Sing A Twist

by Brooke T. Mays

  And then the color was gone. Elena sat, slumping in the stool. The last few moments had felt like a lifetime. She receives a phone call, a completely unnecessary phone call, from Detective Talbot informing her he was dropping the case involving Evenfall’s death. She comes to the bar and learns the Detective was here, last night, talking to a man who very well could have been Aiden. That color, that sickly green color, that she knows with all of her heart is associated with the person who killed Evenfall is here, again, at the bar. And a song plays repeating the words ‘calling me home’. When Spring’s hue changes, heed the call…

  Finally, Phillip’s song rises up in her. Elena knows before she turns that he has walked into the building. She meets him in the middle of the room and kisses him deeply without saying a word. He doesn’t question her or even feel shocked. All she sees now is gold. And it breaks her heart.

  Because Elena accepts the harsh truth. A killer, somehow connected to this bar and to her, is still out there. And Elena is leaving. She’s going home.

  Chapter 26

  Elena watched her hands pull down her suitcase. They moved on their own, it seemed to her, or maybe someone else moved them. Surely she couldn’t be causing them to take clothes out of the closet. She couldn’t be choosing to fold them neatly and place them in the suitcase. But she was. A killer was here, yet she was leaving. She had trust in her mother’s vision. When Spring’s hue changes, heed the call. There was a reason she needed to return home. She did not dare do otherwise. She fingered her bracelet before placing it on her wrist. When the ring slid into place on her finger the world dulled. It seemed fitting.

  As she had packed, Elena had composed the letters she wrote to each of them in her head. She had kept each short, apologizing for the abrupt way she left, being careful with her wording. Using phrases like ‘An urgent matter at home,’ and ‘I will return as soon as I am able’. Unfortunately, her guilt over sneaking away while all her roommates were away from the house was not the least bit assuaged by her letters. She stared out the window of the cab as it drove away. Elena wished it wasn’t so dark. She would like to be able to see what she was leaving behind, silly though that thought that. It was who she was leaving behind that was causing her stomach to roil and her heart to sink. Phillip, Monica, even Jacob, the family she had made. She wished she could Sense the driver’s emotions to distract her from her own, but with all three pieces in place, he was too far away. Elena shifted uncomfortably. She felt stuffed in wool. And locked inside all that wool with her were her two new friends, guilt and heartbreak. Easier and safer to cozy up to guilt. She could not bear to think of the real possibility that as soon as I am able could be too late, or even worse, never. She choked back tears. She vowed to herself she would make it back to Phillip, too all of them, no matter the consequence.

  All too soon the cab arrived at the strip mall. She paid him in cash and tipped him nicely. As she gathered her things and stepped into the main entrance she was reminded of coming here to order Phillip’s picks. That memory held wonder in it. They had come so far since that time, yet the wonder had not faded. Surely, this could not be the end.

  As if she were sleep walking, Elena followed the steps that had been drilled in to her. She went directly to the mall office. Closing hours were approaching. They offered storage lockers. She had packed enough clothes for at least a week if anyone checked her closet. She kept with her only a small backpack with a change of clothes for when she was finally able to return. Her family had a system in place. When this particular locker was used, someone was notified. A few days later, if necessary, a person would come and collect the bags. That person would then ship them to a specified address. At that address, after a certain period of time, it would be once again passed on. The people hired were paid well, and it was completely anonymous. They simply did not know who they were shipping the items too or for whom. These safeguards were in place in case one did not return. It wouldn’t do for her things to be discovered left behind. It would look suspicious and could cause the police to open a missing person’s case. If nothing appeared to be left behind, she could send a message stating she had changed her mind and would not be returning to school. Her friends would not believe it, but it would keep anyone official from investigating. She steered away from that thought. She couldn’t bear to think of what it would do to Phillip if she did not return. Instead, she numbly followed protocol, trying not to think anymore, at all.

  Elena headed to the food court. She got a diet coke and sat sipping it without tasting it. She watched the little fountain in the center as it sprayed up water. She sat and waited.

  Closing time was nearly upon her. This was the easiest time as there were fewer people to avoid. She kept track of where the cleaning lady was mopping. When she was on the far side of the food court, Elena threw her trash away. She approached the bathrooms, making sure to keep to the correct side of the hall. She opened the door, but didn’t go in. Again, she waited. She opened the door again and let it close. To the security camera, it would appear that she had entered the bathroom and then left after an appropriate amount of time. There was a small blind spot set up for just this purpose. Her family made sure of it. Staying conscious of the placement of her body, she opened the emergency exit, confident that at this precise time, the alarm would not sound. Her family had made sure of that, too. The timing was important. She had triggered it all when she had stored her luggage.

  Once outside, still mindful of where she walked to avoid the security cameras, she quickly made her way into the trees that were part of the park directly behind the mall. Protected wetlands, to be more precise. If one could look back far enough in the records, her family’s name could be found behind the documents that helped establish and protect this park. These trees had been here for ages, and they would continue to be here for ages more.

  She found the right set of trees, and placed her hands with precision on two trunks. Oddly, for a moment, nothing happened. Then, finally, her father’s music rose around her and Elena stepped sideways into the Twist.

  It wasn’t truly a step to the side. It wasn’t truly a step, at all. But, to Elena, that is always how it had felt, as she was folded into the Twist.

  She focused on the music and let it lead her. She wasn’t walking, or even moving really, but the sensation of movement was present. As was the sense of the passage of time. It was never certain or consistent how much time passed when traveling in and out of the Twist. It could be hours or days even. Once inside the Twist, time slowed compared to the consistent passage of time that occurred outside. That was about the only constant, though. Time moved slower in the Twist. Just not at a consistent rate. What felt to Elena to be a day could actually be days, or even weeks, to the friends that she had left behind. Phillip could be waiting for her for days when to Elena it would seem as if only hours passed. The worst part was that Elena would not know how much time had passed until she returned. She only hoped it would not be too much time.

  Elena began to experience pain. This had never happened before! Thoughts of Phillip fled, and she began to worry for her father. Could something have happened to him? The painful sensation left, although the memory lingered. Helplessly, she did the only thing she could. She followed her father’s music. The seemingly endless journey finally did end. Again, Elena stepped sideways and then she was home. She slipped the bracelet and the ring off, putting them in her pocket.

  It was daytime here. To her body, she will have missed a night of sleep. She looked around at the familiar trees and gardens. She took a moment to orient herself. With a sigh, she realized she would have a ways to walk. That was another thing that was not consistent. Where she came out when she arrived.

  With dismay she noticed that the . . . resonance . . . was stronger than ever. The Twist always leaned towards balance with the Bard’s music weaving through it all, including the people there. It wasn’t really something that people could hear. It was just there as an undercurrent. Like something
seen out of the corner of your eye, but disappeared when you actually turned to look at it. Unfortunately, there were some that the music just did not flow through harmoniously. To those people, the music was . . . uncomfortable. Her mother would gently say that they were not yet living their true purpose. She would say they would find that purpose within themselves. Or, that they would know when it was time to look for that purpose. Elsewhere. At least, that is what she always told Elena.

  People were out, Naturals, she supposed, by the way they tended the land. Many waved at her while smiling politely. The resonance could be felt by those near her. Never more so than what she felt, but still, she did not want to make anyone else feel uncomfortable, and it was a bit embarrassing. Everyone could tell that she did not belong. So she hurried on. She wanted to check on her father. Everyone that she encountered seemed fine, so surely he was okay? Surely she would Sense sadness, grief, fear, something, from those she passed if he was not well. Perhaps the pain she experienced when stepping into the Twist had nothing to do with her father. Perhaps she could figure it out herself if she could see anything but Phillip’s face. The look of betrayal that she imagined did not blend well with the half grin she so loved, or the look in his eyes when he wanted her, or for that matter any expression she had seen on the face she had so grown to love. She shook the image away. Torturing herself in this manner was only slowing her down. With renewed determination, she changed direction.

  Elena passed by an elderly man she did not recognize. He was an Artisan, she supposed, as he appeared to be laying a new foundation. Most likely, he was new to the Twist. Otherwise, she felt she would have recognized anyone his age. There were those, like her, who were born in the Twist. There were also those who found their way there, some later in their lives. Elena wondered if he was building his own home, then realized something with a bit of surprise. He didn’t necessarily have to be that new. She had been away for a while, after all.

  Finally, she was getting closer. She could hear her father’s violin. Literally, this time. He was teaching a class. Young ones were gathered around him, four in all. One Singer added his voice. It was a beautiful combination. He was very talented, a Bard in the making, she thought to herself. Despite everything, it made her smile. It really was beautiful here. She took a look at the land she had been walking through, this time actually seeing her surroundings. It was a pastoral community. With so many Naturals living there, it was no surprise that the plant life was extraordinary. It was said where they walked, life bloomed. Although this was not precisely accurate, it really wasn’t too far from the truth. The plants, trees, even the wildlife with some Naturals, all flourished. Although nothing was overgrown. It was more like a Natural optimized the land around them. The land became lush with plants with the Natural connected to the land and the land connected to the Natural. She had heard of other Twists, in areas with far different climates. She seemed to half remember a lecture. Her Talent did not manifest in that area, but she had attended some of them. She supposed that with a Natural around a desert sunrise would reveal a perfect amount of sand, cactus, prey and predator. The Twist tended to balance, and nothing and no one balanced as well as a Natural.

  More of the young Singers had joined and their voices raised. Music and the arts also abounded here in the Twist. Not all Twists, but definitely this one. With so many Singers, Artists, Naturals, and Artisans living here it was not a surprise. Those more like Elena and her mother, Empaths, Seers, Listeners, and Speakers, were less common here. Her father began playing his Song. The one that blended through the Twist. The one that held the Twist itself in place. Every early memory she had contained two things. This Song and her parents’ love. Her heart felt warm as she stepped up towards the class. She was looking directly at her father. As he looked up, their eyes met. Surprise, quickly followed by sadness and pride. He was surprised to see her? She had never surprised him before. He always knew when she had come home. Was he sick? Was that why he was sad? He finished his Song with a flourish and then calmly dismissed the class. As always, his voice flowed over her, each word a beautiful sound.

  He embraced her and for a moment she allowed herself to feel like a little girl again, safe in her father’s arms. “Your mother will want to see you, too. Come. Let us go see her together.” He kept her hand and led her away. Elena fought back tears. So much love. And he was so proud of her! But why was he so sad? “She has been expecting you,” he continued.

  The walk to their family home was a short one. Small but snug, it was nestled in around some lovely trees, blending so well with the surrounding land. Her mother met them at the front door. “My bright light,” she greeted Elena as she, too, hugged the daughter she had not seen in some time. Smiles and tears abounded as their small family was reunited. They moved inside into the kitchen. Her mother had a pot of tea on, and she poured three cups.

  It did feel wonderful to be with them again. She could almost ignore the resonance. Almost push away her fear for her love and her friends. But when conversation paused, Elena knew that their short reunion was done. It was time for business. Her mother asked, “What finally brought you home, Elena?”

  Elena explained. She started with the song she heard when she again saw that sickly green color. Then she skipped back to the beginning, spending a good deal of time filling her parents in on the background, including the first time she ever saw the color. Reciting the events of that evening so long ago in the bar jogged her memory some. She had almost completely forgotten. A motorcycle and a Corolla had been vandalized that night – both Phillip’s and her vehicle types. Her father and mother were holding hands before she ever even got to the part where the police were involved. By the time Elena reached Evenfall’s death, her parents were practically in each other’s lap. She had the feeling that if they could have somehow fit her in with them, they would have.

  When she finished, Elena asked, “What did you See? If I had not come home, or worse, if I am wrong in interpreting ‘heed the call,’ what would happen?”

  Her mother paused for so long, Elena thought she might not answer. Given what she was Sensing, Elena wasn’t sure she wanted her to.

  Her father leaned to his wife, pulling her slightly closer to him. “Dear heart, I believe she needs to know.”

  Elena watched her mother slowly look up at her. Her mother, such a leader in their community, the strongest of all those with Vision, a true Seer, was terrified. She had been guiding the Twist for decades. Elena had always felt the strength in her mother. She was a pillar of the community. She had seemed fearless, relentless, sometimes implacable to her daughter. All-knowing and even unreasonable at times. But the look in her eyes now . . . Elena felt fear rising in herself. She quickly focused and blocked it out. The emotions were coming from her mother. That fear was not her own, not yet, though Elena suspected that would soon change.

  She watched her mother draw in a deep breath. “Give me a moment.” Elena saw her mother look fearfully at her father. He nodded, as if in encouragement. They dropped hands and moved slightly apart so they were no longer making physical contact as her mother prepared herself. Sometimes, Visions just came. Her mother had explained that when the time was right, when it was necessary, the Vision came to those who could See. She could Look, when she wanted, but it was harder, and not always successful. It was a Seer’s opposite power. Whatever her mother was Looking for now, she was afraid to face. That realization made a chill run through Elena’s body.

  Her eyes closed, and Elena knew the Seer was at work. A burst of relief, followed by a stab of guilt? What had she Seen? “You did not misinterpret ‘heed the call.’ Elena, you have changed your fate.” That statement seemed a little melodramatic even for a Seer. She opened her mouth intending to question her mother. Before she was able to speak her parents embraced each other. Elena was shocked. They were crying! Both of them had tears rolling down their cheeks!

  Elena’s voice sounded high, small, and far away when she asked, “Mom, please t
ell me. What did you See?”

  Her mother’s tears increased. She choked out the words, “It was as if all the light in the world went out in a moment. Oh, my bright light. The Vision was of your death.”

  Chapter 27

  Elena should have so many questions, yet no coherent thoughts would form. The word ‘death’ seemed to be echoing in her mind. Her parents were holding each other and now her, too. They were crying in relief. Elena relaxed and just let herself feel relieved. She took on their emotions like a chameleon. Most of the time, she needed to keep that control of separation. It could be dangerous for her, eventually, if she took on other’s emotions. There was always a risk that she would lose the ability to distinguish between what she felt and what others felt. Madness could follow. But, for just a little while, she floated in that place of separation, a place of peace.

  She returned to her seat at the kitchen table. Her parents resumed their places as well. She had no idea of how much time had passed. Carefully, she reconstructed herself. She was once again alone inside. Her parents had raised her, so of course, they recognized the signs. They waited for her until she was ready. “I need to process this. I need to think this over,” she shook her head a little to clear it. “That’s not it, exactly. I think what I need is more information. I need to figure out how all of this fits together.” She looked expectantly at her mother. “I got your letter before I ever saw that,” she paused, swallowing the words she really wanted to say and finished with, “color.” She really did try not to curse, especially in front of her parents. She stopped short as she realized what she was Sensing. Her mother had essentially watched her child die. She remembered the gold from the visit to the maternity ward in the hospital what seemed like so long ago. Could there be anything worse than watching your beloved child die? “Actually, would you two mind if tried to take a nap? It was night when I left today. Could we talk about this in a few hours?” Elena knew their answer before they voiced it.