by Amanda Miga
"Violet. Is that her name?" My lips curl at the real image of her in my mind compliments of Red. "Journals? You want me to read them?"
"I think you would get a lot of use out of them." A trickle of blood blooms on his forehead. The lights flicker and Red falls back behind the counter and hits the wall.
"Are you okay?" I lean over the counter.
Blood drips down his face and Red's body goes rigid. "You better get ready because she'll be here soon." Red's eyes close and his face dissolves with my surrounds into a white void.
I open my eyes. My body is over-heated and my t-shirt is drenched in sweat. My tongue is too dry to lick my chapped lips. I sit up and comb my fingers through my damp hair. The clock on the nightstand says I've only been asleep for a few minutes.
Violet.
I reach for a drawing pad. My Goddess has eyes after all.
My pencil moves upon the paper, shading in her big earthy eyes. Not a single stroke is a mistake; every line I make is where it should be. She’s come to life with these eyes. She’s real. There is nothing more beautiful than this girl.
“Violet. I love you.”
Chapter Thirteen
Alex
Gabriel is preoccupied with the smell of flowers perfuming the air. I watch him peel back his hood and his nose sniffs the air like a dog. He likes flowers? —pretty weird for a kid who smells like the locker room after practice. A row of pine trees lining the street takes his interest. Someone named Joshua lives up another block. This Josh person was his friend, but something happened. I see a door dividing them in his thoughts, but can’t see why this image is the source of the broken friendship.
His mouth twists and his brow knots between his eyes as another image of Joshua comes, only this time Joshua is reaching for him. This kid wanted to touch him and Gabriel doesn’t want him too. Things happen when Gabriel touches people. My eyes widen—this freaky kid has done lot of things with a lot of people. At a young age this kid was doing some nasty shit. Maybe his friend knew that. Maybe his friend wanted a piece of the action. Is Gabriel Black gay? No, he’s not, but he’s done things anyway without wanting to. This kid is confusing.
I recede out of his head when our eyes connect. His hood is pulled forward to hide his face again. My presence noticed like a burglar setting off an alarm. I've got to learn to tip-toe, especially around a mind like Gabriel's—there's so much to look at.
"This is it." Violet stops in front of a large suburban house with all the lights on. The front door isn't even open and I can hear the voices from the street. From the look of all the toys scattered across the lawn, I assume this was either a day care or the family causing the racket inside is a big one.
I follow Violet's climbing the steps while Gabriel sits at the bottom of the porch well away from us. I keep close to Violet since Gabriel weirds me out. She smells nicer anyway.
A small child, no more than four years-old opens the door in a yellow dress with one red shoe and one black shoe. Behind her, family mayhem; a table filled with food and no one eating. It looks like its dinnertime only everyone is out of their seats. I thought I saw someone throw a chair.
"Hi, is Dash home?" Violet asks the little girl.
Dash? Is that a real name?
"Yep." The child says as she closes the door.
“Don’t worry she’s getting him.” I reassure Violet.
A slim weak looking kid with untidy brown hair flopping over one eye and lopsided glasses opens the door. He looks familiar.
Violet recognizes the boy but in a way I've never seen in someone's mind before. She sees light around bodies. There something about the aura that she sees confirming that they are who they are. That's how she recognized Gabriel and me.
"Dash Carver. I'm Violet Reyes."
The kid stares at her blankly. The lack of emotion on his face is the opposite of what's happening in his head. I'm surprised that Dash recognizes her too. He had a dream with her just like I did. He remembers everything. My dream was vague, but this kid experienced it more vividly.
He admires how beautiful she is using words like symmetrical and well-formed. I'd just say she's hot. The kid assumes he loves her, which is ridiculous—they just met. I'm not worried because he’s a nerdy sad kid. I try suppressing a laugh but it slips out as I sway a little closer to Violet.
Dash spots Gabriel and recognizes him from his dream too. Gabriel looks at him, but no recognition is indicated. The kid doesn't seem to think the same for me, but I can swear that I've seen Dash before.
The awkward kid pushes up his glasses. "I assume Red is real too?" The kid feels unworthy and averts his eyes from Violet. He wants to move his hair but he decides to hide behind it. This kid has no self-esteem.
"Yes, he's the reason I came for you. Will you come with me tonight? Red needs your help."
“I’ll help.” Dash takes a backpack from behind the door like he’s been expecting her. While I was partying, this kid was packing his bag. I fold my arms across my chest. How does Violet need this kids help?
“This is Alex Aisling.”
“Hey.” His chin rises. I do the same.
“And this is Gabriel.” With a slight nod of his head, Gabriel slings his backpack on his shoulder. His eyes search the street; he's anxious to leave Joshua's neighborhood.
“So do you have to ask your mom if it’s okay—" Violet's funny. He's sixteen not six.
“No.” Dash looks at the family circus playing out behind him. It's the norm for him; the total opposite of my house.
“Are you sure?” Violet clasps her hands together. “I don’t want you to get you into trouble. I mean we are strangers…”
Dash closes the door behind him and stands in front of Violet. He's taller than her. He straightens his shoulders on purpose to show her he's not a kid. I cover my mouth before I let a chuckle slip.
"I'm old enough to leave without asking for their permission." It came out harsher than he wanted. I can barely hold in in.
"Okay." Violet backs away from him. He strolls down the porch steps and stops as Gabriel backs away with his head down. Dash moves his hair to the side and stares at Gabriel.
“Won’t they notice you’re gone?” Violet asks. “I’m sure your parents will worry.”
“I doubt it.” Dash sighs and looks at his sneakers like he's suddenly afraid to look at her.
I unfold my arms. Dash is feeling what I have often felt when my parents abandon me for their business trips. The funny thing is this kid has an ever present family and still feels forgotten. I can relate to this because of the long stretches between seeing my parents. I often feel deserted too. With so much family, no one seems to notice him or even care about the things he cares about. He doesn't even have friends to confide in.
"Okay. This is everybody. Let's go to my place. I'll explain there."
I like the sound of that and swiftly walk beside Violet with Dash following close behind. Gabriel tags along but with distance behind us. Violet turns around once in a while just to make sure he's there. I still don't know why she needs the other two. They don't seem to be as special like me. I can read minds, so what does she need with a pervert and over-imaginative nerd for.
***
Alex
I recognize the part of the city we're walking through. My mouth waters when the smell of spices invades my nostrils points to the long line outside of Hell's BBQ. I hadn't eaten much at Jake's party and my buzz is long gone. The deep rumbles of heavy bass rattle the glass of a blackened building with a neon yellow sign flashing The Basement. Lots of artists and musicians play in these clubs and bars. The street festivals are amazing and the live concerts free. There's even a record label in this area; a music studio I dream of recording at one day. One of the schools Mrs. Rubio recommended is blocks from here; a perfect area to jump-start my music career if only my parents would let me make my own decisions. A guy sitting on the window sill stroking a cat's back catches my eye. He's chilling with a beer in his hand, listeni
ng to the sound of the city. I could live here.
"So where are we going?" I look up to admire the red lit Rise & Fall Studio sign across the street.
"My home. I need to show you so you'll understand some things."
"I know, but I can't seem to figure out where. It's not clear when I try to read your mind."
"You can read minds?" Dash pushes up his glasses.
Gabriel perks his head up.
It's the first time I've blurted my secret out to anyone.
"Red made it so it isn't easy to find. It's hidden and kind of nowhere at the same time. It's hard to explain. Red made it that way." Violet’s apologetic smile makes me want to dig deeper into her mind.
"What do you mean Red made it that way?" Dash takes the words right out of my mouth.
She pauses for a moment to collect the right words. "Red is special. I'm sure you've all experience that in your dreams. Where I'm taking you is a place he made and I don't mean built."
Dash looks just as confused as I do. I don’t understand the pieces of information floating around in her head. I hope she’s not crazy. She stops in front of a large abandoned building. Gabriel is taking note of the location as if it will be a potentially good place for shelter when he needs it. Since Violet lives around here, that’s a plus for him. His thoughts are pretty pitiful.
Gabriel must've felt me poking around in his head because he's wondering if I can see other things in his mind, but he won’t dare ask. I can pretty much see everything. I wish I couldn't.
Violet goes into the decrepit building.
"Here?" I cringe.
"Come on, it's nicer inside, I promise." Violet opens the overly creaky door.
Broken glass crunches under foot. "Doesn't look like it." I sigh when I kick up dust and brittle old newspapers. I grind my teeth when I hear Gabriel snicker. The weird kid is used to filth. He's slept in a number of places that rival this dump. Gabriel can't help but smile as I attempt to try not to get my new sneakers dirty. I'm so kicking his grimy ass.
We follow Violet up a flight of stairs and down a hallway corridor. From the fancy molding, this place has been around a long time. The window glass is wavy which I remember from a school trip to famous mansion that it means it's as old as fuck. Violet goes into one of the rooms and stops in front of a full length mirror. It looks out of place among the gray garbage. Brand new mahogany wood frames a pristine mirror.
“Why would someone leave such a beautiful piece?” I say.
"This is the entrance." She put her hand through the mirror. The three us stare at how Violet's hand disappears. "Come on." She walks right into it and she's gone.
"Dude, did she just—"
"Well, it is the entrance." Dash pushes his glasses up.
"Thanks for enlightening me on that," I say sarcastically. "This is getting weirder and weirder." I approach the so-called entrance. "What the hell am I doing?" I was partying one minute then following a hot chick walking through mirrors. Maybe I'm still dreaming.
I step through first. My sneaker hits earth. It’s dark. But I can tell I'm outside, but in the country side. The chirping frogs and noisy insects remind me of the vacations in the country my family use to take before work became priority. I hadn't heard nature like this since I was little. It’s too dark to tell my surroundings completely, but the night's starry sky is bright, something I hadn't seen in a long time. I can make out trees that surround the place.
Dash comes through, bumping me away from what looks like a gate.
***
Dash
"Sorry." I adjust myself from clashing into him, but I don't think Alex heard me. He's too busy staring ahead of him. I can see why.
There's something unusual within the dark landscape. At first I thought I saw fireflies, but I pushes his glasses up, and see lines that remind me of glow-in-the-dark markers I had when I was younger. The lines move as if someone is drawing them; leaving tiny lit streaks in the air. The stars are brilliant without the use of a telescope. I recognize the triangle constellation immediately, but the season is wrong. It's late spring and the sky is showing Lyra, Cygnus and Altair which are most discernible in the summer.
"Dash, are you okay?" Violet asks. I hadn't noticed I was breathing hard. All I can do is nod; it's a bit overwhelming by the traces of the hyper-intelligence enveloping my senses.
Violet steps away pulling me by my backpack to make way for Gabriel.
***
Gabriel
Stepping through, I smell the air and instantly feel at ease. I flop back my hood and drop my backpack. I'm a rock settling at the bottom of the ocean from a seemingly endless sinking journey. It’s so serene, I stand for a while taking in the fresh air and strange darkness. I realize the rest of them are walking toward a cabin at the other end of the field. Its light glows like a lantern in the distance.
Walking through the grass, there's luminescence among the blades, but it isn't from the moon or the stars. It’s coming from the grass and plants. A halo like coloring surrounds each leaf and each blossom. It reminds me of how radiation is illustrated in comics. Searching the horizon, a forest of trees surrounds the dreamy place. It’s beautiful even in the darkness of night. I'm comfortable here—where ever here is. Maybe stepping into the mirror was stepping into a portal like in the sci-fi stories I've read.
"So what can you do?"
Dash startles me. I was so in awe of my surroundings, I didn't feel him enter my personal space. I veer away as I follow Violet. I don't know how to answer him. "I'm not sure." Violet had said we all have abilities and as far as I'm concern, I have none. "It's more of a condition then ability." I place my hood back on.
I can feel him watching me. I don't like it because it feels like Alex's telepathy.
"What about you?" I ask, diverting the conversation away from me.
"Not sure." Our eyes meet and I feel heat on my side. Dash is too close again. I lengthen the gap between us. I look down at my feet and notice the flowers are all closed for the night. "I wonder why they glow."
"What?" Dash asks.
"The plants and the flowers—they glow."
"Which ones?"
"All of them. Can't you see it?"
"No, I don't." Dash pushes the hair out of his eyes. "I guess you can’t see the glowing lines darting around this place then."
"Glowing lines?"
"Interesting. Maybe that's part of your ability."
I don't want to talk about myself.
"This place is cool." Dash says. "So, you had a dream, too? You've seen Red?"
"Yeah."
"You were in mine. Was I in yours?"
I look at Dash. This is weird. This total stranger had a dream with me in it. "Alex was in it. He was just buying a helmet."
"Buying a helmet?" Dash walks a little closer. I instantly veer away. If we keep doing this walking dance, we'll end up in the woods. He's one of those clingy people; the one who don't know the meaning of personal space. Those are the worse kind of people.
"You were leaving the antique shop when we brushed shoulders by accident." Dash combs back his hair, for it to only move back over his face. "It felt... different."
I swallow hard. How can that be? There's no way he could know about me. I walk a little faster like each step will get me farther away from what Dash had just said.
***
Alex
Gabriel and Dash catch up as they pass a lake which looks like glass. The reflection of the moon lights the surface, giving it the illusion that the water is glowing. I imagine the water is cool in contrast to the slight warmth of the recycled light of the moon.
I'm unable to understand Dash's mind now. Like a mosaic of thoughts, it's too cryptic to decipher. Gabriel's is clearer and still much too dark for my taste. Violet has too many holes to comprehend an actual story. They weren't like this before the mirror. There's more, too much more now. At least Violet isn't scientific or horrifying. She's all I want to listen to anyway. She’s nervous abo
ut talking to us; wondering what to say and how to say it. Every so often, her thoughts would veer off into a memory that doesn't make any sense. It always includes Red and some other guy—Grey. It's too quick to see because she shoves it so far to the back of her head. Whatever it is, it seems to make her very sad; the corners of her mouth fall a little.
"So you live here." I confirm with her.
"Yep, with Red..." She trails off like she wanted to say 'and'.
"And Grey?" I fill in the blank for her. I have to admit, I want to impress her with my ability. She looks stunned, but doesn't deny nor confirm it. It’s a touchy subject. Her mind springs back to thinking of Red. It seems to be her main focus, but I can see this Grey person is much more than someone that used to live here with her. They were close. She wants to cover that up. I know what that feels like. I always hid my connection to Cher. Cher isn’t anything to me, but for some reason I can’t explain, my chest hurts to see her with Pete.
I shake off the thought of Cher as we approach the modern cabin with a peaked roof and windows lining the front. There are more angles and lines then the typical cabin I remember I used to build with my toy logs. I gaze over at Violet. She lives here with Red, but it doesn't seem like their married. I wonder if they're together. I wonder if he's inside.
***
Gabriel
I would look at the cabin more if I wasn't so distracted by the blackness next to it. Nothing seems to be glowing near the edge of the forest; even the moon doesn't penetrate the area. The more I stare into the dark hole, the more it absorbs my attention. My eyes are transfixed to the deep pit as it swallows up my peripherals. I'm no longer standing with strangers in the grassy field. I'm floating in the depths of something destructive. Something deep inside me hums to life. That dark place... my body... it wants—