“Okay, Lucas, but hurry back. There isn’t much seating left but we’ll hold you a spot,” Morgan hollered over the wild crowd. She waved for me to hurry along and darted up the bleacher stairs. Quickly, I spun around grabbing the sides of my head. Across the field was a pair of ruthless eyes locked on my dance of agony. Ms. Strickland nodded my way with her familiar smirk. The buzzing doubled its grip on me and I fell over in pain. It took all I had not to throw up.
“What’s happening to me?” I gargled, toward the ground. Ripley awoke in my arm and filled my palm with warm and soothing light. I jammed my hand to the back of my head and the excruciating pain fell away. The buzzing was still there but I could function again.
Thanks, Rip, I thought, inside my head.
With my hand still wrapped along the base of my neck I looked over to find Ms. Strickland walking into the shaded area that led to the opposing team’s locker room. Without thinking my feet pushed me forward and I ran for the other side of the stadium. Kickoff had just happened as I rushed under the uprights of the football field. She looked back at me, enticing me to follow her before disappearing around the corner. With a crash, I stormed through the door of the locker room to find it empty and black.
“Where’d you go?” I whispered. My hand reached over to the room’s light switch and flicked it up and down with no response. “Great.” Just then the pain returned but this time at the front of my head. I fell to the floor and slammed my fists into the cold tiles. The horrendous sound in my brain now felt as if it was tearing my skull open. I tried to scream but couldn’t. The showers at the back of the room exploded with steaming water. The heat from them crept up on me in a matter of seconds. Through the sticky steam came laughter.
“Who’s there?” I called out. “Ms. Strickland? Is that you?” The laughter grew louder and deeper. I tried to stand up but found my palms stuck to the tiles like magnets. I could slide them around a little but not pull them from the floor. The scalding hot water found my fingers, then my palms, followed by my knees behind them.
“Oh, no,” I stressed. When I finally focused on the fiery water below me I realized it wasn’t water at all…it was blood. I screamed as loud as I could, “Ripley!”
~ Calm yourself, Lucas. ~
“Get me out of here! Now!” I ordered. The blood started to creep up my wrists and forearms, all the way up to my elbows. What was happening? I demanded Ripley to appear. “I need you! Now!”
~ I can’t. ~
“What? Why?”
~ Trapped. ~
And with that, I crumbled. I was on my own. I stared at the blood along my arms and hands hoping to find the strength to stand up. The laughing finally stopped, leaving only the echo of my pounding heartbeat and rushing torrent from the shower heads. Suddenly, they turned off and the steam began to clear. My hands were still locked in place but the painful buzzing in my head was receding. The pools of bloody water started to bubble as if being brought to a boil but the heat was almost completely gone now. Slowly, the crimson liquid pulled away from me, slinking back towards the shower stalls. The lights above began to hum with life and flicker in a strobe effect that made the sight of retreating blood more ominous than before. I shook my head trying to steady my vision in the blinking light. The liquid began to take shape…a haunting shape. A shape I didn’t want to see ever again.
“Ripley, someone’s here…” Ripley never answered me back. I called out again, “Rip?”
The form twitched and clicked, gulping up more sludge until two glowing slits stared back at me. Muscular, ominous, and demonic. I couldn’t bear to look at it anymore. It was impossible what I was seeing. I held my breath and reluctantly pulled at my hands again. Surprisingly, they pulled from the wet floor, no longer covered in blood. The flickering light slowed but still made it hard to see in the distance. I carefully leaned back on my knees and steadied myself to stand but felt too weak to do so. Just as I was about to fall backwards a fortifying hand fell upon my back.
“Lucas.”
My dizzy head whipped around to find Olivia standing behind me, determined and beautiful.
“Olivia!” I screeched, with a cracking of my voice. Her eyes held me for a moment before pushing past me to the back of the room. She squinted in a desperate ploy to make sense of what she was seeing. I turned back to the shower stalls, sheepishly finding my footing again.
“Do you…see that?” I asked, hoping I wasn’t having another one of my epic hallucinations. “Please tell me you see it.”
Olivia slid by my side, never taking her eyes from the impossible form in front of us. Slowly, her hand caressed mine with her warm fingers tangling around my palm. She stiffened as if she had been turned to stone.
In the weakest of whispers, she said, “Yes.”
The lights popped completely on in a flash. The blinding light washed over us revealing nothing but an empty and ordinary locker room. No steam, no blood, no monsters. Olivia and I exchanged a horrified but relieved stare. We knew we weren’t crazy. We knew what we saw. We knew things had just gotten much worse. With a gulp, I tightened my grip on her hand and whispered…
“He’s back.”
LEVEL 18
AMEN
The football game was a blowout. Taylor threw for nine touchdowns and ran for over three-hundred yards. He seemed to be getting better at the game, even though that didn’t seem possible. Championship trophies and MVP awards were given out in accordance but my experience in the locker room dampened his winning mojo. As we met Roland and Morgan in the school parking lot, outside the gymnasium, Taylor stopped me and asked.
“Are you sure it was him?”
“Yes.”
“General Love,” he doubted. “The demon from another dimension that tried to enslave the school and eat you like a Pop-Tart.”
“Yes.”
“The freaking monster that almost killed us all…”
“I wouldn’t make that kind of thing up, T. Olivia and I saw him.” I settled myself and continued with a new doubt creeping in. “We saw something, like, the essence of him. It wasn’t him, but it was him. Do you know what I mean?”
Taylor tried to understand but I think he was too scared to let the thought of General Love’s return completely resonate with him. “I’m not sure, Lucas. We watched that thing…I mean him, die.”
“I hope so.” I knew what I had seen. I knew the same disheartening feeling of despair in his presence. General Love was back, or close to it.
Thankfully, Morgan broke the uneasiness between Taylor and I with a leap into his arms and a giant kiss upon his lips. Taylor held her in his arms wrapped in a perfectly tailored suit as her silky dress reached for the ground. Roland turned away from us, disgusted with the sight of his sister in the throws of young love.
“Knock it off, Mo! I just ate!”
Sliding back to her feet and fixing her dress, she snarled, “Shut up, I’m happy.”
From the building came the first sounds of Olivia and her band beginning their first set. Drums thundered and Olivia’s voice announced their first song of the night. The guitar squealed from the doorway as each group of students passed through. I nodded toward Taylor and Morgan.
“Let’s do this.” Quickly, we all made our way into the gymnasium.
Homecoming was a crazy time here at Desert Vista High. Not only was our school obsessed with adding the most ludicrous themes to each and every school dance, the Student Council was dedicated to topping themselves every year. Last years Homecoming shenanigans were based around a pirate theme, and yes, the photographs of that night were as bad as you’d think they were. This year they voted for an angelic theme. “A Night with the Divine,” is what they called it.
The gym was covered in white fluffy clouds and a sea of fake angel wings. The kind you’d purchase at a cheap Halloween store. Every couple received a pair as they walked through the golden arches made from Styrofoam and glitter. As I looked out over the crowd of dancing students, most of them with bou
ncing halos above their heads and fluttering ivory wings strapped to their backs, I cringed. There was fewer kids here than last year but still a full house.
From the stage, Olivia and her band, SISTER RED, came to life. Her guitar slung across her back with the strap snugly hugging her torso that was covered in a worn red flannel shirt. She shifted in her boots as she sang directly at me and snarled behind the microphone, accordingly. Resting atop her dark straight hair was a pair of bright red devil horns. Always the rebel. It brought a much needed smile to my face. My hand slid into my pocket and rested along the tiny surface of her guitar pick. My favorite lucky charm.
With a wave I mouthed the word, “Hi.” She blushed a little and directed my attention to the side of the stage where Sophia was bouncing in place. She had a small pair of devil wings strapped to her back and a small plastic pitchfork in her hand. She furiously waved at me when she saw me and I let a small laugh escape. In her hair was the protective Jynshee Ring. Its shine unmistakably magical. I wondered if Olivia knew her baby sister had come tonight prepared for the worst. I stepped forward to talk to her when I was suddenly ambushed by the last person I wanted to see.
“Lucas! We need to talk!” Felicity screamed in my face.
“Felicity, not now. I can’t do this tonight,” I groaned, and tried to turn away from her. Taylor and Morgan had already faded into the crowd, trying to enjoy a dance before we proceeded with our plan for the evening. Roland rolled his eyes at the sight of Felicity and gave me a sharp nudge with his elbow.
“It’s going to be one of those nights,” he said, then scurried off toward the back of the room to get a better look at the chaperones for the dance.
“I can’t sleep anymore!” Felicity hollered, over the music.
“And how is that my problem?” I snapped.
“Because ever since we’ve been back, things are different. You’re different. I’m different!”
“What are you talking about?” I stepped back from her. Her eyes welled with tears and a pair of wings perched just past the tops of her shoulders. They flapped slightly in place, tickling the ends of her curly hair that dangled down.
“I have the same dream every night. It’s horrible. I can’t take it anymore!”
“Calm down, Felicity.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down! It’s all your fault!” she screamed. Some of the crowd watched us as others avoided our drama completely.
“Give it a rest. I’m having nightmares almost every night, too. Sometimes I’m even having them during the day!” I scolded, as the image of the monster from the locker room stained my thoughts.
“You don’t understand, Lucas…”
From the stage Olivia watched us closely. Frustrated, I huffed, “I don’t have time for this.”
“You don’t understand, I’m not dreaming about the monsters we’ve seen, at least, not anymore.” Felicity took a shaky breath in. “I’m dreaming of something much worse.”
“And what is that?” I asked, not really caring.
“You.”
Confused, I gulped. “What?”
Felicity stepped up closer to me with her head pointed to the ground as if she were embarrassed. “Us. I dream of us…together.”
I was speechless.
She wasn’t. “I have feelings for you.”
“Huh?” I choked.
“I know it’s crazy but it’s true. Lucas Ryan, you are my exact opposite, my sworn rival, and I can’t get you out of my head,” she said, with the pulsating music splashing around us. I couldn’t believe my ears. This had to be some ploy, some sick joke. How could my archenemy have a crush on me? My head started to spin with the overwhelming realization.
“Felicity…” I began to mumble, but she cut me off.
“Lucas…I think…I think I…”
I stepped back from her and threatened, “Don’t you dare finish that sentence!”
“…love you,” she whispered, terrified. With a quick kiss upon my lips she turned from me and ran off in tears. I was frozen in a blanket of teenage angst. After a few moments I turned to find Roland’s shocked face filled with laughter. His eyes bulged from their sockets and his face mirrored mine, in shock. He stopped his fit of laughter long enough to point toward the stage.
“Oh, no,” I mouthed, silently. Slowly, I turned to Olivia who was staring laser beams of jealousy into me. I waved toward her, sheepishly. She stomped her foot and tore a loud distorted chord from her guitar strings. The sound crashed into me. Roland walked up to me and placed an arm around my shoulder.
“No worries, she’ll understand,” he chuckled. From the stage Olivia stuck her fist out in front of her and aggressively flipped me her middle finger, then continued playing her guitar in a fit. Roland looked at me with a crooked smile. “Maybe not.”
Taylor and Morgan snuck up on us and joined the conversation.
“Hey, you two, it’s about time we initiate our plan,” Taylor said, confidently. I agreed with a slight nod of my head, my eyes still watching Olivia. Felicity’s emotional bomb had left a bad taste in my mouth, and it showed on my face.
“We can scoot out the side exit. It’s not being watched at the moment,” Roland stated. He pulled me in the direction of the exit when Morgan stopped us.
“Wait a second,” she said, unsure.
“Not now, Mo, this is the plan. Remember?” Roland pouted. Neither one of the Saint twins knew that Taylor and I had already decided it was best that he came along on the mission instead of Roland, but I held my tongue.
“I know, but I think Taylor should go with you two.”
Taylor looked at her surprised. He smiled wildly. “What? Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“But what about our date? Morgan, this is your night. I want it to be special,” Taylor said, like a knight in shining armor. She melted in his shadow and placed her hands on his big chest.
“It is special, Tay. I’m so happy right now but this night is about something much more important. We need answers. Besides, Lucas needs his bodyguard,” she teased. Taylor leaned down and kissed her.
“Okay,” he whispered, proudly. Roland tapped his watch impatiently and announced.
“We need to go, boys.”
“Mo, keep your eyes peeled. Don’t let Sophia out of your sight and text us if you see anything strange,” I ordered, finding my mental balance again.
“I can do that,” she smiled.
“Give us about thirty minutes. If you haven’t heard anything from us by then, get Olivia and Sophia out of here,” I warned.
With a fresh batch of fear in her voice, Morgan asked, “Jeez, Luc, what exactly do you expect to find in the library?”
I glanced down at my arm and the markings came to life with a soft pulsating purple light, as if to warn us all of something. I swallowed down a giant chunk of oxygen, and said…
“The truth.”
LEVEL 19
POINT OF NO RETURN
Standing in front of the book as it glowed with the same light as the one pulsating from my arm, was nerve-racking. Taylor and Roland stood still, one on each side of me. The alien writing across the book’s spine flashed brighter and brighter with every second. The sullen library illuminated in a vibrant light show with no sound.
“You guys ready?” I asked, quietly.
“Always,” Taylor grinned.
Roland shrunk, “I guess.”
Cautiously, I stepped up to the book as it radiated from the shelf. My hand reached out for it, and I held my breath. As my fingers touched the edge of the book the flashing light stopped. The lines of my tattoo steadied themselves to a soft white glow that lit only the surface of the book.
“Careful, Luc,” Roland warned. Gently, I removed the book from its spot and turned it face up, studying its cover. The cover was made of something that resembled a black jewel but felt as light as a piece of paper. It reminded me of the same shell Ripley was born from, the Jynshee Orb. Across its face was a sunken in symb
ol. My fingers traced it carefully.
“What is it?” Taylor asked, stepping up behind me.
“I’m not sure.” The shape beneath my fingers was circular and gave the impression of spinning in place. Six thorny shapes intertwined with each other making it hard to tell where any of them started or ended. In the middle of the circle was three jagged points that came together in a scratchy point. As my index finger traced it, the point cut into my flesh effortlessly.
“Ouch!” I growled. A single drop of blood fell from my fingertip and splashed along the twisted symbol. The blood absorbed into the symbol and the shapes below my finger began to move in place.
“What happened?” Taylor asked.
“I think it bit me.”
That’s when everything changed. The swirling symbol revealed itself to be six writhing serpents, all with snapping mouths and three sets of purple eyes. They spun in place faster and faster. Their tiny mouths hissed in a high-pitched scream that felt like a knife to the back of the head. All three of us placed our hands to our ears to dull the growing shrieks. As I did, the book fell from my grasp and smashed into the floor. It erupted into purple and black flames that formed a twisting funnel cloud that stretched itself up to the ceiling. We all stepped backwards ready for it to explode but instead it imploded in on itself, taking the wall of books with it. It left a giant hole in the library wall big enough to drive a minivan through.
“Oh, my…” Roland gasped. As we settled our racing heartbeats we all stepped closer to the new hole. There was no sign of the mysterious book, no sign of smoke or fire, and no sign of my pricked finger. Was my blood the key to opening this doorway? Why?
“So, what do we do now?” Roland asked, already knowing the answer. He was not happy when Taylor made it official.
Lucas Ryan Versus: The Return Page 11
