by Lucy Swing
With a long sigh, I traded my high heels for the old and reliable beat up chucks. Once settled into my comfortable running shoes, I pulled the dress off, revealing the white tee and short shorts I had underneath it. I set off into the dark forest with my pink flashlight in hand.
I pulled the map out of the backpack and twisted it around until I got the coordinates in place. I traced the way to the cave with my finger and realized I was still a pretty far from my destination. I packed it back into my bag and I set off again, running through the uneven ground, over and under overgrown branches, jumping over large boulders, all the while trying not to twist an ankle as I was be prone to do.
I finally came into a clearing. Above me I saw that the moon was at its fullest, which was very odd, as the night before I could have sworn there had been no moon at all. The light brightly shone down onto the forest, washing every spot of darkness with its intensity. I shoved the flashlight into my back pocket now that it wasn‘t needed. On the other side of the clearing I found the entrance to the cave. I hesitated as I stared at the small opening. There was no time for thinking now; I needed to save my best friend. I crossed my fingers, in hopes I was at the right place and there was still time.
My footsteps were cautious as I silently crossed the clearing and approached the cave. I rested my back against the cold large rocks that surrounded it and peeked in. All I could see was a heart-pounding-inducing blackness that took the breath right out of my lungs. I reached for the flashlight, but my own inside voice stopped me. You will be giving yourself away. You don’t think they will see you coming a mile away? I slowly pulled my hand away and drew a deep breath. I pulled myself off the rocky wall and took a step onto the entrance. A cold hand wrapped itself around my mouth and waist and quickly pulled me back into the shadows of the forest.
4 SWEET DEATH I kicked my feet up in the air, squirming and twisting my body to break free. The arms that were wrapped around me would not budge. The large hands were icy cold, but the rest of the body I was pinned against seemed almost feverish.
―Shhh.‖ His lips were next to my ear, and I could feel his warm breath caress my skin, sending shivers down my spine. ―I will let go, but only if you promise not to scream.‖
I closed my eyes, unsure if I was horrified or I actually enjoyed being this close to him. I couldn‘t still have feelings for Jude after all that had happened. After knowing that he was the one behind all the disappearances, knowing what he was capable of.
―Bailey, I can‘t let you go if you don‘t stop this.‖ His hands tightened around me and my adrenaline kicked in gear.
The fear crept into me all at once, my muscles tightened in pain, and suddenly a blinding flash of light erupted between us. It took me a moment to realize I was free of him. I looked down at Jude, who had been thrown onto the ground, and then bolted back towards the clearing and the car.
Not a minute later, his footsteps were loud and fast, approaching with determination. I can‘t let him get me. My legs ached, and I thought of giving up; I knew there was no way I could ever outrun him. But my legs fought through the pain, not allowing me to stop. I was in survival mode, and there was nothing else I could do.
The sound of his feet hitting the ground time and time again began to fade. When I was unable to hear him anymore, I slowed my pace, looking at the forest behind me. I sighed in relief when I found it to be empty. I rested my hands on my knees and leaned on them as I tried to catch my breath. I turned to keep running, knowing all too well sooner or later he would come looking for me, and that‘s when I stumbled upon Chance, who was simply standing there, leaning against a tree. The way he was looking at me as he became one with the shadows made me take a step back.
―Chance,‖ my heart seemed to go on overdrive, ―what are you doing here?‖
He closed the space between us with incredible speed and grabbed my arm. His touch was cold and hard, I tried to pull away. His hand tightened around my arm, making me wince in pain.
―You are hurting me.‖
―Why are you here?‖
I searched his darkened face and I could tell he wasn‘t happy to see me. I tried to speak but I couldn‘t find my voice; the sudden threat in his demeanor sent my stomach catapulting down.
He shook me as if I were a faulty toy. ―Speak!‖ He demanded.
―Chance, you are hurting me. Let go,‖ I pulled again to no avail.
―Not until you answer me. Why are you here? How did you find this place?‖ He lifted my arm, almost pulling me off the ground all together. ―Did someone send you here?‖
―What? No!‖ I didn‘t understand how anyone could have sent me here, but there was no time for questioning him. ―I am looking for Maggie.‖ I finally freed myself from his grip and moved away from him as I rubbed my arm frantically. ―I know she is somewhere out here.‖ I looked back at his grim face, the way it searched mine. ―How did you find me?‖
He closed the space between us, and his rough fingertip found my cheek. It was easy to see how hard he was trying to soothe the situation, but something wasn‘t right. He wasn‘t soothing me; instead a thousand spiders crawled up my spine. He carefully slid his hand into mine, squeezing it tightly. ―You scared me. That is all. Come, there is somewhere we need to be.‖ His warm smile failed at comforting me. ―No, we have to leave. I saw Jude; it is him that has been kidnapping all the girls. He has Maggie! We have to get help.‖ I pulled my cell phone out and started to dial when he took it from me and crushed it in the palm of his hand with ridiculous strength.
―What are you doing?‖ I yelled at him. ―Didn‘t you hear what I just said?‖ I looked around the woods confused. The white light that had been shining down before had now changed. There was a red hue that enveloped around the trees, giving the forest an unnatural eerie ambiance. The bare trees around us gave way to where the moon hovered just beyond them. It was no longer a regular moon; instead, it was now deep red with two large purple rings around it. ―D-Do you see that?‖ I stuttered, and my finger shook as I pointed at it. His eyes never left my face. He got closer, and I met his hungry eyes as his hand gripped mine tighter. I wanted to scream. I wanted to run, but all I could do was stare at his blood red eyes.
―It is almost time,‖ His smile had vanished. He shoved me forward and pulled me forcefully towards the cave.
―Time for what? What‘s going on, Chance? We have to get out!‖ The desperation clearly came through in my voice, and he couldn‘t help but chuckle, a sinister laugh that got caught in his chest.
I said nothing else as he pulled me towards the cave, his fingers digging onto my skin, afraid they would rip through it at any given moment. The anxiety was escalating, and there was nowhere for me to run. My resistance was no match for his strength.
―Are you in on it with Jude?‖
He stopped and looked at me. After a few seconds a loud, crackling laugh erupted from his chest. ―Darling, it was me all along; your pitiful friend was just a pawn on the scheme of things. He was so occupied trying to save those pathetic little girls that he didn‘t see what was happening right before his eyes.‖ He smiled triumphantly. ―Until it was too late, obviously.‖
If Jude had nothing to do with it, then why was he always making weird comments and looking at me funny? Then it hit me. He hadn‘t been threatening me; he had been trying to warn me. I shook my head at my own foolishness.
―Why are you doing this?‖ The silence was filled with the breaking of twigs and dry leaves under our feet. ―What are you doing?‖
―Ah, well, it seems that you have something I need. But don‘t you worry, love; it will all be revealed to you soon.‖ His face got inches away from mine as if he was going to kiss me. Before I would have felt the butterflies taking over my body; now I was filled with revulsion. I looked away, disgusted. Irritation must have taken over him as he slapped me with the back of his hand, throwing me in the air and onto a fallen tree trunk about ten feet away. My back slammed against the hard mass and as I hit the g
round, my head collided against a rock. A liquid streamed down my face creating a warm trail.
Aw. The pain lingered on.
―Get up,‖ he demanded taking a few steps back. ―Get up,‖ he repeated.
I wish I could!
Without waiting much longer for me to do so, he pulled me up by my elbow and kept me at arms distance, as if my presence repelled him.
I squealed at the way his fingertips dug on my skin. There was no inch of my body that wasn‘t pounding with waves of excruciating pain. He let go of me, and I crumpled to the ground, like a puppet cut off of its strings. This time when he picked me up, he threw me over his shoulder and made his way into the cave with the incredible speed I had been witnessed to before.
―We soon will be together, forever,‖ He said. I cringed at the thought and at what that would entail. ―Well, not you Bailey, you will be long gone. All I need is your body.‖
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN!?
As he carried me through the darkness, a set of red eyes moved with us. The echoing of hisses filled the air. I tried to speak but I couldn‘t find my voice. The panic was now taking over me. With a fast and swift motion, he propped me on the floor against the wall.
When I raised my gaze I had a clear view to my best friend‘s chained body a few feet away from me. Her head lifted softly and I could tell it was taking all of her strength to do so. Her eyes fixed on me, and horror crossed her face. She shook her head frantically.
―No! I ate the chocolates. I took her place. She‘s not supposed to be here!‖ As if she had found her strength, she attempted to free herself from the thick rusting chains around her. ―She is not supposed to be here!‖ She repeated almost in a shriek.
Chance laughed loudly, sending the echo he caused in the cave rippling through my skin. ―Do you think I brought her here? This was all of her doing. You could have sufficed, but with her—‖ he looked me over as if I was a prized possession— ―Her body will be the one that rules next to me.‖ He began to fidget with another set of chains that hung from the ceiling between Maggie and me. ―Once Cassandra can cross over, we will be unstoppable again, don‘t you think, Magdalene?‖
Maggie stopped fighting the chains and stood still. Her eyes glowed in the dimly lit space.
―Ah, don‘t be this way. You were a good friend. You sacrificed yourself, thinking you could save her. And you might have, but she is as naïve as her mother was.‖ He cocked his head to the side and pouted his lips.
I once again tried to speak; a million questions running through my head. So many things that had always been left unanswered that she seems to have had all the answers to all along. And what did he mean she sacrificed herself for me? And WHAT ABOUT MY MOTHER??
He unlocked the chains and readied them for me. When he turned to me, lowering to pick me up and chain me, a deafening cracking sound erupted from behind him. We both looked up.
Maggie had ripped the chains from the ceiling and was now removing them from around her wrists and torso. She lifted her head enough for us to see her glowing eyes and the crooked smile.
The panic in me hit a new level, as realization that neither one of them were human and I had no idea what I was facing. All I knew was that I was lying on the floor defenseless.
―You really want to do this, Magdalene?‖ His voice was low and threatening as he crouched in front of me. His voice sounded deeper… older, as if it wasn‘t Chance anymore.
―She doesn‘t belong in this world and especially not with you. Let her go, and I promise to kill you quickly.‖ The yellow light from the emergency lights above us hit her eyes and augmented their depth. She bared her teeth, and a growl roared in her chest. My eyes were locked on her, on the best friend I had known for so long, who apparently was more than just that. Part of me felt betrayed that I had been lied to my whole life. Was any of it real?
―If I wanted you to be the one, then I would have done so since the very beginning, but her lineage is far more powerful than yours will ever be.‖ I didn‘t see it when Chance lunged forward. Maggie jumped and grabbed him by the shirt midair, thrusting him against the wall of the cave. He fell onto the floor with a loud thud.
He was up on his feet within seconds, swinging his large, muscular arms at her. She moved with incredible agility and looked as if she was barely trying. What happened to the chained girl that seemed to not have any life left?
―You forget what you have made, Benjamin. All of my powers have been amplified as well as the new ones you have given me.‖ She snickered under her breath, taunting him. Slowly, as If she was swatting a mosquito away, she hit him square in the chest and sent him flying about thirty feet away and into the darkness of the cave. She smiled at the way the body crashed against the cobblestone and then rushed next to me. Her eyes were full of worry as she seized me and looked back; making sure Chance was still on the ground. His body laid in the most unnatural position and I wondered if he would ever get back up.
―I am so sorry, Bai; this should have never happened.‖ She stared deep into my eyes and then they slowly moved to my forehead. Her eyes turned black, and desire flickered through them before she blinked it away. ―You are bleeding badly.‖ Her eyes were back on Chance‘s motionless body. ―Can you move?‖ I tried to shake my head but was unaware if I had been successful. The pain had subsided and the numbness had set in.
―What.. is.. going.. on?‖ I finally found my voice, though it was hoarse and I could taste blood in my mouth.
―We need to get you out; it is not safe for you here.‖ She put her hands under my armpits and attempted to pick me up, but I fought it. I wasn‘t going anywhere until I got some answers. Chance was probably not getting back up, so she might as well explain herself.
―What do you know about my mother?‖ My words were low and held enough animosity to make her eyes widen.
―This is not the time—―
―This is the perfect time. Tell me!‖ I was surprised at how the roar in my voice made the cave shake slightly.
We were silent for what seemed like eternity as she searched my eyes, knowing we were not going anywhere until she talked. She nodded and took another look at Chance, who was still lying, limp on the floor.
―Your mom was not normal, she was special. She was…‖ She hesitated and looked down at her hands, which were pulling on a string of her ripped jeans. ―She was a witch. She came from a very powerful lineage of witches that lived like normal people. She was sought after for her power and so she ran.‖ She looked down. ―He found her. He put her through what he intended to put you through, but she was older and not as strong. She—she didn‘t make it. You have great power in you; you just haven‘t been able to channel it yet.‖
I shook my head in disbelief, if she really expected me to believe all of this, she did not know me after all. ―Seriously, this is the best you can do? I‘m not a witch, I have no power, and that alone proves you are wrong.‖
―They are dormant. As I said, you need to call on them. Before your mom left, she bound them. Even then, I felt you use them earlier. You are much stronger than any of us can imagine.‖
―Why does Chance want me?‖ I asked as I stole a glance his way.
―It is not Chance that wants you but Benjamin. He is a warlock. He has taken the body of Chance to blend in and needs one for his wife, too. They are dangerous and we cannot let them do this.‖ She pulled out her cell phone and hit a single button; the other end answered at once. I stared at her in disbelief. ―We are at the tunnel. She is here and badly hurt. You need to get here now. Thereisn‘t much time.‖
A blur of movement passed in front of me. Chance, or Benjamin, had Maggie pinned on the ground with one arm while the other one was throwing punches that kept making holes on the ground as she dodged them. I was so caught up in Maggie‘s safety I hadn‘t noticed that I was moving. Not by my own accord, but I was once again being lifted by someone. I tried to fight it, I needed to help Maggie. My head fell onto the person‘s shoulder and I looked
up.
Jude was carrying me in his arms; it felt more like cradling me like a little baby. Even with everything that was going on, and even under the dim glow of the lights he managed to leave me breathless. Leave it up to me to find out I‘m a witch and someone wants to kill me, yet still thinking only about kissing him.
He told me to be quiet and started to make his way through the cave at an amazing speed. The cold air rushed by quietly but with force. The grunting and hissing were now becoming more and more distant as the darkness embraced us. He halted with a short gasp, almost losing his grip on my body.
I couldn‘t see what was happening; my sole view was that of his face. He began to take a few steps back and I wanted to scream at him not to. What could be worse than Chance? That‘s when I heard the voices, all speaking at once.
―Hey, lover boy.‖
―You have come to join us?‖
It was Felicity and her minion.
―We don‘t want any trouble. We are not here to hurt anyone; I just need to get Bailey to a doctor.‖ Jude‘s arms tightened around me, and it was amazing the feeling of security he brought to me. His scent warmed me up from the inside out.
―Ah, but we can‘t let you do that. She is here for a reason.‖ Felicity grunted.
I was scared. I didn‘t want to die, not yet, whether it was physical or spiritual. But I didn‘t want him to die because of me either. I wanted to tell Jude to leave me behind, to walk away and save himself, but I couldn‘t make myself say the words. I thought of all the times he had tried to warn me.
―Go,‖ I finally said in a raspy faint sound that caused him to look at me. His eyes glistened and longing displayed through them.
―No, I will not leave you.‖
He began to lower me to the ground and tentatively took a step towards the girls. There were five missing girls in total, counting Maggie, so where were the rest?
―Why don‘t you walk away, lover boy? I really would hate to have to hurt you.‖ Felicity‘s voice carried in the air.