Awakened

by Emma Knight

  “What?” Rachel asked. “Why are you staring at me?”

  “I’m sorry. It’s just that, well, you have been gone since we moved,” Mark said.

  “Moved?” Rachel asked.

  “Yeah since we moved back here, you’ve been gone,”

  “You’re funny, Mark!” Rachel said. “Stop playing games with me!”

  “I’m not playing games. Don’t you remember?” Mark asked, still staring at her with an odd expression.

  “Remember what?” Rachel asked.

  “You know, Bedford, AHS, Benji?” Mark said.

  Then, all of a sudden, Rachel had a flashback to a moment she had with Benji where they were kissing on the balcony of his castle. The flashback came and went quickly and then she shook her head, trying to remember it all, but she couldn’t.

  “Not really? We’ve lived here the whole time though,” Rachel said. “Bedford?”

  “Remember Dad’s job got transferred up to New York? We moved for a year and then after you left things got really bad for the family and mom went into the hospital. Then, Dad decided to move us back to Pennsylvania. He felt the move was all a terrible mistake and he wanted to bring the family back home, back to better times,” Mark said.

  “WAIT WHAT? Mom’s in the hospital?” Rachel shrieked.

  “Yes, it was all too much for her after you left. She couldn’t take it. She’s in a coma now in the hospital. Doctor’s aren’t sure if she’s going to wake up,” Mark said.

  “But why? What do you mean?” Rachel asked. “This is MY FAULT?”

  “Well, I guess so. Indirectly it is your fault. You caused us a lot of stress and grief. It was all so unpredictable one day to the next and nobody knew where you were going or where to find you. It was really hard on us,” Mark said.

  “I had no idea. I don’t even know what you’re talking about. I never did anything,” Rachel said.

  “Listen, Rachel. I don’t really want to go over this with you now. It’s really not a good time for me. I have to go now,” Mark said, looking down at his watch.

  “Wait, but you just got here. Where are you going?” Rachel asked.

  “I have to go. Stop asking so many questions!” Mark said.

  CHAPTER 4

  Rachel went upstairs to start putting her room back together. She was puzzled by the fact that everything was in boxes but didn’t want to keep questioning it. She started taking her things out of their boxes one by one. She pulled out old trophies, posters, and her clothing. Her favorite MTV t-shirt was there, in the box with her Dr. Martin shoes that she loved so much. Then, she pulled out some old photographs of Dana and all her friends. She hung them back on the wall in their proper places and continued unpacking. She was happy to see her room take shape again, just as she’d remembered it.

  As she reached down to the bottom of one box she found a dusty picture album, blew off the dust and opened it up. She was confused by the photos she saw and didn’t know who these people were. It was pictures of her with a group of girls she didn’t know. Then she saw pictures of a homecoming football game and her sister Sarah as a cheerleader. It didn’t look like the high school she remembered and all the kids were strangers to her. She didn’t recognize one of them. This was all very confusing to her. Maybe what everyone was saying held some truth, she thought to herself. Still, she didn’t want to believe it.

  Then, she pulled out her cell phone to text Dana. She missed her; it felt like forever since they’d hung out for some strange reason. She wanted to see what she was up to and if she wanted to hang out.

  Rachel: Hey Dana! What’s up? Wanna come over?

  Dana: Rachel?

  Rachel: Who else would it be!

  Dana: Is it really you?

  Rachel: Um, yeah! Stop acting weird. What’s up?

  Dana: Where are you?

  Rachel: Home. You?

  Dana: In PA. Where else!

  Rachel: Me, too!

  Dana: You’re back? When did you come back? Are you just visiting family?

  Rachel: What do you mean?

  Dana: It’s been a while. I’m surprised to hear from you.

  Rachel: What happened last night? Do you know why I woke up in a field?

  Dana: What? What are you talking about?

  Rachel: What did we do last night?

  Dana: IDK. I wasn’t with you.

  Rachel: What do you mean? We ALWAYS go out together! Seriously, what happened?

  Dana: Rachel? Are you sure this is really you?

  Rachel: Yes. It’s me.

  Dana: Prove it then. This is too weird.

  Rachel: I’ll come over. No actually you come here. I don’t want my dad to get mad at me. He’s already a little pissed I didn’t come home last night.

  Dana: It’s late, I can’t tonight. Will I see you tomorrow?

  Rachel: Yeah, I’ll see you in school tomorrow. Pumped for our math class together. Ugh, Mr. Malloy is such a loser and that tupe is redic.

  Dana: Gotta go my mom’s here to see me. See ya tmw.

  Rachel: Bye xoxo

  Rachel thought about her text conversation with Dana and thought it was a little strange, but assumed she was in on this whole joke. It was like everyone was ganging up against her to convince her that she’s been gone or missing for a long time. What a strange and odd joke to play on someone, she thought.

  She continued to empty her boxes and then found her diary wrapped up inside a towel in the bottom of a box. She opened it up and realized that the lock on the side had been broken and pages were missing. There was an old entry from a few years ago about the Dutch Fair and then a big gap in pages where someone must have torn them out or something. Then, a random half page with the name Benji written on it. She didn’t know why pages were ripped out of her diary or who Benji was, but it was the second time today she’d heard his name. She thought back to the morning, waking up with a Benji, but she didn’t think it would be the same person. She didn’t know that guy. It must have been a different Benji.

  It was late and this day was completely exhausting to Rachel. She couldn’t run this mystery over and over in her head one more time. She lay her head down on her soft down pillow, crawled under the covers and quickly fell asleep. She was excited to see Dana tomorrow and finally catch up about what happened to her over the weekend. She had to get to the bottom of her Saturday night antics.

  CHAPTER 5

  Violet sat in her chamber as all the Greslins lined up at the foot of her throne waiting for her to speak. It was a big night for her, as she finally got possession of the Varithian Bracelet. She held it up and examined it. It was dripping with sapphires and diamonds, the sapphires glowing, more blue than any gem she had ever laid her eyes upon in all the centuries. Their coven had combed the world for this bracelet for as long as she could remember, and thanks to her, they had found it.

  This bracelet had allowed them entrance into the castle, a place they had been trying to enter since their origin. Now, with this bracelet and in this castle, there was nothing that could stop them. In just days, at the next new moon, the stars would be perfectly aligned for the Varithian Ritual. When it was done, the ancient vampire energy would be summoned, and her coven would be more powerful than any coven on earth. There would be nothing that could stop them from taking over the world, and she would begin by destroying Benji and the Vladdicus Coven, and everything that was theirs. Then she would turn every human left on the planet, dominate them all, and make all of mankind slaves to her. She could already taste the fresh blood, and could not wait to inflict as much pain and damage as possible.

  As she looked at the bracelet, looking at her reflection in a particularly large diamond, she marveled that if only Hunter had loved her enough, maybe none of this would be. Maybe they would be living together. Maybe she would be kinder, gentler. If only Hunter had been kinder to her, had not spurned her for that little witch Penelope, maybe Violet would have joined the other coven.

  But now it was all too late. H
unter had had his chance, but he had lost it. And now, she would do everything in her power to make him pay, to make all of the Vladdicus pay for his mistake. And that awful little girl Rachel most of all. She smiled wide as she imagined herself tearing her to pieces. She looked up at the huge hole in the ceiling, at the passing clouds in the moonlit sky, and could not wait for the new moon.

  CHAPTER 6

  Benji couldn’t believe the news when he heard it. It was impossible. He thought his ears were playing tricks on him when he heard that Violet and her coven had gained possession of the Varithian Bracelet. He sat there in the library of his castle with Matilda, Hunter and Penelope in awe. They were all stunned.

  Benji stood up and quickly looked out of the stained glass window towards the moon. He saw a tiny sliver of the moon lighting up the night sky. He sighed in relief knowing that he still had a little bit of time to save his coven before Violet would be able to attack and destruct all the vampire covens in the world, but he knew it would be cutting it close.

  The ancient Coven Book said that the only way to stop someone who has possession of the Varithian Bracelet is to find the Waverly Mirror, which will reflect the sparkle of the bracelet back towards the coven using it, and all their harmful plans will then turn upon them.

  “What are we going to do?” Matilda asked. “This is going to be the end of us. The end of EVERYONE!”

  “This is awful,” Hunter said. “We haven’t heard news like this since, well…as long as I’ve been alive. It’s our biggest fear!”

  “Hunter, No! Please don’t say that. Please say we’ll be ok, please!” Penelope yelled. “I don’t want to die.”

  “Guys, calm down. Please. All this hysteria isn’t going to help us or change the situation. We have to come up with a plan. We still have a few days. We have to stop Violet. We can’t let her end all of the vampire covens,” Benji said, trying to act calm.

  “Benji! Stop trying to pretend this isn’t a big deal,” Matilda said. “Maybe you don’t realize what a huge calamity this is going to be. THIS IS IT FOR US! Don’t you understand that?”

  “Matilda, I didn’t say it’s not a big deal, but if we sit here and panic about it, it isn’t going to DO ANYTHING. We have to find the mirror. The Waverly Mirror. That is the only way we can get out of this situation and save ourselves and the other covens. We MUST DO SOMETHING!” Benji yelled.

  “But where is the Waverly Mirror?” Penelope sighed. “Why must we always be on a mission to find these objects? Can we ever catch a break around here?”

  “Listen, Penelope. It’s what we have to do. When you sign on to be a vampire, these are the things you must do. It’s not a choice that we have. It’s an obligation. It’s our duty to save our brothers and sister, our aunts and uncles, our ancestors. It’s the only way,” Hunter said.

  “The Coven Book said that the Waverly Mirror is located off the coast of Africa, on one of the Canary Islands. I’m not sure exactly which island, the book didn’t say, but it’s on one of them,” Benji said.

  “How are we ever going to find it?” Penelope said in a whiney voice.

  “Don’t worry. We will do it together, the four of us,” Benji said. “Together we can accomplish anything. With all our smarts, we’re sure to find it…somewhere!”

  “I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” Hunter said. “It’s probably well hidden and since nobody has gained possession of the Varithian Bracelet in thousands of years, it is probably well concealed.”

  “You’re right, Brother, but we have to at least attempt to find it. We can’t just wait for Violet to attack. We have to try and stop her. Are you suggesting we do nothing?” Benji said.

  “Not at all! We have to do something but we have to go together,” Hunter said.

  “Well, this is not going to be an easy feat,” Matilda said. “Speaking of easy feat, you will never guess who stopped by here the other day looking for you and Rachel.”

  “Who?” Benji said. “What are you talking about?”

  “Remember that guy Rob? He said he know you from AHS. Well he came by desperately looking for Rachel. He said he had to find her and asked if I knew where she was,” Matilda said. “It seems like everyone is on a mission looking for something or someone these days.”

  “WHAT?” Benji yelled. “What do you mean? And why did it take this long for you to tell me this news?”

  “Why are you getting so angry? Isn’t he a friend of yours?” Matilda said.

  “A FRIEND! NO NEVER! AN ENEMY!” Benji couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

  “OH GOSH, I’m sorry, Benji. I had no idea,” Matilda said.

  “So, what happened? What did you tell him?” Benji asked.

  “Well, he said it was an emergency. He said he had to find her to set things right. I didn’t know what he was talking about but it seemed urgent. He seemed desperate to see her so I took him to Uncle Drew’s crystal ball. I used it to pin point her location and to show him where she was,” Matilda said in shame. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know he was an enemy to you and Rachel. Oh gosh, what have I done?”

  “This is a nightmare. Rob is after Rachel and in a few days time we are all going to die. I can’t think of anything worse!” Benji said, putting his head in his hands. “This is just awful.”

  “What are you going to do?” Matilda said.

  “Benji, what is he going to do to Rachel?” Hunter asked. “You know he’s always had a thing for her. At lease that’s what I heard.”

  “I have to go save her. I have to stop Rob from getting to her first. She can’t be influenced by him. I can’t let this happen,” Benji said.

  “But Benji, Rachel doesn’t remember you. You said it yourself. Even if you got to her before Rob, it wouldn’t make a difference. She wouldn’t know who you are or why you’d be trying to stop her from seeing Rob,” Penelope said.

  “I have to go. I must. I have to save her, she would do it for me,” Benji said.

  He was seething with anger and jealousy. He wished that Rachel had remembered him. If she had, none of this would be happening. He couldn’t let her get back together with Rob. Especially after all they’d been through together. He had to find a way for her to remember him. He had to win her back and get her out of the amnesia spell. He didn’t know how he was going to do it but his heart was pulling him towards her. He had to get to her and stop Rob. He couldn’t let anything happen to her.

  “I’m sorry, I can’t go with you to find the Waverly Mirror. I have to go be with Rachel!” Benji said.

  “What do you mean you’re not going to come with us? We had a whole plan. Now what are we going to do?” Hunter said.

  “You’re going to have to go on without me. I’m sorry,” Benji answered.

  “Please tell me you are kidding,” Matilda said. “You are going to sacrifice our whole coven and the whole world for a girl who doesn’t even remember you? For someone who could care less about you or our Vladdicus Coven?”

  “Stop saying that, Matilda! She WILL remember me. She will. I just have to prove to her who I am and our history together. She will come to, I know she will,” Benji said hopefully.

  “I can’t believe you are throwing us to the wolves like this,” Hunter said. “This is disappointing of you.”

  “Hunter, put yourself in my shoes. If this were you and Penelope would you try to save her? Would you try to save your love or would you let some other guy steal her away from you while you sit and watch idly by?” Benji said. “I don’t think you would. You have to understand where I’m coming from.”

  Benji watched as Hunter looked over at Penelope and smiled. “I love you,” Hunter said to Penelope. “I love you more!” she whispered back.

  “I understand, Benji,” Hunter said. “You go and do what you have to do. We will go alone. But once you get to Rachel please bring her and come help us find the mirror. We need all the help we can get.”

  “Great idea, Hunter! Bring Rachel. We could use her. She’s a smart girl,” Mat
ilda said.

  “OK, you three go and I, well…we will catch up with you as soon as we can.”

  “Hurry! There’s no time to waste. You have a big search ahead of you,” Benji said.

  The four of them came together in the middle of the room and held out their hands to do their secret coven handshake. It’d been a while since he’d done the handshake, but felt it was an appropriate time as they were all setting out on their missions.

  “1-2-3-Vladdicus!” Benji said. “We can do it guys. Stay strong!”

  “Good luck, Benji,” Penelope, Hunter and Matilda said. “Hurry back to us. We can’t do this without you.”

  “Please go! You will make good headway until I return,” Benji said.

  With that Benji walked out onto the marble balcony, stood there for a moment and then took off into the night sky. He had to get to Rachel and fast. He knew he didn’t have much time before Rob would get there and he had to stop them from falling in love. He couldn’t let it happen. The mere thought devastated him and made his body feel weak inside. A tear rolled down his cheek just thinking of her not wanting to be with him anymore.

  CHAPTER 7

  Rachel ran faster than she’d ever thought her legs could carry her. She ran down the corridor of the old stone castle, running from someone or something, she couldn’t make out what or who it was, but it was scary. The scariest thing she’d ever seen in her life. She was panicked and almost in tears.

  Her legs were going faster and faster as she tried to get away from this monster.

  Then, all of sudden, it was gone.

  She lost the monster and found herself in a field. A large open field surrounded by tall oak trees that were so tall the tops of them were in the clouds.

  Then, she spotted it. A large elk with giant antlers. She ran over it to and pounced, knocking it to the ground, its hoofs kicking up in the air. Out of her fingers emerged long, sharp claws, almost like talons that would come out of an eagle or a giant fowl, and then she started attacking it, slicing its body with her sharp claws and watching the blood ooze out of the large gaping wounds. Her long, white fangs descended from her gums as she sank her teeth down into the neck of this animal. The taste of this elk was the best thing she’d tasted in a long time and she knew she wanted more. She looked around to see if there was another elk in sight, but there wasn’t. She lapped up all the blood from its lacerations and then she sat down next to it, leaning against its lifeless body. She cried. Large tears streamed down her face as she saw the blood all over her body and on the ground. She couldn’t believe what she’d done to this helpless animal.