The Healer: First Touch

by Amy Clapp

  I looked at Emma as if seeing her for the first time today. Her cheeks were slightly flushed with the excitement she had witnessed. Without waiting for me to speak, Emma stuck her hand out to Varick. "I'm Emma. It truly is a pleasure to finally meet you." Her eyes were bright with her excitement.

  Varick took her hand in his, gently shaking it. But before he released it, he brought her hand up to his mouth and placed a quick peck on the top of her hand.

  "Varick," he said, his voice rich and deep. Emma looked like she wanted to melt into a gooey puddle right at Varick's feet.

  "Varick," Emma repeated breathlessly. "You're the one who gave Jacey that beautiful pin in the shape of angel's wings."

  "Yes, I am," Varick smiled.

  "You're also the one who helped her get home when she hurt her ankle?"

  Varick started laughing. "Yes, that was me too."

  "And you're also the one..."

  "Okay, Em. That's enough," I said. Emma giggled. I was surprised at Emma's reaction to Varick. She normally wasn't like this around guys. She was always so confident and sure of herself. In fact, she was acting a lot like I would have in this situation.

  Varick turned and bounded down the stairs to his motorcycle. Emma and I followed. He balanced the cycle between his legs as he started it up.

  "I'll see you later," I heard his voice clearly over the roar of the motorcycle. The goofy grin was back on Emma's face as she stared at Varick on his motorcycle. He was just talking to me, I was sure. He backed the cycle up, flipped the visor of his helmet down, and drove away. Emma and I stared after him for a moment.

  "Oh my god, Jacey," Emma stated excitedly. "He is absolutely gorgeous. And his tattoo. If you don't want him, I do."

  I turned to look at her, smiling in spite of myself.

  "Jacey!" Emma squealed as she grabbed my shoulders with her hands. "He is amazing." She continued to squeal as she shook me gently.

  "I know, I know," I laughed at Emma's very apparent enthusiasm.

  "Come on," she said, dropping her hands from my shoulders and grasping my hand. She pulled me toward the house. "You have obviously not told me everything." She pulled harder until I reluctantly began to follow.

  I groaned. "Not again, Em, please," but I started laughing.

  "Oh, no. This time you are telling me everything. More Varick and whatever is going on between you and Jamie. I mean he kissed you. Jamie kissed you. What's that all about?"

  I laughed again and followed her. But I hesitated before entering the house. My eyes traveled down the road Jamie had taken, his Jeep traveling out of town. I turned, my eyes shifting to the direction that Varick and his motorcycle had taken into town. Two different men. Two different directions. My heart felt like it too was pulled in two different directions. Which one should I follow?

  -Twenty-Five-

  The next few days passed without much excitement. I spent very little time with Jamie and Varick, and never both together. The rest of my time was spent studying for my final examinations. The exams would be very tough, especially since my mind wasn't focused on calculus, chemistry, or art appreciation. But I had to do well. Graduation was fast approaching. At least I was lucky that Oma had worked it out with the principal for me to take three of my finals as take-home exams. But all that really meant was that I had to take six exams in two days.

  I looked at the large clock again over the door of my calculus classroom. The second hand seemed to be moving slower than normal. Sighing, I looked at my test sheet. The exam was even harder then I thought it would be. I wished that I had devoted more time to studying for it. I peeked my head around. Most of the other students in my class were feverishly answering the problems on the test sheet. Turning my head to the right, I caught Emma looking at me and I smiled at her. She stuck her tongue out at me before giving me a return smile.

  I startled as the bell rang to signal the end of class and the end of the final examination. Panicked, I looked at my test sheet. There were far more unanswered problems than answered problems. I scrambled to answer a few of the blank questions.

  "Ms. Brindle," Mr. Tilliantrow said, looking down disapprovingly from where he stood next to my desk. "Class is over now. You must turn in your test sheet, even if it is not completed."

  I set my pencil down and handed over my test sheet to him. Without looking at him, I shoved my pencil and calculator into my backpack and stood up, slinging the backpack over my shoulder. I knew my score wouldn't be high. I was just hopeful that it would be high enough for me to pass the class.

  Emma had waited for me in the hallway. "Man, that exam was tough. All I want to do is pass so I can walk in graduation."

  "Me too," I said, biting my lip. We walked out to her car so she could drive us home. My car was still at her brother's shop awaiting a new alternator. Emma talked the entire way to my house about graduation, the vacation her parents were taking her on in July, and her budding relationship with Robby. I smiled as I listened.

  "Thanks for taking me home," I told Emma when I got out of the car.

  "No problem. Oh, Jacey?"

  "Yeah." I stood just outside her car holding the door open.

  "Think about what I said, ya know, about doubling on a date with me and Robby. I think Varick and Robby would get along great."

  I smiled at Emma's suggestion. I didn't think that would happen in a thousand years, but I didn't want to hurt her feelings or douse her excitement. "Sure, Em. I'll think about it. Thanks again." I shut the door, waving to her before I ran up the front steps and into the house.

  I called for Oma but she didn't answer. I opened up the door leading from the kitchen into the garage. Her Buick wasn't in the garage either. I grabbed a banana off the kitchen counter and ran to my room to eat and study more. I had chemistry in the morning and I needed to be prepared for the exam. I prayed that neither Jamie nor Varick would distract me tonight.

  By the time I finished studying the world outside was darkening and I was getting hungry. Thinking that Oma would have dinner ready, I closed my book, and shoved it in my backpack before I ran down the stairs.

  "Oma?"

  The house was silent except for the ticking of the grandfather clock. That was odd. Oma would normally be home by now. I turned the light on in the kitchen, the fluorescent bulbs snapping and popping as they lit. The kitchen glowed warmly with the artificial light. But there was no Oma and no dinner. She could be at Cathy's. I was trying to be rational. I didn't want to worry about something until there was something to worry about.

  I'll just give Cathy a call. I walked over to the telephone where I noticed a white note on the counter between the microwave and the refrigerator. Sighing with relief, I hung up the phone and picked up the note. But as I read, my eyes grew wide. I could feel the blood rushing from my face leaving me white and pale.

  Your precious care taker is mine. If you want to see her alive again, go to the Zepher Warehouse on Prospect. No Protectors.

  The note wasn't signed, but I knew who it was from. The Fury. The Fury had Oma.

  I thought about leaving right away to go and save her, even riding my bicycle all the way to the old abandoned factory if I had to. But I stopped myself. If I did that, I wouldn't be helping Oma or myself. Spontaneity wouldn't help. I needed a plan to save Oma.

  I decided that I would wait until morning. It was a hard decision to make, knowing that the Fury had Oma, but I couldn't go anywhere at night and I was afraid of facing the Fury without Varick. I didn't want darkness to add to my fear. I needed to stay calm. I couldn't afford to allow Varick to feel the physiological changes in my body that would lead him to me. I had to do this without him. But I needed help.

  Jamie. I would call Jamie. He would drive me. Of course he would want to know why I wanted him to drive me to an abandoned building. I would have to tell him the truth since I was a terrible liar. Once I told him, I knew there would be no way to stop him from coming with me. The note specified no Protectors, but Jamie wasn't a Protector
. So I didn't think I was breaking the conditions set forth by the Fury. I waited for morning and for Jamie.

  I didn't sleep. Instead, I sat on my bed the scribbled note on my lap. I stared at the note, tracing each line, each curve with my eyes. My mind raced as I worried about Oma. Had the Fury hurt her? What was its plan? Although my hope was to come out of this unscathed with Oma, I knew I would sacrifice myself for her.

  And then there was Varick. I absolutely did not want him to follow me to the warehouse or help in anyway. His mere presence would mean sure death for Oma and anyone else involved. He couldn't protect me this time. Oma was far too precious to me to risk her life even with Varick and Asim helping. I wasn't going to take any chances. I needed to do this alone.

  As the horizon lightened, I dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. I grabbed the note and shoved it deep in my pocket before running down stairs. I stopped when I remembered my angel's wings pin. I wasn't about to face the Fury without my pin. I found it on my nightstand and held it in my palm, turning it gently to see the multi-faceted stones sparkle. I was doing the right thing. I knew it. I cared about Varick too much to have him harmed by the Fury. I would do this without him. Opening my palm, I pinned the angel's wings on my shirt close to my heart.

  Once downstairs, I called Jamie. It was still very early, and I knew I had woke him when I heard his groggy voice.

  "Jamie....it's Jacey. I need you to come over right away. Oma's in trouble."

  "Oma? What's going on?"

  "Just get here as soon as you can," I said, impatiently.

  "I'm on my way, Jace."

  I walked out to the front porch and waited for Jamie. I bit at my nails as I searched the street for Jamie's Jeep. My mind raced as I tried to think of ways to save Oma. I stopped biting as a sickening realization hit me. There was no way I was coming out of this alive. The Fury would have me and my powers. I wouldn't be able to stop that. I would bargain my life and powers for Oma's and Varick's lives. The Fury could have me if it spared those I cared for. I took in a deep breath, allowing the cool morning air to fill my lungs. As I exhaled, I felt my body relax as my resolve cemented. I had a plan.

  Jamie's Jeep squealed into the driveway, smoke billowing from his tires at his sudden stop. Before I could get off the front porch, Jamie was running up to me.

  "What's going on? Where's Oma?"

  Without answering him, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the note. Thrusting it at him to read, I said, "I found this on the kitchen counter last night." I forced myself to stay clam, taking slow breaths to will my heart to slow its beating. So far, it was working.

  I watched as Jamie read the note, his eyes widening with each word. When he was done, he handed the note back to me. "What are we going to do?" he whispered.

  I smiled at Jamie and his use of the word "we". I knew he would help me.

  My response was slow and calculated as I laid out most of the plan to him. "You are going to drive us to the Zepher Warehouse where the Fury is keeping Oma. I will face the Fury alone. If it knows you are there, I'm afraid it will kill Oma. I need you to be at the Jeep, to take Oma to safety when the time is right." I was surprised by my steady calm.

  "But what about you? When do you get to safety?"

  "After you have Oma safe, I'll meet up with you. But her safety is priority. Do you understand?"

  "But, Jacey..."

  "No, Jamie. Can you do this or not?" I stared at Jamie, my face serious.

  "Yes, I can. I'm just worried about you."

  "Well, don't. Oma is our priority. Once she's safe, then we will worry about me. Understand?"

  "Yes. I understand," Jamie finally said.

  "Promise me, Jamie. Promise me."

  "I promise," Jamie responded, his eyes wide with fear.

  "Okay, then. Let's go." I ran down the steps and he followed, and before I could say anything else, Jamie squealed out of the driveway and out onto the roadway.

  As Jamie sped through the still sleepy town of Byron, I stared out the passenger window. It registered that this would probably be the last time I would see any of these businesses in the little town I had known my entire life: Jameson's Diner, Perfect Touch Salon, Dr. Lange's Family Dentistry, Family Foods Grocery. I closed my eyes, burning the familiar images into my memory. My throat burned as tears formed in my eyes.

  Stop it! Think of Varick. Keep him safe. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay calm.

  "So is your...friend coming to help too?" Jamie asked.

  "No," I responded stiffly. "It would be too dangerous for Oma. The note said no Protectors."

  "Oh," Jamie said. He seemed to sit up straighter in his seat.

  Soon, I saw the two smoke stacks of the abandoned warehouse sticking up over the trees. The rest of the structure was obscured by overgrown trees and bushes. As Jamie turned the Jeep down the driveway that weaved among the trees leading back to the warehouse, my heartbeat quickened. I had forgotten how run down and isolated the Zepher Warehouse was. I couldn't help the anxiety and panic that sickened me as Jamie slowly drove down the long driveway and closer to my awaiting destiny.

  "What exactly are we up against here?" Jamie's voice cracked with unease.

  "The Fury is pure evil. It isn't human. In fact, I don't really know what it is. It changes all the time, its shape, I mean. So, I really don't know what to expect." I shuddered anyway.

  "Jacey?" Jamie's eyes were wide with concern.

  "I'm fine. Let's do this." I swallowed hard.

  We pulled into the large clearing and saw the Zepher Warehouse looming in front of us. The overcast sky added to the gloominess of the old brick building. Many of the windows were either boarded over or broken out. The large Zepher sign hanging across the top of the building was missing the Z, but I had no doubt we were in the right place.

  "Pull over to the side of the building there." The shadow of the building slightly darkened the right side more than any other. "There's an entrance there too. I'll try that."

  Jamie carefully pulled close to the entrance I requested and shut the Jeep off. The two of us stared at the old building as it rose above us.

  "Jacey, I don't like this. I should be going in with you."

  I grabbed Jamie's arm. It felt hot compared to my clammy, cool hand.

  "No, Jamie, you can't. Please, just stay here until you see Oma come out, okay?"

  Jamie's eyes searched mine. I could see the same desperation, the same fear in his eyes that I knew he could see in mine. He dropped his arms from the steering wheel and my arm dropped with it. He took his right hand and slid it up my cheek, capturing the back of my head in his palm. He held me still as he stared intently into my eyes.

  "I'll be right here, Jacey. Whenever you need me, I'll be in there. Just yell for me and I'll come running. I love you."

  He jerked me toward him and kissed me. His lips crushed mine as he pulled me closer, his fingers gripping my scalp. Any other time, this kiss would have been harsh, but under the circumstances I kissed him back. As Jamie's lips moved against mine, I followed, mimicking his own movements. My hands moved to Jamie's face and held his to mine, responding fully to him. I breathed in his scent, felt the stubble on his cheeks, tasted the mintiness of his mouthwash still on his tongue. I kissed him with the same need that he kissed me.

  He finally released me. He kept his eyes closed as his forehead rested against mine. I kept my hands around his face, still holding him close. He rubbed my cheek with his thumb, both of us breathless.

  Jamie smiled softly, opening his eyes as he did. He kept his forehead against mine. "I love you, Jacey. I do."

  My heart broke with the words he whispered. My throat burned with the tears I refused to shed. I grieved for the love I could have shared with Jamie, for the life we could have lived together. A love and life that would never grow, never blossom now. A love that might have developed on its own if I wasn't a Healer, if I hadn't met Varick. I grieved for the pain Jamie would feel losing me. I grieved for
him. For us.

  I kissed him one more time, softly, barely brushing my lips against his. I closed my eyes, taking another deep breath. Opening them, I pulled away, just enough so I could look into his eyes. Jamie's eyes were stormy grey, his pain clearly evident in their turbulence.

  "I love you, Jamie McMann. I love you for who you are and I love you for what you do for me.

  Jamie blinked with the shock my words gave him. My sudden shift of feelings surely surprised him. But surprise transformed to pleasure as a grin spread across his face. His eyes softened as he stared at me.

  "Really? You really love me?"

  "Yes, I do. I love you." I held his face in mine still. "I don't want you to ever forget that. " My words came out a little harsher than I had intended, but Jamie didn't seem to mind. His smile broadened as he bent his head to kiss me again. As we separated, we both dropped our hands from each other's faces and grasped them together between us instead.

  Jamie breathed deeply, his shoulders moving with the effort. He smiled at me. "Be safe in there. Come back to me with Oma. I love you, Jacey."

  I cringed slightly at his words, knowing I wasn't coming back.

  I reluctantly released his hands and stepped from the Jeep to face the warehouse where Oma and the Fury awaited me. I walked up the stone steps to the concrete landing and the heavy steel door that led inside. Before I entered, I looked back at Jamie sitting in the front seat. He smiled encouragingly at me, and I smiled weakly in return before turning back to the steel door of the warehouse.

  Taking a deep breath, I pulled on the heavy door. It groaned as it opened. I closed my eyes and pictured Oma and Varick and even Jamie and Emma, the loved ones I was ultimately trying to protect. I opened my eyes and stepped into the dark warehouse, into the mouth of the beast, where Oma and my destiny awaited.

  -Twenty-Six-

  The warehouse was dark and it took a moment for my eyes to adjust. The natural light from the open door spilled in showing the dirt and debris scattered on the concrete floor. I walked carefully to avoid making noise. Dust particles floated around me, visible in the day light peeking through the boarded windows. A large rat scurried close to the wall and ducked into a crack where the wall and floor came together.