by Willow Rose
"NOO!"
Jayden tried to stop her, but Jazmine's mom lunged at him. He managed to duck just as her claws ripped through the air, missing him by an inch. Jazmine's mom growled loudly, sounding like an angry animal, then slammed her fist into Ruelle's face so hard she was knocked out. Then she grabbed Ruelle once again by the shoulders, and seemingly impossibly fast, she pulled her out of the car, Ruelle's arms and legs getting scratched up by the broken glass.
"No! Ruelle!"
Jayden fumbled with the door handle, then pulled the door open and sprang out. Jazmine's mom was dragging Ruelle down the street, running fast, leaving a trail of blood.
Jayden ran after her, but as Jazmine's mom realized he was following her, she turned around and slung her fist at him, hitting him on the nose so hard he fell backward into a puddle of water.
For a few minutes, Jayden was completely out and couldn't really figure out what was up or down, and when he opened his eyes, he had no idea where he was at first. But the memories came back fast.
"Ruelle," he mumbled, then sat up holding a hand to his bleeding nose. He felt it. It wasn't broken.
He tried to stand up but got so dizzy he had to sit down again. It had started to rain again, and his hair and shirt were soaked. Jayden fought to get back up again and started on his knees before he finally was able to stand on his feet. Thinking only of Ruelle, his heart pounding in his chest, he stumbled forward toward where Jazmine's mom had disappeared with her.
"Ruelle," he whispered, sobbing.
He finally managed to start running, even though his head hurt like crazy. He turned down the street where he believed they went, to where the trail of blood stopped, and then he couldn't see anything or anyone. He was breathing heavily in fear, images of Ruelle being ripped to pieces rushing through his mind.
Please, dear God. Please, spare her. She doesn’t deserve this.
When he realized he couldn't see anyone, he hurried back to his car, fumbled with his keys, got in, and started it. He drove out of the parking lot behind the cinema and continued down the road, frantically searching everywhere for any trace of her. He drove with the wipers on, hating the sound of them moving, crying helplessly at the thought of what Jazmine's mom might have done to her. If she was the one who killed the others, then she would rip her open, wouldn't she? That's what happened to Natalie Jamieson, Blake Fisher, Mrs. Sharpe, Sam Walters, and to that couple on Make-out Mountain. Jayden had seen her claws. He had seen the lust for killing in her eyes. He knew what she was capable of, and he knew he was probably too late.
Realizing that he might have lost Ruelle before he could even have her made Jayden cry with anger and frustration, when he suddenly spotted something—or rather someone—sitting on the stairs outside of a building. Jayden gasped when he realized who it was.
It was Ruelle.
He stopped the car and rushed out to her. She was bleeding from her forehead where Jazmine's mom had hit her and moaning in pain.
"Ruelle," he said, half crying and half laughing. "Are you all right?"
She looked at him a little groggily. "I…I think so."
"W-what happened?" he asked. "How…how did you…?"
"I don't know," she said. "All I remember was that I was knocked out, and then I woke up here. Or rather over there on the pavement." She pointed at the area in front of them. "I saw her…that woman who had…who broke through the window…I think something happened to her as she was about to kill me, and then it was like she changed her mind, and suddenly she took off instead. Maybe she saw someone; I don't know. She just left me there."
Jayden grabbed Ruelle in his arms and held her tight, very tight. He was crying, but this time happily.
"I'm just relieved that you're still alive. Boy, am I happy."
Ruelle felt her forehead. There was a bump.
"Maybe I should take you to the hospital?" Jayden asked. "Make sure you don't have a concussion?"
Ruelle shook her head. "I just want to go home, please. Please, just take me home."
Chapter Eighteen
Jazmine woke up with a worried feeling. Adrian was gone, which he usually was since he always left her right before midnight to go hunting. That was barely something to be worried about. Jazmine got up, not knowing exactly why she had this feeling of dread growing inside of her and decided to ignore it. It was stupid of her to give in to Adrian like that. She should have stood her ground. She still wanted to break up with him.
Jazmine took a shower, got dressed, and hurried down the stairs to eat. She was starving for once. When she came into the kitchen, she found it to be empty. She looked at the clock on the microwave. Her mom couldn't have left for work already.
"Mom?" she called out, then walked to the bottom of the stairs. "Mom? Are you up? You're gonna be late for work!"
Jazmine walked back to the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee, thinking her mother would probably need it when she came rushing down the stairs in a few minutes, realizing she was late. It wasn't like her to be late.
Jazmine watched the pot as the water ran through and then poured herself a cup. She drank it while eating her cereal, still staring at the stairs, wherefrom her mother didn't descend.
"That's odd," she mumbled with her mouth full. She looked at the clock once again and then stood up. It was ten past nine now. Her mom should have been at work ten minutes ago.
With a nagging worry in her chest, Jazmine walked to the stairs, then called her mother's name again. Still, she received no answer. She didn't want to go up there since she was terrified of her mother and afraid to anger her after what she had seen her do. But when she received no answer, she decided to do it anyway. Her mother had to have slept through her alarm clock.
"Mom?" she said, almost yelling, while standing outside her closed door. She looked at the wooden door, wondering if she dared to go in. She knocked.
"Mom? Are you awake?"
When there still was no answer, she felt even more worried. Cautiously, she opened the door and peeked inside. Inside, she found her mother's bed empty. The bed was made very neatly. Jazmine opened the door completely and walked inside.
"Mom?"
She looked in the bathroom, but she wasn't there either. Her toothbrush was dry. It hadn't been used this morning. Inside the bedroom, Jazmine found her purse, which meant she hadn't left for work.
Hasn't she been home at all?
Jazmine felt a shiver run down her spine, wondering if her mother had killed again and maybe this time gotten caught. She sensed her heartbeat go up rapidly.
It's for the best. She needed to be stopped, Jazmine, she told herself, but the thought of losing her mother too left her in a state of panic.
What's gonna happen to me? Foster care? Orphanage?
"Easy now, Jazmine," she said to herself, spotting her own reflection in her mother's vanity mirror. She had family, she told herself. Maybe they could take care of her. But it was too late. Panic had erupted inside of her, and she couldn't stand it anymore. She had to talk to someone.
Jazmine rushed down the stairs and opened the front door. The car was still parked in the driveway where it had been the night before. Glancing toward Amy's house, she rushed into the front yard, when she spotted her mother sitting on the porch in the old rocking chair, rocking back and forth, mumbling to herself, hugging her chest.
Chapter Nineteen
"Mom?"
Jazmine moved closer, her heart pounding in her chest. Her mother kept rocking back and forth in the chair, mumbling under her breath.
"Mom?" she repeated, slowly approaching her. There was something very different about her mother. She looked up, and their eyes met. It filled Jazmine with a deep warm feeling, and she wanted to cry.
"What's going on? Why are you sitting out here?" she asked.
Her mother shook her head. Her eyes were filled with sadness. She spoke with a sigh.
"Jazmine. Baby."
"W-what's going on, Mom? Why are you sitting out here�
�all alone?" Jazmine asked anxiously.
Her eyes became distant. "I…I don't know, honey."
"What do you mean you don't know? Mom?" Jazmine said, trying to keep her voice calm but not succeeding.
"Why are you not at work?" Jazmine continued when she didn't receive an answer.
Her mother looked at her like she didn't understand. Then she smiled. "Oh, baby. You look so much like your dad when you wrinkle your forehead like that. And those eyes…just like your dad's. I swear, sometimes I think I see him in them. I like to think that he is somehow living on inside of you."
Why is she suddenly talking about dad now? She has barely mentioned him in weeks?
Jazmine's mom sighed deeply, then looked away, her eyes glancing into the cul-de-sac.
"How long have you been out here, Mom?" Jazmine asked.
"To be honest, I don't really know."
"Did you even go to bed last night?"
Jazmine looked at her mother's clothes. They weren't the same as the day before. But they looked dirty. Very dirty indeed and she smelled as well. Her hair was greasy. Jazmine's mother's hair was never greasy. She took very good care of her appearance and wouldn't normally let herself go like this. It wasn't like her at all.
"Of course, I went to bed…didn't I?" she said distantly. Her eyes met Jazmine's, and Jazmine could tell she didn't know.
Jazmine bit her lip, wondering what to do, how to react. She was very worried about her mother and her strange behavior, but at the same time, she was terrified of her because of what she had seen her do. How could she sit there like she hadn't just killed all those people? Why wasn't she being mean and vicious and scaring Jazmine? Why was she sweet and confused and seeming like she cared once again?
"I…must have gone for a walk," she continued. "I think. To be honest, I don't really remember. The last thing I recall is walking up the cul-de-sac this morning while the sun was rising behind our houses. Then I felt so tired I sat down here. I didn't really feel like going inside. It was such a beautiful morning. I think your dad might have enjoyed it, don't you think?"
"I…I’m sure," Jazmine said.
Her mother smiled with great sadness in her eyes. "I don't know how we're ever going to get by without him."
"I thought you had moved on?" Jazmine said.
Her mother looked at her, puzzled. "Moved on? No. How? I don't even know how to."
"But…but you told me to, remember?"
Her mother shook her head. "I can't…I don't even…I don't even know what you're talking about half of the time."
"Maybe we should get you inside," Jazmine said, feeling worried.
Her mother nodded. "Yes. I think I'm gonna go to bed."
Jazmine helped her get up and let her rest on her shoulder as they walked back inside. She closed the door behind her.
"But what about work, Mom? Won't you be fired?"
Her mother didn't answer; she continued into the kitchen where Jazmine's cup and bowl were still on the counter. Jazmine lifted her hands and had both of them fly into the kitchen and put themselves in the dishwasher. Her mother saw it, then froze. She turned on her heel and looked at her, her eyes angry.
"What was that? Jazmine!"
Jazmine shrugged. "What?"
"What have I told you about using magic? It's dangerous, Jazmine. It's what got your father killed. I will not have it in my house; do you hear me?"
Jazmine swallowed when she spotted smoke emerging from her mother's ears. She had angered her, and that was the last thing she wanted to, the last thing she dared to.
"I…I'm sorry."
"I can't believe you, Jazmine. How did you even learn to do that?" her mother asked.
"I…the book."
"The book? Are you insane? I’ve told you never to read that book again," Jazmine's mom said, small puffs of smoke emerging from her ears. "Why would you defy me like this? This is so unlike you."
"But…but you told me…"
"No. No more lies or excuses. I will not have you using magic and witchcraft ever again. You'll never touch that book again, and you'll never use any spells anymore. No matter how much you need them. Remember what happened to your dad. I haven't even used any of it since it happened. I don't dare to. Anything you do might attract Mr. Aran's attention. And then it's over. It's all over, Jazmine. Do you hear me?"
Jazmine took a step back when her mother pointed at her. "S-sure. Of course. I promise. I won't."
"Good. I don't know what I’m going to do to you if I find you doing it again. I really didn't think you'd be this stupid, Jazmine."
"Okay. I get it," Jazmine said, her legs shaking beneath her.
Her mother calmed down. And just like that, the sadness was back, haunting her mother's eyes.
"All right. I think…I'll go to bed. You should get to school. You're late."
"But…Mom…?
Jazmine wanted to remind her—once again—that it was summer break, but her mother had already turned and was on her way up the stairs, while a little cloud of smoke still lingered in the air where she had been standing.
Chapter Twenty
Jayden couldn't focus on his work. He had barely slept after dropping Ruelle off and was so worried about her he kept checking his phone to see if she had texted or called. All night long, he had been speculating about what to do. He wanted to tell his dad what had happened, he really did, but before he dropped her off, Ruelle had made him promise not to tell anyone since she was embarrassed. He could just come up with some story for his dad about the car being broken into while they were watching the movie, she said to him. Jayden didn't understand what there could possibly be to be embarrassed about, but she had begged him not to tell, even when he argued that they needed to report the woman who attacked her. But she had told him she didn't want to have to go through all that trouble. Besides, her parents would just start to ask questions and what was she going to tell them? That they were making out in the car? She didn't want them to know. Jayden still found it to be silly. Their parents wanted them to date; they wanted them to be together.
"But they don't want to imagine their daughter making out in some car in some dark parking lot behind a cinema, Jayden," she had said. "They won't like it."
Jayden didn't understand why they couldn't simply give their parents a sugarcoated version, but Ruelle was determined.
All morning before going to work, Jayden had texted her and tried to call her to hear if she was all right, to ask her if she needed anything, but she hadn't answered. He couldn't stop wondering if she was still in shock maybe or if she was angry with him for letting this happen to her? Or maybe if she thought less of him because he didn't defend her, or maybe…just maybe…if him telling her he loved her had scared her away.
He didn't like any of those options.
Now, he was standing in the diner, taking a scolding from a couple who hadn't gotten the fries they had ordered with their burger. Jayden said he was very sorry a couple of times, then returned to the cash register and deducted the fries from the check. Then, he spotted the basket of fries on the counter next to him.
"Where's your head at today?" Old Sophie asked, coming up behind him. "It's like you're not even here?"
"I'm sorry."
The angry customers got their new check, then paid and left, mumbling something angrily.
"There goes a couple that probably won't be back," Sophie said.
"I'm sorry," Jayden repeated. He felt like he had been saying that constantly today.
"Don't sweat it. Who gets mad over a missing batch of fries anyway? We don't even want them here if they act like that anyway, do we?" She winked at him while wiping her fingers on her apron.
"So, what's her name?" she asked.
Jayden looked down at the small old woman next to him. "Who?"
She lifted her eyebrows. "The girl. I’ve seen that look in someone's eyes before, and it usually means there is trouble with some girl. Am I right?"
Jayden sighed. Ther
e was no way he could explain all that was going on.
"I thought so," she said.
A car door slammed outside, and he turned to look, just in time to see Robyn get out and approach the front door of the diner.
"I see," Sophie said. "I was young once too. I understand what you're going through. I'll give you ten minutes."
The bell above the door rang, and Robyn stepped inside. Jayden almost told old Sophie that no, she didn't understand; she didn't understand anything at all, but he didn't.
Robyn smiled shyly when she saw him, and Jayden smiled back.
Chapter Twenty-One
I asked Jayden for coffee and he brought it to me, then sat down across from me. Being alone with him made my heart pound both with joy and anxiety. If anyone saw us and told my mother, I was doomed. At the same time, I hadn't been alone with him for so long that it filled me with so much happiness.
"I need to talk to you," he said, speaking in a whisper.
I nodded and sipped my cup when I spotted Amy drive up in her truck and get out.
"Something happened last night, and I don't know how to deal with it," he said with an exhale.
Amy walked inside and approached us. She sat down next to Jayden. She looked at his face. "Uh-oh. Something's up. I have a feeling I’m going to need coffee for this, am I right?"
Jayden took in a deep breath, then nodded.
"And pie?" she asked. "Will I need pie too? Be honest with me."
Jayden didn't answer. He got up instead. "I'll get some for all of us."
Jayden returned with two cups of coffee and peach pie for all of us and a refill of coffee for me. He placed it all in front of us, then sat down again.
"So, what happened?" I asked.
"Last night, I took Ruelle out for a movie, and when we were about to leave, sitting in the car in the parking lot, something terrible happened. I…I don't know when it began, but…well, someone was there…outside the car and then…then…" he paused and sipped his cup. Amy shoveled down her pie while staring at Jayden. I had lost my appetite after he started to talk about Ruelle.
