by Jasmine Walt
“Not too much, we learned about Orthrus and Cerberus, you know, the dog monsters.” The last two words made my eyes widen in fear, and an image of Pricolici flash through my brain. Josh cocked his head. “You all right, Anora?”
My nervous smile instantly appeared. “Yeah, just really tired, that’s all. Can I copy your notes?”
“Sure.” He handed me his notebook. It only took a few minutes to copy everything down, and I finished as the bell for class rang. I put Josh’s notebook back on his desk.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.” He smiled. “Hey, did Laney ask if you and your boyfriend wanted to go the football game this weekend?”
“Yeah,” I said but couldn’t recall her asking. She might have and I forgot. Actually, that was pretty likely given how distracted I’ve been.
“Sweet, because I have a cousin at Marcellus, and we have a bet going on who will win. Tell your brother he’d better bring his A-game or else I’m out fifty bucks.”
“I’ll let him know.” I smiled again but quickly turned my attention to Mr. Brooks.
He began class by teaching about Harpies. He clicked through slides of information on the PowerPoint presentation he had prepared. After several slides of boring information, a picture of a harpy popped up. I dropped my pen and gasped. Josh, and several other people including Mr. Brooks, stopped to look at me. Josh had that what-is-wrong-with-you look in his eye.
“Is everything all right?” Mr. Brooks asked.
“Yeah, I, uh, I got a paper cut turning the page of my notebook.” I knew my face was bright red. I picked my pen up off the floor and looked down at my notebook. I didn’t look up until Mr. Brooks started talking again.
Maybe it was the lack of sleep or the constant danger that made me startle so easily this morning. I looked at the Harpy again. It was an ugly woman’s head and torso stuck on a bird’s body. Now, it didn’t exactly resemble the bird-demons, but it was close enough to strike some fear in me.
I was jittery the rest of class. I couldn’t help but wonder what mythical creatures weren’t only myths. I grabbed my stuff and was the first one out of the room when class ended.
All my remaining energy was gone by the time I got to econ. I tried really hard to pay attention since I had missed so much. But government policies couldn’t hold my attention. My eyelids were so heavy. It was taking more effort than it should to keep them open.
“Anora,” a voice whispered behind me. I turned around quickly and got a startled look from Mark Glaskow, a dark-haired boy I’d known since elementary school.
“Did you say my name?” I asked.
“Nope.” He looked at me like I was a crazy person.
I sighed and turned back around. It didn’t take long to feel incredibly sleepy again. I was pulled into the darkness. Giving in, I closed my eyes.
The next thing I knew, sunshine was warming my face. Birds chirped above me. I was lying on the forest floor. It had rained yesterday, and the leaves were still wet. My jacket was slowly getting soaked, making me shiver. I wanted to get up and run home to safety, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t even move my head or open my eyes. It was hard to breathe.
The life had been sucked out of me, and this was the end. Someone picked up my right arm, gripping my wrist so tightly that it hurt. In one quick swipe, a razor tore through my skin and into my vein. Warm blood trickled out, spilling on the colorful fall leaves. They picked up the other arm and did the same thing. Then something wet and cold was pressed into my hand.
It’s okay, I told myself, at least it’s over now. A light brighter than the sun burned down on me, and a sense of complete peace and calm took over. I let myself move towards the light.
But suddenly, I was violently yanked back. A hundred dark hands pulled me down, down through the earth and into utter darkness. The more I struggled, the darker it got. The darkness didn’t just surround me; it engulfed me inside and out. I was suffocating, trapped, alone and scared for all eternity.
I woke with such a start that I knocked my books off my desk. Once again, everyone looked at me curiously. After my stuff was resituated on my desk, I quickly jotted down every detail from the dream in my notebook.
I gave Laney a cliff notes version of the dream as soon as I met her at our lockers before lunch. I stuck the psychic self-defense book in my purse, grabbed my lunch, and followed Laney to the cafeteria.
“Hey, Anora!” Marie called cheerfully. I smiled back.
Natalie looked up. “So I hear you ditched yesterday to spend the day with your boyfriend.” She giggled.
“Yeah, I totally did.” I tried to sound happy, but I felt like I might get swallowed in infinite darkness at any moment.
“He is so hot!” Jill gushed. “I mean, I only saw him that one time a while ago, but ohmigosh, you are so lucky! If you told me he was a model, I would totally believe you!”
“He’s not a model,” Marie said quickly. Too quickly, because everyone looked at her. “But he definitely could be one!” she said to cover her jealousy.
“So how did you meet him?” Jill asked.
“I just ran into him, and we got to talking, and we got along really well.” I decided to leave out the part where we both subconsciously could sense the otherworldliness about each other.
“How old is he?”
“Twenty-two.”
I liked talking about Ethan, of course it made me happy, but I was a little confused as to why the girls were so interested. Whatever. I took a bite out of my sandwich.
“What does he do?” Jill inquired.
“Teaches martial-arts.” Well, he used too. Now, he was a full-time demon hunter.
“That’s hot,” she said quietly to Natalie. “What do you guys like to do?”
“Normal stuff, I guess,” I said vaguely. “You know, like hang out and stuff. He likes to ride the horses with me.”
“Any other hobbies?”
“Working out. Oh, and hunting,” I said, and Laney choked on her juice. “He really loves a good chase.”
“Oh.”
I didn’t think Jill wanted to hear that. It probably ruined the preppy-model image of him she had created.
The feeling of being sucked into darkness suddenly got stronger and made me feel nauseous. I put my sandwich down and stood, saying I needed to go to the bathroom. Laney said she’d come with me. I grabbed my purse, but it slipped through my fingers and landed on the table, spilling its contents everywhere.
“What is this?” Marie picked up the psychic self-defense book and looked it over. “Um, okay…”
She looked at Natalie, raised her eyebrows, and dropped the book down on the table like it was contaminated with leprosy. Natalie looked at the book—which had a large pentagram on the cover—at me, and then at Jill. They exchanged what-the-hell glances.
I flashed a nervous smile, packed my stuff back up, and high-tailed it out of there.
“She’s always been a little on the weird side,” I heard Marie tell Natalie and Jill before I left. If there was a public humiliation contest going on today, I would have won. Hands freaking down. I didn’t even have to try.
Laney took my hand and led me out of the cafeteria. Harrison saw us and rushed out into the hall after us. I leaned up against the wall and slid down to my butt. I put my head in my hands and took a deep breath. I wiped my eyes and looked up. Harrison knelt down next to me.
“Annie, what’s wrong?” His blue eyes showed genuine concern.
Laney sat next to me and put an arm around my shoulders. I shook my head, not wanting to relive today’s socially murderous moments.
“I’m so tired. I can’t do this.” A tear rolled down my cheek.
“Hey, it’s okay,” Harrison said gently and sat down on my other side. “But what can’t you do?”
“This!” I threw my hands in front of my face.
Harrison looked over me at Laney for a clue as to what I was talking about, but she didn’t know either.
“Be normal,” I explained.
“I can’t keep pretending. I lie to myself and everyone else all the time. It’s so exhausting to hold up this front. And it doesn’t even work. Everyone knows that I’m a freak.”
“No, they don’t,” Harrison tried to convince me.
“Yes, they do. I can’t pretend anymore. I’m so tired.”
“So what?” Laney said. “First of all, you’re the one who told me that being normal is overrated. And second, who cares? You are my best friend, and I love you no matter what.”
“That’s right,” Harrison agreed. “Who cares what they think?”
“I care. A lot of people care. This is freaking high school, guys.” I shook my head. They didn’t get it.
“Does this have anything to do with the dream?” Laney asked.
I nodded. “I feel all sad from it.”
“What dream?” Harrison asked, and I quickly explained. “That sounds horrible. I’m sorry, Annie,” he said.
“Don’t be, I’ll get over it. I can’t shake this doom and gloom feeling.” I rubbed my eyes and ran my hands through my hair. “The bell’s gonna ring soon.” We stood.
“You okay now?” Harrison gave me a half smile.
“Yes. Go back to your friends. I’ll see you tonight.”
Laney and I went to the end of the hall, which was as far as we could go without a teacher asking what we were doing. “Do you still feel sick?” she asked.
“No. The icky feelings are fading.” The bell rang, and we were free to walk to our lockers. “What time are you going to the barn?” I asked.
“Probably around five. My mom gets off at four-thirty today, so I don’t have to watch Annabelle. Wanna meet there?”
“Yeah.” I was feeling even better now. “Thanks for being my best friend, Laney.”
She squeezed my hand. “Ditto.”
Natalie and Jill were close behind me as I walked to the parking lot. I quickened my pace and pretended to not notice them. They were instantly out of my mind when I saw Ethan. He got out of the truck and walked around to the passenger side, opening the door for me. I threw my bags on the seat and let out a deep breath.
“Long day?” he asked and pulled me to him. I rested my head against his muscular chest.
“Yes. I’m so glad it’s over.” I looked into his brown eyes and smiled. “So what did you do all day?”
“Didn’t get up until eleven, worked out, and watched TV.”
“Lucky.”
He kissed me. “Oh, and I got you these.” He reached into the truck and gave me a beautiful bouquet of yellow Asiatic lilies.
My jaw might have dropped a little. “They’re beautiful!” I admired the flowers for a minute before looking back at Ethan.
“You like them?” he asked apprehensively, as if he was afraid I’d say no.
I bet my eyes were sparkling. I didn’t even remember mentioning that these were my favorite flowers. “How did you know?” I asked, figuring he would know what I meant by that.
“You said once before that you thought roses were unoriginal, and your favorite color is yellow, and they looked like flowers you’d like.” He shrugged, again a bit embarrassed by his thoughtfulness.
“I love lilies.” I smelled the sweet petals. “But why?”
He shrugged. “I wanted to. You know, I’ve never bought flowers for anyone before.” He put the lilies back in the truck. I couldn’t stop smiling. I stepped closer to him, and he enveloped me in his arms.
“Hey, Anora!” A cheerful female voice called. I lifted my head from Ethan’s chest enough to see Natalie and Jill walking towards us. They had already changed into their cheerleading outfits and had ditched their coats.
“Hey.”
“Is this your boyfriend?” Jill asked. She was very upbeat with a fake smile plastered on her face. Before I could answer, she introduced herself.
“Hi, I’m Anora’s friend Jill, and this is Natalie.”
“Hi,” Ethan said, stepping back and dropping his gaze to me. I rolled my eyes.
“So what are you two up to tonight?” she asked, looking at Ethan.
“Nothing,” I said right away then regretted it.
Jill put her hand on her waist and leaned back, trying to emphasize her figure in her tight uniform. “A bunch of us are getting together after practice. It would be totally awesome if you joined.” Her eyes were wide, and her smile never faltered. Natalie was trying to look as pleasant, but her gaze was held steadily on the ground.
“No thanks,” I said. I’d never been invited to hang out with her after practice—or ever. What was she getting at?
“Oh, well that’s really too bad. Ethan?” Her voice got high pitched at the end.
Oh, that was what she was getting at. Ethan. He took my hand.
“No,” he said shortly. “I want to spend time with Anora.”
“Well, that’s too bad. If you get bored tonight, we’ll be at Blush,” she said coyly. “Well, we better get off to practice. It was so nice meeting you.” She touched his arm. “See you tomorrow, Anora!”
“The perfect ending to a perfect day,” I said with a sigh as soon as they were out of earshot.
“What happened today?” Ethan asked.
“I’ll explain later. Let’s go. I want to get out of this place.”
Ethan held out his hand to help me into the truck. I saw Natalie and Jill gaping at us as we drove past them. I shook my head. I hated high school.
“What’s Blush?” Ethan asked.
“A lame night club.”
“Ever been?”
“Once.”
“You sure it’s lame?”
“What eighteen-and-under night club isn’t?” I said with a dubious stare.
“True. Do you want to go to the barn now?”
“No, I told Laney I’d meet her there around five. You don’t have to go; I think I’ll be fine on my own for a while.”
Ethan didn’t say anything. I took it as his way of saying that he wasn’t sure if I really would be okay on my own. “So what happened today?” he asked again.
“A lot. First, I successfully managed to make everyone think I am a total freak with weird fear issues, and I had another creepy dream. And when I say creepy, I mean creepy. For all the cryptic dreams I’ve had, this one takes the cake.”
Concern settled on Ethan’s face. “Tell me about it.”
“I was in the woods again, but this time, I knew I was dying. I couldn’t move. It felt like the life had been sucked out of me. Then someone slit my wrists and I really did die. I felt everything. My heart slowed down, I could barely breathe, and it was so cold. And then…then all the pain was gone. I was warm and happy and safe and moving towards the most beautiful light I’ve ever seen. It was yellow and white and so bright, but it didn’t hurt my eyes to look at. And then, I was sucked down, and it felt like being punched in the stomach and dipped into ice water at the same time. Then I felt like I was trapped, forever.”
I shivered. Flashes of the dream played in my mind. I felt like I was in a swirling vacuum of total despair again. My stomach flip-flopped.
“Huh.” Ethan pushed his eyebrows together. “Any idea who you were?”
I nodded. “Ryan. The ghost from the pictures.” I closed my eyes, hoping it would help me get rid of the spinning sensation. It didn’t. “He never killed himself. He was murdered.”
“Do you think that’s why he’s contacting you?”
“Maybe. I mean, it makes sense. I don’t get it; I’ve been seeing spirits and ghosts my entire life, but it’s never like how it is in the movies. No one asks me to help them with their ‘unfinished business,’ they don’t come to me to solve their murders…they rarely even talk to me. For the most part, it’s like they are traces left on Earth, and I see and hear them. But the interaction is very minimal. This is the first time a ghost has tried to get my attention like this.”
“Huh,” Ethan said again.
I was curious about Ryan. Who killed him? Why was he in the woods? Was someone
trying to hide his body? And mostly, why was he showing me the last horrible memories he had? Did he want me to find the name of his killer and take it to the police? If I somehow managed to figure all that out, would anyone even believe me?
“Hey!” I twisted towards Ethan. “I have an idea! I can try to channel him! That way I can ask him what he wants!”
“No!” Ethan said sternly, as if I had suggested we stick paper clips into outlets. “You have no idea how dangerous that is, Annie. Especially for someone like you.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. You know how dangerous spirit boards are: they open up a doorway, and you don’t know what the hell you might let out. Channeling is worse because you are the doorway. You don’t know what could get in.”
“Oh.” I probably shouldn’t tell him about the time I channeled the spirit of Laney’s grandfather in sixth grade. “Well, I need a Plan B then.”
Ethan reached over and put his hand on my thigh. “We’ll figure it out. Together.”
I put my hand on top of his. Together, right. Together, I could do this.
27
“I should go,” I said to Laney and Leslie as I stood from the table in the heated barn office. We had been sitting, crowded around the heater talking, for over an hour. “I told Ethan I’d be over, like, twenty minutes ago, and I left my phone in the car. He probably called to see where the hell I am.”
“And I better exercise Henry,” Leslie groaned, holding her hands over the space heater. “And Razzle and Shadow.” We walked out of the warm office into the cold barn aisle. Leslie shivered. “Why didn’t I bring a better jacket?” she asked herself and rubbed her arms.
“Here,” I said, tugging my arm through the sleeve of my coat. “Take mine. I’m leaving anyway.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, I’ll steal a jacket from Ethan later.”
“Awesome!” Leslie gladly put on my coat. “Have a goodnight! See you guys tomorrow!”
“Bye!” Laney and I said in unison.
“So you’re going to Ethan’s now?” Laney asked as we walked across the dark parking lot to our cars. I was on high alert, checking the shadows for movement.