Chapter Eleven: Devacier

     I was staring at a blank wall, black, covered in dust. I could feel every breath tightly against my ribs. A song, Non Regrette Rien, was playing softly in the background from an old record player I had. I felt myself start to feel dizzy, the withdrawls coming quickly, and I tried to focus on the song, and focus on staying awake.
Non, rien de rien, non, je ne regrette rien
Ni le bien qu`on m`a fait, ni le mal
Tout ca m`est bien egal
Non, rien de rien, non, je ne regrette rien
C`est paye, balaye, oublie, je me fous do passe
Avec mes souvenirs j`ai allume le feu
Mes shagrins, mes plaisirs,
Je n`ai plus besoin d`eux
     I suddenly doubled over, muscles clenching, hunger clawing at my stomach. I tried to ball my hands into fists, rubbing my fingers over my clammy palms.  "Quelle au diable." I muttered, looking down. My hands were shaking, again, and the room felt like it was spinning. I sat down, with a bit of trouble, resting against the dark, dusty wall. My head pounded, and my ame drifted from my body, consciousness barely hanging on. I breathed in, deep, raspy breaths, turned off the music, and started to recite, trying to stay grounded.
       "Je m’appelle Devacier. Je suis un Thek. Un Rêveur, Je suis la révolution." 
       Morean walked in, noticing me lying on the ground. "Are you alright, Devacier? You're looking paler." My heart started pounding again. "I'm fine." I hissed. "You are supposed to be keeping an eye on the girls." He bowed his head.
"Yes, of course." He tossed me a phone. "We found this on the ginger one."
"Claryn?"
"Yes. She was able to make a call-"
        I was on my feet, holding a rapier to his throat in half a heartbeat. I started slowly sucking the oxygen from the room, using my powers, giving me strength. I waited until I saw him turning slightly purple, clamoring for air. "How long was it? And who to?" I demanded. "I don't want the entire Theta at my back, Morean!"
He shook his head. "We- - we don't know." He managed.
"I need those girls to find her, L'héritier, Morean. I need them. Do you understand?"
He nodded, and I let him breathe. But I did not drop the sword. I flicked my wrist, slicing a thin line at his collarbone, just barely drawing blood.
"Disappoint me again, and you will lose your head. Understand? They better not escape, for your sake."
He bowed and left the room.
         I crossed the room, setting the rapier at my side and sitting against the wall again. I could feel my strength returning, slowly, but I closed my eyes and started to recite anyway.
        " J'à mapelle Devacier. Je suis la révolution. Je suis le début. Je vais les tuer tous." 
        I repeat the last line again, pounding it into my brain.
Je vais les tuer tous. I will end them all.
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Little challenge for the readers. ;) 
Maddie- your move. 

Chapter Ten: The Phone Call

I swear she slept for four days. But there's really no telling, not where we were.

By the time she was awake, I had to tell her every single detail that I could remember...again. She never remembered anything. Or perhaps she was faking, or possibly just not really wanting to believe it. I didn't blame her, the memories were absolutely dreadful.

But here she was, sitting up, back against the wall. Her arms were wrapping around the top of her legs, allowing a small cradle for her head.
"Tell me again...where we are."
"Are you serious? I've told you twice, and the answer is obvious enough. We're in a frickin' jail cell! And there's no way out."
"How did we get here? I mean, I know that guy brought me...but it was like we traveled through a blizzard or something."
"Do you honestly think I know these answers?"
"How long will we be here?"
"Please shut up. Let's talk about food instead. I'm hungry. You hungry?"

She sat there looking sad and scared, staring blankly at the ground. I may not be British, but I do think a British person would've have said she was "going mad." It was so sad to watch...or at least it would've been if I cared.

I stood up and jerked my head down, hanging it upside down and looked straight at my knees. I used my fingers to decently comb through my incredibly thick and tangly dark hair. with the one pony tail I had on my wrist, my hands cupped around my hair and my head flipped back up, and I pulled and yanked until it was finally up into a nasty ponytail. Good enough.
I sat back down and crossed my arms. I looked over at Claryn, seeing she was still totally out of it, just staring. I was like that too, at first. She wouldn't move or talk or anything.
I began to sing a song by Andy Grammer I love. It brought so many memories to me.
"So suddenly, I'm in love with a stranger, I can't believe she's mine! Now all I see you you with fresh eyes, fresh ey-"
"Would you please shut up!" yelled Claryn.
"Fine."
The rest of the song played in my head.

Appreciation
Well it comes and it goes, but I
I'd ride that wave with you
it's human nature
to miss what's under your nose 'till you
'Till you remind a fool 
Maybe all of this is simple
my heart's unconditional yeah
you dress up just a little and I'm like
ohhhhhh-

Claryn sneezed.
Great, she ruined my moment. Well, If it was quiet she wanted, it was quiet she'd get. I needed to think anyway.

Everything before this stupid cell became my home, I'd heard some strange words. I'd been called strange things. I hadn't remembered that word until today, and now it was all I could think about. Sawyer had tried explaining things to me that I'd never hear of, and he said I was one of them...sort of.
And today I remembered what he called me. A Cripner. But even stranger, he said I was his Cripner. I thought that was weird, but I was even more confused when he explained it.
But I guess I'd have to think it all over from the beginning.
Sawyer was the older brother I never had, ever since I met him. It took me so long to trust him, when I should have earlier. I didn't know how much he'd actually care for me. Now he's my best friend, and life seriously sucks without him. Sawyer was so many things that people never knew about, all because of the way they looked at him. Most people would try to people polite and look anywhere else, but that tended to make them rude anyway. Especially when they just couldn't help but hold their glance a second long enough to make him feel uncomfortable. He's used to it now, meaning he expects it, but will always feel the same.
I hate to admit, his appearance is what made me not trust him. He's a few years older than I am, so freshman year of high school was me avoiding the Junior with mixed colored skin. I had never seen him before, or anything like him, and I didn't know how to react to my curiosity.
Then we met...and that was an interesting story. But we were very close now, and the past was behind us. 
I don't know how long I've been here, maybe a week. But if that's true, then it was a week ago when we sat in his car, he was bringing me home from the movies. I had gone out with some friends and he offered to pick me up. That car ride was my last, and my strangest.
He told me I needed to know something he should've told me a long time ago. That's when he said I was called a Cripner, and that my job on earth is to protect a Thek.
My job on earth?
It may have been a week ago, but I still think he's starting to lose it.He said so much more, but I've forgotten the rest. That memory was smothered and blurred by the part where I was swiped up by a psychopath  and taken to this prison.
Suddenly Claryn stood up and reached hand into her pocket. I heard a vibrating sound as she pulled out her phone.
"What the heck!" I yelled. "Why are you just now getting that out! I freaking asked you about it earlier!"
"I forgot about it, and besides I was sick and it has like eight percent battery!"
"Enough battery to send someone a text and say HEY SAVE ME. But no! You sat here to take a NAP!"
"Just shut up!" She help the face to her phone.
"Hello?"
I couldn't believe this. I probably could've been home hours ago. Where was her common sense? I looked over at her the second I heard her loud sigh of relief. She began to cry.
"Yes, yes I'm fine. What day is it?"
She paused, and I couldn't help snapping my fingers at her. I finally got her attention, she looked at me. "psst. Put it on speaker!"
She nodded and and tapped the screen. The screen flashed on, though it was incredibly dim because of the battery. Six percent left. We needed to go fast.
"Repeat what you just said," begged Claryn.
"It's Sunday afternoon, I just got out of church."
I had been snatched up on a Tuesday. Five days.
Claryn cried harder. "Three whole days..."
"Try five," I sneered.
"What do you mean three days? What does that mean? Claryn, everyone is wondering where you are and if you're ok."
"I already told you I'm ok. I just need to get home."
"You're not home? Where the heck are you?"
"I don't know!"
"I do," I lied.
Claryn whipped her head in my direction. "You do?"
"Who was that? Was her name...wait. I need to tell you something. There's a reason I called you. People are looking for you, people we've never met and they're freaking me out a little bit."
"Who?"
"Well, there's this guy, I can't remember his name...he looked different. I think they call it Vitiligo? Something like that..."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Claryn! Claryn, please bring me the phone!"
She rolled her eyes and tried to ignore me. She turned her back on me as if to say I don't trust you at the moment. 
"Was his name Sawyer?" I yelled, hoping the phone's mic would pick up my voice.   
The cave was silent for a moment.
"Yes, that was it. How did you know?"
Claryn was gazing at me suspiciously. "That wasn't me."
"Who was it?"
"Claryn," I said. "Give me the phone please."
She handed it to me through the metal bars. I took it in my hands and tried not to hyperventilate. I spoke very clearly.
"My name is Belle. I think I know how to help...what's your name?"
"Does that matter?"
"What's your name!"
"Sebastian!"
"Can I call you Baz?"
"Belle!" Claryn warned.
"Alright, well I'm calling you Baz. Do you know Sawyer?"
"What-I-um yeah-"
"Alright," I said, looking at the phone. two percent. How was this thing still on? "We don't have much time." I tried to make this a bit dramatic so he'd know how serious this was. Like the movies! I shook me head. Focus, Isabelle Palmson, focus.
"How did you meet him?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
Claryn squinted. I think I did too...but then I remembered that car ride with Sawyer. Maybe this had something to do with what he was trying to tell me.
"Baz, I need you to talk to him again. I don't care how but I need you to do it fast. Tell him I'm with Claryn. Tell him we're both ok."
"...Are you Izzy?"
My turn to tear up. Sawyer told him about me. How nice to be remembered...I was relieved. I checked the phone. One percent. Crap.
"Yes. What did Sawyer say about me? Never mind. Tell Sawyer to go where we used to meet, I guess. Maybe he can find a way to me there. I don't know where we are."
"Okay. Give me back to Claryn."
I handed it back, and she grabbed it.
"Sebastian?"
"Claryn, I'm coming. I promise I-"
Silence.
The phone was dead. Baz was gone.
Claryn looked confused for a second, like she'd never heard him say something like that. But before she could think about it, she was in tears again. "I just...want to go home..." She crumpled to the floor.
My eyes glazed over. We might never hear a familiar and friendly voice again. We might never go home again.
Sawyer might never find me.


All I could do was stare at Claryn's phone.

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Hey, readers! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please give this chapter a like, and don't forget to subscribe and comment below on how you think Sebastian will find the girls!
You got this Lindie!
-Maddie:)

Chapter Nine: Izzy

I turn to Kassandra, and her image flickers for just a second.

"Are you alright?" I ask her, handing her a drink. "Do you need to go for a second?" I turn and look at the piles of paperwork stacked on my desk and looked out the window, trying to focus on the calming image of the tree line. I closed my eyes and breathed in the pine.

Izzy was gone. Izzy was missing. And no one in the whole department could find her. 

"Kassandra, I understand if you need to take a break." I turned back around at her. "It's been a long day. It's been stressful for everyone." She nodded, and I could just barely see the relief in her eyes. 

"Yes, sir, It's just that I don't want to leave you here alone." Kassandra was a dear friend of mine, my secretary for almost four years now, and I could hear the concern in her voice. She knew how much Izzy meant to me. 

"I'll be fine. Just send Quinn up on your way out?" She nodded. 

"Of course, Mr. Hale." She smiled. "Don't stay too late. You know the time changes in the Theta." I nodded, pulling at my sleeves through the suit. She closed the door and I collapsed in my chair, staring at the ceiling. If Izzy was here she would make some stupid joke about an old overworked man sitting in a swivel chair. 

If Izzy were here... 

Quinn knocked on the door and I sat up straight, turned my chair to face my desk, and straightened my tie. "Come in." 

Quinn was older than anyone else in my office, 36 years old, but for some reason his powers were stunted in growth. He couldn't control his visits to the Theta, even after practicing longer than anyone else, and his powers were just somehow not as powerful. So, by law, I was not able to promote him up all the ranks I would have liked him in- but I gave him a good job, the highest I could, and relied on his advice more than anyone else's. 

Quinn walked in and leaned against the open doorway, his red flannel shirt rolled up to his elbows, two manilla folders under his arm, his caramel colored hair perfectly combed, eyes casually darting around the room at the various bits of newsfeeds and notes I had taped to the wall in the last thirty six hours since Izzy had gone missing. "Sawyer, have you slept at all since she disappeared?" I shook my head. 

"She's like a little sister to me, Quinn. I'm worried about her. She doesn't know anything about the Theta."

Quinn nodded, standing up and closing the door before plopping down in the chair across from mine. 

"There are two new Theks- Illarene has talked to them both." He grabbed the folders and set them down on my desk. 

"Sebastian Felix Price, an Air, and Gwendolyn Taylor James, a Water. We think." I took the folders and set them in the pile of paperwork I was supposed to be looking through. "Why give the folders to me? Why not to Avery and Mayelle?"

Quinn looked at me, amused. "Because, a friend of theirs was recently transported through the Theta, and no one has seen her since." 

"A cripner, or a miadrox?" Quinn shook his head. 

"We're not sure. But Illarene or one of the others might be able to track her signature through the Theta. We think the same people who might have taken Isabelle took her." 

My hands started shaking in rage and I clenched them, trying to remain calm. There's a way to find Izzy. There's a way to find Izzy. 

"Any word on the rouge Water?" 

Quinn shook his head. "Devacier has also disappeared. Last time we saw him, his mark had almost doubled. His eyes were almost completely black." 

I subconsciously touched one of the white marks on my skin. I was a Vitiligo, my dark brown skin obscured by patches of white. Whether this was because of the Theta or not, I didn't know. But unlike everyone else, I had never received a mark when I visited the Theta. 

"He's abusing his power," I remarked frankly. Quinn nodded. I sighed, massaging my temples. I could feel a headache developing. Quinn noticed. "Sawyer, if you want to go, get some sleep, get some food... I'll alert you if we find anything. I promise." 

"Thank you." I looked at him with gratitude, and got up to face the woods. I started counting- one, two, three, four, five...

when I opened my eyes I was laying in my bed, my bare bedroom in my London flat. The walls were light beige, the covers a deep blue. Devoid of any furniture, this room was the easiest way for me to get to the Theta without having any adrenaline. I looked at the clock on my wall- the only decoration I allowed myself. It was almost 4 am, Saturday. 8 pm on Friday PST. I had been in the Theta for almost 40 hours straight. I groaned. I grabbed my phone off my nightstand and started playing some classical piano music to force myself to sleep. Moonlight Sonata came on, and I closed my eyes, starting to doze off. 

-----------------------------------------------------

I woke up to the sound of my phone buzzing. It was Quinn. I quickly pushed off the covers and answered the phone. 

"Quinn?"

"The new boy- Sebastian- is here again. I thought he might be able to tell us a bit about Claryn- the other missing girl. And we have a ransom note. You need to come check it out." I glanced at the clock again- only an hour and a half of sleep.  I groaned. "Be right there." 

I appeared in my office, and the boy flickered, startled. "It's ok, mate. I'm Sawyer Hale, head of the Earth department here in the Theta." The boy shook my hand. He looked friendly and intelligent, probably about the same age as Izzy, and while his body language showed complete calm, I saw his mind racing, the anxiety and panic shining through his amber colored eyes, which looked bloodshot and tired. "Sebastian Price." I motioned for him to sit, and he sat next to Quinn, across the desk from me. 

"So... Sebastian..." I said, confused as to where I should begin. "How long have you been... accessing the Theta?" 

He moved his hands, drumming his fingers on his legs. "The first time was yesterday, I believe." He spoke clearly and confidently and I instantly respected him. This kid had been thrown in a middle of a situation he knew nothing about, and yet he was remaining completely calm. Much better than I was when I first accessed the Theta. 

"And you've met Illarene?" He nodded without breaking eye contact. "What kind of powers have you been showing?"

He closed his eyes, trying to remember. "The first time," he said slowly, "I was able to use the force. You know, push this guy around, lift him up, whatever... The second time, there was like, an air pocket in my, um, palm... the third time, I could move people's limbs. Uh, Gwen was choking me, and I kinda just... lowered her arm and it stopped." He opened back his eyes, squinting skeptically, as if he doubted this would be enough information. I nodded. 

"And, Sebastian, where are you right now?" He blinked, not quite understanding. "I'm in the Theta." I chuckled. "No, I mean what does it look like?" He looked around, out of the windows, at the desk, at the papers tacked onto the wall. "We're in Europe, or something. Its raining, and we're in an indoor cafe. There are lots of trees, and they're starting to fall..." He looked at me quizzically. "Why? Doesn't everyone see the same thing?" I shook my head.

"I think we're in a modern office, surrounded by thick forests." 

Quinn jumped in too. "I think we're in a hut in the Alps."

Sebastian glanced around in awe, and I started to explain. 

"The Theta is a state of mind, like a dream. It's the place between awake and asleep, but only a few people an actually access it and harness its powers. And because it's a shared dream state, we all see what makes us comfortable. But we are all able to communicate through the Theta." 

Sebastian nodded. "Like Inception. Except, we're in limbo, and its empty dream space for all of us." 

I nodded slowly, not knowing what he meant. "Um, sure. Like that." 

I went through both of their files, finding a picture of the red-head who had gone missing. "This is Claryn Esters. Do you know her?" 

Sebastian gulped and nodded slowly. "Yeah. She goes to my school. She's Gwen's best friend." I quickly glanced at Quinn and he mouthed Cripner? I nodded.

"Yesterday, at about 8 pm, Claryn was transported through the Theta." Sebastian ran a hand through his hair, obviously concerned. "We think she was taken, along with a good friend of mine, Isabelle Palmson."

Quinn cut in then. "Actually, Sawyer, we know they were taken." He pulled a disc from his pocket and handed it to me. "Morean and Matthias left us a ransom note. The other Consuls have already seen it." 

Sebastian snorted. "They don't sound too threatening." Quinn glared. Sebastian's smile dropped. "What? Their names are ridiculous." 

I popped the disk into my computer and turned the screen so that the three of us could see it. 

It was a badly recorded video, opening on a dark cave- in one cell was the red headed girl, and I could hear Sebastian gasp- in the cell next to her was Izzy. 

Izzy. She looked up at the camera and smiled, Her hair was a mess, and she looked a little dirty, but not hurt. Matthias stepped into view, and his ever-present sly grin widened. I looked up at Sebastian, his expression set, his hands in tight fists. "That's Claryn. And that's the man who attacked me." 

I nodded and turned back to watch the video. 

"Greetings, Theks. I am Matthias, and we have taken two of your cripners." Neither of the girl's faces showed recognition that they knew what the word meant. "We'll give them back, relatively unharmed... all we want is Gwen. You have 24 hours to turn her over to Devacier, or both of them will die. And good luck explaining to the Miadri what happened to them." He leaned into the camera, zooming up on his face. I could see the various bruises and scars covering his neck. He had been taking too much power. "24 hours." The video shut off and I closed the computer and stood up, starting to pace my room. I turned to look at Sebastian, who looked like he might start yelling or hyperventilating at any given moment.I didn't blame him- if they touched a hair on Izzy's head, I was going to kill them both. But he was new, and I pitied him for being exposed to this kind of stress so early.  "Sebastian," I said, trying to coat my words with empathy- "I think you should leave. We're going to do everything we can to find Claryn, ya?" He nodded, but he still looked like he wanted to strangle someone. "Thanks, mate. We'll be in touch." He flickered for a moment, closed his eyes, and disappeared. I turned to Quinn, my breathing becoming less and less steady with every word I said. "The other Consuls have seen this? I want someone to track the video footage, I want everything we can find on Matthias, Morean, Devacier, Izzy, and Claryn. I want a meeting with the other Consuls, and whomever they wish to bring. I want to find her, Quinn. Got it?"  He nodded. I turned to the window, feeling my face starting to get hot with anger. I looked at the tree line, but my heart was still beating out of my chest, the blood rushing in my ears, my chest heaving with heavy, angry breaths. 

"And get me the other Thek," I said. "She may have something to do with this." 

"Who?" 

"The Water girl." I responded. Izzy. Think of Izzy. You will do whatever it takes for her. "Bring me Gwendolyn James." 

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Hey, Squichy Mushins! Thank you for reading! How are you liking the book? Who do you want to hear from next? 

Maddie- Good Luck 

Chapter Eight: Flicker

The entire car ride home was silent. Not a single word.
But I was glad it was that way. If anything was said, I probably would've exploded. I would've cried, screamed, probably died. The past couple of days had been bizarre. And even though I've told myself so many times I can't handle any more of it, I somehow manage to face something impossible.
It felt like one of those days where it should rain. But it didn't. I wanted it to rain, but I was also grateful for the sunshine. I pressed my cheek against the car window, pretending it was cold.

"Please get your face off the glass," mom said. We pulled up in the driveway. It was somewhere around 7:00 in the morning. I had basically spent the night at Jefferson's house, alone. I didn't know why mom had taken so long to get me, but I was too exhausted to ask. Although once we got inside, the interrogation began.

"What...do you remember?" Mom said, with emotion mixed with both anger and concern. I could tell that for the first time in years, she was trying to be gentle with me and spare my emotions. Her loose flannel dangled off of her a little, while she slowly ran her hand across her forehead, pushing her  almond hair off of her face. We had similar hair, only mine was much longer, with a little more of a butterscotch tint to it.

"From what point?" I sat on the couch, hand in my lap. Mom placed her hand on her hips.
"from the accident."
"Well, i crashed. The when I woke up, I was in a hospital, and...I think I forgot everything. Like, I didn't know who you were. Then suddenly...I don't know, everything from that point is blank, until I somehow ended up at Jefferson's house. Do you know how I got there?"

Mom looked like she was going to shout at me, but contained herself. "No, Gwendolyn. Remember anything else? Anything...Strange? Inhuman?"
What was she talking about? Did something amazing happen while I was out? Or magical?

The second I had that thought, I felt a slight jolt in my lungs, as if they were being tugged. I couldn't breathe, and I squeezed my eyes shut. Finally the feeling stopped. My eyes opened, and I stood. My toes wiggled in something grainy...I must have been barefoot. I look down to see sand, warm and pink, with spots of orange. I knelt down, dipped my fingertips into the surface of the sand, moving them slowly in different directions. lines formed in the sand. I didn't know what I was creating, but when it was done, it was a beautiful circle, with one thin line drawn horizontally in the middle, with thick pegs on the end, so the line looked like a sideways capital I. When I lifted my finger, it glowed, and began to smell faintly of of poppy-seed bread.
I dug my entire fist into the sand, destroying the symbol, and spilled the sand in a tiny waterfall motion. When all the sand was gone from my hand, I looked up to finally observe my surroundings. The sun was setting behind the most unsettled ocean I had ever seen. the wind chilled my hair. This beach was filled with a sense of serenity and love, the the skies said otherwise. Winds got stronger, the skies got darker, and waves grew more dangerous. But no matter the rage of the storm, the sand stayed soft and warm and pink, the waves reflected the setting sun, which stilled colored the beach with peace.
I was alone, watching the scene of two personalities. The sand comforted me, but the rain pelted my face. I battled between emotions. I grew overwhelmed and at peace. My heart beat faster, my breathing slowed.

"Gwendolyn Taylor!"

My eyes felt like they were unblurring, then I found myself kneeling on the ground of the living room. What just happened? I missed it...but I was glad it was gone.

"What on earth is going on with you? It's like I was never even here! It's like YOU weren't even here! I need some answers! I jus-" I began to cry. I don't even know why. Everything had fallen apart in two days, my life was a mess. I was having horrible day-dreams...like nightmares. I was losing the ones I loved. I needed Jefferson-

Now I was standing. But I was still on the beach. I was in my favorite sweatpants and sweatshirt, hair up in a messy bun, but I was once again barefoot. I felt angry, looking at the raging waves and threatening sky. Without hesitation I starting screaming, thrusting my hands to the ocean. The waves rose, and formed into a blob the size of my house. My hands grew red and hot, clenching into fists, and the water began to steam and shudder. I threw my hands out, heaving as the enormous ball of water exploded like a wet firework. Water shot up from the sea level, like a water fountain show, turning black. Lightning struck it, and I could see the electric water calling for me.

I knew what this was. This was magic. This was me. I was....
Who was I?

"Be still!"

My heart dropped with the water. I turned to see a beautiful woman walking towards me, from maybe a mile away. I couldn't make out her face, but I noticed her caramel brown hair blowing in her face. She finally got close enough for me to really see her. She looked slightly older than I was. I considered blasting at her...or drowning her. I raised my hand, curling my fingers to shape the water slightly. It was so easy, like I'd been doing it for years.

"My, you do know what you're doing, don't you? Or do you simply do what comes to mind? Going to drown me, perhaps?"

I froze, the water dropped, sparking still with electricity.  The sun seemed never moving, it was still setting on the horizon. "Who are you?"
"Never mind that, child."
"Child!"
"Merely, yes. Calm yourself. You do know this is all your doing, don't you?" she said, pointing to the scene. Then she sighed. "No, of course you don't. Tell me, how did you get here? Do you remember the last thought you had elsewhere?"
"I...I don't know. A person. I thought of...someone..."
"Ah. yes."
"Do you know me? Why I'm am here?''
"Well let's begin with why you're here. Something-or someone- brought you here through thought. That thought was your trigger. I sense your thought here and then, but I'm afraid you need not know now how I know, or what you were thinking,"she said. Her voice softened into a mutter, as she gazed at me, barely walking closer. "Maybe two of you is best at the moment..."
She seemed to snap out of her gaze, and moved her eyes up and down my figure. She giggled. "Feeling fancy?"

I looked down. I must have not been wearing this before...what was I wearing before? Now I sat here, in awe of my flowing dress. It was dark cassis blue, and wide and flowy, much like the dress I'd worn before. The straight-across neckline lead to dazzling blue lace sleeves that ran from my mid-upper arms to nearly the end of my forearms. The dress was incredibly silky, with tool-like material draping over the surface to give it more density. My hands reached up to feel that my almond butterscotch hair was put up into top messy bun with a small bejeweled crown.

The woman sighed. "You should know a young man is thinking of you. And some others you know. He's concerned...and confused. You seem to have a better control of this than he does, you should help him out a bit."
"who?"
"Never mind. You'll know when the time comes. But here's a warning. Most books, stories, and people say that magic is hard. wears you out. It's not true. The more you use it, the easier it is. But abusing it does have consequences, as does not using it enough."
I was confused.
"You're flickering, dear. You need to decide."
My sweatpants were being blown around by the storm. Between every second, I either knew I was Gwen, or didn't know who I was at all.
"Decide? Why won't you answer anything?"
She laughed. This woman was a mystery, but something about her was good. I knew she was on my side.
"You're just not ready. You clearly have much going on. And if I were you, I'd leave. You've got something to take care of."
The sky thundered, but it was nothing like the sound of a storm. It was a voice.
"Gwendolyn! Wake up!"
My mother. Oh no. Where was I, where was she? How-
"Go, Gwen. And control your flicker," she said. The wind swirled around me so hard, I was practically in my own tornado. But it was a beautiful one, with streaks of sparkling orange. Sand flew around me, scratching my skin. The woman turned around, starting to walk away.

"Wait!" I screamed. She turned back around to look at me. "Who are you?"
She smiled. She really was good...she was here for me. "My name is Ilarene. I'm here to help  develop what you are, and hopefully, save you."
"Save me? Wait, what am I?"
"Well, that depends on WHO you are, don't you think?" she turned, and ran. Back to wherever she came from, as I kept screaming at her to come back. But the sand blinded my eyes and I shut them tight, screaming.

"Gwendolyn!"
I was awake. "What!"
"You.....you were...."
I looked at mom. She looked absolutely terrified. She was on the floor of the kitchen, clinging to a chair. "..Mom? What  happened?" I looked around the room. Another shattered window. A broken dish on the kitchen floor. Mom's cheek was bleeding.
I could feel tears already on my face, but ti didn't stop more from coming.
"Mommy.....what's happening?"
"You......f-f-flickered.....into another person. You were beautiful.....but you were horrible..."
"You're saying...this was me? Did I-"
I was speechless.
"Please go to your room. I need....to think."
"Okay."
I walked slowly to my room. Down the hall, on the right. My phone sat on my bed. I picked it up and texted Claryn.

Me: Window tonight?
Clare: 
Me: Claryn??
No answer. Where the heck was she? I moved on to another contact.

Me: Jefferson?
Jefferson: 
Me: I miss you
Jefferson:
Me: I love you
Jefferson:
Me:

I set the phone onto my bed. I could here mom blasting her music. Whenever she stressed, music was her go-to place. Today, she played "Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode, an 80's song that reminded her of things from the past. Memories always comforted her.

Vows are spoken
To be broken
Feelings are intense
Words are trivial
Pleasures remain
So does the pain
Words are meaningless
And forgettable

All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm

There was only one person left to text before giving up. I picked up my phone again.

Me: Hey guppy

Guppy: We've been over this. Don't call me that. 

Me: lol and we've been over this too: I'm gonna do it anyway. U busy?

Guppy: No, why?

Me: I need someone to talk to. Can we meet up for a while?

Guppy: Um...sure. You feeling okay?

Me: K thanks see you at the TinderPond Park in an hour!

*Gwen if offline*

I couldn't help but giggle. I always teased him. I got ready and came downstairs. "Hey, can I go to the park to get some fresh air?"

Mom was sweeping. She looked up. "Only if your phone is with you."

"Always. Bye,"I said, already halfway out the door.



"Hey Guppy," I said sitting next to him on the bench.
"Sebastian would be fine, ya know. So what's up?"
"Okay, Sebastian. First, I needed to say thank you."
"What for?"
"Bringing me to the hospital."
"If I didn't, I might have died. In every way possible. I had to for my own good."
"Glad to know you care for me."
"Hey, any time."
I tried to think of how I was going to put the next few words. I needed to tell him about everything. I had to tell someone, and Sebastian usually listened to me. But in this moment we sat, awkwardly looking at the pond in front of us. I wasn't the only one who sensed the awkwardness. He was tapping his fingers on his knee, his mouth moved to the side of his face into a little pucker, like he was trying to bite the middle of his cheek from the inside, making one of his dimples show.

"So what's been going on? Everyone says there's something...strange happening with you."
"Everyone meaning who?"
"Well, I heard it from your mom, and Claryn the other night...by the way, where is Claryn?"
"I.....don't know. That was one thing I wanted to ask you."
"Well, there's something I wanted to ask you."
"What?"
"Has anything crazy happen to you before?"
"Yeah I guess. Why?"
He held up his hand for some reason, and was about to say something, but I could see a quick wheel turn in his head, giving him the "don't do it" thought. He shook his head.
"Nevermind."
Was he hiding things?
"You can't just ask something like that and move on. Come on, Sebastian. What is it?"
"I...I think I'm going crazy."
"You've always been crazy. Are you just now realizing this?"
"No Gwen, I'm serious! Something weird happens to me sometimes."
"oooooookay, is this going to turn into a TMI thing?  No thanks, dude-"
"Gwen!"
"Okay, what?"
"Please. Watch this."
He pointed to a tree dramatically, glaring at it. He sat there for a while, just glaring at a tree. Every once in a while, he'd bring his hand back and try again.
"You know what Sebastian? I think you're right! You have gone crazy! Is it my turn to bring you too a hospital?" I started laughing. He looked at me, he hand falling into his lap. He looked so upset, like he just lost a comic book. My laugh slowed, and I managed to look more serious. "Look, I'm sorry. I shouldn't-"

That's when it happened.

I felt my entire body tingle, and I looked down at my feet. Starting from my shoes, I saw my sneakers dissolve and transform into black platform high heels. My sweatpants began to fill with air and join together, puffing and turning into a soft, light and fluffy material. Soon the outfit had become a dress, Draped over me like a waterfall of black and white tool, with overlapping layer of soft cloth. The silver sleeves ran vertically from my chest over my shoulders, leaving my arms bare, down to the side of my lower back, leaving the dress backless. My hair was curled and half up, loose strand hanging everywhere.

I stood, and saw a boy sitting on a bench. He looked absolutely terrified, shaking. He quickly ran his fingers through his hair, and gripped the bench. He looked mostly relaxed, except for his white knuckles and frantic eyes.

"Gwen...y-you look different," he said.
"Honestly, why do people keep calling me that!" I shot my arm out with my arm in a holding position, feeling a phantom grip around his throat. Clawing at his neck, he gasped for air. "I rose. People search for me, but I remain." 
"Who....who..." he choked out. Suddenly he clenched his fists, and my arm was knocked back down. I looked at it, then back at him. He was gulping fresh breaths, staring at his owns hands.
"A Thek! I knew you were trouble!" I don't know how I knew the words (or what they meant),I raised my arms into the sky, summoning lighting to kill him off, when he frantically threw his finger in the direction of a rock, which came flying towards me. The moment it hit my head, I felt my power drain, my clothing change, and saw Sebastian running for his life, away from me ( I thought he was whimpering a bit).
"Seb-!"
And yet again, I was out cold, forgetting how it even happened, lying on the pavement of TimberPond Park, in my sweats, abandoned.

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Hey, readers! Maddie, here! Hope you're enjoying the journey so far.
Before I sign off, I'm going to offer you a little treat. From an author to a reader:) So far, I know you have lots of questions. Well here's your chance! In the comments below, go ahead and let us know your thoughts on the story! What questions do you have? What do YOU think should happen next? What are your favorite things so far, or your favorite characters? Or email us at madelindie@gmail.com to tell us some feedback!
We'll do our best to include all your interests in the book...but we don't promise anything!
Happy reading, 
Maddie

-P.S. Lindie: Good luck answering things even I don't know the answers to!

Chapter Seven: Hallucinations

     I yawned and turned the page on another family scrapbook, quickly glancing over the names on all the captions on the back of old pictures. Nothing. I scanned the next page, and the next, and the next, and then I turned the page, and ran into the back page. I sighed and tossed the scrapbook into the pile in the middle of my floor. Twenty Seven family scrapbooks and photo albums. Twenty Seven. And Felicity Price wasn't in any of them.
      I squinted, looking out at the double doors leading out to the balcony, where the sun was coming up over the trees.  I glanced at the Darth Vader alarm clock, surrounded by various pieces of paper and candy wrappers on my bedside table and groaned. It was already seven. I threw the last scrapbook on the floor next to a pile of dirty clothes. I grabbed a random t-shirt off the hanger, not bothering to see what it was in the dimly lit room, exchanged my pajama bottoms for a pair of jeans I picked off the floor, tousled my hair, and threw on a pair of Nikes. I flew to the door, took a deep breath, and opened it slowly, so I wouldn't wake up anyone. The long hall was dark and impeccably neat. I crept into the bathroom, closed the door, and turned on the light. I was instantly met with my reflection, chest heaving from running around my room. My dark hair was a mess, sticking up in random places, plastered down in others. I looked into my eyes and realized that I hadn't taken out my contacts last night. Not that it mattered much- I hadn't gone to sleep- but I should probably put some solution in them. I scratched at my eyes, gently prying the contacts out, still surprised by the color of my eyes changing from honey to a light amber. The contacts weren't supposed to change the color, but they always did make my eyes a little bit darker. I added a drop of solution and with only a little bit of difficulty, put the contacts back in. I grabbed my toothbrush, sloppily adding toothpaste, and brushed my teeth. I glanced up again at my reflection. There were dark circles under my eyes, my lips were cracked and chapped, my light brown skin super dry. I spit out the toothpaste into the sink and started laughing, bringing out my dimples. I looked like death. But it was too late to fix it.
      I turned off the bathroom light, opened the door, and crept through the cold, empty house downstairs. I could hear Chel's alarm going off. I grabbed a black coat hanging on the hook next to the door and I slipped it on,  shoving both hands into the pockets. My fingers brushed against a crumpled dollar bill, and I smiled. You could almost count on my forgetfulness. I opened the door, the wind blowing roughly against my already raw face, and started the walk to the 7-11 across the street from the high school. I crossed the busy street without looking both ways (oh well), smiling at the weather, which was finally starting to warm up, and walked into the empty convenience store, my entrance marked with the sound of a small bell. I smiled at the cashier, a young 20 something year old man with a lot of acne, and walked into the back of the store, to the fridge. I pulled out a Coke and walked up to the front. I could feel my heart beating, not an uncommon occurrence when I paid for things. Why did I have anxiety over such small things like paying and putting change in my pocket when someone was watching?
      I reached into my pockets, took out a five dollar bill, and handed it to the cashier. He handed me my change, and I reached for it to put it in my pocket. When I touched the change, I shivered and for a minute, I saw a flash of the red and orange fall leaves on wet cobblestone pavement. I looked up, and  at the cashier, but he seemed not to have noticed. I shook my head. I must be more tired than I thought.
"Thanks." I nodded at him, grabbed my coke, and walked out. I guzzled the whole thing on the way to school. I put in my earbuds, turned on a Panic! at the Disco song and tried to walk to class before the bell rang.

A lonely speaker in a conversation
Her words were swimming through his ears again
There's nothing wrong with just a taste of what you've paid for

Say what you mean
Tell me I'm right
And let the sun rain down on me
Give me a sign
I want to believe

Whoa, Mona Lisa,
You're guaranteed to run this town
Whoa, Mona Lisa,
I'd pay to see you frown

He senses something, call it desperation
Another dollar, another day
And if she had the proper words to say,
She would tell him
But she'd have nothing left to sell him

Say what you mean
Tell me I'm right
And let the sun rain down on me
Give me a sign
I want to believe

      I walked with the crowds of deadbeats who were late. No one spoke to me or commented on my appearance, which I was thankful for. I pulled out the earbuds and slid them into my backpack as I sat down, the chords of the song still playing on repeat in my head. Hopefully that, and the coke, would be enough to keep me awake until sixth period. 

      Mr. Blumenreich, the Trig teacher starts to drone on, and I open my purple notebook, already the cover ripped and covered in doodles and movie quotes, and start to continue my drawing. After I finish a rather flattering picture of  E.T., I glance up to look at the clock. 

      But when I look up, instead of being surrounded by students, I'm standing in the middle of a street in what seems to be Europe, cobblestone streets covered in thick foliage, with one or two people passing by- shades of people, like flickering holograms. It's not raining, but its brisk and its damp- my favorite kind of weather, just barely a cool breeze blowing past me. One teenage girl stops to look at me, winks, and says "First time here, huh?" I don't know where to look- I don't know where I am- and it's beautiful. 

      "Mr. Price?" I looked to my left and met the dark, dull eyes of Mr. Blumenreich, his abnormally long nose turned up at me. "Did you have a question?" 

       I lowered my eyes, staring intently at my notebook, my hands pressing tightly together. "Uh, no, sir." 

      I could feel his angry squint. "Then I suggest you leave my classroom." I looked up at the clock- it was time for second period- and scooped up my notebook and bag. "Yes sir." I replied, and walked out, still feeling his hot gaze on the back of my coat. It was only when I turned back to close the classroom door that I noticed Claryn's desk was empty- and I believe it had been empty the whole period. I frowned and closed the door. 

      Jefferson- ok, he was a strange guy- a great one, but always obsessed with mysteries, and ready to go, to travel... his disappearance was strange, and terrible, but in the most forced explanation, it was plausible.

      Gwen- sure. She had just been in a car accident, is suffering from some form of amnesia or dementia, her mom was strict, she had a lot going on. She deserved a mental health day.

       But Claryn? Sure, her best friend had been in a car accident, J had left... but it didn't DIRECTLY effect her. And her parents valued education over everything else- they wouldn't have let her miss school unless she was dying. 

        I walked through the halls of school, The Ballad of Mona Lisa stuck in my head. Give me a sign... I want to believe. The room was practically spinning, reeking from the lack of J, of Gwen, of Claryn... but I struggled to walk to my next class. 

        I made it through second and third period without anything going wrong. I was exhausted, fighting to stay awake. The caffeine and sugar from the Coke started to fizz out halfway through third period. I sat down in Spanish class, when Senor Peniagua started to teach us the different verb endings, when once again,  my surroundings shifted and I was sitting on a bench in the middle of an empty shopping street. It was still the same weather- the sun was in the same place in the sky,  looking just about ready to go down... far too low for it to be just past noon. I looked up at the sky- a beautiful overcast blue, with light gray clouds so thick you couldn't tell they were clouds. It was quiet, just a faint music in the background, sounding as if it came from within one of the stores. I strained to listen, and to my surprise, I heard the Star Wars Main Title. 

       "What the heck is going on?" I muttered under my breath to myself. 

        And suddenly I was jerked back to reality, the sensation sending a jolt down my spine. Senor Peniagua was staring at me, a whiteboard marker grasped in his hand. The sun shone through the window, shadows dancing across my desk. It was 12:33. The classroom was uncomfortably warm, and a few of my surrounding students were looking at me. 

      "Sebastian? Did you have a question?" I shook my head quickly. 

"Just trying to commit this to memory." 

      Senor Peniagua nodded and continued. 

      What was happening to me? Had I gone completely insane? First I fall in love with Claryn, which is insane by itself, then I become a different person and USE THE FREAKING FORCE- and now I'm having incredibly vivid daydreams and hallucinations. 

        I had officially lost it. I was having a mental breakdown.   

        But if I was having a mental breakdown, why did Claryn experience a similar thing with Gwen? 

        And where the heck IS Claryn? 

        I COULD not stay in class any longer or I was going to start having a panic attack. So I raised my hand, looking at the whiteboard and trying- and failing- to make eye contact with Senor Peniagua. He turned around and sighed. "Yes, Sebastian?" 

"Senor, can I go to the nurse?"
"Why?" 

"Because..." My heart was beating again. I couldn't just tell people I was hallucinating. I had to make up some kind of excuse... "I just don't feel good." 

        Senor Peniagua raised an eyebrow, not impressed. "Really, Sebastian? How so?" 

At times of trouble and anxiety, my brain goes into one of two modes; extreme sarcasm, and movie quotes. I suppose I was too tired to make a sarcastic remark, but I couldn't stop the words from being said. 

"Because... because my lips hurt real bad!" 

          Half the class erupted in laughter, and even Senor Peniagua gave a shadow of a smile. "Well, I can send you to the principals office." His words were light and sarcastic, but I saw the warning in his eyes. 

"No, I'm serious." More laughter. "I just... I don't feel great. Por favor, senor? Cinco minutos?" I said it in a purposefully bad American accent, earning more laughter from the class, and I broke from my puppy dog pleading expression to flash a quick smile. Senor Peniagua sighed. "Si. Rapidamente, Sebastian."  

I nodded at him picking up by bag and walking out. "Gracias, Senor." 

           I turned left at the door to the nurse's office, looking down the hall to see if anyone was watching me pushing open the dirty double doors. I had to get home and figure out where Claryn was and what was happening to me. 

           I started walking home, humming Star Wars, which was now stuck in my head. I walked past the library, through streets empty of cars and people, the small town's citizens all at work. I saw a flicker out of the corner of my eye, but when I turned my head, there was nothing there. I slowed my pace, looking all around, waiting for something to jump out of the shadows and attack, waiting for the scenery to change again. I could feel adrenaline rushing through my veins, and suddenly I was awake and alert. I saw a slight flicker on my left- like someone turning the corner with a trench coat, just a scrap of fabric fluttering behind a street corner. I completely stopped, turning in circles now. I felt like someone was watching me. I swallowed and bit my tongue, trying to refrain from saying anything stupid. 

            There it was- just a flicker across the street on the cracked concrete, a person's figure, standing, waiting. A person who I had seen before. The person who had attacked me in the alley yesterday. 

             I tried to calm myself down- it can't be him, no way could he know you were here, to fight you for a second time- besides, you're just hallucinating, Sebastian, it's just a weird mental breakdown-

             But he flickered again, longer this time, long enough for me to get a good look at his face, and even though it was partially masked in shadow, I could see him smiling cruelly. 

            And there was a second flicker, to my right- a man of similar height and build, but with incredibly long, greasy, shaggy hair covering his forehead. So- I can take one of these guys, with a little beginner's luck, I guess... but two of them? 

            "I've got a bad feeling about this," I muttered. Why do I keep quoting things today? I was trying to keep my eyes on both of them at once. When the long haired one stepped forward, all my logic and instincts went out the window. 

            I turned and started to sprint... and sprinted right into a light post. "Well, darn." I said, getting light headed and falling down. My eyes closed involuntarily, and as I drifted out of consciousness, I heard one of them talk. 

            "Good job, Matthias! You scared the crap out of him. How are we supposed to get information now?"

"Shut up, Morean! You're the one who stepped forward!"

        "Um... Sebastian? Sebastian Price?" 

       I groaned and sat up, rubbing my head, which was POUNDING. I was back in the- the wherever it was- laying on a soft bed, in a small cottage with a fireplace. The room smelled faintly of apple cider and cinnamon. A person, a pretty woman with caramel brown hair, who looked to be about mid-thirties, was standing over me. 

      "Sebastian Price?" She repeated. 

"Ya?" I responded, closing my eyes. Where the heck was I, and what was happening to me? I needed to get home to Chel... she was making dinner tonight... but why was my head hurting so much? "What happened?"

"Well, we think you had an overreaction to the power source... Most Theks know how to control it by now, though. Did you accidentally take too much? Or have you been having medical issues lately?"             Her voice was steady and strong, and I tried to focus on her to stop the urgent feeling of nausea. 

I looked up at her. She seemed genuinely curious, and a bit concerned. What had she said? Medical issues?

"I... I don't think so. Sorry, taken too much of what, exactly? Where am I?"  My brain started to wake up, the paranoia and curiosity that was as familiar as my own heartbeat returning. 

         The lady flickered for a second, and I realized she was the same... thing... as the people I had seen walking down the streets earlier today when I had my second... episode. 

"Don't you know where you are?" she asked frankly.

 I sighed. "If I did, would I be asking?" and there was the sarcasm, right on time. I was just like myself again. 

         She blinked, taken aback, and then smiled, the creases on her face becoming prominent. "You must be one of the new ones, then. You're in the Theta." 

"Theta?" I repeated skeptically. "Like... the greek letter, Theta?" 

"Well, yes, I believe that has something to do with the name. But its a state of mind- a sort of dream state- where Theks like us can access our powers."

            I looked around- at the dark wooden door covered in rain, the old sturdy floorboards, the rafters holding the small cottage together, at the brick walls, at the small TV in the corner, surrounded by colorful books in various piles- everything seemed very real, except for the periodic flickering of the woman next to me. "What's your name?" I asked her.

"Illarene. Illarene Patton. And you're Sebastian Price, right? Friends with Jefferson." 

         Alarm bells went off in my head. I looked at her, studying every inch of her face, looking for signs of a lie. "You know Jefferson Sochete? Is he OK? Is he- where- I mean, why did he- Gwen!" My mind was racing, not being able to form words for the emotions I was feeling. Jefferson was alive. I took a deep breath, replaying our conversation in my head. 

       "Um, side note-" I looked back up at Illarene. I could feel half my smile rise up in a charming smirk.  "Did you say something about powers?" 

--------------------------------------------------------------

Squitchy Mushins, thanks for reading!

Maddie, all I can say is... May the force be with you

-Lindie 

Chapter Six: Wonder bread

Click. 

I locked the door, and turned around, pressing my back to the door. This guy was bizarre. I could hear small squealing sounds behind the door, like a small child was doing everything in their power to not scream. What was his deal?

I slowly slumped down to the ground, still against the door, barely breathing to stay quiet. After what seemed like forty years, I heard his footsteps fade as they left my porch. I finally breathed. Sebastian was a strange guy. He seemed like he was one of those desperate people, although I never knew what he was desperate for. Wendy says he's a fun guy, but I have different thoughts.

I sat there on the floor for a second, listening, when I heard the clink of a dish being taken out of a cupboard. I slowly walked into the kitchen. "Dad!"
I ran up to him and nearly knocked him over with a hug. "Hey, little ray." he chuckled. He had always said I was his little ray of sunshine, and so my middle name was given to me as "Rae."

"What are you doing here? I thought you would be at your conference thingy." Before he could answer, I remembered how I wanted to impress him. "Your Annual Oregon Bar Association Conference, right?"

He chuckled. Not exactly the reaction I was expecting, but good enough. "Yeah, but they canceled. I got to San Francisco, but then I got a call saying I could just head home. Unbelievable, right?" I laughed. Dad always had a rough job-or at least he always had the bad end of it. I let go to look him in the face. "Well, at least your home." Dad sighed as he walked farther into the kitchen to grab a cup from a cupboard. "I'm glad I'm home. How's school? Where is everyone?"

"Mom is out shopping I think with the twins. Cole's probably in his room doing homework."
Dad filled his cup with water, and took a sip. Then he glanced at me, like he normally does when he's in the middle of doing something, but trying to say Yeah, I'm still listening.
"...Probably? You think? Do you not know where they are?"
"Well, um...I haven't been home since I left for school."

My brain relived it all. The note Wendy and I passed, the call from Sebastian, the argument with Ms. James, and then I hugged Wendy....something had happened to me. Wendy was shaking, her hands were fluorescent purple, and she shot me...she shot me. From her hands! Like lightning! And she didn't even seem to care! Then again, it was because the doctors said she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She was never going to be the same again, and neither would I .  We would never be the same again.

"Claryn?"
I snapped out of my little trance. "Sorry," I said, looking at the floor. "It's just, um...been a long day." Dad stared for a minutes, I could feel his eyes reading my posture for answers. Finally I looked into his eyes, and tried to silently communicate and say I'm fine, really. 
But when I looked into his soft, gray eyes, I watched concern fade into fear. Even astonishment started back at me. His head tilted a bit, as he stared, and very quietly said, "Why don't you...get some rest, m'kay sweetie? Tomorrow can be better. I'll try to get a hold of mom."
With one hand, he took the side of my face and tilted it downward, so he could plant a loving and quick kiss on my forehead. Then he left. Without a hug, without looking at me, without a goodnight.

I could hear his footsteps moving up the stairs. Maybe he suddenly didn't feel well. He was tired from working and traveling anyway, so I shrugged off the strange and eerie mood he'd exposed. I grabbed a slice of wonderbread, spread on some butter, and ate it, deciding that would be my dinner. I giggled a little. wonderbread always made me think of a few things. One, a book I once read as a child, the part when one character was on the floor, moaning, and another character was feeling so annoyed at him he considered throwing a loaf of wonderbread at him. It also reminded me of my mother, and a song she loved. My mother had a wonderful taste in music, but also strange. Some singers out there that she adored were just  different in my opinion. That song played in my head, and I could hear Regina Spektor's voice singing softly.


You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first, I loved you first
Beneath the sheets of paper lies my truth
I have to go, I have to go
Your hair was long when we first met

Samson went back to bed
Not much hair left on his head
He ate a slice of wonder bread and went right back to bed
And history books forgot about us and the bible didn't mention us
And the bible didn't mention us, not even once

You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first, I loved you first
Beneath the stars came fallin' on our heads
But they're just old light, they're just old light
Your hair was long when we first met


Oh, if only I could return to the days when I was a child who took naps. The days when I listened to those silly songs with mother. When I could play with her makeup, get messy, eat without worry, and live a life I never signed up for.
But now I had my own problems to solve.

Soon I went upstairs, too. In my bathroom, I started my face wash, softly humming. My imagination took me away to a place where things were okay. Wendy was fine, Jefferson was back. Dracen was mine, and I wasn't going anywhere, moving away was not an option.

Moving...

Wendy was going to fall apart. Everything she knew and loved, going away. Her lover, her memory, and me...Was I falling apart too?
Din't my heart break when I hugged her, and she had nothing but rejection to show me? Din't I hurt from the pain she'd caused me?

Then I heard it. It sounded like wind was blowing inside my house. Gentle, but whistling. "Dad? Did you take out the garbage?" I listened, but no one responded. I heard another noise, a terrifying one. Screaming that followed crashing. I knew that scream came from him.
"Dad! DAD!"
I bolted across the floor, into my parent's room. I found my dad lying on the floor, blood trickling from his jaw. I thought I heard another whish of wind somewhere. "Oh my gosh-Dad! Daddy, what happened-"
"Stop. Don't move."
The voice behind me wasn't mother. Cole's voice was never that rough, and there was no way It was little Charlie or Chase. I froze. Someone had broken in.
Slowly, I turned around. A man stood there, surrounded by what looked like tiny storm clouds that were quickly fading into fog, then into nothing. He was tall, and very well built. His age was impossible to tell. His trench coat billowed around him slightly, and his hands remained at his sides, balled into relaxed fists. I couldn't see any color in his eyes, and his snarl told me he wasn't here to talk. He had slightly shaggy hair. It was dark, and it looked as if his hair had been very well groomed a week ago, but hadn't showered since. But there certainly wasn't a stench on him.
"Now this,  I have been waiting for."
 I didn't realize until that moment I had been holding my breath. I gasped, and swerved my leg in a large circled across the floor, attempting to trip him and catch him off guard.

I failed miserably.

The man grabbed my leg as it swung towards him and thrust his arm inward, dragging my body to him, away from dad, who was out cold. I couldn't find my voice, and couldn't even scream. Next thing I knew he was holding me, gripping my arms hard, as if I would slip and never return.
"She has risen. I will be the one,"  he said with a greedy grin. he raised an arm high up, and it began to be circled with those small storm clouds, "To rise above her!" I was going to be hurt. Filled with fear, I practically braced myself for death, when suddenly, he dropped me. His arm went down, powerless, and his face in shock. He observed me closely, like a never before seen thing. He started directly into my eyes. I felt like he was reading my deepest secrets. Not I even had many.

His snarl returned, worse than before. "Oh, you're her Cripner, aren't you?" he whispered. "Different...but perfect."He grabbed me again, whirling me around to hold my back to his chest, with one bulky hand covering my mouth. Screaming and kicking the best I could, dad's hand simply twitched a bit.

I could see dark storm clouds surrounding me and the man. The room began to spin, and I couldn't move. I shut my eyes. Feeling dizzy, I felt my feet pulled pulled away from the ground. I heard screams and muffles, all coming from me. I realized I had started crying, and I tried to stop immediately. I hated crying in front of people, it was just weakness. I couldn't wipe my tears, so I just tried to pace my breathing. Finally it seemed we landed, and if we'd been flying, even though I never saw where we went.

I wasn't in my house anymore, that was for sure. The man let go of me, and my body went limp and fell to the floor. I fought for the strength to stand, but could only manage to crawl a minute, when I froze. I looked around to see a cave like place, lit by multiple torches on the walls. The walls were wet, dripping with water. There must have been a waterfall or something somewhere near by, but I couldn't hear it at all. Moss cover the walls while sand and rocks and twigs and straw were all over the floor. Then it took me only a second more to see the bars or thick, rusting metal surrounding me.

I flipped around onto my butt, half way in a crab-walk position, and looked up at the man. His face ever shadowed, I could hardly see that snarl that promised nothing but harm and misery.  He thrust out a hand, clutching my throat. My hands flew up to his in response, desperately trying to pry it off as I choked, gagging for air. His arm lifted, raising me off the ground. He held me above him, glaring at me.
"Show me once more," he said. His grip tightened. I could feel my head pounding, my eyes began to black out. Lightheaded and without oxygen, I made one last attempt to kick him before passing out.

I thrust out my leg, but once again, it failed. He simply laughed, deep and menacing. I looked back into his black eyes, filled with power and satisfaction. As I did so, his eyes grew wider, and he laughed again, much louder. "There it is!" He let go, dropping me. I gasped for air, but it did no good. I was still blackening out, hearing the laughter echoing in the cave. The last thing I saw was those clouds circling once more, and before I knew it he was gone.

And my eyes were closed.

~~~~~~      ~~~~~~      ~~~~~~

I sat up straight, my head pounding. I had a horrible migraine, and my entire body felt sore. Coughing, I observed my environment again, hoping what I'd seen last time was a dream. 

I was wrong.

I was still caged in by bars. My wrists were shackled by cuffs and chains. Strands of my red hair were in my face. I blew them away, but they always returned. The most I could do was stand, and take just enough steps to hold two bars in my hands, pressing my face between them, trying to see farther in to cave. I huffed. What the heck did I just get myself into? I looked around and grabbed a stick from the ground. I went over to the door of the cell, and began to search.

"There's isn't a lock."

My head whipped around to find the source of the voice. If I got a dollar for every time an unknown voice spoke from a mysterious location...well, today I would have two dollars. Which isn't much, but something. Then I saw another cell, right next to mine. I hadn't noticed it before.

My eyes found a young girl, about my age, sitting on the floor against the wall. Her hair was long and straight, and a beautiful chocolate brown, although it was a little frizzy and messed up, as if it hadn't been groomed in a couple of days. It had soft highlights at the tips, creating a fading ombre effect. Her round face was directed toward the ground, but I could still see the freckle on her left cheek. Her lips were wide, but beautifully shaped, and just a little plump. 

I stared, not saying anything. 

"Oh, so you are awake. I was starting to think you're one of those people who does stuff in their sleep. Did you hear me? There isn't a lock to pick. Believe me, you're stuck," she said, looking up at me, sitting up straight. She had bright clementine-golden eyes, which matched perfectly with her neutral tan skin. 

"What do you mean?"

"Do you believe in crazy things? Like, has anything weird ever happened to you?" 

She was mysterious, random, and nosy. I didn't trust her.

"Crazy, weird...those are relative terms."

"Well, what do you call this place?" she said, motioning her hand around the room.

"...what do you want?"

She sighed, and slumped against the wall. "A friend. Some company. Food would be nice too, but I doubt you've got that. I mostly just wanna get out of this frickin' dump. But no, I'm stuck here." 

I snorted. She was a regular teen, judging by the words she using, and the inflection in her voice. She continued to grill me with questions.

"How did you get here? Was it the same way I did? Do you got a phone on ya?"

I turned away to ignore her questions. I fiddled with the stick in my hands until she was quiet. Finally she stopped, and I was about to think of a way out when she started again. She stood up and walked over to the wall of bars that our cells shared.

"Hey, um, I don't know how long we'll be here. Probably forever, so...who are you?"

"None of your concern."

"Oh, come on. I'll start. I'm Isabelle Palmson. You can call me Izzy," she said, stretching her hand through a bar, inviting me to shake it. I rolled my eyes, and walked over. I shook her hand.

"Claryn Esters. Can I just call you Bella instead?"

"Mmm...Belle sounds prettier."

"Fine. Belle. How long have you been here?"

"Oh, you're a right-to-business kinda girl, aren't ya? In that case, I've been here for a few days, maybe a week. I've lost track. And-"

"Have you eaten?"

"A little, but-"

"How'd you get here?"

"Some weird dude brought me here. He didn't look like the guy who brought you here, though. He-"

"Did he talk to you at all? Tell you why you're here?"

"Hey! How about  I start asking some questions, hmm? You need to chill. How old are you?"

I stared in awe. This was ridiculous. She was being held hostage, starving, and poorly groomed, and here she was trying to have small talk and become buddies. Something told me she'd get along with Sebastian. 

"You know Belle, I've got a headache. I might throw up in a bit. Think I can just...get some rest?

She looked hurt. Her pretty lips made a little pout. She backed away from the metal bars, back to her spot by the wall. "Yeah, ok."

"Thank you. I'll talk later, we'll figure something out."

I took off my jacket, rolled it up and set it down resting my head on it like a pillow. With no blanket, I curled up into a ball to try and keep warm. I really wished I has more of that wonder bread. The song came back to my mind, as if to sing me to sleep.

Samson came to my bed
Told me that my hair was red
Told me I was beautiful and came into my bed
Oh I cut his hair myself one night
A pair of dull scissors in the yellow light
And he told me that I'd done alright
And kissed me 'til the mornin' light, the mornin' light
And he kissed me 'til the mornin' light

Samson went back to bed
Not much hair left on his head
Ate a slice of wonder bread and went right back to bed
Oh, we couldn't bring the columns down
Yeah we couldn't destroy a single one
And history books forgot about us
And the bible didn't mention us, not even once

You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first

I lay there, listening to water drips off the cave walls. With heavy sighs, I lay waiting for everything to be solved. Waiting to get. Waiting for time to pass. Waiting for someone to find me. Waiting to dream. 

Waiting. 

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Let's see you you've got now, Lindie. 

-Maddie