Broken (The Siren Series #1) (14 page)

“
Let’s go in then.” said
Lilly.

“
No not yet.” I said.

“
Why not?” asked Becky

“
That guy just gives me the creeps and
I don’t want him leering at me.” I replied.

“
Oh ok.” said Lilly.

After five minutes we entered the dark room,
in front of us was the bright colored screen showing adverts. I
looked up, scanning the room for the guy and his girlfriend. Both
of them were sitting at the back, and she had her phone out, what a
surprise. The bright phone lit up her unnatural face, thick with
make-up. We climbed the steps and sat a few rows in front of them.
I decided to sit in the middle of the girls to share my popcorn. We
sat in the dark waiting for the film to start. They showed adverts
after adverts. I was already eating my popcorn before the film
started, the girls took handfuls too. We were whispering to each
other during the adverts but when we saw the lights darken and the
film title, we stopped and stared at the screen for the film to
start. The film opened with a car chase, (typical). Some known film
hunk was speeding down a road while blasting off his gun. Once I
got settled into the film I began to enjoy it.

At one point in the film, two people were
reveling plot twists and one of them was a woman. A femme fatale. I
love the femme fatales on film; they always surrounded themselves
with mystery, making me want to know more. I was on the edge of my
seat shoveling popcorn into my mouth with anticipation when the
girl a few rows back started talking on her phone.

“
Where am I? I’m at the cinema, nah
boring film cannot understand the plot at all.” she
blabbed.

I turned around and looked at her, but she
was too busy to notice me.

“
Agh I wish she would shut up.” said
Becky.

“
Yeah she’s getting on my nerves.”
added Lilly.

“
Ellie can’t you deal with her?” asked
Becky.

“
What do you..” I then understood what
she was saying. I turned to Lilly and was about to ask if she
minded but she just nodded her head.

I got up from the seat and made my way to the
back of the room. I climbed up the steps and made my way towards
her. I sat in the empty seat next to her and she turned to me.

“
Excuse me what do you think you are
doing?” the fake blonde asked. “Hold on,” she said to the phone.
She was about to open her mouth again to speak but I grabbed her
hand. The girl’s phone dropped beside her and her body went still.
Her boyfriend watched in confusion.

The same feeling washed over me like a tidal
wave. The tingling sensation flowed up and down my body. I peered
into the girls mind who didn’t have an intelligent thought inside
her head, and her desires were only material. This girl gave off a
different vibe than the other two, but I didn’t want to lose to
her. I slowly squeezed my grip on her hand. Somehow this girl was
mentally pushing me away. My whole body rippled with power and I
could feel my hair prickle at the back of my neck.

Then like the others before I could see her
soul vibrating with energy, but this time it wasn’t warm or soft.
It was cold, like stone. Her thoughts flowed through me. This girl
was just another Beth. I could feel her hatred for other people and
the person who only mattered in the world was herself. More
memories flowed through my mind, and I could see the pain she
brought to others. Slowly I started to squeeze her cold soul
mentally. I wanted to turn it into dust. The fake blonde started to
twitch awkwardly in her seat. But just at the last second I thought
she wasn’t worth it. I released my grip and the girl’s eyes adopted
the same vacant stare.

With my hand still grasped on her wrist I
slowly said. “Get out.”

The girl stood up and abandoned her boyfriend
along with her phone. I watched her walk down the steps and out to
the exit. I turned to the boyfriend who gave me that creepy look
again. He moved closer towards me and I quickly ran back to my seat
in disgust.

“
All done,” I said with a smile on my
face.

I took another handful of the stolen popcorn
and picked at it one by one. I smiled to myself knowing that I
could easily influence people. This curse that I was so scared of
made me confident and I really liked it. Lilly and Beth were glued
to the screen (there was a topless scene). While they watched the
film my mind was racing with thoughts and I could not keep up with
them. A thought slowly crept into my mind, that I should use my
power to get what I wanted, but was I that kind of person who would
just exploit my ability just for my selfish reasons. I decided that
I wouldn’t use my power until I fully understood it. Maybe Rhea
could tell me more? Then my mind went straight into panic mode.
Everything Rhea told me was true, even the faceless creatures in my
dreams.

Those
things
were real. A shiver ran up my spine. I
could almost remember the smell they gave off, I tried to shake the
horrible thought from my mind, when I remembered again that Rhea
said they would come after me. Another chill ran up my spine and I
squeezed my eyes shut.

No, no, no, no. That will
not happen
I thought.

I still had my eyes shut when I could feel
someone standing over me. My eyes opened to see Lilly and Becky up
on their feet. I looked around to see everyone was leaving.

“
What’s going on?” I asked
them.

“
The films finished.” Lilly
replied.

I stared at the large screen to see the
credits rolling.

“
Don’t tell me you slept through it
Ellie?” Becky asked.

“
Did I? I must have.” I
said.

“
Come on let go.” said
Becky.

I stood up from my seat and brushed off the
fallen popcorn that clung to me. Lilly and Becky were first to
leave and I followed behind them down the stairs. Both of them held
open the theater doors for me and I thanked them. The bright lights
greeted us from the dark room and I had to close my eyes for them
to slowly adjust. I squinted to see Lilly and Becky were trailing
in front. Quickly I picked up my pace and caught up to them. Both
of them were talking about the film they just watched.

“
O.m.g. He was so handsome.” said
Lilly.

“
Totally, I just wanted to see him
without his shirt on.” Becky added.

I plodded along behind them, just listening
while they swooned over the main character. We moved passed the
food counter and on tip toes I looked for the guy that had served
me. There was quite a queue forming but I could almost make him out
through the crowd of people, he looked normal while he was serving
people. I smiled to myself knowing that he didn’t look like a
mindless zombie anymore. As I carried on walking I could hear two
people talking very loud. Turning in the direction, it was the
cheep blonde and her boyfriend. They were arguing amongst
themselves, and I didn’t want to stay in case the girl recognized
me. I quickly walked passed them while trying to hide my face.

I walked passed where we bought our tickets.
I could see the woman dealing with some customers. She was smiling
while serving, again she looked normal. Another smile formed onto
my lips.

“
Thank god.” I said out
loud.

I was relieved that they were back to normal
and I didn’t harm them. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I
hurt an innocent person.

“
Ellie are you coming?” Lilly called
from the exit.

I nodded and lightly jogged towards them.
“Sorry.” I called out.

We exited through the door and the cold wind
whipped around us, blowing our hair up around our faces. I crossed
my arms around me while we hurried towards the car park. The wind
began to pick up and the three of us ran towards the bright red
car. Becky tried to hold her skirt down, but she was fighting
against the wind. Lilly rummaged through her bag to find her keys
while we waited

“
Hurry up Lilly,” I said while
shivering.

“
It’s cold, hurry up.” said
Becky.

“
All right, let me just find them,”
Lilly dug deeper into her bag. “Got them!” She shouted and the car
made an unlocking sound.

We all jumped in the car. I decided to go in
the back again. The car was no warmer then outside. I rubbed my
cold hands together to try and warm myself up and pulled my jacket
tightly around me. Lilly stuck the key into the ignition and turned
it, the car came to life with a rumble.

“
Stick the heating on.” asked
Becky.

I saw Lilly fumble with the heating controls,
she was pressing random buttons. She stopped when loud burst of air
shot out of the heaters.

Lilly pulled us out of the car park and we
headed back home.

“
Uh girls,” I wanted their attention.
“You won’t tell anyone about tonight will you?”

Lilly looked at me in the rear view mirror.
“Of course not Ellie, we wouldn’t do that.” she gave me a smile
which reassured me.

“
Yeah we wouldn’t do that to you,” said
Becky. “Anyway who would believe us?”

“
Thanks girls.” relief washed over
me.

“
It was cool watching you do it though,
you could make anyone do what you want.” Said Becky.

“
I don’t want to make anyone do
anything. That was a onetime thing.” I answered.

“
Good girl Ellie, don’t take Becky’s
advice.” Lilly said proudly.

“
Well I have thought about it, I don’t
think I’m the kind of person who could do that to people just to
get my own way.” I said

“
Oh come on Ellie we can make Beth do
all sorts of stuff, it’d be fun.” she said.

I began to think it over would it be so bad
just to mess around with just a few people in school. My thoughts
were cut short.

“
Don’t you dare!” Lilly practically
shouted at me.

“
She can do what she wants.” said
Becky.

“
It’s wrong, it just is. You just
cannot play with people like that.”

“
Oh? But it was ok for you when Ellie
made that girl get out?” said Becky.

“
Well she was annoying, but there is a
difference, you two are talking about seeking people out and
messing with them.” Lilly added.

I felt like I was torn between right and
wrong, Becky in one corner and Lilly in one another. There was no
way I was going to side with any of them. I decided I wanted my
thoughts to be heard.

“
Shut up you two!” I
shouted.

There was finally silence in the car. I had
both of their attention and now it was my turn.

“
Lilly you are right, it is wrong to do
such things and Becky, there is a part of me that would love to go
to school and make some people pay. But that’s just not me,
this
thing
inside of me it
kinda’ scares the hell out of me, and I just want to crawl into bed
and never come out.”

I took a breath. “Everything is getting out
of hand since Kate’s death. On the outside I’m all smiles and
sunshine but on the inside I’m falling apart” I could feel my face
get hot while tears trickled down my face. “I feel that it’s my
fault that she died since she was driving me in the first place. I
just wished that she’d never died. Sometimes I wished that it was
me instead.”

Both Lilly and Becky gasped.

“
I know I shouldn’t think that, but I
do. And on top of that I’ve got night terrors and sometimes I’m too
scared to sleep. Those people in there, you saw what I did to them,
and for what? A free ticket and popcorn, you’re right Lilly it’s
wrong, I’m a horrible person.” I placed my hands over my face and
slowly sobbed into them.

“
I had no idea you felt like that
Ellie, I’m so sorry and you’re not horrible.” said Becky

“
Ellie I’m sorry, you should never say
it’s your fault even if you feel it. It was just an accident.” said
Lilly. “Ellie if I could, I would give you a big hug”

“
Me too.” added Becky.

I wiped my face with the back of my hand.
Becky opened the glove box, inside were a small pack of tissues.
She took them and handed them to me with a smile. I ripped open the
packet and pulled some free. I cleared my face and blew my
nose.

“
Thanks girls” I said with a croaky
voice.

“
Ellie if you need us just phone, we’re
here for you.” said Lilly.

Becky agreed with Lilly.

“
Thanks” I said again. I dabbed at my
eyes with the tissue. How did everything get so messed up in a
short amount of time?

I sat back in the seat and waited to go
home.

“
Ellie you’re home now.” Lilly said
softly.

I looked up from the floor and peered out
into the dimming light.

“
Do you want us to come in with you?”
asked Becky.

“
No that’s alright, I’m just going to
have an early night maybe a bath,” I answered. “But thanks anyway
and if I need to talk I’ll call.”

The two girls looked back in their seats.
“Yeah call us anytime Ellie.” said Becky.

I got out of the car and watched them drive
away from the house. As soon as the car disappeared around the
corner I felt awful, like someone had flipped a switch inside me.
Before I entered the house I took out my compact make-up mirror and
checked my face, some of the redness had disappeared. My skin
didn’t look healthy at all, it was grey and dull, and I was washed
out. The only thing was red was my cute button nose. I put the
compact into my clutch and entered the house feeling like crap. Dad
was sitting on the sofa still watching TV.