the door. How are we gonna get in?” Jenny whispered.
Allora confirmed it by trying to twist the doorknob. They tiptoed around the porch, searching for an access point. The floorboards creaked and shuddered under their weight as they walked carefully across them in their mud-covered heels and made their way to the back door.
With every minute, Allora was becoming more stressed. The pained images of Tanner being tortured kept flashing in her mind. Frantically, she scanned the windows on the first floor. One window was opened slightly. “Jenny, give me a boost. I think I can squeeze through,” Allora said, after muscling the rusty window up another inch.
After removing her heels, Allora stepped onto Jenny’s clasped hands, and then shimmied through the small opening. As Allora crawled across the top of a washing machine, her dress caught, and she pulled awkwardly, ripping the synthetic fabric down the side. Off balance, her hand slipped from the edge of the appliance, sending her crashing to the linoleum.
“You all right?” Jenny whispered through the window.
“Yeah, I’m good,” Allora answered, examining the tear on her dress. “I’m not sure my mom’s gonna be too happy about losing her deposit on this dress though,” Allora said as she unlocked the back door.
Jenny wiped off her muddy heels the best she could, then walked inside, and both girls slowly moved through the kitchen and into the living room. A layer of dust covered the shelves and cupboards, and huge cobwebs hung in the corners like drapes. At the bottom of the stairs, they caught a whiff of a putrid, nauseating stench wafting down from the second floor.
“Oh my God!” Jenny whispered, squeezing her nose shut. “What is that?”
Allora shrugged her shoulders, plugging her nose as well. The two moved cautiously up the steps, trying not to make a sound. Jenny’s heel got stuck, causing her to fall forward, and the sound reverberated against the filthy, dusty walls. Allora cringed, snapping around, and Jenny looked up with an apologetic look.
They continued their ascent, being more careful this time, and finally made it to the top step. They stood and stared intently down the darkened hallway, as if expecting a ghost to appear. The shutters on the window were closed, and the air was cold and dank. The sickening smell was stronger up there, but everything was eerily quiet. A chill shot up Allora’s spine, causing her to shake.
Allora grabbed the doorknob of the closest room and twisted the brass handle. The rusty knob clanked and squeaked. She bit down on her lip, knowing that if anyone was in the house, they certainly would have heard that. The house was old, and none of the hinges had been oiled in years.
When the wooden door opened into the master bedroom, an inescapable stench blew out. The bed was in the corner, and there were lumps under the sheets. Even when Jenny tried to pull at Allora’s arm, and even when her legs grew heavy, as if they were made of lead, she kept going. Every step in
creased a dreadful feeling of trepidation, but she had to know if Tanner was there.
As Allora apprehensively grasped the sheet that covered the bed, Jenny moved closer. Curiosity had beaten out her fear, and she walked to the edge of the bed and gave a nod. Allora swallowed hard, then yanked back the sheet. Both girls jumped, and Jenny tried to move her hand to her mouth to hush the unavoidable scream, but it still echoed in the stillness. Allora, on the other hand, was too grossed out to move.
Lying in the bed before them were Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, decomposing as if they’d been dead for a while. The grotesque image was burned into the forefront of the girls’ minds, and the smell of death overwhelmed their nostrils with a noxious odor they would never forget. They ran out of the room, and Jenny gagged as if she might vomit.
In the hallway, they heard what sounded like a groan coming from one of the other rooms. Unsure of the source, Allora walked down the hallway with her ears trained forward. As she walked, the noise grew louder. The dark hallway was only illuminated by the light that shone through the slits in the shutters.
Jenny was still behind her, bent over, with her hands on her knees. “Where are you going?” she asked.
Allora didn’t say anything, for she was too busy concentrating on the noise from the room.
Jenny finally managed to stand up straight when the dry heaves stopped. “Allora, we’ve gotta call the police!” she whispered emphatically. She hurried over to Allora. “We have to go!”
“No!” Allora said, shifting her attention back to the closed door. This time, she swung the door open quickly, bracing herself for what she might see. Instead of a corpse under a sheet, she found a boy sitting on a chair with his head down. “Tanner!” Allora ran over and hugged him. “I thought you were dead.”