The Familiar

by Tatiana G. Roces

  I hear a heavy, creaky door open. A woman enters. She’s willowy, wearing a threadbare, black cotton dress. Her long chestnut colored hair hangs down her back, lifeless and dull. She’s pale, like she hasn’t been out in the sun for ages, and she has the same blue-grey eyes as Jared. His face lights up when he sees her.

  “Mama!” he shouts, climbing onto the cot and reaching his arms out to her. She runs and embraces him, glancing towards the door nervously. She puts her finger to her lips and whispers, “Mama’s missed you, Jared.”

  He nuzzles his face in the crook of her neck, looking like he wants to cry. The woman points at the pile of books and says, “You want Mama to read you a book?” Jared smiles, and whispers to her, “Yes, Mama! Dragons!” She picks up an old book with a golden dragon on the cover and starts reading to him quietly until he falls asleep in her arms. She carries his tiny body and places him on the cot, covering him with a flimsy blanket. There are tears in her eyes, and as she bends over and kisses him on the forehead, a single teardrop falls onto his cheek. She wipes it off gently, and whispers, “Good night, my love,” leaving the room quietly, stealing a last glance before closing the door.

  As I watch Jared sleeping peacefully, the vision begins to fade, until I’m once again in darkness. I can hear faint voices calling my name, and I wander in the shadows aimlessly, trying to find them. It feels like I’m going in circles, and every time I hear my name, the voices seem to have gotten farther and farther away. I spin and spin, until I feel so dizzy that the blackness completely engulfs my mind.

  22

  Everything looks blurry. I rub my eyes a few times, and sit-up. Things start to come into focus, and I look around and recognize the familiar furniture of the infirmary. It’s quiet, and I think I’m alone until I see Jared asleep on the armchair next to me. He’s leaning his head on a throw pillow so peacefully, that I almost don’t want to wake him. As the silence in the room hangs heavily, lingering questions burn in my mind. I realize I have no choice but to interrupt his sleep.

  “Jared?” He shifts, and opens his eyes, squinting at the bright overhead light.

  “Jared? What happened?” I say, as he gets off the chair and stands by my bed staring at me.

  “You’re okay,” he says, looking relieved. I lean back on my pillow, feeling an unexpected surge of dizziness.

  “Yes… I feel fine I guess, just weak… and confused.” I reply, my voice gravelly.

  Jared places another pillow behind my back.

  “I’m not really sure what happened. One minute, you were in my head… The next minute, you were gone. Cassandra and I tried to wake you up, but your body was just lying there, lifeless. Your pulse was so weak it was barely detectable. To be honest, we didn’t even know if you’d make it Hazel.”

  I suddenly remember my vision of Jared as a child, and debate in my mind whether I should bring it up or not. I meet his gaze, and realize that there’s still a trace of that sad little boy inside, hidden behind the tough guy façade he’s putting on.

  “Jared… I don’t really know how it happened. But when you lost track of me during the exercise… I saw one of your memories,” I reluctantly explain.

  He looks perplexed. “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t know how it happened, I swear, but it was like I just jumped into your childhood. I watched your mother read you the book about dragons, in that horrible cell…” Jared looks down at his hands, avoiding my gaze. His brows are furrowed and tense.

  “I’m really sorry, Jared.”

  He looks at me in awe. “I believe you, Hazel. I know you didn’t mean for it to happen. I’m just trying to figure out how you were able to do something like that.”

  I shake my head, confused. “I honestly wish I knew, but I just don’t… Could Cassandra have caused it?”

  “No, Cassandra doesn’t have that kind of power,” he replies.

  I sigh in frustration.

  “What was that place anyway?”

  I can see him remembering, looking off into a faraway place in his mind.

  “I was born there, and it was where I lived for a long time… Until I was ten, when my mother helped me escape.”

  The heaviness in his heart is palpable, making the air in the room dense, difficult to breathe.

  “Was your mom a prisoner or something?”

  “In a way, she was. She never finished the program here at the camp. She left right before the Choosing Ceremony. She was impressionable and young. The classes where too challenging for her. She was overwhelmed; she just couldn’t make it through. And she was scared. She didn’t want to fight. At that time, there were so many witches, wizards, and familiars who were killed for one reason or another. She just wasn’t brave enough to martyr herself for the cause.”

  “Someone from the other side recruited her. I don’t know who it was, but they offered her protection in exchange for her loyalty. All she knew at the time was that she would be safe working for them. I guess she just didn’t know any better.”

  “And you never found out who she was working for?”

  He shakes his head. “No… I was born in that cell, and for ten years, I only left it once. I was a prisoner, Hazel, and those books in my room, were the only link I had to the outside world. Those dragons, unicorns and fairies were my reality. They became my family. And I guess that’s why shifting to those creatures comes so naturally to me.”

  I have a sinking feeling as he recounts his disturbing childhood.

  “I’m sorry, Jared… I really can’t imagine what you must have gone through.”

  The door opens, and Doc Alice walks in holding her clipboard and a glass bottle filled with a bright green liquid. She places the bottle on my bedside table, and frowns.

  “I was hoping not to see you again so soon, Ms. Smith.” She taps on her clipboard a few times and squints while studying the screen.

  “Well, luckily for you, no irreparable damage has been done. It seems the cause of your temporary blackout was a combination of fatigue and stress. Have you been having problems sleeping?”

  “I’ve been dreaming a lot lately… I guess it’s been making it hard to sleep much,” I reply.

  Doc Alice frowns at my vagueness and puts her clipboard down. She hands me the bottle of green liquid.

  “You’ll need to drink this slowly. Take a few sips every ten to fifteen minutes until it’s all gone.”

  I stare at the liquid and scrunch my nose. “What is it?”

  “Don’t worry, it doesn’t taste so bad. It’s an elixir, a concoction of herbs, roots, and vitamins combined with a revitalization spell,” she replies ambiguously. I open the bottle, and take a cautious sip. It tastes a bit like seaweed mixed with mint and a little lime soda. I take a few more sips, and feel a bit more energetic, as the effervescent brew settles in my stomach.

  Doc Alice taps her clipboard one more time, giving it a quick scan with her eyes. “Believe it or not, you should be okay for discharge in a few hours. You’re a lot tougher than you look, young lady…”

  “Thanks, Doc,” says Jared gratefully. She smiles at both of us and leaves the room. Jared stretches his body languidly. He looks exhausted and rumpled, his hair tousled from leaning his head on the pillow.

  “I have to go meet with Maya now.”

  I cringe. “Sorry. I hope you don’t get into too much trouble.”

  Jared walks towards the door, shuffling his feet as if he’s hesitant to leave. “Stop apologizing Hazel. Maya’s just following procedure. You know how she is about that stuff.”

  I sip the elixir as I watch him leave, but suddenly remember something. “Oh wait! I almost forgot to ask you,” I call out. He turns, with one foot out of the door.

  “I’m choosing you. For the one-on-one session, I mean. If that’s okay?”

  “I thought you’d never ask,” he replies with a wink, his boots echoing down the hallway as he slinks away.

  23

  When I get back to the dorm, Louise leaps at
me, giving me a bear hug.

  “You’re back!” she says while looking me over. “Are you okay?”

  I hug her back tightly. “I’m fine… Actually, I’m feeling awesome.”

  Louise raises one eyebrow suspiciously. “Did they drug you or something?”

  I smirk, shaking my head in denial as I plop down on my bed.

  “Nah, nothing like that. They just gave me some juice and vitamins, that’s all.”

  Louise exhales, and situates herself on the bed next to me.

  “I swear it was like watching a movie or something. Seriously, one minute Jared is this monster, and you’re like a damsel in distress, and the next minute, Jared is transforming into a fairy, whisking you away.” She stares at me, so excited she looks like she’s about to burst.

  “Hazel, it was like the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen!”

  I look at Louise speechless.

  “Wait. Jared turned into a fairy?”

  “Yeah! Not like a little fairy. More like a full sized man fairy. He had these giant silvery wings that spread out this far when he flew away,” she replies, holding her hands apart exaggeratedly.

  I try to picture what she’s describing, but have a hard time envisioning it.

  “And what about Cassandra? I mean, what was she doing while all this was happening?”

  “Nothing. She was just standing there watching Jared like the rest of us. I can’t really tell if she was shocked or mad or what,” she explains.

  There’s a knock on the door, and Akiko peeks in. Her face brightens when she sees me, and she runs into the room shrieking.

  “Hazel! You’re okay? You look like you’re okay. I’m just glad you’re alive. That was so intense.”

  “Thanks, Akiko… I’m glad I’m alive, too,” I reply laughing. “I’m actually starving, so now that we’ve established that I’m okay, can we pleasssee go get some dinner?”

  At the dining hall, just as expected, I get a lot of stares and whispers. I grab a tray and fill it up with two kinds of pasta, a grilled cheese sandwich, several different desserts and a big strawberry milkshake. When I get back to the table, Louise and Akiko are already busy devouring their food.

  “So now that the drama is over, and our dear Hazel has joined us again, can we talk about the camping trip?” says Louise in between bites of her pizza.

  Suddenly, I realize that Samir’s nowhere in sight.

  “Hey, where is Samir anyway?” I ask curiously, looking out into the crowded dining hall to see if I can spot him.

  Akiko shrugs, rolling her black almond shaped eyes. “He said he had to do some research in the library… I swear, that boy needs to lay off the books and get a life,” she says exasperatedly.

  Louise chortles, almost choking on her pizza. “Don’t worry… Soon enough he’ll figure out that he can’t get a girlfriend with his nose buried in books all the time,” she replies with a wink.

  I take a bite of my grilled cheese sandwich and shake my head disapprovingly. “Poor Samir. His ears must be ringing by now with all this talk… Anyway, so what’s the latest on the camping trip?”

  Akiko chimes in excitedly. “Oh yeah… So supposedly, the hike will take us to a place called Mirror Falls. I was kind of dreading this whole outing, but now I’m curious… The place sounds intriguing.”

  I finish my sandwich, and take a sip of my milkshake.

  “Well, after this week, I’m kind of looking forward to doing something normal.”

  “I know, same. I just hope there isn’t a hidden agenda. Like some challenge we’re supposed to accomplish. Word is a few of the teachers will be chaperoning,” explains Louise.

  “I heard it might even be Maya,” says Akiko in a hushed tone.

  I think about Maya’s meeting with Jared and wonder what they talked about. Suddenly, the food on my tray looks unappealing, my appetite wanes at the sight and smell of it. I feel sluggish, and I wonder if the effects of the green liquid are starting to fade.

  “Guys, I’m feeling really tired all of a sudden. I think I’m going to go to bed early tonight.”

  Louise frowns, trying not to show the worry on her face. “Do you need me to come with you?”

  I shake my head. “No, it’s okay. Finish your dinner. I’m just going to take a shower, maybe call my mom, then go to bed. I want to get some rest before the trip tomorrow.”

  I leave the dining hall hastily and take the short walk to the dorm. When I get back to my room, I undress and drag myself into the shower, turning the hot water on full blast.

  At first the water is too much of a shock. I step back and slowly ease myself back into the streamline. When I finally dip my head under the spout all the tension releases from my body. Every problem disappears and I allow myself to stop thinking.

  When I finally get out, I dry myself, and put on my favorite pajamas. I open my laptop to check if Mom’s online and my video chat starts to ring. I’m ecstatic to see its Andy, and click on the button to accept the call.

  “Hey! You’re finally online,” he says, happy to see me, it seems. Andy looks freshly showered, and his face looks smooth, like he just shaved. He’s wearing his favorite Metallica t-shirt, and sits on the floor leaning up against the wall.

  My heart is beating quickly, just the sight of him sends tingles up my spine, and I can almost imagine the smell of that shea butter soap his mom likes to buy. I try my best to look casual though, too embarrassed to reveal any of my true emotions.

  “I was going to bed, but I decided to check my email first.”

  “Already? Not going to any of those wild art camp parties?” he asks jokingly.

  I laugh and make an effort to joke back, “Nah, I can’t hang with those crazy art kids. The doodling drinking games are way to intense… Pictionary and beer aren’t exactly the best combination,” I say, hoping that my rambling doesn’t make me sound like a bumbling idiot. “Anyway, we’re going camping tomorrow though. I’m kind of excited about that.”

  His eyes light up. “That sounds awesome. I wish I had someone to camp with…”

  “Yeah, I’m really looking forward to it… Anyways… You could always go camping with that girl,” I say, surprised by the sting of my words.

  I can see his top lip twitching slightly. “What girl?”

  “You know. The girl that was calling your name while we were talking the last time?” I say, trying not to sound jealous, but failing miserably.

  He tucks his hair behind his ear. “Oh c’mon, I barely know that girl...”

  I want to jump into the computer screen and wring his neck, but I try not to get hysterical.

  “Sooo what’s her name?”

  “Hazel, seriously. Just drop it,” he says, getting angry with me.

  I didn’t expect Andy to be so hostile and moody.

  “Okay, sorry.”

  I feel like my dinner is regurgitating up my throat, and suddenly, I’m not in the mood to chat anymore.

  “I’m going to bed now… I have to get up early for camping tomorrow.” I say, avoiding his gaze.

  “Okay, I guess I should go to bed, too. Can we talk again soon?” he asks, his demeanor clearly dejected.

  I smile halfheartedly. “Some other time. I’m sure you have plans over the weekend anyway.”

  He looks frustrated by my comment, but manages a “Goodnight,” before hanging up on me. I sit in front of my computer stunned by how quickly that conversation soured, but try to shake it off. I open my email, and write Mom a quick message:

  Hi Mom,

  I tried to chat, but you weren’t online. I’m not sure if the camp called you about the incident that happened in class today. Nothing too serious, I just blacked out and had to be brought to the infirmary. Apparently it’s just fatigue, so don’t panic. Anyway, I won’t be around tomorrow, we’re going camping, so I’ll try to catch you on Sunday. By the way, have you seen Andy much?

  Love,

  Hazel

  Though a jumble of thoughts and emotion
s are flying around in my head, I’m tired enough to ignore them. I turn off my lamp and curl into bed. Fortunately, the minute my cheek hits the cool, crisp pillow my troubles are forgotten, at least until the next day.

  24

  In the morning I practically leap out of bed, hyped up for the camping trip. I ditch the uniform, and opt for my khaki cargo pants, black tank top, and sneakers. I pull my long hair up into a ponytail, and check my reflection in the mirror before heading out.

  By the time I get downstairs, Sabrina’s already addressing the group.

  “Now that you guys are all here, we can meet everyone else out front.”

  We follow her outside, and take the short walk to the main house where the rest of the students are congregated. I see only Brad, Alicia and Maya among the crowd.

  Maya stands on the front steps, speaking loudly to get our attention.

  “Good morning! I just wanted to explain the itinerary before we get going. We’ll be heading to Mirror Falls, which is on the other side of that small mountain behind us. It will be about an hour of hiking. Nothing you can’t handle. When we arrive on site, we’ll work together to set-up camp, and then you are free to explore and have fun for the rest of the day. Now, if everyone is ready, let’s get going!”

  We head towards the Enchanted Meadow at a steady pace. As I walk side by side with Louise, I begin to wonder where Jared and Ivana are.

  “Do you know why Ivana and Jared aren’t here?”