I squeaked out a nervous “hello.”
“Hello.” He raised an eyebrow and gave me a grin. “I’m Jayce.”
I stared at him blankly.
He smiled. “And you are?”
“Shanntal, my name is Shanntal,” I mumbled. I was so embarrassed I must’ve been crimson red.
“Shanntal, nice name,” he said leaning back on the chair. “You don’t look like you’re from around here.”
“Wow, glad to see I stand out so much.” I blushed. “Actually, I just moved to Blackwood a few months back.” I leaned forward in my chair and Jayce copied my every move.
“Does everyone pass by without acknowledging others? I feel like I’ve come to a forbidden island, no newcomers allowed.” I noticed the weird look on his face and sat myself back into the seat.
He eyed me closely. “Are we that obvious?” he smirked.
I panicked. His reaction wasn’t what I’d expected. Are we that obvious? What was that supposed to mean?
“What brings you here?”
“Here? You mean the mall or …”
He kept his eyes on me. “Here, as in this forbidden island.”
“Forbidden? Really?”
“I’m only joking around with you.”
“Oh,” I said, trying to relax. “I’m staying with my aunt and uncle.”
He nodded, but didn’t say anything, as though expecting me to continue. I wasn’t sure I wanted to share all the details of my life, at least not yet. So I just took a bite of my sandwich.
“Well now…” he leaned in closer, flashing his smile. “A girl full of mystery, hmmm… I like it. Guess there’s something you might want to know about me. When you act like this, it only makes me want to know more.” He winked and I melted.
“My family was killed and I’m the sole survivor,” I blurted. That’s when I expected him to run away as fast as he could, but he didn’t budge.
“Your entire family? Wow, that’s tough. I’m sorry. What happened?”
I tried not to tear up as I began telling him my story. I wrapped my arms around my stomach as if giving myself a hug. “I don’t really know. I was at my friends house the night it happened.” I paused. I needed to stay strong. I didn’t want to become a balling lunatic. “My parents and two sisters were home, when someone or something got into the house.”
Jayce gave me a puzzled look.
I took a breath. This was really hard to talk about. Jayce had a way about him, there was something almost familiar about his deep brown eyes, so I held myself together and continued. “We could tell something wasn’t right when I was being dropped off. My best friends’ parents went into my house to check it out,” I paused as my voice quavered. “Whoever killed my family was still inside and finished them off too.”
“How did you escape?”
“It was nothing really, I just never got out of the car.”
Jayce stared with a look resembling shock. Guess this wasn’t the kind of thing he was expecting to hear.
I sat back trying to read his expression.
“You said someone or something? What did you mean by something?”
I took my paper napkin and dabbed at the tears coming to my eyes.
“Sorry, I don’t mean to upset you. I… I like you. You look nice, I just wanted to get to know better. But wow...” Jayce’s voice trailed off.
I blushed. He liked me. I managed to stop crying and forced a smile.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m good,” I said.
“Yes, yes you are,” he said.
I realized I hadn’t really told anyone what had happened to me. Uncle Dane and Auntie Steph avoided the topic, at least around me, and I needed to make sense of what had happened, or just have someone else hear how crazy it was.
“The police never caught the person or people responsible. They said everyone had been bitten repeatedly. There were different sets of bite marks and none were an exact duplicate. I’m not even sure what that means.”
Jayce stared deeply into my eyes. “That’s one interesting story you’ve got there, Shanntal. Sounds like you’ve been through an awful lot.”
I nodded. We sat there quietly for a few minutes. It was a nice having a friend again. It was as if we’d known each other for a long time. I found it easy to talk to him.
Jayce leaned closer and asked, “Do you consider yourself to be opened minded?”
I sat thinking about it, wondering what he was getting at. “I guess.”
“I’d like to show you some — umm things. Then all, or at least some of this, might become clearer for you, but we’ll need to leave here.” He started getting up.
“You want me to leave with you?” I blurted. Did he think I was nuts? I stood up, but it wasn’t to go with him, it was to get away.
“I didn’t mean to freak you out. Come on… you must be able to tell I’m not a weirdo. I just thought I could help; maybe take your mind off the horrible events taking place for you lately. If you don’t want to come, I won’t make you. I’m not going to make you do anything you aren’t comfortable with Shanntal.”
“Where do you plan on taking me?”
“The beach.”
“I need to call my aunt and uncle first,” I said.
I was sure this would make him run, but instead, he nodded and said it was a good idea.
Auntie Steph answered. “How’s it going?”
“Great. I made a new friend and he wants me to go to the beach.”
“What beach and who’s the guy?”
“His name is Jayce,” I said. “And the beach is—“
“Mystic,” Jayce responded.
I repeated it back into the phone. “Don’t worry, I’ll be careful. Any funny biz, trust me, I’ll be calling for backup, while I’m kicking butts and taking names.”
“Keep the phone near you. It’s time for you to have some form of life again. I’ve heard his name before around town before and from what I’ve heard, he’s a really nice guy.”
“I promise, I will. Thanks, Auntie Steph. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
“All right, I’ll come.” I shoved my phone into my pocket this time.
“Glad to see you don’t think I’m a creeper after all.” Jayce smiled, his deep brown eyes sparkling as they looked at me.
“A girl can never be too careful,” I said, giving a reserved grin.
“Very true.”
We headed out the main entrance of the mall and into the parking lot. I followed him to his car parked in the very last row. There wasn’t another car anywhere around.
“Why’d you park so far away?”
“Don’t want anyone to scratch my beauty,” he said as we approached the shiny black car with tinted windows and fancy rims. Jayce pressed the car alarm disarm button on his key ring and both doors instantly unlocked.
We drove for a few miles with the radio blasting, we. I have never been a really good judge at distances, but we’d been traveling for some time now. I remembered we were on an island, so it wasn’t like he could drive me to another country or something. I focused on the smudges of greens and browns blending together as we passed by. The moss covered trees and rock faces covered every rolling hill.
I glanced over inconspicuously every once in a while. Sometimes when he realized I was looking, he turned his head and gave me the warmest smile.
The car slowed just as I spotted a glimpse of the water. We made our way around a sharp corner of a steep hill. Midway down, he leaned over and lowered the music. We passed by a sign and I read it aloud, “Mystic Beach.”
The trees lined the hillside with their dark greens blending perfectly as we turned another corner — I saw a view of the magnificent ocean and sandy beach.
“It’s beautiful!” I watched the waves rolling in along the shoreline and I’d found my paradise.
We drove along the coastline until Jayce pulled the car into a makeshift parking spot. We got out and walked a
few steps until we were off the gravel. We maneuvered our way over the driftwood and rocks. After a few more feet of debris, the beach turned into beautiful seamless sand swallowing my shoes. I bent down and took them off. There weren’t any pebbles or stones. The sand was so soft on my feet.
Just then, I noticed some people further down the beach. Behind them rested a mountainside hollowed out with caves. Jayce grabbed a hold of my hand and we walked in their direction. My heart fluttered: there was something about Jayce. I felt connected, like I truly knew him. My knees weakened as I felt his big hand cradling mine.
“I’m really glad you decided to come.”
“Me too.”
“I want you to meet some of my friends. You don’t mind, do you?”
“Nope. It’s cool.” Surprisingly, I found myself looking forward to meeting more people and hoped they were as nice as Jayce. Then suddenly, I felt guilty for going out and having fun — after everything that had happened.
Jayce squeezed my hand. “It’s okay. Don’t feel guilty. This is your life. You’re healing that’s all.”
Oh my gosh, did I just say that out loud? I felt myself blush. Brain, shut off now, I commanded. I wouldn’t think any more today. It only seemed to get me in trouble.
We closed in on the four people.
“Shanntal, I’d like to introduce you to some of my closest friends. Terran, Aiden, Makan, Meriel” He pointed in the direction of the strangers standing before us. “And Layla,” he added, gesturing towards the black cat at their feet.
I was shocked. ‘People here are a wee bit different.’ I thought.
Jayce let out a muffled snicker. I wondered, how did he always manage to do things right on cue?
“Hi,” I said, giving a little wave to the group. “Beautiful cat.” I leaned closer, noticing that the cat’s eyes were a brilliant purple. “Oh…wow,” I said.
Terran was closest and replied, “She’s a rare breed. We were lucky to find one such as her, that’s remained so loyal after all this time.”
Meriel leaned down and pet the cat on the head, as if to comfort her.
Things were starting to become pretty strange. Jayce’s friends acted weird and it made me feel awkward. They weren’t as welcoming as he was.
”Shanntal, have you ever heard of the elements before?”
“Elements?” I said with a shrug. I felt unsure. I missed being home, sitting on my bed, in the comfort of my room. I was safe there, hidden, protected.
Jayce reached into the left pocket of his jacket and pulled out a small purple velvet bag. He loosened the drawstrings and gestured for me to hold out my hand, which I did. He poured four tiny glass containers from the bag into my palm.
“What are these?” I said, studying one glass container that held a water-like substance. Another looked to be empty; there was a small burning flame in the third. The last one stole my breath away; it looked like a tiny earth spinning around in the glass tube. It was the strangest thing I’d ever seen. I couldn’t stop looking at it until I realized everyone was watching me. I looked up to find them smiling.
“Those are the four elements,” Jayce said. “Earth, fire, wind and water.” He looked back over at the four people standing before us. “Allow me to re-introduce my friends.”
Jayce began with the closest girl. “Terran represents the earth element, which is the keeper of life.”
Terran wore beige and brown clothing. She had big green eyes and sandy brown hair, which was a wild mess of curls. The resemblance, made sense, but I didn’t say so — at least not out loud — but Jayce somehow knew what I was thinking because he laughed at that moment.
Jayce motioned towards the tall fellow standing beside Terran. “Aiden represents the fire element. Fire gives people warmth, light and many other things.”
I looked Aiden up and down. He had the brightest shade of red hair, not like a carrot top, but more of a deep burgundy. His eyes were a light, piercing brown. He wore simple clothes that accented his body by showing off his rippling muscles.
I realized I could really identify them. They each resembled the element they were attached to. I found it completely fascinating. “I know this, I know this one!” I shouted before Jayce could speak. “Makan represents the wind element.” I smiled, pleased with myself.
Jayce nodded. “The wind element supplies us with the air we all need to survive.”
Makan’s prominent grey eyes had various blue specks spun through. His silver-toned hair was fairly long. His muscular frame didn’t appear old, although his hair stated otherwise.
“And then there’s sweet Meriel,” Jayce smiled. “The water element gives us much needed hydration.”
Meriel was a blue-eyed stunner, with blonde hair shaped like a set of spikes, popping out in every direction. Her clothes swayed around her, like she was submerged in water. They floated all around her, not clinging in any way.
“Well… I’m pleased to… and umm…. thankful?” I paused, stumbling over my words. “I’m happy to meet you all.”
They all laughed, putting me at ease.
Even though everything they’d shown to me was far beyond reasonable comprehension, it made sense and I believed them. They were the most unique people I’d ever seen.
“Let me guess, you’re going to tell me there’s something special about the cat?” I was kidding, but as soon as I said this, I heard a ‘whooshing’ noise.
I turned and noticed a beautiful, dark-skinned girl standing before me. She had the same unforgettable purple eyes. With another blink of the eye, the sound of a ‘whoosh’ happened again. The girl was gone and a large black panther stood in her place. I gasped and stumbled backwards as it growled and took a step towards me.
I started to panic, while everyone else laughed. I was feeling very unsure about these people. This wasn’t funny. I was about to be eaten by a giant cat.
“Enough showing off, Layla,” Jayce warned.
Right before my eyes, the panther became the beautiful girl again. Layla spoke with an accented voice. “Sorry if I scared you. I didn’t mean to, I was only having fun. I’m Layla, the shape shifter. I can take any form I choose. I protect my secret by normally keeping form as a house cat. It keeps suspicions down because cats are pretty common. There are only a handful of shifters left, so I’m choosy about who knows about me. I’ve got a good feeling about you, though.” She placed her hand on my shoulder. “I can already tell we’re going to be great friends.”
If I hadn’t seen this first hand, I’d never be able to comprehend any of it. This was unbelievable. I’d just made the most amazing friends, but this brought up another thought. If Jayce hung around such mythical beings… what did that make him?
Before I could ask, Jayce answered. “I’m, as some say, connected… and I’m the keeper of the elements.”
“Connected?”
“I’m connected to the elements, and to certain other minds as long as they’re open I’m able to connect. I can share thoughts, experiences, secrets, dreams, you get the drift.” He looked embarrassed.
“You said certain minds?”
“I’m able to connect... umm… normally… only to immortal minds,” he said in a low voice. “What I mean is, you’re the first human I’ve been able to do this with.”
“I see.” This explained why he always laughed at the arguments in my head. I hadn’t been saying them out loud; he was in my head hearing the whole conversation.
I felt anger starting to build up, where was my privacy? He should’ve told me sooner. I was about to erupt when he turned looking deep into my eyes. His stare was penetrating. ‘I’m sorry, I know, I should’ve told you sooner.’ He apologized without saying the words aloud.
This was bizarre; I heard his voice in my head. “How’d you do that?”
The blood rushed to my face. Wow, I’d have to learn to watch my thoughts from now on, considering I wasn’t the only one who was aware of them.
Just then, my cell rang. I pulled it out o
f my pocket and recognized the number. “My uncle must be getting worried.” I moved a few steps away from the group and answered.
“Shanntal. Where are you? Why haven’t you called? Are you okay?”
Escaped the Night Page 4