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The winning entry to our first contest, by SilverDoe!
Jonah walked out of the tent. He had never felt so alone before.
He wished he had never gotten here. He wished he was still safe. But most of all he wished Clare was still alive.
He should never had trusted Sara. She had been too perfect - it should have been obvious to him that she could never have been what she seemed. Perhaps he had been too blinded by her beauty.
Or perhaps he had simply wanted to believe in her.
~ * ~ - ~ * ~
It had started on a warm autumn day, early in the year. Jonah had gotten into detention, and was unable to go to Clare's party. By right, he should never have had to go to that detention. It wasn't his fault he hadn't studied enough - it's pretty hard to spend your time studying when you are being chased by demons who want you so they can take your magical powers - and your soul.
Of course, he couldn't exactly tell the teacher that. Mrs. Burminghon had no idea that Jonah was a unique student with the ability to telepathically move inanimate objects, and that others wanted that power. All she saw was a student who hadn't correctly memorised the formula for bronze and copper, and Jonah was sent straight to the principal's office without any chance to argue.
Clare would probably have invented an excuse for him on the spot, but she was also in trouble - in her case for some facetious remark she had made at one of the teachers in the hall.
So that afternoon instead of heading for Clare's house he was sitting in an uncomfortable chair writing out lines when there was a knock on the door, and a girl walked in.
She was mesmerising. Her hair was a long, tangled silvery blonde that tumbled down to her waist and her eyes.... her eyes were blue pools that left you drowning, trying desperately to gasp for air. There was a sense of sadness about her as she walked purposefully towards the desk. An air of... ambiguity. Jonah couldn't hear the discussion that went on between her and the principle, but he could tell that Professor Sanderson was as in awe of her as he was.
As she left the room her had brushed against his, and looking down Jonah saw a note scrawled on a piece of paper in elegant, spindly writing.
What it said was terrifying..... and somewhat comforting.
I know, and I understand. Meet me by the lamp post tonight, six o'clock.
-Sara Walters
~ * ~ - ~ * ~
He should never have gone. Certainly not without telling Clare, first. But something about Sara had drawn him in - perhaps her beauty.
Or perhaps the fact that she understood his powers.
Clare was Jonah's best friend, and he really did care about her. But she didn't understand - she would give anything to have the abilities that Jonah thought of as a curse. She got annoyed and impatient whenever he talked about them, and though she refused to admit it - she was jealous.
His parents, of course, had simply thought he was crazy.
And there was no one else he could tell.
But something told him Sara would listen. Sara would help him.
He might have been right about the first part. But he was completely wrong about the second part.
~ * ~ - ~ * ~
Sara was waiting just where she had said she would be. But something looked.... odd about the air around her. It was rippling softly, like a lake would during a light rainfall. As Jonah approached she smiled at him.
'I'm the same as you, Jonah. My powers is controlling the atmosphere.' Jonah nodded. Everything felt like a dream.
'We can run away together. I can help you, better than Clare can.' That snapped his attention.
'Why can't Clare come?' He demanded. He instantly wished he hadn't said it. It was clear this other girl would know better than he would. But Sara just smiled. It was a small smile, but it melted Jonah instantly.
'Clare is you best friend, isn't she? Would you really want to put her in danger?' She looked down at the ground, and suddenly her face appeared completely sincere.
'Clare can't lead this life. It's to perilous for her. You do realise - things will go wrong.' Her eyes locked on his with a look of sincere apology - and suddenly their lips were touching, softly, and Jacob felt like her was melting. He would never want this moment to finish. But slowly, quietly, he pulled back in amazement.
He had just kissed Sara Walters, the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
'I'm sorry.' Sara's voice was a whisper, her eyes full of tears. 'I shouldn't have done that.'
Her voice sounded like she meant more than the obvious - that she wasn't just afraid he hadn't wanted her to kiss him. Like there were other reasons that that had been a mistake.
Jonah couldn't imagine any such reasons, but he didn't dare argue. He just looked down at his feet quietly. For some weird reason, this felt like he was betraying Clare.
That's stupid, he told himself. Clare is your best friend. Nothing more.
Yet somehow that still couldn't shake off his feeling.
Then Sara held his hand, and called in a soft whisper.
'Follow me. I'll know somewhere safe. Somewhere we can go together.' And with that, she got up and led him through the darkness.
~ * ~ - ~ * ~
Sara was walking ahead of Jonah. He kept telling himself that he was safe with her, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that they were being followed. That uncomfortable sensation at the back of your neck, that need to constantly check over your shoulder - everyone's been convinced at some point that someone - or something - is stalking you, and that it's intentions aren't good.
But in Jonah's life, this was often more than just a feeling. A lot more.
Sara also seemed shifty, uncomfortable. She kept on checking behind her to see if Jonah was following. Jonah wasn't surprised - if she was like him, she'd also be used to being attacked out of nowhere. Jonah still remembered the day he had discovered what he could do. He had been alone in his bedroom. His parent's were at work, and school was closed. Jonah had never liked being alone - he found that when no-one was near, every shadow seemed longer, every noise louder. He had just decided to go find Clare when something had grabbed him from behind.
He screamed. You couldn't really blame him - it was a natural reaction. And, really, it probably saved his life, because the grip relaxed and he found himself able to move again.
The whole temperature had dropped, suddenly. Jonah remembered making a dash for the door. Then everything had gone black, and the next thing he knew whatever had grabbed him was holding his wrist, and every second he felt weaker. Using all his concentration, he had willed the shelves to topple and then something completely unexplainable happened - they did. Everything burst into chaos and he could move again. Jonah had made a beeline for the phone, and Clare was over there less than two minutes later, helping him up, looking absolutely terrified for him.
Thinking of Clare made Jonah's stomach twist with guilt. He should have left her a note, at the very least. She would be sick with worry right now, probably thinking something terrible had happened to him.
'Sara!' He kept his voice to a whisper. Something was making both of them anxious, and he didn't want to disturb whatever it was.
'Sara, I need to go back. I have tell Clare where I am.' He expected her to let him turn back, if reluctantly, but her reaction caught him completely off guard. Her face suddenly became pallid in the moonlight and she grabbed his sleeve, her voice close to tears.
'No, Jonah. We have to keep going. This is important. Please. Please, Jonah.' Jonah paused, startled by the urgency in Sara's voice.
'Okay.' He looked down, awkwardly, then fell back in step behind her. This was going to be a long night.
~ * ~ - ~ * ~
Sara had stopped in the middle of a stream, and gestured towards a small green glen surrounded by trees. In the background, rotund-peaked hills
'We should spend the night here. We both need sleep.' It was true. Jonah was exhausted. Which was, perhaps, why he failed to detect the guilt in her voice as she pulled a tent from her bag and set it up.
'I'll keep watch.' Jonah nodded numbly and fell asleep.
~ * ~ - ~ * ~
'Jonah.' Jonah's eyes snapped open. Sara was looking at him. Tears were rolling silently down her cheeks. 'Jonah, I'm sorry! I didn't want to do this. Please, you need to understand.'
'Do what, Sara? I'll understand. I promise.' Seeing Sara cry like that was more than he could bare. 'Whatever you're talking about, just say it. You don't need to feel guilty. I would never be angry with you.' He looked down at the palms of his hands. 'Sara... I love you.' The words came out on their own, without Jonah's consent. Sara pushed him back. 'No, you don't. Or at least, you won't. You'll hate me, for the rest of your life.'
'Sara....' Jonah paused. He had no idea what to say. The atmosphere was so tense, awkward. 'I- I could never...' he paused again. 'You....' No use. He couldn't seem to form words in his mind.
'You could never hate me? Really? Well, take a look outside.' Jonah did. Dark forms were streaming down the hill.
'Sara, that's not your fault.'
'I made a deal with them. Not a deal, really. I had to bring you here, to them, and then summon them... or else...' her voice cracked. 'Or else they'll kill me. My dad. My mom. Even Maria, who just turned six. I couldn't do anything. I...' When Sara looked up, Jonah was gone. 'Jonah! I'm sorry! Really! Please! Come back! I couldn't let them. I had to!' Then someone slammed into her, and she fell down, breathless. A girl with straight brown hair and furious blue eyes was leaning over her, her face full of rage.
'How dare you?' Clare ignored her struggling, keeping her pinned down with ease. 'How could you ever, ever hurt him?' She would have surely done something if Jonah hadn't come back, staring.
'Clare. Clare, what on earth are you doing here?' His voice was thick with fear. Then he glanced back at Sara. 'Leave her there. If I know those demons, they'll never keep their side of this 'deal'.' Clare looked at him hard.
'When you snuck out in the middle of the night to meet Sara, did you honestly think I wouldn't follow? When you left with a stranger on no basis other than the fact that she has powers like you do, did you honestly think I'd just turn back? I'm in this with you. It's my duty, as your best friend. Now, lets see what to do about this mess we're in.'
'It's clear, isn't it?' Jonah was shaking with fear. 'We run.' Clare shook her head. 'I'd say stand and fight, but.... there's not much hope in having that plan succeed....' Clare never got to finish, because the air around them seemed to have become a solid shield. They couldn't run. 'Sara.' Clare narrowed her eyes. 'She can control the atmosphere. She trapped us! Oh, god. What do we do now?' Clare was beginning to freak out. The shadows were flitting forwards. 'I.... I don't know!' Jonah gasped. Just then the pressure around them was released. But it was too late to run. Jonah's body felt cold. He looked around for something, anything... something glinted in Sara's bag. A knife.
Use your powers! The thought dashed through his head, but he never had time. Something grabbed him, slamming him to the ground. His body felt cold. Then it was being pulled of him. Someone screamed in the woods. Sara. He hated her for betraying them, but.... the scream again. Then a sob. Yes, Jonah hated Sara. But he loved her, too. That scream was too much. He broke off, running into the woods.
'Please! Please, don't! I brought him here! I brought him like I promised! Spare Maria, at least. You can have me, but leave her be! For God's sake, she's only six.' Sara was chained to the ground, crying. Pleading. Next to her, a young girl with beautiful brown curls and wide brown eyes was writhing in pain.
Jonah paused, then focused on the chains. He was far enough not to be seen. Slowly, he concetrated on the very fibres with his mind. Moving objects was one thing, but breaking them was something he had never done before. It took a full minute for the ropes to snap. Sara was looking up in dismay, wondering what was happening. Just then, another scream. Clare.
'Grab Maria and run!' Jonah called behind him, then paused, not bothering to see what was happening behind him. He was nearly back where they had been attacked. Where Clare must be. Behind him, Sara tripped. The mud ripped apart behind her. Jonah's finger's felt hers. He was sweating. Sara's fingers were slipping down, down... and then Jonah grabbed her hand again and pulled, and they were both on solid land.
But...
Sara's voice was thick with tears as she gasped Maria's name. Then the mud closed up, and the girl was gone. Clare screamed again. 'Sara! Move! Or I'm leaving you here!' Jonah knew he was being hard. Sara had just lost her little sister a few minutes ago. And even though the very look of the pale girl next to him made his stomach bubble with anger, he couldn't help feeling sorry for the little, fragile girl named Maria. She hadn't done anything wrong, anything to deserve this. It was Sara's fault. And any pity he could have felt for Sara was instantly brushed away at the sound of Clare's scream.
'I said get up!' Even Jonah could detect the panic in his voice. Some of the urgency seemed to have hit Sara, too, for she let herself be pulled up and ran after Jonah, tears slipping down her pale face.
'Jonah!' They came into view, and Clare was calling him.
They were only two steps away from the clearing. Two steps away. Clare was surrounded. One of the demons had Sara's supplies. Another one.... had taken Sara's knife.
Jonah dashed forwards just as Clare hit the ground, motionless.
'Clare. Clare, wake up. Please. Don't leave.' Jonah had rushed over in less than an instant, and was now kneeling down over Clare. Her heart was still beating. She was still alive. 'Jonah...' Jonah felt tears sting his eyes. '...goodbye.' No. No! This couldn't be happening. Could it have been just yesterday morning Clare had been sitting on the fence in front of the school, her legs swinging, her eyes full of life, making some witty remark and handing Jonah a party invitation for that evening? Yes. Just yesterday. Jonah's chest felt tight, and he had to struggle to breath. No. This couldn't be true. It just couldn't be. Vaguely he became aware that he was still surounded by demons, and they were closing in. He pulled the knife back from Clare's chest. He was clueless about how to handle it, but he couldn't let the demons get it again. Sara gripped his hand, tugging him to his feet. This was her fault. She had called the demons here. It was her fault Clare was lying limply on the ground a few yards away. But Jonah was to numb to do anything but follow her forwards. Sighing, she put up her atmosphere-sheild around them, and hitched up her tent
'They'll leave in a few days, you know. They'll give up.' Her tone was clearly meant to be soothing, but Jonah didn't respond. This was the first proper conversation in which there was no urgency, no danger, that they had had since Sara had told Jonah about how she had betrayed him. He didn't want to have it, so he just looked away.
'Listen, I'm sorry. With Maria... I know how you feel, Jonah. When I slipped, in the mud, I felt the same. But this time... it's my fault. Both of htem are, really. Can you forgive me?' Jonah shook his head. He knew he couldn't. He remembered their kiss, under the lamppost. He wished he could feel like that again. Perhaps it would banish his loneliness. But now all he could feel when he looked at the girl in front of him was anger, resentment and betrayal, accompanied by images of Clare's last moments, flashing through his head.
'Well, goodnight. I know you want me to leave as soon as I can. I will. I promise. As soon as they go away I'll bring you home. I'll still have to go to school with you, but I won't try to talk to you. Until then.. if you want to ignore me, you can. But... remember I love you.' With that, she leaned forwards. Jonah paused, then they kissed again. Not the perfect kiss of love they had shared besides the lake.
Something he had never been able to share with Clare, something he should have shared with her before he got up after Sara.
A kiss of goodbye.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
An excerpt from The Vezai by SilverDoe.
Chapter 4: Disappearances
'Do we really have to do this?' Catriona moaned as Hailey pulled on her coat.
'Oh, come on. You promised.' Hailey had pulled on her boots.
'As a matter of fact, you girls are going no-where. I've changed my mind.' Catriona's dad had appeared in the doorway.
'W- please, we've been through this, dad. I'm fifteen, and anyways, we'll be in a mall. People will realise if one of us goes missing.' Katrina's dad sighed, his face stern.
'By the time they realise, it could be too late. Do you think I could risk anything happening to you? I don't think you take this seriously enough, Hailey. Things are getting worse. An estimated forty people have gone missing, and you think I will let you go out alone?' recognising a lost cause, Hailey groaned loudly and went back to the kitchen. Catriona went up to her room to practice piano for the Halloween concert.
Upstairs, Catriona put down her music sheet and sighed. She would never be able to concentrate. A butterfly fluttered past the window but she ignored it. As she looked up she saw the names of missing people. Her stomach did a back flip. You're such a coward, Catriona. Whispered an unbidden voice in the back of her mind. You know what's out there, you know why people are missing, you might be able to stop it but you won't do anything because you're afraid. It could be Hailey or Leah next. How would you feel if something bad happened to them and it was your fault?
'Alright, that decides it then.' Catriona replied aloud, getting up.
'I'm going to see Saoirse.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
An excerpt by Estee
A doll sat in a dimly lit forest clearing, leaning against a tree trunk. Its posture was perfect, hands folded in its lap, as if its owner had been careful to make sure that the doll was arranged just right. Long, silky black hair fell in curls around its shoulder, framing its perfect, life-like face.
Its face was as smooth and white as ivory, with crystal blue eyes and pale pink lips. Its mouth was curved slightly into a frown, but even that only served to add to its beauty. It was dressed simply, in a silky light blue dress designed for very hot weather.
And then the doll moved. The small, doll-like child had done her best to stay still. But her arm itched so...
The girl moved to scratch her arm, but another, larger, hand grabbed her's before she could.
"Katie!" The sharp whisper came from the owner of the other hand. “You need to stay still!”
The frustrated words belonged to a teenage girl of thirteen summers. The teenager glared at Katie with a pair of sharp green eyes. “No. Moving. It's a game, see? You hide. And be quiet. Not wake up the whole forest by moving around and rustling branches!”
Katie swallowed back tears and nodded, staring down at her hands. The teenager glared at her for a few more moments then turned away, muttering complaints about how annoying eight-year-old sisters were under her breath.
