Goodbye Normal

by Lily N Anderson

  Liz laughed again this time harder.

  “So while am still dazed, Jean goes out and leaves me alone to deal with the jerk ass. Josh comes towards me, his face so sure and abusively bold. It was just insolent, the way he was glaring at me, like undressing me with his gray eyes… Ooh my God Lizzy you cannot imagine how much I wanted to spit on his face…okay that’s extreme” She chortled then paused for breath, took a sip of her booze then continued.

  “Anyway… he comes to me and then traces his finger on my jaw line. I yank it way so fast, already irritated. Then he goes like.

  Zoe imitated his voice “It’s okay honey.” “In my head am like honey? Really! I’ll be damned. Then he keeps talking “there is no need to get feisty so what can I do for you, or let me rephrase it, how can I do you…. And that got me to the edge.”

  “He really said that?”

  “Yeah he seriously did, but I Zoe, as cordial as I could get, apologized. I told him am sorry. There was a mistake and I turned to leave. Just a step forward, I feel his strong hand on my waist, here on my stomach.” she illustrated “I turned almost immediately not really thinking by then, I just snapped and slapped him so hard… I don’t know if it was the right move or not but I was feeling betrayed, mad and angry.”

  “Oh my God that’s when I saw you, and I was gazing at him thinking he would react or something but the dude barely flinched, he just stood there like a robot.”

  “You saw that right, he is so full of himself that promiscuous bastard.”

  “I can’t believe it.”

  “It’s hard to, he has just changed to the worst.” she sighed.

  “Weell…Enough of the jerks, let’s toast.” Liz promulgated as she poured more liquor into the glasses.

  “Toast to what?” Zoe asked taking the glass from Liz.

  “Let’s toast to boyfriendless, hot us, those are unlucky. jerks who. should not. Deserve. The heart of hot pretty girls.”

  “Ok! To whatever that is.” Zoe laughed.

  In the stillness of the aplomb night, when the sky showered Desolia with glittering rays of bright moonlight, Zoe and Liz were impinged upon a deep deathlike sleep. It was not the booze, definitely not fatigue and certainly not ordinary sleep. Tangled in the same ineluctable fate were thirty seven, eighteen year old girls, mysteriously accumulated from all around Doomsberg.

  The unavoidable fate came upon them in a dream. A dream that felt too real to be just an ordinary dream. Without knowing, they were inadvertently experiencing the real, very much alive supernatural side of Doomsberg.

  Inside a candle lit room, Zoe’s eyes were quiet opposite to what they should really be in real life. Though she was not quite certain if wherever she was at that particular time was anyhow substantial.

  She turned her body aimlessly not able to control her anxiety. Her eyes roamed around uncontrollably, analyzing, probing and observing her mysterious surroundings. The place looked like an ancient castle of a sort.

  It had thick stone walls. Its ceiling rose too high she could barely give an estimate. It was supported by extremely large pillars that were sculptured ornately encircling the spacious hall. The walls had large candles of a variety of colors lit upon them. Furthermore it had ancient looking chandeliers glowing from each sides of an equally large podium.

  On the hall before the podium was an array of chairs organized in seven rows and columns.

  Zoe looked around for any familiar face. Her eyes loitered from a girl with hospital robes, who looked like she would die if she was left standing there for another minute. Another girl looked like a drunken whore, and another one looked like she would pee on her pants any minute. Some other interesting girl looked oddly calm with the situation. After few minutes of peering she saw a number of classmates. They had never been friendly to one another, but surprising enough a smile curved on her confused face.

  Despite the unnerving environment, it was awkwardly relieving to see a face she knew. She observed that there was no one on sight to supervise the excited lot, hence decided to take matters into her hands and find some answers. Just after taking three steps towards her quest for answers, a pat on the shoulder brought her to a halt.

  She gasped after turning and seeing Liz smiling at her.

  They hugged desperately, clinging to each other’s arms as if they would never let go, which they did eventually.

  “What are we doing here, first is this even real? How did we get here, you still have the same clothes we were wearing when we passed out.” Liz puffed, her voice spiced with tension.

  “I wanted to ask the exact questions, I also saw Rachael, big Suzzy, Mercy, Gabriella.” What is going on?” Zoe questioned her back while breathing unevenly.

  “Yes I saw them too and some more others, Dear God! What is this place?”

  “Welcome, welcome.” a strong alto voice echoed in the big hall. Clacking footsteps preceded a mid aged white woman on a black cloak with short red hair. “Welcome my darling girls, come forward, don’t be frightened, come forward everybody and have your seats.” The redhead urged kindly.

  “I know you have lots of questions, they will be answered in a short while. All I need you to do is to put on those robes, the ones neatly placed on each chair.” She said as she showed them the robes.

  A tough looking black girl blurted out. “And if I don’t? Watchu gon do huh.” everything went dead silent. All their head turned to the large haired woman, with eager faces waiting for her reply.

  The woman’s face was calm and friendly, but her voice was icy cold. “It’s quite simple actually. If you are not obedient to all my simple orders, you will never see your families again. The same way we managed to have your undivided attention right now, Is the same way we will take your bodies, and no one will ever know where you are. Mind you, this is night time, lots of evil are said to happen during the night. Am not trying to scare you, am just urging you to play your parts and we will all be good friends for the short time will spend together.” she smiled to her sarcastic words.

  The short threat gearing speech took all their feet matching forward to their seats. Zoe and Liz held on to each other, their hearts thundering with frantic speeds.

  After they wore their distinguishing black robes, they all ensconced to their seats.

  Virtually, all the girls secretly wished that it was just a very very bad dream.

  “Please forgive my manners. My name is Maydith Fairgood. I am the current secretary of Doomsberg association of witchery.” said the redhead.

  With that short declaration, there were a good number of jolts, gasps and fear washing through the dashed bunch. Zoe swallowed hard and felt her hands getting damp. What is this, she thought. Could it be a dream? It has to be a dream. This must be a terribly ridiculous dream. She shot a glance at Liz, her eyes were glittering with tears. A big tear rolled down her pallid cheek and she immediately rubbed it away with shaking hands. Putting aside her own fears she rubbed her dump palm on her rob and placed it on top of Liz shaking hands.

  “We are going to be fine…you heard her, she said if we behave and follow orders we will go back home safe. Okay?” she consoled but her voice was filled uncertainty.

  Liz just glanced at her.

  And she understood her silence, there was no way she could tell how that night would end. It was a stupid consolation but she somewhat felt that Liz needed it anyhow.

  “I hope you are bright enough to remain docile, the other council members will be with us shortly.” Maydith instructed calmly.

  A few seconds later, a group of young women wrapped in maroon robes came matching uniformly to where the girls were seated. They all had funny looking wooden bowls on their hands. Each one sat on the last chair of each row.

  Sequentially, another distinctive group of five individuals darted smoothly to the chairs arranged on the podium. These groups were entering from a large chivalric back door of the hall.

  Maydith was murmuring something to a bold headed man who looked like
the leader of the coven. His rob was decorated differently from all the others.

  Zoe’s eyes narrowed, the man’s face looked familiar. But she shook her head, forcing to convince herself otherwise. Could it be possible she knew a witch? She wondered. Then she decided against it. He probably just looked like someone she knew.

  Liz saw the confusion on her face.

  “Hey what is it?” she whispered.

  “Have you ever seen the bold headed man?” Zoe murmured.

  A Latina girl in front of them turned briefly to them with an accusing glance. Liz rolled her eyes at her head.

  Liz mouthed “You read my mind.”

  Zoe’s face twitched while her head stained to fit in the puzzle. The current environment was making it impossible to concentrate on retrieving her memory.

  Maydith walked back to her position, in between the podium and the girls. She cleared her throat then composed herself by rearranging her cloak.

  “I believe all the significant members of this occasion are present, and this sacred ceremony can now commence.”

  The entire assembly consisted of a few people, the projection itself wasn’t as crucial. A thin man from the front desk interrupted Maydith.

  “You are forgetting an important element of this assembly Maydith. I cannot see the Revelation Bowl.”

  Zoe’s face grimaced; she tightened her grip on Liz.

  “Oh, yes, yes, if you’ll excuse me please, this will only take a second.” Maydith said and stretched her hands to the far end of the hall. Superstitiously, a golden cauldron supported by a long red upholstered stool was teleported over in front of her by the power of her hands. Shock was an understatement to the faces displayed by the young girls around the room. Liz’s eyes never wavered until then. She turned her to face Zoe, her entire face drained of blood. She just stared at her for a grim second then restored her concentration.

  Maydith also pulled a chair using her magical strength to where she was and the bold headed man stood up.

  “Welcome everybody. My name is Juven Longwood. I am the chairperson of Doomsberg Association of Witchery. This is the 186th search for the sacred oracle of the Channeler. Before Maydith explains further, I’d like to introduce the members with me on the front desk.

  “Beside me” Mr. Longwood bellowed, his voice commanded authority as he placed his palm on the shoulder of a serious looking man who wore spectacles supported by a crocked nose. “Is Seth Krukton, he is deputy in command, and this one on my right is Moosemond Colam, he may be small but he’s extremely gifted. He is the one responsible for all your wellbeing’s this night. His teleportation skills never seize to amaze me. The young lady after Mr. Krukton is Gigi Turnpod; she is responsible for the all young female wizards. And last but not least is Fred Colam,” he was the thin man that had interrupted Maydith initially. “He is responsible for the male wizards…thank you very much. Maydith you may resume your duties.”

  “Young ladies of Doomsberg,” Maydith began. “We are forced to intervene your precious night because this sermon is worth more than your sleep. This is an important tradition, precious to the Sorcerers of Doomsberg. The very same procedure is exercised every year in this very day at this very place. Your mothers, sisters, cousins and grandmothers even I have ever sat on those chairs, scared and confused beyond imagination wondering what is going on.

  “You may question yourselves, debate among each other, why is it that this is unprecedented to your ears. Well am happy to say that the reason behind is that, only those who are gifted with witchcraft in this town, are the only ones who will remember this night. For the rest of you this will only be a dreamless night with a reward of a heavy sleepy head.

  “For all the 186 years this sacred procedure has taken place, not once has the association been fortunate enough to find the Channeler.

  “All details about who the Channeler is, why she is important to our community and the like are irrelevant for your knowledge until we find one. What am trying to say is, I am sparing all of us the trouble for a long ineffectual speech.

  “The lovely acolytes behind each row will pass over the small bowls. Each one of you is required to do the same thing to the one in front of you after placing a strand of your natural hair in it. Don’t try anything stupid like putting extension or the like. I urge that, you will be reprimanded for any undesirable actions.” Maydith finished.

  A number of heads turned around curiously to take a look at the acolytes.

  When the small bowls started moving around, both Zoe and Liz got their chances at the same time. The bowl was unpolished brown and had a narrow mouth. Its body had the words DAW carved in ancient calligraphy and small stars encircling it.

  Each one plucked a lock of hair from their head and inserted it into the bowl, afterwards passed it forward.

  “I don’t think they’ll be getting anyone this year either.” Zoe whispered.

  “I don’t really care. I just wanna wake up from this madness. I really thought it was fascinating but it’s really freaking me out right now. I wonder if they are telling the truth about letting us go or, it-“

  “Shhh Liz.” Zoe shushed her from talking after a piercing stare from Maydith reminded her of what they were not to do.

  The group of girls in maroon robes went forward, each filling the large golden bowl with the lock of hair in their respective bowls.

  When the ladies were done they returned to their seats and the high table rose. The high members of the coven accumulated and encircled themselves around the big bowl.

  In between them, below the grounds they stood on the surface was drawn two circles and a star was inserted in the middle of the inner circle. On the very pointed end of the star five candles were arrayed to follow the red stool. It was an image of a pentagram.

  Each one of the members pricked their middle finger and injected a drop of blood into the bowl, which was mixed with variety strands of hair in the bowl. They stood in between the big and small circle lying adjacent to the candles. They wore hoods extended to their cloaks, thereafter they held hands together. They started casting a spell on the bowl by speaking spell language. As they generated power from their bodies, the golden bowl started rotating on its own. And the candles lit magically.

  The ceiling board began tearing apart without forming any destruction to the property. However, the noise of its transfiguration was distractive. After a large crack by the middle, layers of it started piling up against the other. It created a huge hole proportional to the position of the magical bowl. And the moon’s light shone right above it.

  For some seconds, the bowl continued at a clock pace then it started spinning fiercely. When it finally stopped every audient was alert, wide eyed and anxious. An eye blinding light shone from the bowl, everyone turned away from the irritating brightness. After a few seconds the light subsided. And the ceiling closed back to its original form. Mr. Longwood took peeked inside the bowl. He then reached inside it then came out with a chain on his palm. It was a beautiful silver chain with a circular pendant. When he looked behind it, he gasped.

  “We have a name!” Mr. Longwood shouted, the look on his face was invaluable.

  “For the first time in 186 years we have the Channeler.” He exclaimed joyously. Everything stopped; mixed emotions were on the edge. Every other sorcerer was as happy, eager and surprised.

  Zoe mouthed the word No, she heard her heartbeat thundering over her ears. Liz’s eyes were closed. She could feel and hear their breaths quickening.

  “The name embellished on this beautiful pentagram is Zoe Brown. She is… the Channeler.” Mr. Longwood’s gracious announcement sent every pair of eyes in the aroused room to her. Fingers were pointed, hands were clapped, and even some tears were dropped with both joy and fear.

  Zoe felt her strength leave her body. Her eyes closed and her shoulders dropped. She twined her elbows to her knees and dug her fingers into her thick hair. She could hear at a far distance her name being called out, but her body
was too weak to respond. All her mind could think about was waking up from a bad dream. This is the time when I should bang my head or something. A phone call should wake me. Please let me wake up from this nightmare, she prayed.

  Her lashes opened hastily, not wanting to but having to.

  Liz’s face wasn’t helping, she had gone whiter. She looked at Zoe like she was seeing a ghost. Given their current situation she was not sure if she wasn’t one. She could hear her shouting or maybe rumbling, she wasn’t sure either. Nothing was certain anymore.

  “No…noo it’s not possible, this is ridiculous you are wrong, you should do it again…please don’t take my friend nooo. It’s a mistake” Liz cried, Zoe could feel the apprehension in her voice, which wasn’t helping either.

  Liz’s hand was clenching her neck protecting her from whatever her obscure fate was. She understood her feelings that scary moment; the mix was a fuzzy one.

  “Thank you girls for you corporation you may remove my cloaks now.” Maydith requested.

  When she saw that the other girls had complied with her wishes. She looked at them, her hand crossed neatly on her chest.

  “The rest of you are dismissed.” Maydith ordered, thereafter her eyes fell specifically on Zoe.

  With that simple order every one vanished in thin air. Just a blink and everyone was gone. Zoe gasped! Fear, realization and anticipation kicked into her system at once. She stood up and looked around her. She was left all alone, in a world she was sure she did not belong. But they were certain she belonged.

  4. DENIAL

  Her eyes enlarged with horrific agitation, where had they all gone to? Where was Liz? Where were all those familiar faces? Her face hardened with each passing thought.

  “This is a historic day for all of Doomsberg.” A familiar voice bellowed. It was Mr. Longwood. She blinked. Her blue eyes sparkled in the candle light. They made her fear which had transformed to anger vivid to her audience. A warm hand clenched her arm. She jerked away from the friendly gesture, and then shot an accusing glare at the owner. It was Gigi Turnpod; her mellow voice cut short the silence.