tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50605577757889182662024-02-08T11:55:47.810-08:00Grey NightsMy free serial novellaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16325033220830843029noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060557775788918266.post-45611664198968870512014-05-11T07:56:00.000-07:002014-05-11T07:56:46.772-07:00UpdateHi everyone! I have not posted a new chapter in a few months because I have been boggled with other obligations. I feel horrible. I have more chapters written, but unable to edit them to post. I have 3 books coming out this summer so when things slow down I promise to have it up!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16325033220830843029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060557775788918266.post-16466957675468916162014-03-16T17:22:00.000-07:002014-03-16T17:22:20.200-07:00Chapter Three<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">We barely talked in the car. The stereo was broken, and that made the
silence even more unbearable. The sky
outside was still bright, we would have almost twenty hours of sunlight today.
I put my right hand up to my neck and tugged at the turtleneck sweater I had
put on. The bruises had started to appear, and I thought it would be better if
I didn’t have to answer any questions tonight. I put my hand in front of the
heater to warm them up. The car was cold, and the steering wheel against my
hands were absolute freezing. The bonfire was at the far edge of town (not that
Clearwater was very big at all) where the woods cleared out a few hundred
yards. It was surrounded by nothing but the trees with a small bubbly brook
running inside it. Hopefully we would have a roaring bonfire to keep us warm.
It wasn’t that it got icy cold in the summers (compared to the winters that is)
but we never got tank top and shorts weather here. My body always ran warm for some
reason. My average temperature ran at 100 degrees instead of the usual 98.6. It
always puzzled the doctors because I was always so healthy. It was a running
joke that my temperature matching my temper- high. Doctors always said
something among the lines of my body adapting to the cold winters and didn’t
speak of it again. I knew the real truth, everything in my body was enhanced,
why not my temperature. As we neared the woods, I noticed Pheona was mumbling
something beside me, she repeated it over and over. I looked over at her,
something felt strange, above the normal strange that oozed off of her. She had
her hands around her waist, looking out the window at the trees passing by.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Are you
okay?” I asked. I was genuinely concerned. Since Pheona had told me the truth
about herself, I had felt a new connection with my older sister. We had
something in common, and I had never been able to share this part of myself
with anyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She squeezed
her eyes shut, and continued to mumble incoherently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Pheona,” I
said, this time a bit sharper. I didn’t want her to embarrass me at this party.
My friends would, no doubt, be intrigued by her. They had all heard of her, but
no one had met her. I needed to keep her normal, as normal as she would ever
be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She stopped mumbling
and opened up her eyes. They were red and wet, filled with fear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“What is
wrong with you?” I asked. I felt bad, but at the same time so annoyed. I tried
to hide my attitude and forced a smile to my lips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I’m just
wondering. Why are they here during the day? It doesn’t make any sense at all.
They normally hate the sun. There were barely any shadows…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I had
wondered this once or twice today also, but I also knew Garrick would protect
me. I knew I had nothing to be scared of, they knew better than to hurt me.
Sometimes they scared the living crap outta me, but I always got through it. It
had been this way my entire life, but every summer Garrick came and rescued me.
That was what had gotten me through my long winter nights. He had been here for
me since the summer I turned six, and he continued coming each and every year,
promising one day to take me back to where ever it was he came from. He kept
all the darkling’s away; he was the only one who understood me. If he was
actually a real person. Sometimes I worried that he wasn’t real, since no one
else could see him. Now with my sister’s confession that she saw them to, it
only made my haunting thoughts that much louder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Garrick
protects me,” I blurted out, trying to give us both some hope. “He will protect
you to, I know it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Pheona
laughed again, very loudly I might add.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Why is that funny?”
I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion. I was confessing my secrets to her, and
all she could do was laugh?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I don’t need
protection from anyone but myself.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Why not, if
you don’t have to be scared anymore?” I pressed on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“They
obviously don’t leave you alone, they still haunt you, make your life a living
hell.” She shook her head while speaking, and clutched something in her coat
pocket.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“What you got
there?” I raised an eyebrow and tried to get a better look. Obviously a bit too
distracted, I swerved off the road a bit. I promptly corrected the old Toyota
pickup, and looked back at my sister.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Oops. Sorry,”
I mumbled. It wasn’t a big deal. It was my father’s car, his off road baby. Not
that he would of noticed any new dents. The thing was lifted with huge snow
tires, and beat up to a pulp. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">We sat there
in total silence. As awkward as it was, I couldn’t get my mind off of Garrick.
I tried to play off the darkling’s daytime visit as if it were nothing, but
deep inside I was worried. Something major must have happened to give them the
power to come out of the night. This was something I couldn’t understand, until
I talked to Garrick that was. He always had the answers, and they were always
wise and comforting. Just thinking about him put me at ease. A few minutes later I pulled the SUV off of the
two lane highway and onto a small dirt road through the trees. I had been here
many times before. In fact the bonfire spot was a frequent party place for
teenagers in the summer. In the winter, it was just way too cold to be outdoors
for long periods. I never left the house much in the winter anyways. Besides
school that is. After about half a mile the trees around us started to clear. I
noticed cars parked all around. Some smaller ones were parked deeper inside the
woods while others had just simply pulled off to the side. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“We’re here,”
I announced. Pheona took her seatbelt off and I pulled the keys out of the
ignition. I was not looking forward to this. Clearwater was a small town, and
everyone knew everyone else’s business. I bet my sister’s special appearance at
the annual bonfire would keep the gossip mill running for weeks. No doubt, mom
and dad would find out soon enough about this trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“It’s been so
long since I’ve been here,” Pheona told me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I rolled my
eyes. “You’ve been here?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Sure, I was
a teenager once to you know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Yeah, but I
didn’t exactly peg you for the social type.” We both got out of the car,
slamming the heavy truck doors loudly behind us. Pheona started to walk towards
the music, like a fly drawn towards the light. I decided to follow close behind
her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I was once,
you were too young to remember or maybe care,” her voice drifted off as she
moved through the woods and towards the clearing up ahead. I tried to keep up
with her but this girl was fast! Although the sun was up, the woods were still
eerie and dark. It was a quiet walk to the bonfire, the trees stood high all
around us shutting out the daylight at the forest floor. The sounds of crickets
and other forest creatures sung out so soft I could barely hear it. I could sense small shadows all around me that
made me feel watched. The hairs on the back of my neck stood at end. I paused
for a second to take a look at my surroundings. Nothing but brown and shadows. None
of the shadows moved, and that was all that mattered. I tried to ignore the
feeling that kept tugging at the back of my mind. It told me to be careful, and
I tried to focus on the sound of the laughter and music that was only hundreds
of yards ahead of me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Pheona! Wait
for me!” I started to follow her again, and tried to run through the trees. I awkwardly
stepped over roots and rocks. I cursed myself for wearing high heels. I should
have known better, but the thought of seeing Garrick had made me want to dress
up. Not that I had any romantic feelings for him. I cared for him, a lot. But
that’s where my logic kicked in. He was beautiful with his silver white hair
and light pale skin. His looks varied much from the darklings. Instead of
radiating death and a horrible stench, he always smelled like a warm rainy day
had washed over him. He was much taller than the darklings and towered over me
by about half a foot. And his voice. Oh that voice just radiated with authority
and dominance. Deep in my thoughts, I hadn’t even been paying attention to
where I was going. I looked straight ahead to look for my sister and stopped to
listen, but there was no music or yelling anymore. Confused, I spun around,
looking for some sign of the party, or at least Pheona. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Pheona?” I
whispered. I searched for some sunlight, anything to make me feel better. There
was no sound, not even bugs chirped. The unnatural silence was starting to
scare me. Something wasn’t right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Gaby.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The voice
made my heart stop, but in relief. I spun towards the voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Oh Garrick!”
I cried, running towards him. “I was so scared; please tell me it’s going to be
okay.” He looked the same as he always did and dressed in his usual black
trench coat and oversized black boots. He was a few inches taller than me now, with a
square jaw and pale skin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Garrick
placed his arms around me and shushed me. This was where I needed to be, safe
and sound in his arms. He calmed me by rubbing the side of my face. His hands
were so warm, it filled me instantly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“It’s okay
little one. There’s no one but me and you now.” With his touch, I instantly
felt calm as always. I stopped my shaking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“What’s going
on?” I asked, drawing back to look at his face. He was the one thing in my life
that I could count on, and since I could never really count on him, that was
actually a sad thing. His life was a secret, and his world was an even bigger
secret. He had never introduced me to anyone like him, if there were in fact
others. He didn’t explain where he went or what he did while he was away, but I
had complete trust that it was for my own good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“My Gaby.” He
smiled, stepping back and taking me all
in. “You have grown so much since I saw you last. You grew your hair out.” He
grabbed some of my blond locks between his fingers. “And it suits you.” I
smiled inside brightly. I left his hand fall from my hair on to the tops of my
shoulders. He held me strongly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Thanks.” I
loved hearing a complement from him. His face grew serious, making him look
much older than his usual twenty something face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Gaby, there
is something wrong… in my world.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I looked up
at him just a bit worried, he never spoke about his world, ever. What was so
different now? He had me worried.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“You can tell
me. I hope everything is okay,” I urged on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He hesitated
briefly. He took a deep breathe then continued,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“ For every
world there must be an opposite, there must be something out there to balance
it. For my world, Axenia, there are the darklings. A long time ago their world
started to die that’s when they started to merge into your world. When their
world disappeared, many of them wanted to take over Axenia.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I pulled back
from him, I was a little confused as to why he was telling me this now, and I
could tell he was struggling. There was sadness in his eyes,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Are you
okay?” I asked him. I put my hand on his forehead and wiped some of his long
hair back. He smiled small at first and lovingly brushed my hand away. He put
his arms around me tightly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Don’t worry
about me. I’m just having a hard time keeping time still.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I nodded. I
had no idea that he could stop time, he had never done it before. I looked
around at the trees and dirt covered floors. The silence and stillness of it
all was wonderful. I felt myself relax a little more. I wondered how this
silence could have frightened me so much earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Oh Gaby, I
want so much to protect you.” he cried. “We don’t speak of the war, but in the
end the darklings were banished. Some of them are alive among your world and a
few migrated to other worlds. Lately, the evil in your world has strengthened
them. They feed on the fears of you world. Yesterday, many of my guards joined them;
they betrayed Axenia and took the forms of our enemy. They will look as evil
and as rotten as any other darkling. Except… “<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> “They can come out in the daytime, out of the
shadows,” I cut him off, knowing exactly what he would say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> I nodded and stared off into the picture still
background. Everything around us was starting to blur around the edges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“You’ve seen
them.” he stated. I nodded firmly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“They still won’t
hurt you. I won’t let them. They may haunt and bother you but they are still
scared of me. And when they lose every bit of goodness inside of them, they won’t
be able to come out in the day anymore like the rest of them. It has already
begun; they have retreated to the shadows.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“And what
happens,” I demanded. “When they aren’t scared anymore.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> An unfamiliar feeling inside of me started to
creep up. It was a feeling I never experienced around Garrick. It was a feeling
of distrust.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Surely they
couldn’t be scared of his wrath forever. Why did the darklings stay away from
me? Why were they so scared of him? It was a truth I had accepted long ago but now
the unanswered questions kept nagging me. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I
didn’t think he had as much control as he thought he did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I have
something for you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He said,
putting my chin in his hand. He put his hand inside the pocket of his heavy
trench coat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">When he
pulled his hand out, around it was a long golden chain. Hanging from it, a
large rock. It was about the size of a baby’s fist and looked similar to a
crystal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Oh, it’s
beautiful!” I whispered. A smile lit up on my face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“It’s charged
with the power of the sun It will give you more protection, they won’t want to
come to close to you in that.” He put the long chain around my neck and put his
hands on my shoulders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I can’t stay
this time; my world needs me right now. But I will check in with you whenever I
can.” He started to turn around but then I remembered I hadn’t asked him about
Pheona.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Wait,” I
grabbed the end of his coat and tried to pull him back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“My sister. Did
you know she has the sight also?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Garrick
turned back around towards me. He was silent for what felt like minutes, but I’m
sure it was only a few seconds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Yes I know,
but I’m not interested in her.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“What do you
mean you’re not <i>interested</i>?” I cried. “She’s my family. Can’t you give
her some sort of protection too?” I felt a bit guilty inside. I didn’t care to
much about her before, but now that I knew she could see them like me, I felt a
bit more protective.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Garrick’s shook
his head sadly. “And you can’t tell her about me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Oh...” I bit
my lip, afraid to look him in the eye. I didn’t want to tell him that I had
already told her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Why not?” I
asked innocently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I’m telling
you more than I planned, just remember. I would do anything to protect you.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Please don’t
leave me,” I begged. I was desperate. I didn’t want to be alone anymore. He was
the only one I could talk to, trust. He gave me a pained look and put his hand
on the side of my face and gave one of his melting smiles that made me
temporarily forget what I asked. The warmth of his hand spread across to my
other cheek. His touch made me feel as if I had been sitting out in the hot sun
for hours. Just as a bead of sweat started to trickle down my temple, he
disappeared and the world went back to normal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16325033220830843029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060557775788918266.post-63444573280893278102014-03-09T10:50:00.000-07:002014-03-09T10:50:42.992-07:00Grey Nights Chapter Two<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Chapter two</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">During dinner we were all quiet. I stirred my chow mien with my fork, not
really hungry. I was too excited. Tonight was the bonfire and the official day
of the summer solstice. Most years this was the day he came to me, but not
every year. Some years he came a few days later, with no explanation. Only that
he had other duties to attend to first. Today held almost nineteen hours of sunlight, and the day when I had to
be least afraid. Supposedly, but I had already seen one darkling today. And in
the sunlight no less, which was against the rules. Even the shadows were almost
nonexistent. Unlike Garrick and his kind, darklings couldn’t stand the sun.
They were scary but being under Garrick’s protection meant they would never
hurt me, just haunt me. It was always a bit terrifying, but I knew tonight I
would be safe again. I might be anyway. Soon
after me and Pheona’s incident, our parents had come home with dinner. We
hadn’t had another chance to talk, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to talk to her
about it just yet. I had decided to wear a purple turtleneck (to cover my
growing bruises) and a pair of my most flattering jeans. I couldn’t wait to get
out of here. After about fifteen minutes of
silence. I stood up and grabbed my plate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Ok, I have
to meet Maizy at the bonfire soon.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">My mother
glared at me and held up her fork.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Your sister
only comes home once a month, do you need to go out tonight?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“What?” I
shrieked. I had spent so many nights being stuck at home, safe. Safe from the
darkling, in my room. Sleeping with the lights on; afraid to turn my back. This
was my first chance to go out, like a normal teenager. It was the longest day
of the year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I’ve been
looking forward to the bonfire for months,” I said. I dropped my plate back on
the table. “You can’t make me stay at home; I’m almost eighteen.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Gabrielle,”
my mother said in her most stern voice.<br />
I looked at my father who just continued eating. I knew why he wouldn’t look me
in the eyes. Sadly, I knew my parents too well.
They needed me to stay at home so they could go out for drinks or whatever it
was they did, and they couldn’t leave Pheona at home alone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Seriously?”
I told him, stomping my foot a few times. I let out a sigh and spun around
towards my room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“You guys are
barhopping idiots! Go out to your stupid bar and drink, do the only thing your
good at!” I screamed in anger as I slammed my door shut.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I laid down
on my bed and screamed some more into my pillow. I knew I was acting like a typical teenager,
but I didn’t care. Afterwards, I listened to my heartbeat racing. Just lying
there hurt. My parents didn’t care about me, they didn’t even care about
Pheona. Why else would they send her away? I already knew the answer. So they
wouldn’t have to deal with her. I sat up
and strained to hear their voices from the dining room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Don’t mind
her, Pheona; she’s just a spoiled hormonal teenager. She wants to see you,” my
father mumbled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Pheona…” I
heard my mother’s voice drop to a small whisper. “You two could have a girl’s
night and spend quality time together. Your father and I have some last minute
work to do at the office anyway.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I moaned loudly
and made an angry fist at the wall. They couldn’t see me, but it still made me
feel better. I knew it. They didn’t have work to do; that was always their
excuse. They tried to be good parents, they told lies to make themselves feel
better. Sure they may stop by the office, if only to pick up a file or some
money. They were both accountants and did payroll for most of the business in Clearwater,
but their job didn’t take up that much time. Everything was basically computerized
these days and all it needed was a human to input the amounts here or there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I threw the
closest thing to me at my bedroom door and screamed again. As my small stuffed
rabbit hit the door, I threw myself back on my bed and started to sob. It
wasn’t fair. They didn’t care about me. Even now, Pheona was only home for a
few days and they weren’t even planning on staying home with her. It was always
the same. I never could go out on weekends because we spent them visiting
Pheona. It was always “Pheona needs this” or “Pheona would want you to do
that.” I mean Pheona and I hadn’t lived in the same house in over ten years.
She had come home for a few years when she turned eighteen,
but her mental stability from her drug and alcohol abuse took a turn for the
worse so they sent her back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I heard the
loud rumbling of an engine and tires backing out of our driveway. I didn’t feel
bad for feeling so selfish about Pheona. I saw her every week and she never
talked to me much less looked at me until today. She was an adult, an incapable
one, but still a grown woman. Each week I sat in the corner, my parents sat
with Pheona on her bed in her padded room, sometimes we were allowed outside if
the weather permitted. They talked to her about all of the fun things she was missing
out on, as if that would suddenly make her sane. It was pathetic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">My bedroom
door swung open and I shot up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Grab your
coat.” Pheona threw my light gray jacket at me and I caught it with one hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I’m not
going anywhere with you,” I said bluntly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“You are and
you will, today is the solstice and the one day I don’t fear as much. You are taking
me out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“No,” I said, throwing my coat back at her. “ I am not
going anywhere, you tried to kill me earlier, have you forgotten? Plus mom and
dad would flip if they knew you left the house without them. You’re not allowed
outside the home, remember?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Pheona
laughed, throwing her head back so her black hair fell behind her shoulders it
was now combed and not so stringy looking. She was strangely beautiful, I
noticed, but in a scary way. And though I had never noticed it before, usually
because her hair was lifeless and looked uncombed and she hid under layers and
layers of loose clothes, she looked young. Her skin was so pale and tight on
her body, slender and small. She pulled off what I never could: the allure of mystery and desire. Pheona wore a pair
of skin tight black leggings and a black cardigan that looked a little too big
for her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Going
through my closet?” I asked her. She gave me a secret half smile and pressed
her hands over the cardigan to try and make it tighter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I’ve got a
fat sister,” she said and turned around to walk
out. I let my mouth drop. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As soon as I
knew she was gone, I walked to my full length mirror and turned around to
examine myself. Sure I was about five sizes
bigger than Pheona give or take. But I was also a stunning 5’9 and Pheona
barely made it over five feet. I wasn’t large, but very muscular. I had taken
dance lessons my entire life, and I still did every summer when I could find
the time. I loved to dance. Anything from ballroom to ballet or jazz, made me
feel more alive and connected to the world that anything else I had
experienced. I loved the movement of feeling free. I still remembered the first
time I had danced. I was about seven and I had
danced with the sprites in the woods behind my house. They had spun around,
jumping and swaying with the melody of the wind and the songs of the insects.
They twirled around and beat on the rocks, all while stroking the trees and
caressing the wind with their palms. I remember how beautiful they looked with
their long flowing hair braided loosely with flowers, and green vines that
wrapped around their body like clothes. Oh how much I wanted to be as carefree as they
were. I know better now; I can never be a sprite. I am just a human gifted and
cursed with the sight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A loud
crashing noise knocked me out of my daydream. I let out another small sign and
ran out into the hall in search of the source. Everything seemed normal. The
hallway was empty, nothing on the ground or out of place. I knew better than to
search it out, but something felt wrong. A small chill ran up my spine that
made my whole body shiver with an addicting fear. Pheona could be in danger, or better yet
trying to kill herself. After that run in with the darkling earlier, I wasn’t
about to take any chances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Pheona?” I
whispered. The house echoed back emptiness. Nothing. I took a small step back
towards my room, when another crash in the spare bedroom made me jump. Without
thinking, I ran full speed towards the sound. The bedroom door was wide open,
and inside I saw Pheona armed with a silver throwing star and an empty glass
bottle. She was alone, but my heart was beating wildly. I was glad she was
okay, but scared out of my wits. I placed my hand on my heart and gave myself a
quick second to catch my breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“What is
going on? You about gave me a heart attack,” I cried, still trying to slow my
heart down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Pheona pushed
her dark locks behind her ear and plopped down on her bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Gaby, what
is this? A breeding ground for darklings? Why the hell are they even able to
come out in the sunlight anyway?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I raised my
eyebrow. I had wondered the same thing but there was no use going crazy with
wonder, Garrick would explain it all soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I have no
idea, but they seem to be staying in the shadows. They looks…stronger. I don’t
know. I shook my head in confusion. I knew they wouldn’t hurt me, they wouldn’t
risk angering Garrick like that. It was only fear they wanted, it was what they
liked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I guess we
need to discuss that.” I walked across the room and rested my head on the
wooden doorframe. As much as I didn’t want to talk about it, the truth was out
and it was inevitable. It seemed as though deep inside I had always known. It
didn’t feel like such a shock, only a sweet relief. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“So we both
can see them, how long?” I asked her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“For as long
as I can remember,” she replied. I narrowed my eyes at her and inched closer to
the bed where she sat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I was six;
can you see the others too?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Gaby looked
up at me. “What others?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“The good
ones,” I stated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“There are no
good ones.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“There are.”
I sat down on the bed, and Gabby moved up off the floor to sit next to me. She
was my sister, but this felt the most honest conversation we had ever had
together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“They are
wonderful,” I explained. “Beautiful and full of
light. Honest and good, they are everything humans can never be.” I could hear
the awe in my voice, and for a moment thinking of them made my whole body warm.
There must have been a dreamy look on my face, because when I looked at Gabby
her eyes were wide with shock and disbelief. She wouldn’t understand. She could never
understand what Garrick meant to me, what he had done for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“You’ve got
to be kidding me!” Pheona laughed, she fell back on the bed in a shaking fit.
She wrapped her arms around her waist like she would split apart at any second.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“They have
you pegged for some sort of idiot, well… you are an idiot. But really?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Offended, I
stood up. Who was she to act as if she knew even the tiniest thing about
me? I started to pace the room. It was
the smallest room in the house, so I didn’t have much room. The spare room was
decorated with pink and yellow cottage like flowers. The comforter, the wall
boarder, the pictures; the flowers were everwhere. It was all too sappy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Screw you.”
I pointed my finger at her like a parent scolding a four-year-old and started for the door.
Pheona’s attitude was becoming increasingly annoying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Wait!” she
called out after me. “Show them to me, these…
good darklings.” Their name came out sarcastically and I knew right away that
she didn’t believe me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“How could
something so evil have an exact counterpart?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I thought for
a second. It was a valid question. Yet it was true, the fey were the exact opposite
of the darklings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Okay, but
you have to tell me what you were doing in here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Warding off
a darkling.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“With a
bottle and a ninja star?” I raised my
eyebrow, this time I was the one in disbelief. I point to the two objects on
the bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“The silver star
distracts them; the bottle is filled with sun essence.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Sunlight?” I
smirked. “Where did you learn these little tricks? Usually I ignore them and
they mostly leave me alone.” I shuttered as I said the word mostly. They did
mostly leave me alone, but not always. Using a star and a bottle seemed like
the most ridiculous way to ward off a darkling, but you work with what you got.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Well when
your family abandons you and leaves you locked in a cushioned mental cell most
of your life you learn a few tricks and you learn to defend yourself.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Her remark
hurt, though I was not the one who sent her away. I did feel bad that I had the
chance to do things that she would never be allowed to experience. And I’m sure
she stemmed a lot of jealousy on her end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I’m sorry,” I mumbled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Don’t be,”
she said. “I snuck out lots of times and tonight we are going to the bonfire
you were throwing that tantrum over.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She picked up
a set of car keys to Dad’s old pickup truck and
threw them at me. A little harder than need be. I caught it in my left hand a
few of the keys pierced my palm. I winced and moved the keys to my right hand.
She was strong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“You drive.”
she said, smirking as threw her dark hair over her shoulders. “Because I don‘t
know how.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16325033220830843029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060557775788918266.post-55530822502624792562014-03-02T09:39:00.000-08:002014-03-03T17:54:35.484-08:00Chapter One<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter One <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I live among a world
where there is a broad line between good and evil. Where all goodness is
showcased up front with no fear of betrayal. Where inner beauty is more
important and family always comes first. Hope is encouraged and love is
embraced. Such honesty, and yet to be a part of such goodness, I have to lie. I
have to look into the face of my friends and family and lie about where I’ve
been all day, who I’ve been with and worst of all what I see. It was easy at
first, my odd behavior being carelessly tossed aside with the notion of an
imaginary friend. When children often talked to themselves, I did so more
often. When children were afraid of the dark, I did so with more reason. I
retreated from my home, my world, when I was only six years old. Since that
day, I have yet to decide if it was the best or worst thing that ever happened
to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">CHAPTER ONE <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I kicked around a rock
with the edge of my shoe and sighed. I was taking my sweet time walking home,
and there was no reason to walk any faster. No one was at home. My parents were
picking up my older sister, Pheona, from yet another mental institution and I
was completely dreading the weekend visit. I didn’t exactly hate my sister; I
didn’t even know her. She had been in and out of the homes for as long as I
could remember. I was forced to visit her once a month and the entire time she
just sat there. She stared at the wall; her dark hair covering her face. Boney
figure like a statue. Cuts all over her arms. She never moved, just sat there
like she was enjoying the awkward silence. And she always scowled at me, her
eyes full of hate and something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Jealousy,
maybe?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The
day outside was hotter than normal, I realized. I wiped the sweat from my
forehead. I had on at least three layer of clothing; it had been cold this
morning. It was the beginning of summer; when the days became longer. It was my
favorite time of the year; the only time of year when <i>he</i> visits. In Alaskan summers there are only a few hours of night, days
when the skies never darken past a light gray tint. We call these the gray
night. They are always my favorite; when he visits and never has to leave. As a
creature of the light, he can't exist in darkness, and I can't exist without
him.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I
pulled my head out of the clouds just in time to see our generic house come
into sight. My heart sank. I knew I had to go back </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">in there</span>”<span lang="EN">. It wasn't because of the way
it looked; our house was modest, clean and looked similar to all the others on
the street. The shutters were painted a bright blue, a sharp contrast from red
bricks. When I was inside I felt uneasy and unwelcome. Home hadn't felt like
home in a long time. My parents were always working or out at the bar. The only
time they were home was when Pheona visited Even then I rarely received any
attention from them. I sat down on the front porch and waited. I didn’t want to
go inside, but they would be home soon and I didn</span>’<span lang="EN">t want
to be here waiting when they did. Of course later on I would have to join them
for dinner, but today was the last day of school and summer bonfire. The summer
bonfire was a tradition in Clearwater, a small town about an hour south of
Fairbanks, Alaska. It was a quiet community, crime was low and children felt
safe. Nothing interesting ever happened here and there was never anything to
do. I grabbed my long blonde hair and pulled it back into a high ponytail. I
leaned over and let the sun shine on the back of my neck, it warmed my entire
body. The warmth reminded me of him. It reminded me of his warm touch and
the only time when I could feel happy; when I had someone to talk to. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Not
like at home. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After
a small wind started to chill me, I decided the sun just wasn</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">’<span lang="EN">t warm enough after all. I went right inside, no need for
locked doors here and put my backpack on the bench right beside the front door.
I headed towards the bedroom to lie down. I was exhausted after a day of
goodbyes and tears. Most of my friends were moving away to college or had jobs
waiting for them. As for me, I wasn</span>’<span lang="EN">t sure what I was
going to do. I wasn</span>’<span lang="EN">t smart enough or rich enough to get
into a fancy college. I bet I would die here.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As I walked through the
hallway, an eerie feeling crept up my spine followed by a sickening smell that
made my eyes burn and tear up. A smell that I was all too familiar with. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<i><span lang="EN">Impossible,</span>”</i><span lang="EN"> I thought as I stumbled back away
from my bedroom door. It was still day outside, they couldn</span>’<span lang="EN">t possibly be in the house. They existed only in the shadows, in the
darkness. Afraid to turn my back, I backed into the corner and grabbed a heavy
picture frame off the wall. My eyes grazed the black wood, a picture of me when
I was a baby. I held it tightly ready to swing at any moment. The frame wouldn</span>‘<span lang="EN">t hurt them, but it may give me an extra split second to get out. I
needed to get outside and quick. I moved slowly to my left, closer to the front
door that was only a few feet away, but I still had to open the door. And I
knew from experience that they were quick. Not unimaginable blurry fast, but
faster than me. The old floors inside the house creaked as I slide further and
further, but surely it knew I was here. I hadn</span>’<span lang="EN">t been
quiet coming inside, or had I? </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">
Within a split moment, the sickening smell filled my throat and I tried to hide
the gag that filled me. I squeezed my eyes shut like I had done when I was a
little girl and silently called out to Garrick. I knew he couldn</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">’<span lang="EN">t hear me but I had to try. I heard a car door slam outside.
Someone was home; I could stand it for a few more moments. I told myself.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">He won</span>’<span lang="EN">t come today,</span>”<span lang="EN"> a slick
voice whispered into my ear. It sounded dark and inhuman. Like something
straight out of a child</span>’<span lang="EN">s nightmare. </span>“<span lang="EN">He won</span>’<span lang="EN">t come tomorrow either.</span>” </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Okay
that was it; I didn</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">’<span lang="EN">t have time for this today. I bravely
opened my eyes and looked at the horrible face that grazed only inches from
mine. It’s dark eyes like coal, and face as pale and hopeless as it’s life. It
was inhuman and cruel to look upon.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">Leave me alone!</span>”<span lang="EN"> I told it. My courage faltered,
but I couldn't back down now, this was my home. After months of silence, I was
fed up. My entire body was shaking; I tried to steady myself against the wall.
Winter was almost over and so were the hauntings. My gray nights would be here
soon, and so would my protector.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">Not until he comes to protect you, until then I can do as I please.</span>”
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">He won</span>’<span lang="EN">t be pleased when he hears about all you
did while he was away.</span>” <span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It
stopped to consider the possibility for a moment. I took a few steps to the
side, away from it. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">Then he should be here more often.</span>”
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">You know he can</span>’<span lang="EN">t,</span>”<span lang="EN"> I
laughed, though it was cracked and forced. My hands were shaking, so I clasped them
behind my back to hide my fear.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">Won</span>’<span lang="EN">t is the word,</span>”<span lang="EN"> it
replied quickly. </span>“<span lang="EN">Did you find your homework yesterday?</span>”
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I
groaned softly, no big surprise. I should have known it would do something like
that. It wasn</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">’<span lang="EN">t the last or first time it had happened,
but I had spent all day looking for my senior paper. In a last minute rush, I
had to write all ten pages over again. Then again they were evil and sneaky and
did everything they could to make my life a living nightmare. Of course it left
me alone when other people were around; so I was relieved when the front door
swung open. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">Gaby?</span>”<span lang="EN"> my mother called out. She motioned for me
to help her carry Pheona</span>’<span lang="EN">s luggage. She didn</span>’<span lang="EN">t comment on the strange creature that walked past her and out the
front door, the horrible smell or cold air that filled the hallway.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Instead
she was completely normal; she didn</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">’<span lang="EN">t carry the extra sense like I did. The sense that heightened all five
of mine times one hundred; so I could see things that were unimaginable to the
human eye. I sometimes saw creatures so beautiful that I couldn</span>’<span lang="EN">t take my eyes off them; lately though it was the same dark creature
that tortured me every night. Eating away at my sanity like a cancer. I could
also hear a bit better than most people and smell better too. Yet, that really
didn</span>’<span lang="EN">t come in handy very much. What would I do with extra
smelling power? Besides, smelling sweat and the bad breath of everyone person I
walked past at school. Gross. It was as if teenage boys had forgotten how to
bathe.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">Gaby, come help!</span>”<span lang="EN"> my mother called out again. I
pulled away from my thoughts and nodded. I ran to the door to help carry in the
large bags my mother dragged in behind her. On the front porch, my father half
carried in Pheona whose face was covered by her stringy black hair. As they
entered, I stood in the doorway. My mother gave a sharp nod and I knew exactly
what it meant. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">Hi, Pheona,</span>”<span lang="EN"> I mumbled, not sure exactly what to
say to the familiar stranger in my father</span>’<span lang="EN">s arms. Her
black hair stuck to the sides of her face, making her look years younger than
she was. Her skin was as white as the snow that fell in the winter, and
she looked thin, fragile and absolutely mad.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Yet to
my surprise, Pheona looked up and directly into my eyes. She gave me a wicked
sort of smile. A smile that met her eyes, so they creased into barely there
crescents. Sly, yet suddenly I knew exactly what she meant. It was all too
obvious, and I don</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">’<span lang="EN">t know why the thought had never crossed
my mind before. Pheona was just like me, and that was when I knew my crazy
sister could see them too.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The
bedroom door in my room was shut, but I could still hear the pounding coming
from the living room. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Thump
thump thump. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It was
tolerable the first hundred times, but the pounding was consistent and my head
ached. Since coming home, my parents had left again to get some takeout for
dinner. They insisted on Chinese food. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">It</span>’<span lang="EN">s Pheona</span>’<span lang="EN">s favorite,</span>”<span lang="EN"> they said. It was sickening the way they always catered to her. I
never got takeout from my favorite places.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The
closest Chinese takeout was thirty minutes away. That left us alone for over an
hour. Scared of her, I had locked myself in my bedroom and left Pheona to
sit on the couch bouncing a basketball. I knew she had been doing it to annoy
me; she hated me for reasons I didn</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">’<span lang="EN">t understand. So I turned the music up louder on my stereo to try and
drown her out, but the ball vibrated the floors more than the bass did.
Ignoring it, I poured through the piles of clothes I had laid out on my bed. I
needed something perfect to wear tonight. I was torn between a red sweater with
a pair of dark jeans and a yellow sundress with a matching black cardigan.
Though it was summer now, most days the temperature didn</span>’<span lang="EN">t
rise above 50 degrees. I held the dress back up against my body and sighed.
There was no use getting excited for nothing, I wasn</span>’<span lang="EN">t
sure he would show up today or tomorrow or even the next day. He came and went
when he pleased and I always knew better than to beg. Yet, he always came to me
during the midnight sun period. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Suddenly
the pounding in my head stopped. The basketball had stopped, I realized. I
threw the dress back on my bed and went out into the hallway. As much as I didn</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">’<span lang="EN">t want to, I needed to check on her. If anything happened to
her my parents would blame me. I didn</span>’<span lang="EN">t care about my
sister as much as I should and it hurt in a way. My parents loved Pheona more
than anything else in this world. I think they partly blamed themselves for her
problems. Whether it was bad genetics or some childhood trauma they never spoke
of Pheona</span>’<span lang="EN">s problems; they just treated her like she was
normal and away at a boarding school.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She
sat motionless and tall on the old leather couch when i came up behind her.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">Pheona?</span>”<span lang="EN"> I asked, my voice was barely above a
whisper. </span>“<span lang="EN">Are you okay?</span>”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She
didn</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">’<span lang="EN">t move or turn to face me. I shook my head
and walked around to the front of the couch. What did I expect? She never
talked.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">Mom and dad will be back soon with dinner,</span>”<span lang="EN"> I
pointed out. I sat beside her uncomfortably. The silence was almost unbearable,
but for some reason unknown to me I wanted to try. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">Are you thirsty?</span>”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">You see them,</span>” <span lang="EN">she accused. I was taken back, not
sure what she meant at first.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">See</span>…<span lang="EN"> who?</span>”<span lang="EN"> I said carefully.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">The creatures from my nightmares. The boogeyman, whatever you want to
call them. </span>”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I wasn</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">’<span lang="EN">t sure I could or wanted to trust her. This secret was mine
and mine only. It had been that way my entire life and I liked it that way. I
didn’t want people to compare me to…her.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">I don</span>’<span lang="EN">t know what you are talking about,</span>”<span lang="EN"> I told her, grabbing a magazine off the antique coffee table and
flipping through it. </span>“<span lang="EN">I</span>’<span lang="EN">m not the
crazy one,</span>”<span lang="EN"> I muttered. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To my
surprise she flew towards me screaming. It was a short distance, but the next
thing I knew I was on the floor with Pheona</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">’<span lang="EN">s arms around my neck.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">I</span>’<span lang="EN">m not crazy!</span>”<span lang="EN"> she screamed.
Her fingers dug into my flesh tighter and tighter she threatened me each time
she pounded my head into the floor. It took a few seconds to realize what was
actually happening. I threw my hands around her wrists and tried to pry her off
of my neck. For being so thin and almost half my size, she was surprisingly
strong. I gritted my teeth together while trying to figure how to get out from
beneath her. It was all happening so fast, I couldn</span>’<span lang="EN">t
think clearly. I never thought she would attack me. I tried to scream but no
sound could pass my lips.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Okay,
I mouthed over and over. As tears reached the brim of my eyes, I felt nothing
but fear now. This was it; my own sister was going to kill me. I could feel my
lungs burning, screaming for air. Pain radiated all along my throat from her
grip.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Then suddenly, she let go. She stood up and looked at me as if nothing had
happened, that same cruel smile on her lips.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I
gasped for air and turned to my side, coughing and clenching my neck. I wanted
to scream but I couldn</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">’<span lang="EN">t do anything.</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I crawled up from where
she stood over me and held back my sobs.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">You are weak,</span>”<span lang="EN"> she stated. </span>“<span lang="EN">You
have been babied and coddled too much.</span>”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I gawked
at her, afraid to look away. If I did, she may attack me again, I wanted to be
ready. How could I have been so stupid, she lived in a nut house for cripes
sakes? She was absolutely mentally crazy. Though I knew I shouldn</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">’<span lang="EN">t have called her crazy, or at least let down my guard. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">They do nothing but terrorize me at night. Every night.</span>”<span lang="EN"> Her words sunk in deep and I tried to make sense of it. Was she
referring to the darklings? If she had the same sight I did, what did that
mean?</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">The darklings?</span>”<span lang="EN"> I whispered, but I knew she could
hear me. If she had the sight then all of her other senses would be above
normal for a mortal.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“<span lang="EN">If that</span>’<span lang="EN">s what they are called. The summer solstice
is almost here, my favorite time of the year. </span>”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I
nodded, moving my neck slightly. I had learned what darklings were when I was
only six years old, how could she have lived with this sight for so long and
not known what it was. I could still remember the day he had come to me and
protected me. He stayed beside me each day protecting me; he was my friend and
guardian. Did he come to her also? I wondered. I was still afraid to trust her
with my secret; he was mine and only mine. My Garrick.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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