The Prophecy (18 page)

Chapter Twenty

My gaze and focus snapped and locked onto Jenni as I heard a ruckus from the courtyard. I felt the darkness within me start to strain against my skin, reaching forward, looking for any weakness. Jenni was thrown over the same guys shoulder. Her face lit up with delight as the fountain sprinkled merrily in the background, seeming to provide the perfect accompaniment for their antics.

“
She doesn't deserve him. She should drown in the pain she knowingly and unknowingly causes others.” I whispered, feeling the energy pulsing around me.

The damn within me broke, sending a shuddering release throughout my. I could almost see the tendrils of the dark energy moving through the crowded cafeteria. Seeking its target. The world seemed to pause as I felt myself completely empty, creating a shell of what I once was. I felt like the last good part of me was hidden deep inside, pushing against the barrier the darkness had created.

The fountains spray started to slow down to a steady stream, until finally, it stopped. The people in the courtyard froze with the oncoming silence. They looked curiously at the fountain, then moved closer, peering into the once filled pool only to see small puddles of the water that was left. A buzzing noise could be heard throughout the cafeteria as everyone stopped to stare. The fountain shuddered, causing the people surrounding it to jump back, startled. Straining, the fountain started to jerk. Everyone retreated from it slowly, not knowing what was going on but heeding their bodies warning system to danger.

Jenni was making her way slowly to the cafeteria doors when the first bolt fired off, causing a pressurized spray of water to shoot out. The bolt whistled through the air, making a loud thud against the brick wall of the courtyard. The crowd started to move faster then, as if the noise was enough to kick them into action.
 

I watched as groups of people fought over the doors, trying to make their escape. The sound of more bolts breaking under the pressure caused a frenzied reaction to the group outside, and a reaction to those in the cafeteria. I rose slowly as I watched a group of males go to the cafeteria doors leading to the courtyard, pulling, pushing, hitting against the glass to no avail. It wouldn't open. None of the doors would open.

Jenni stood frozen, watching in horror as the continuing spray from the water seemed to merge together and started moving toward her. She backed away faster and reached behind her, trying to open the door. The high powered spray finally found its mark. It picked Jenni up off the ground and threw her with a dull thud against the cafeteria doors, keeping her pinned in place.

I watched in slow motion as the crowd became more frantic, trying to save Jenni, their leader. The other people in the courtyard huddled together in groups, sobbing, screaming, and trying to open the immovable doors. They faded from my vision as I focused solely on Jenni. On the hell that I had unknowingly released. I pushed myself forward, fighting through the crowds, trying to reach her.

A hurricane of thoughts ran through my mind. I had to help. I had to stop this. I couldn't let her get hurt like Becca. Hurt... Becca... Hurt... Becca. I hurt Becca. I suddenly froze, feeling the truth ram into me like a thousand fists. I couldn't breathe as an insurmountable fear filled me. I was terrified. Afraid of what I was. What I could do. I felt helpless and I hated it. The feeling felt wrong, my soul screamed at me in denial. I wasn't helpless, I couldn't be. If I could release the darkness, even on accident, then I should be able to call it back to me. It was a dangerous thought, an insane idea, but I had to try.

I closed my eyes and reached out with my senses, trying to find the darkness and energy that I had become accustomed to. I found it scattered throughout the surrounding area. I started mentally calling it to me, into me, and embracing it for once instead of fearing it. My eyes snapped open as I felt it fill me. Felt it return home. With determined strides, I shoved my way through the crowd with one thought in mind, I must save Jenni.

A group of males barred my path ten feet away from the door. I tried to shove my way through, but they kept shoving me back, pushing me away from my goal. Frantic, I called upon the darkness within me, fearing I'd be too late to save her.

“
Enough!” I yelled into the masses, not allowing myself time to process the fact that everyone froze, forced to obey. I stepped forward and looked at the group in front of me. “Move.” At my command, they moved in sync, forming two perfect lines that framed the door. I'd freak out about that later.

I moved quickly, trying to call off the energy that kept the water going, kept it attacking Jenni. The closer I got, the less violent the water became. I reached forward and wrenched the door open at the same time that the water left, leaving Jenni to fall seemingly lifeless into my arms.

I knelt on the tiled floor and looked down into Jenni's pale, haunted face. Panic and fear raced through me, causing my hands to shake and silent tears to fall down my face.

I shook her shoulders gently. Her heavy, limp body moved like a rag doll. Lifeless.
“C'mon, wake up—” my horror rose with each passing second. Jenni remained still in my arms. Water dripped steadily from her cold body onto me, causing a bitter cold to seep into my skin, into my soul.

I leaned forward and jerked my hair away from Jenni, trying to get close enough to listen for an indrawn breath, any sign of life. I heard nothing but the erratic beating of my own heart pounding in my ears. I placed my hands on the side of Jenni's face, calling the darkness to the front once again.

“Breath—” I sobbed, pushing the energy into Jenni. I prayed with everything I had that it would work, that I wasn't crazy, and that I could control it. Even if it was only to save my enemy.

Gasping, Jenni lurched her head to the side, coughing up the water that was impeding her lungs. Once it was all expelled, she fell still again, unconscious. I let out a sigh of relief at the sight of Jenni's chest rising and falling steadily with her breathing. I looked up into the crowd, finally realizing that it was quiet. Too quiet.
 

My eyes widened when I saw that everyone was in the same spot that I left them. Perfectly still. Perfectly silent.
“Help me!” I whispered to the masses, feeling what energy I had left slowly leave my body, causing overwhelming dizziness to overtake me. 

They snapped back into action like someone pushed the play button. The closest group quickly surrounded me, many hands reaching across and around to take Jenni's limp body from my arms. I sat there, tears streaming down my face, body and soul exhausted as they took Jenni's form from my sight.

I looked down into my lap and saw the perfect wet outline of Jenni's body where it rested in my arms. I felt something deep inside of me break.

“
Star, look at me babe.” Rose said gently, kneeling down next to me.

I forced my face up and looked into Rose's eyes. Whatever she saw made her flinch. Her eyes began to well with tears.

She reached under my arms and began to rise steadily, supporting me all the while. “C'mon. We're taking you home, little Star.” She looked over her shoulder at a frantic Brandon. “Are you just going to pace all night or are you going to help me?”

He rushed forward, taking most of my weight.
“What the hell just happened?” He asked quietly.

“
That was an incident.”

“
Is this the type of thing you guys meant when talking about her having them?” He whisper shouted, not able to wrap his brain around the idea. “This isn't possible, Rose! People can't make stuff like that happen!”

She shook her head and looked at me.
“You're right. People can't.”

C
hapter Twenty-One

I huddled on the corner of the couch, shivering even though I was wrapped in a blanket. My mind raced, replaying over and over again the images from the day. When I tried to close my eyes, pictures of Jenni and Rebecca flashed through my mind. One right after the other, over and over again. Taunting me, blaming me, and condemning me. 

I felt fragile, like the slightest breeze would shatter whatever was left of me. What I was trying so hard to keep together. My tears quit falling hours ago, leaving me feeling completely spent and empty. Still, the pictures flashed, like a mantra in my mind about all the evil residing inside of me. I had never hated myself more than I did at that moment.

“Star.” Rose called gently, reaching out to me only to retract her hand as I flinched away from her touch. She sighed and looked down at her lap.

“
C'mon buttercup. You can't keep going on like this.” Brandon said as he knelt down in front of me.

“
Yeah, I don't feel like being on suicide watch right now.” Rose cut in. I didn't react. I didn't do anything. I was consumed with the horror show playing in my mind

“
Don't mind Rose, you know how she gets when she's scared.”

“
I'm not scared, you idiot!”

“
See what I mean?” he tried to laugh but the sound fell short.

Still, I remained silent. A knock on the downstairs door drew away Brandon’s attention. He looked at Rose for her to get it, but sighed in resignation when she looked at him like he was stupid.
“Fine, I'll go get it. But be nice.”

“
Yeah, yeah, I will be.” She watched him leave then leaned closer to me. “Look, I know you're freaked. I am too. But you need to snap out of this shit right now! Do you hear me? Things like this just don't happen. There has to be an explanation.”

I focused my gaze on her. She had my attention now.
“Don't you think I've already tried to figure this out? I've been living with this crap for over a year. You've been around it for not even five months.”

“
Yeah, and it's been a barrel of laughs.”

“
I don't have to explain it to you. Shit, I wouldn't even know where to start!”

“
That's my point!” she hissed, narrowing her eyes at me. “You haven't even been looking, just trying to come up with explanations! Don't you think that there would be other people in your family that have had these little 'incidents'? Hmm? It's not like crap like this just pops up out of nowhere.”

I shook my head and burrowed deeper into the blanket.
“Yeah, because people just love to write about family freakishness. I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem to just go up into the attic and find the documents needed within all the artifacts.”

“
You've seriously have things from your family up there?”

I shrugged and looked away, wanting to quit the conversation and just hide somewhere.
“Yeah, my families a hoarder when it comes to ancestry stuff. We have clothes and pictures dating back generations.”

“
Clothes? What clothes?” We both glared over the couch at Brandon. “Geez, sorry.”

“
Whatever. Stars family hoards shit, so there’s a ton of old clothes in the attic.”

He leaned forward eagerly, resting his forearms on the back of the couch.
“Seriously? This is awesome! Do you think your mom would let us go look? I'm sure we could find something great to use for the Halloween dance!” he grimaced and looked over at me. “That is, if you are willing to go.”

“
Of course she's going with us. She needs to have something normal happen.”

I tried to cover my head with the blanket, but apparently Rose was done with my freaking out and ripped it away.

“C'mon sunshine. Let’s go look. Lead the way Captain Fashionista!” Brandon raced off with an almost girlish squeal. Rose rolled her eyes and held her hand out to me. 

“
Do we have to do this now? I just want to be alone.”

She grabbed my hand and jerked me upright.
“Nope, you're not doing that. At least not until I know you won't go to the bathroom to slice your wrists.”

“
Look, I'm not going to kill myself, okay?”

“
Oh, yeah, that was believable. C'mon toots, were burning daylight!”

I followed her slowly, hoping that by giving in I'd be rid of them faster.

I could hear Brandon chatting excitedly away in the kitchen with my mother. I walked in and saw them leaning lazily against the isle, while Rose stood stiff against the counter, sending sporadic glares between them. Everyone froze when they saw me, seeming to wait for what I would do or say before they proceeded to talk.

I crossed my arms.
“Hey, Mom? Would it be alright if we went up to the attic? We want to look for some clothes that could be used for a Halloween costume.” I hoped it would be a negative answer.

She paused a moment to look me over.
“Sure, honey. Just make sure that you put everything back where you got it. You know how I am about messes.”

My shoulders slumped as I ran my fingers through my hair.
“Yeah, sure thing Mom. C'mon guys, let’s get this over with.” Without another word, I turned on my heels and walked toward the stairs. I didn't look behind me to see if Rose and Brandon would follow.

I stood staring at the trapdoor that held the stairs to the attic in the middle of the hallway. I gestured to the ceiling as Rose and Brandon make their way over.
“All right. Brandon, you're going to have to pull that string there to get the door to swing open. The ladder should unfold.”

He looked up and reached for the string.
“Should? What do you mean should?”

“
Well, I assume it works properly. Mom and Dad got everything up there, so I guess they didn't have any problems with it.” He pulled sharply and the door snapped open with an audible pop. The jerking motion causing the ladder to unfold quickly, almost knocking into me. I jumped back and glared at Brandon.

He smiled sheepishly and shrugged his shoulders. I rolled my eyes. Soft streams of sunlight filtered down from the opening with dust motes dancing merrily in the light. I wiped my sweaty palms on my pants as I looked up into the opening.
“Okay, so who's going to go first?”

Brandon and Rose pointed at each other.
“He is.”

“
She is.”

They said at the same time. I shook my head and looked them over, settling my gaze on Rose.
“Hey, it was your idea, so you should go first.”

She shook her head adamantly as she backed away.
“Hell to the no on that idea. Y'all can go up first. That way if there's any spider webs or creepy crawlies, you'll have cleared them out of the way by the time I head up.”

I snorted and looked incredulously at her.
“Ms. Bad Ass is afraid of spiders?”

She sent a smirk right back at me.
“This coming from Ms. Horror Movie Chicken?”

“
Touché!” I stepped onto the bottom rung and headed up quickly, trying to ignore Rose's warnings about spider webs, and trying not to think zombie bats. I stood up and looked around, frowning at the mass of assorted boxes and trunks lining the attics walls.

I could tell Mom's OCD had infected up here by the fact that everything was sorted by size. The smaller boxes and trunks started along the wall facing the back of the house, then grew in size as it wrapped around toward the front. The light from the window didn't reach into the corners of the attic, causing shadows to dance along the walls. I shuddered as a scene from a horror movie popped into my head. I eyed the shadows wearily, almost expecting a creepy dead chick to crawl spider-like from the shadows.

I brushed the thoughts away as I heard Brandon and Rose crawl through the opening. Reaching up, he pulled the chain to the ceiling light, thoroughly banishing the shadows, and what could lurk in them, away.

Rose strode with military precision to the middle of the room, clapping her hands to get everyone’s attention. She turned in a slow circle, taking in the amount of items that needed to be gone through.
“Alright, Star and I will start going through the stuff up here,” she said, gesturing to the wall at the back of the house. Looking behind her, she pointed to a large armoire on the furthest wall. “You can start there.” She told Brandon. I watched as his eyes almost glazed over with the thought of all the clothes he'd find. Without saying a word, he took off to the armoire, opening its doors reverently and peering inside at all the lace and satin.

Turning back to me she grabbed my elbow, pulling me to the first set of trunks.
“Alright,” she whispered, casting a glance over at Brandon. “This is what we’re going to do. There probably wouldn't be anything useful in the boxes, so I say we focus on the trunks.”

“
Why just them? There should be clothes spread throughout everything.”

She rolled her eyes and knelt down in front of the first trunk.
“We're not looking for clothes. We'll leave that to him.”

“
Okaaay,” I drawled out. “Then what are we looking for?”

“
Seriously? Jesus, please pay attention this time!” I shrugged and sat down next to her. I'd do whatever it took to get this over with. “We're looking for any type of record. Like a journal or something.” She began unlatching and methodically removing the items from the trunk.

My confusion grew as I watched her empty out the entire trunk without looking at any of the items.
“Dude, you're not even looking!”

“
You're the movie master. Where are all the important things hidden?”

I threw my hands up in the air. This was beyond exasperating.
“You're freaking insane, you know that? There isn't going to be any secret diary or master plans hidden in a fake bottom!”

“
Ugh! Look, you can either help me, or go help Captain Fashionista over there. Your choice. And since when did you start ignoring aspects of movies?”

“
Since shit in my life started blowing up! Jesus, don't you think that I have enough going on without having to worry about what happens in a movie?” I cringed as I looked over my shoulder at Brandon. He was holding a lacy concoction in front of him. I prayed to whoever would listen that he wouldn't get the urge to try it on. “And no, I don't want to go help him. God, I hope he doesn't try to get us into something completely girly.”

 
”Agreed.” She brushed her cropped hair behind her ears and got back to work. A look of determination was stamped across her face. “So just help, okay? You can start on the next trunk.” She waved me off into the general direction of the next trunk. I felt like I was working with a Nancy Drew wannabe.

I blew out a breath and headed over to it. All of this was useless. We'd only be spending hours looking for something that doesn't exist. Hidden compartment my ass.