by M. K. ROZE
Liam stood in front of Maria, blocking Constin’s view. “Hey, do you have a problem, man?”
Constin’s fists balled up like he was ready to attack.
My eyes turned to Maria, and she looked like she was ready to fight too.
“Do you two need some time alone?” I asked.
They kept staring at each other, ignoring me.
“Hello,” Liam said, waving his hand in front of Maria’s face.
Maria swatted Liam’s hand away, grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him in for a kiss as she stared at Constin.
“What’s wrong with you?” I yelled.
She pushed Liam’s face away and turned to Constin. “You look weak, lover,” she mocked and walked down the street with Liam following her.
I smacked Constin on his chest. “What the hell is she talking about?”
“Nothing,” Constin said, watching Maria walk away.
“Then what’s with the tension between you two?”
He grabbed my shoulders. “Viata, we must go.” His voice was desperate.
“No, I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on.”
“Viata, please come with me now.” He held his breath, and his face looked like it was melting away.
I rubbed my eyes and looked again. He was leaned over, facing the floor.
“Constin, look at me,” I said as I tried to get him up.
He pulled away. “No,” he yelled.
My body jerked. “Go,” I shouted.
He stood up and fell against the door. “Go to your parents’ house. You’re much safer there. I’m much too weak to protect you right now.”
“Protect me from what? Your ex? And stop acting like Mihnea. It’s creepy.”
His face started to change again, and he rushed out the door. “Go to your parents’,” he ordered. “I’ll pick you up there. Go now before they come back.”
“Constin, wait,” I shouted, running toward the car. He started it and took off down the road, faster than I’d ever seen him drive before.
“But you don’t know where my parents live.” I walked back inside and slammed the door behind me.
Liam came in right after that. “What was that all about?”
“Hold on!” I yelled as I tried calling Constin. I should have never let him drive like that.
The phone rang, but he didn’t answer, so I ended the call and walked into the kitchen to get a glass of water. “I don’t know what’s going on. You tell me, Liam.”
“I asked Maria what was wrong, but she said nothing, and ran away from me. I’ve never seen anyone run that fast before.”
My hands became weak, and I dropped the glass on the floor, glass shattering everywhere. “What did you just say?”
“What? About the part where she was running?”
“Yes, that part.” I bent down to pick up the glass.
“I’ve never seen anyone run as fast as she did. Maybe a cheetah, but not a human. Perhaps I’m just tired. Also, the entire time she was here, she was asking questions about you.”
“Like what?”
He paced the kitchen. “I don’t know, Viata. I need time to think.”
We cleaned up the rest of the glass. “Time’s up,” I said, “what else did she ask you?”
“Calm down. She asked how long you and Constin have been together, so I told her.”
“Why?”
He shrugged.
“What else?”
“She told me to tell you that Savina said hi.”
My heart skipped a beat, and the room started to spin. I grabbed his shoulder to remain upright.
“No-no-no-no-no,” I wailed, taking a few steps back. “How could Maria know her? There’s no way. Unless my dreams are real.”
“Viata, seriously. Calm down. You sound crazy.”
I got in his face. “I will not calm down, Liam. I tried to tell you this before. My damn visions are real. And there are people after me, trying to take my soul. And your little girlfriend, Maria, is one of those people.”
“Wait, your soul? What are you talking about? Maria’s a normal girl, not a damn monster.”
“Liam, you must leave, please. Go back home before they come after you too.”
“This is ridiculous,” he said, storming out of the kitchen. “I’m staying here, and you need help.”
“Liam, please listen to me,” I pleaded, following him.
“Screw off. You’re nuts just like my friends said.” He slammed the door in my face.
I punched his door and yelled out in pain.
“Go away, Viata or I’m calling your parents.”
I walked into my room and tried calling Constin again, but he didn’t pick up. After I changed into jeans, I paced back and forth for a while hour, trying to make sense of it all. Constin knows something. I know he does. What his he hiding?
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
HUNTED
A loud bang came from the roof. I dropped the ground, looking up. “Liam!” I shouted, “get in here.”
Liam charged into my room. “What the hell was that?” he said.”
“I don’t know. S-shut the door and lock it.”
“This is stupid,” he said. “I’m going outside to look.”
“No, don’t.” I ran to the door and blocked him in.
“Viata, get out of my way,” he ordered.
I grabbed his arm. “No, please stay with me,” I begged, tears brimming in my eyes.
“Fine, I’ll play your game,” he said and sat down on the bed. Liam folded his arms and tapped his foot.
“Shhh. I need to hear.”
He sighed and looked away.
I ran over to the window to peek outside.
“Why don’t you just call the cops?” Liam said.
“No, not yet. That’s all I need is them here again.”
“Viata,” a woman’s voice called from inside the house.
“Savina? No, it can’t be,” I said, as I grabbed my phone and car keys off the dresser.
“Who is Savina?” Liam asked.
“That woman in our house is Savina.” I stepped back, shaking my head.
Liam’s eyes widened. “What the hell are you talking about?”
I grabbed him by his shirt, shaking him. “Smack me! Smack me hard.”
“Are you crazy? I’m not hitting you.”
“Do it. Do it now. I need to wake up.”
He pushed me away. “You are awake, stupid.”
“No, I’m not.” I kept hitting him on his chest, hoping he would hit me.
He held me back. “Viata, stop it.”
I smacked my face as hard as I could. I lost my balance for a second and opened my eyes. “You’re still here,” I shouted confused. I rushed over and quickly pushed the dresser in front of the door.
“What are you doing? It’s only Maria messing around, and probably your stupid boyfriend too.”
“No, it’s not. Don’t you get it, Liam? Maria’s not who you think she is, and she’s not human.”
“Oh please, she’s just changing her voice. Now, get out of my way before I move you myself.”
I leaned my body against the dresser. Loud scratches came from outside the door, and I backed up.
Liam stepped back, falling onto the bed. “What the hell? This is a joke, right?”
“I told you, she’s not human. You must believe me.”
“Viata, let’s play a game? I kill you, find the Sicuro, and trap your soul,” Savina said.
“What the hell is a Sicuro,” Liam shouted. “I’m calling the cops.” He grabbed my phone out of my hand.
Savina kicked the door, causing me to fall backward in front of the bed.
Liam grabbed my hand, pulled me up, and we ran to the window.
I tried to open it, but I couldn’t. “C’mon you damn piece of shit, open up!” I turned to Liam. “Help me!”
Another powerful kick and the door flew open, causing the dresser to fly across the room.
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br /> “That’s better,” she hissed.
I didn’t understand how she sounded like Savina but looked like Maria.
“Maria, what the hell are you doing? And what’s up with the accent?” Liam shouted.
“She’s not Maria,” I said in a daze.
“Yes, it is,” Liam yelled out, as he kept his eyes fastened on Maria.
“How is this possible?” I sobbed, grabbing Liam’s arm.
Maria stepped over the door and looked into my eyes. “You can thank your secret admirer for inviting me in.” She looked at Liam and smiled. “Isn’t that so?”
“What? You both are nuts. I’m leaving,” Liam said.
“You’re not going anywhere,” she said and looked down at the floor. When she raised her head, her features morphed into Savina.
“I-I told you.”
“What the hell are you?” Liam yelled out as he frantically opened the window.
Savina stepped closer. “I’m the woman you’ve been making out with,” she said, taunting him.
“Go!” Liam shouted and pushed me out the window.
I landed on my back. “Help us!” I screamed.
Liam jumped out and landed on the side of me. “Come on,” he urged, pulling me up.
I yanked my hand back. “No, you go. I have to deal with her.”
“I’m calling in the army,” he said and took off running.
A loud thump came from above me. I looked up, and Latore was sitting on the edge of the roof.
“Viata, come on,” Liam shouted.
I ignored him, keeping my eye on the window to see what Savina was doing.
“Good evening, Viata,” Latore said in the same accent as Savina.
Savina appeared on the side of Latore, smiling.
I ran to my car, looking around for Liam, but he had already left.
I took off driving to my parents’ house, wondering why Savina was with a kid from my school.
When I got there, I parked out front and ran up to the door, banging on it nonstop. “Mom, Dad,” I shouted out, looking over my shoulder.
The door opened, and I pushed my way in, slamming the door behind me.
“Viata!” Dad said in a panic. “What’s wrong?”
“Hold on.” I was panting like a dog, trying to catch my breath.
Mom came running down the stairs yelling. “What is it, honey? What’s wrong?”
I paced back and forth in front of them. “Those people from my dream are after me, trying to kill me.”
“I thought you were over this crap,” Dad shouted. He walked over to the window and looked out.
“Dad, I’m not lying. Remember when I tossed you on the hood of my car?”
He kept looking out the window. “Yeah, how could I forget?”
“That wasn’t me. Well, I mean it was me, but it wasn’t.”
Dad shook his head. “What are you talking about, Viata?”
Mom stood there crying. “Come sit down, honey. You’re stressed out.”
“No, you need to listen to me. They blew magical dust in my face when I threw you. How else could I do that?”
“Magical dust?” Dad and Mom said at the same time.
I was about to explain, but the doorbell rang, followed by a frantic knock.
“Don’t you dare answer that.” I ran to the door and leaned my body against it.
“Viata Vandell, move away from the door, right now,” Dad said. His face was red.
“No, it’s them.”
“Viata! Please open u. It’s me, Liam.”
I turned and looked through the peephole and saw that it was him. I opened the door, grabbed Liam and pulled him inside. He had my phone, so I took it and dialed Constin right away.
When it started to ring, Dad grabbed it from me. “We don’t need any more drama here.”
“Give me my phone,” I said, trying to take it back.
“No, calm down. You’ll get it back later,” Dad said and tossed it on the couch.
“Who the hell was that back there?” Liam asked looking at me.
“You were there too?” Dad said as he eyed Liam up and down.
“So, it is the truth,” Mom shouted. “Bret, call the cops right now.”
“For what?” Dad replied. “This is absurd. There’s no one out there.”
“Dad, please listen to what I’m saying. These people are real and not human.”
Liam walked over to the window. “Mr. Vandell, Viata’s not lying. There are people after us. I saw them with my own eyes.”
“Who are they?” Mom asked Liam.
Liam shrugged.
I stomped my foot down. “Dammit! I told you they are the people from my dreams. Why won’t you believe me?”
Mom sighed and looked away.
“That’s it, I’ve heard enough,” Dad yelled and pointed at me. “You stop this psychotic behavior right now.” He turned to Liam. “And you, son. What are you doing making my daughter believe this crap?”
Liam backed up against the wall. “I know it sounds far-fetched, but this woman who attacked us wasn’t normal. Her face changed from one girl to another right in front of me.”
Dad punched his fist through the wall. “You’re both crazy,” he yelled. “That’s it. I’m calling the cops.”
Mom was in total shock.
Liam and I were staring at one another, not sure what to do.
“My daughter and her friend think that there are people after them, trying to kill them. Can you come here and make sure everything is okay?” Dad hung up with the cops. “Viata, sit down right now.” He pointed at Liam and continued. “You, son, can stand right here and wait for the cops to come.”
“Bret, stop it,” Mom scolded. “Maybe they are telling the truth.”
Dad turned to Mom. “Julia, are you listening to yourself? Our daughter thinks that people from her dreams are here, chasing her just like she said before.” He pointed at Liam. “And that idiot is making her believe this crap.”
“I’m not an idiot. It’s the truth,” Liam shouted.
Mom sighed. “What do you want me to do, huh? Our daughter needs us right now.”
I heard sirens.
Dad rushed outside and spoke with the officers.
I grabbed my phone off the couch and tried calling Constin again. He didn’t answer, so I left a message. “Constin, someone is after me. Please come to 11, Hilltop road. Please hurry.”
“Viata, who did you give our address to?” Mom asked.
“Don’t worry about it.” I walked up to Liam and whispered. “Should we run? I don’t want them taking us away.”
He backed away and stared blankly at me.
“Come on,” I said.
He shook his head. “We’re safer here.”
Mom came up to me. “Honey, please sit down and breathe. The cops are here now. You will be safe.”
I laughed. “They can’t help me.”
Detective Maverick stepped in with a few cops following him. “What’s going on?”
“Why do you care? No one got killed, so why are you here?”
“Viata, the man who killed your aunt is still on the loose. We want to make sure that it’s not him who’s after you.”
I laughed. “Don’t you get it? It’s people from my dreams that did it.”
His eyebrows came together. “Come again?”
My mouth ran a mile a minute, telling Detective Maverick the truth.
The three officers walked behind me.
Detective Maverick looked at Liam to corroborate my story.
Liam looked down. “I’m sorry, Viata, maybe Maria and your boyfriend drugged us or something.”
“Liam!” I screamed out and lunged at him.
Liam jumped back, and my mom with the three officers grabbed me, holding me back.
“She strong,” one of the officers said.
Detective Maverick raced over and helped them hold me in place. “I need restraints in here. Now,” he shouted.
&nb
sp; “Let me go!” I kicked and screamed.
“Calm down, Viata, we’re going to get you some help.”
“Please let her go!” Mom pleaded with Detective Maverick and the other cops, but they still held me in place.
More cops flooded the living room, and a couple of male EMT’s came in and took over.
“Please let me go!” I yelled. “Mom help me!”
Dad came rushing in.
“Dad, please. I’m telling you the truth. How do you think I found out that I was adopted? It was a witch from my dreams who told me, not the damn nurse.”
He turned away. “I’m sorry, Viata, but you’re sick and need help.” He pointed at Liam. “And you. Get the hell out of here, now,” he ordered.
Liam turned to me. “I’m sorry,” he said, then rushed out the door.
“I hate you,” I called out after him. I turned to Dad. “Don’t let them take me away, please.”
Mom came up to me as they lay me on a gurney and strapped me down. “This is for the best. Please calm down, honey.”
I closed my eyes, hoping this was just a bad dream, and kept them shut until they were about to place me in the ambulance. When I opened them, I looked around and saw all the neighbors outside and cops everywhere. It looked like a murder scene.
“Can I ride with her?” Mom asked the male EMT worker.
“That’s fine. Just have your husband follow us.”
“Viata, I’ll be right back,” Mom said, in a shaky voice.
As they backed me up in the gurney, I saw Constin walking toward me, breathing heavily.
Mom returned. “Okay, Dad’s going to follow us.”
“Move out of the way,” I shouted.
“Why?” Mom asked. She stepped up into the ambulance and sat next to me.
“Constin,” I shouted.
Dad came up, blocking my view. “Who are you talking to?”
I ignored him, still looking at Constin.
He turned to Mom. “I’ll meet you at the hospital.”
“Dad, why are you doing this to me?” I sobbed.
“It’s for your own good.”
“I’m not crazy!” I tried to release myself from the restraints.
“Ms. Vandell, please relax,” the young male EMT said, “or I will have to tighten them.”
“Calm down, honey. They will take the straps off at the hospital.”
Breathing heavily, I turned to her and squeezed my fist. “I hate you for not believing me.”