by Belle Malory
Later that night, my mother terrified me as she described the implications of my ability. She described the different ways people could use me in frightening detail. For the first time, I’d begun to understand what this all meant for me.
Though my mom was the world’s biggest hypocrite, I knew she was right. I had to keep whatever this thing was a secret. God knows I already despised being used by her and my sister. I couldn’t imagine anyone else finding out, too. At least my family was smart enough to keep their mouths closed.
Sometimes I wondered why this thing happened to me, and how it might have been if I’d been…well, normal. My little sister wouldn’t be a rising pop star, that’s for sure. Her name would still be Irene and we would still live in our small home just outside of Portland. We wouldn’t be here, in Calabasas, California, residing in a mansion in the heart of the wealthy and posh, driving Maserati’s and wearing Chanel.
I would be different though. I would be…someone. Perhaps someone less afraid of the world.
Something stirred in my bedroom, startling me. I slowly sat up and looked around. Nothing was there.
Chilled, I rubbed my arms, hugging myself. I grabbed a sweater from off of the storage chest at the end of my bed. I slipped it on and walked towards my writing desk. I flipped open my laptop, smiling as I checked my email account.
Thirty-seven new messages. More traffic today than usual.
I sat down in my little wooden desk chair and opened the first email.
Dear Chloe,
(I loved my pseudonym. Aside from the fact that I have an old lady name in real life, I’d rather people didn’t know I was Indie Spencer’s big sister.)
Please help me! I’m in love with my best friend’s boyfriend…
Hmm…now that’s intriguing.
I don’t know what to do, Chloe. It’s killing me being around them both, kind of like I’m trapped in that 80’s song, “Jessie’s Girl.” Except my version would be entitled, “Britney’s Boy.”
I snickered at my reader’s anecdote. Sometimes these emails cracked me up.
I jerked my head up, hearing the noise again. My humor disappeared, replaced with a fearful edginess.
It almost sounded like something wooshed by me. I looked around, but couldn’t find anyone.
Then I saw a figure appear out of the corner of my eye.
My hand clutched to my chest as a faded little girl drew near me. Large brown eyes set within a round face, with fat brown curls to match. Her cheeks were rosy, but they started to pale. Her face became hollow.
I watched in horror as a red circle expanded within the fabric of her snowy white gown. It continued to grow, soaking the entire front of the dress.
Blood.
A choked scream tore from my throat. Dizzily, I ran to my closet, slamming the door and hiding inside. Falling backwards, I caught myself on some hanging clothes. I eventually collapsed along the floor.
My breathing wavered and my world went completely dark.
Two
Abby, my puppy, whined and scratched at the closet door, waking me up. Groggily, I managed to pull myself off of the pile of sneakers I’d fallen on top of and stood upright. I groaned, feeling the soreness from the spots where my shoes had dug into my backside.
The puppy leapt onto me as soon as I opened the door, showering me with kisses. She almost knocked me over; she was getting so big. Some sort of mutt, I’d picked Abby up from the pound when she was nothing but a tiny black ball of fur. She’d steadily grown since I brought her home, much more than I ever anticipated.
“We agreed you would stay under twenty pounds, miss,” I muttered while scratching her behind the ears. “You’re clearly breaking our contract.”
She licked my cheek in response.
I sighed and gathered the courage to leave the closet, peeking around the corner first. Everything seemed normal and in its place. I stepped across the carpet slowly. My laptop was open where I’d left it on my desk. The Van Gough painting, “Starry Night” displayed as the screen saver.
I wondered if it had all been my imagination.
I’d been mulling over turning eighteen before I saw the girl…maybe this particular birthday was carrying more heavily over my shoulders than I’d originally thought.
I needed to get out of the house, pronto, and get some fresh air. I spent way too much time acting like a recluse and it was clearly beginning to reflect upon my sanity. I had enough problems as it was with the damned curse always getting in the way. I couldn’t afford to go all nutso, too.
Pulling my hair away from my face, I tied it into a tight band. After sliding some running shoes on, I ran down the spiraling staircase leading into the foyer. Abby bounded down after me excitedly. I was already breathing heavily by the time I made it to the front door.
Sometimes I missed our quaint little home back in Oregon, mostly during moments of laziness because it takes forever to get anywhere in this mansion-like house. However, my mom insisted we move into this place. “Your sister is a star,” she’d said, when I protested the move from Oregon. “We’re going to buy a home built for a star.”
I swear my mother had transformed into a snooty, social climbing elitist. She never acted like that before my dad died. I remembered a woman who was down to earth, a passionate baker, and a loving mother. I remembered stained aprons and watching her push her glasses up the bridge of her nose while browsing through recipes and cooking magazines.
She wears contacts now, of course. Colored ones, which turn her pretty hazel eyes into a creepy looking shade of green.
She used to bake the best pies and cakes, too, and had even won some competitions. Granted, they were small competitions, usually held at county fairs and church events, but exciting for her nonetheless. Daddy and I used to make her blush so hard because we would go on and on about how she was the best cook in the whole world. Such simple things used to make her so happy.
I can’t recall the last time she baked anything. Probably not since we moved. She’s done a complete one-eighty since then.
Pushing the old memories away, I leashed Abby and left the house. Rays of the setting sun spilled over us and I slid on my sunglasses. Together we jogged down the sidewalk. Both of us needed the exercise. Apparently I was full of pent-up energy. And Abby, well, she was always energetic.
We headed towards The Commons, a ritzy-ish shopping plaza. The grounds were elegantly manicured; the grass green and lush, and several koi ponds enhanced the plaza’s aesthetics. Abby loved to chase the fish back and forth.
My heart was pounding by the time we arrived. Abby looked up at me happily, her tongue hanging outside of her mouth.
We headed to my favorite coffee stand first. The cashier smiled when he noticed me.
“What’s up, Essie?”
“Hey, Landon,” I greeted him. He moved away from the register and leaned towards my end of the counter, flicking shaggy blonde bangs out of his eyes.
“The usual?” he asked.
I nodded. Landon was my age. But unlike me, he still had classes to finish up. One of the nicer perks of being homeschooled, I supposed.
Landon had prominent dimples and a crooked smile. I sort of thought he was cute. We went to the movies together once, and afterwards he kissed me behind the theater. It was one of those thrilling, intense, hands-in-hair, gasping-for-breath kinds of kisses. I had butterflies in my stomach for weeks just thinking about it. But I knew better than to let it go any farther than it did. My mom would’ve had hysterics if she knew I went out with a boy, let alone kiss one.
Sometimes though, I wondered what could have been between Landon and me, if I’d been blessed with a normal life. I suppose he could’ve ended up as my boyfriend, and maybe even someone I could’ve fallen in love with.
Landon handed me a cup with whipped cream spiraled on top. “Just the way you like it.”
“Awesome,” I said. “Thanks.”
“No problem. So are those your friends over there?”
>
“Who?” I asked, confused. “It’s only me and Abby today.” I nodded towards the puppy.
Landon pointed behind me, towards a table where a group of people all simultaneously turned their heads away from us the moment we looked over.
I laughed and rolled my eyes. “They probably think I’m Indie. People get us confused all the time.”
“What a bunch of creepers,” he said, laughing with me. “They’re kind of beautiful though. I thought maybe they were some of your celebrity friends or something.”
I looked over at the group again. Three of them, one girl and two guys. After inspecting them more closely, I saw that Landon was right. They were beautiful. I could hardly take my eyes away from them.
The girl watched me over the rim of her sunglasses, peeking and then looking away, ever so imperceptibly. She had long, jet-black hair, which fell in loose waves over her shoulders. She wore a bohemian style dress, with a white wrap cardigan. The dress outlined curves any girl in L.A. would envy. I was even a little jealous. My own slender frame lacked in comparison.
Though the girl was definitely beautiful, the guys who lounged next to her were nothing short of breathtaking. They were Roman warriors, sent through time and space so I could ogle them like a freak. Tall, dark and handsome, and there were two of them. I might have gotten a little carried away with the staring. But technically, they had stared first so I felt justified.
Landon cleared his throat. I turned back to him, feeling heat rise to my cheeks. He rolled his eyes and said, “I see you agree.”
I shrugged. “They’re not so bad.”
He grinned, raising a brow. I sipped my coffee casually.
“So are you coming to my party?”
“What party?” I asked, confused.
“My graduation party. Remember? I told you about it a month ago.”
My eyes widened. “Oh, right.” He waited for me to continue, expectantly. I hated this part, having to let him down. “Sorry, Landon. It’s not that I forgot exactly. It’s just that my mom doesn’t usually let me go to a lot of parties. I kind of count them out right away.”
His face dropped dejectedly, making me feel awful.
“Why does Indie go to so many parties? Does your mother let your little sister have all the fun?”
“Those are typically for events. Promotional parties and stuff,” I explained. “It furthers her career.” I kicked the ground with my shoes uncomfortably. Abby whined at my feet, letting me know I was taking too long. She was ready to chase the fish.
“If you ask me, it sounds like bull,” Landon grumbled.
Another customer approached the stand. “I better get going,” I said, scooting out of the customer’s way. “I’ll ask my mom about it. Promise.”
“Beg and plead,” he ordered. “I want you there.”
I smiled and gave him a little salute. “I’ll try my best. See ya later.”
I pulled Abby along as Landon helped the next person in line. “Come on, little girl. Time to chase some koi fish.”
I sat along the grassy bank of the pond, sipping at my coffee as Abby ran back and forth. Her shiny, black coat gleamed in the sunlight. For a while, I sat there peacefully. It was an attempt at forgetting the recent events that took place in my bedroom. And it was working. Somewhat. But I still had this unsettling feeling someone was watching me.
I surveyed my surroundings, scanning the mall’s scenery, trying to brush the chill from my arms. People roamed the shops, going about their own business. Most people had cell phones plastered to their ears. No one paid me any mind.
After the sun disappeared behind the hills, I gathered a worn out Abby to leave. She followed alongside me at a slowed pace. While we walked I felt a gaze hover over me, burning into my back and following my every move. I swung around, paranoid now and scanning the mall again. Still nothing out of the ordinary.
Then I caught sight of them. My stalkers from the café stand. They were acting as if they were out for a leisurely stroll, pointing inside store windows, admiring the merchandise and whatnot. But their gestures were too stiffly contrived. I knew it was a charade.
They were following me.
Ah, I could relax, I supposed. Most likely they believed me to be my sister. I was used to being the recipient of the public’s curious stares. My sister and I looked so much alike, the resemblance was uncanny. Both of us had round faces and long, brownish-black hair. Indie normally curled hers, while I let mine fall straight as a board. What really likened us though were our eyes. My father used to refer to us as his little doe-eyed daughters. The only things that set my sister and I apart were our age and temperaments. Indie was wild and colorful. She had a way about her that people just loved to watch. I, on the other hand, was more comfortable sitting quietly from the sidelines.
My stalkers trailed me for two blocks. I kept looking back, seeing them at a distance behind me. It was getting a little ridiculous. I wanted to scream at them, “I’m not her, you idiots!”
I would never go that far though, wouldn’t dare cause a scene in public. The press would surely have a field day, blasting about how Indie Spencer’s big sister lost her mind. There was no way I would present an opportunity for that story. No, thank you. I’d leave the gossip entangled with Indie, where it belonged.
I paused to turn around and openly glare at my group of stalkers. If they were trying to be secretive about their business, I wanted them to know it wasn’t working. They weren’t fooling anyone, not even Abby. She’d sniffed out their lame attempt at lurking behind us as well.
When they noticed I’d caught on to them, the girl in their group stepped away from her companions, crossing the sidewalk to where I stood. She slowly lifted her sunglasses to her head. Her full, pink mouth parted, as if she were in awe.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Can I help you with something?” I asked, making sure the annoyance pronounced itself in my tone of voice.
The girl didn’t seem concerned with my tone. Her beautiful blue eyes swept over me, lighting up, as if in recognition.
“Serena,” she spoke the name and smiled brilliantly. “I’ve found you.”
“I. Am. Not. Ind. . .” My sentence sort of dropped off as I realized what she’d called me. “Wait, who?”
“Sorry,” the girl said, laughing at herself. “Of course you wouldn’t know that name. It’s just how I know you. You must be Estelle Spencer.”
I narrowed my eyes, wondering what sort of ploy this was. Not many people knew me by my own name.
I nodded uneasily. “That’s right. And you are?”
“Lola.” She stuck her hand out in front of me. “Lola Moori.”
I shook her hand, still confused. “You said you know me. What did you mean by that?”
“It’s a long story. Longer than you could possibly imagine, actually. Would you mind if we went somewhere to talk? I have so much to tell you and so little time.”
My hesitation was immediate. “I don’t know-”
“It’s extremely important. Trust me, we need to talk.”
I opened my mouth to speak when I realized the girl’s companions had joined her.
Now there are certain rules you learn as a child, and the most important one being not to talk to strangers. I wasn’t stupid. These strange, beautiful people made me extremely nervous. I wasn’t about to turn into one of those girls in a missing persons file, transported somewhere across the border for illegal sex trafficking. No way. Not happening. My eyes darted around, looking for anyone in case I needed to call out for help.
One of the two men went so far as to circle around me. “So this is her?” he said with mild interest. “This is the renowned Serena?”
Up close, the man was gorgeous. Like a work of art, his jaw and nose were chiseled into strong, smooth lines. His eyes were the exact color of warm amber, both fiery and cool at the same time. They were a striking contrast against his dark hair and tanned skin. I lost my train of thought, no longer caring if I wa
s about to be taken hostage. I just stood there gaping, while he dissected me.
“She doesn’t look like much,” he noted.
It took a moment for what he said to sink in. Thankfully, it was at that moment I finally came to my senses.
“Stop circling me,” I ordered, trying to regain my composure. Abby growled and stepped in front of me, warning the man to back off. “What are you, a vulture or something?”
The man grinned, a devastating smile, flashing his perfectly straight, white teeth. “Something like that.”
“Rex, stop. You’re scaring her,” Lola commanded him.
The second man snorted as he approached. “That’ll only provoke him further.”
Rex chuckled, seemingly amused by his friend’s statement.
Realizing the trio had surrounded me, an inkling of fear coiled in my stomach. I felt like cornered prey. The sun was setting in the sky. It would be dark soon. I looked around, seeing that there was no one nearby I could shout to, no one I could call for help if it came down to that. “Listen, I’d love to stay and chat, but I gotta run,” I told them all. “I have something I need to do.”
“Wow. She’s really bad at lying,” Rex pointed out.
“Look, I’ll give you my telephone number,” I offered Lola. “And we can chat later. Promise.” I smiled, trying to appear sincere.
I definitely planned to give her a fake number.
“She’s lying again,” Rex told them.
Lola frowned.
I turned to the guy who kept calling me out. “Listen, T-Rex, I don’t have time for your analysis of me, so I’m sorry, but I really have to go.”
I moved to leave, tugging on Abby’s leash, but Lola stopped me.
“We know what you are, Estelle. We know you’re the oracle.”
I paused, turning back around. My breath caught in my chest. “The what?”
“The oracle,” she repeated.
I didn’t know what she meant by the word ‘oracle’. I knew it frightened me though. No one was supposed to know about the things I could tell people. My family and I had gone to great lengths to keep it that way. I swallowed, scrutinizing each of their faces uncertainly. They looked so confident, so assured. It scared the hell out of me.