Southern Exposure

by Lari Smythe

  Chapter 11

  I was surprised to find Melanie and Elizabeth on the front porch swing. They broke off whatever they were talking about when they saw me. Elizabeth did her normal disappearing act and went inside.

  "Hi, Melanie, I didn't expect to see you here."

  "Nathan and I were in the area and thought we'd stop by. What's new with you?"

  I sat down on the rocking chair across from her and peered through the windows behind her. Benjamin's easel stood empty as did the rest of the room—it looked like we were alone. "Can I ask you something?" I whispered.

  "Sure." Melanie leaned closer.

  "A few days ago my friend Cathy accidentally touched me—"

  Melanie gasped.

  "It was only for a second, but something happened. It's hard to explain, but kind of like I could read—no feel her thoughts—like we were one person."

  "Did she—"

  "I'm not sure, but when I pulled away, she freaked."

  "I do declare I have no idea what you mean by freaked."

  "Frantic, upset, hysterical."

  "Elizabeth," Melanie softly called.

  "What's wrong?" Elizabeth said, already standing next to me.

  "Izzy has a little situation," Melanie quickly explained.

  "I don't know. I've never—Benjamin," Elizabeth called.

  "Ladies." Benjamin bowed.

  Melanie now repeated our conversation to Benjamin. I already wished I'd kept my mouth shut.

  "Really, it's not that big of a deal. Cathy has some—issues—with reality, and everyone thinks she's hallucinating or something anyway."

  Benjamin eased down on the arm of my chair and took my hand. "This is rather rare. Tell me, what do you remember feeling?"

  "Terrified mostly."

  "Close your eyes and think back carefully."

  "Yes, terrified and restrained, I couldn't move like I was bound. There was a hard object against my back and whatever bound me clung so tightly it pulled my hair and tugged at my skin. The more I struggled the tighter it got, I—"

  "Izzy! Izzy!" Benjamin snapped, breaking whatever was happening to me. "I want you to focus, outside the restraints. What do you see?"

  "Nothing, I can't see anything."

  "Concentrate. What you were feeling was coming into you from your friend, do you feel anything going out?"

  "This is exactly the kind of thing I was afraid of," Elizabeth declared.

  "Please," Benjamin retorted, "let her concentrate."

  I closed my eyes and tried to see beyond Cathy's cocoon of fear, but I got nothing. I grimaced, concentrating even harder and suddenly there was a flash of teeth—vampire teeth. I jerked back, nearly knocking over the rocker.

  "What?" Benjamin, Elizabeth and Melanie all said simultaneously.

  I took a moment to gather myself—even I was shocked by the intensity of Cathy's vision—I realized this could go no further. "Nothing," I lied, "it was just when she was released from the cocoon, that's all."

  All three of them had the same skeptical expression and although I could tell Elizabeth wanted to press it, they didn't.

  "Well," Benjamin said as he stood, "it appears there is nothing to worry about. The exchange was one way as I suspected." He looked back at me. "What other new experiences have you noticed?"

  "Nothing really," I lied, but I could tell from their expression they didn't believe me. "Well, I accidentally put a boy in a trance at school, but I broke it off before it was too late."

  "You broke it off?" Elizabeth questioned.

  "That's amazing," Melanie added in a much more relaxed voice.

  "Yeah, it was just that once. I was caught off guard."

  Elizabeth's cold eyes glared at Benjamin. "I told you—" She stopped when Benjamin raised his hand. "Very well, have it your way; but I'm warning you this is far too dangerous for her. It simply isn't worth the risk, besides, you promised—" She stopped herself and in a fluster stormed inside.

  "Really, Benjamin," Melanie accused, before following Elizabeth inside.

  I thought Benjamin was going to go also, but he eased himself slowly, thoughtfully onto the swing across from me. He was waiting, waiting for me to say something.

  "How's the painting coming?" I offered, hoping to fend off the uneasy feeling I had.

  He slowly stroked his mustache. "Well."

  "It's from a different time, isn't it?"

  "The war."

  "The Civil War, right?"

  He nodded.

  I have a History assignment to write a paper about that time period. You were there, right?"

  He nodded again, while scrutinizing me closely.

  "Could you tell me about it? It would help me out a lot."

  "Perhaps some other time." He leaned forward and lowered his voice. "You felt the essence of your friend's fear of you?"

  I nodded.

  "You wish to help her?"

  "School was something I wanted, for myself. I never intended to hurt anyone."

  "I believe you may have the power to help her."

  "Me? How?"

  "Take my hands. Now, close your eyes and tell me where you came from."

  "I don't know—"

  "Humor me."

  "Oh alright." I closed my eyes and searched my sparse memory, but there was nothing, nothing beyond my existence as a vampire.

  "Go back further, concentrate."

  Suddenly I was a little girl on a southern plantation. I was wearing one of those hideous hoop skirts and Elizabeth was pushing me on a swing under the canopy of a huge old oak. It seemed very real, but I knew otherwise. I pulled my hands away. "What just happened?"

  "I gave you that memory," Benjamin said.

  "You did that?"

  "Yes, and from what you've said, I think you might be able to do the same for your friend."

  "How?"

  "By pushing your thoughts outward. Here, take my hands. Now think of an object and try to imagine pushing it into me."

  We sat quietly for a moment while I tried to force an image into Benjamin's thoughts. I couldn't tell if I was having any success and his blank expression revealed nothing.

  "An apple," he suddenly said.

  "Yes."

  "Excellent. Now, the human psyche is much easier to influence, but you must be very careful. You can make things worse. Do you understand?"

  "Yes, I think so."

  "You said your friend was in a daze, so I imagine she is medicated. You should have no problem erasing her memory of the incident." He stood. "Go now, see to your friend and make things right."

  "Thank you."

  It was still hours before daybreak, but I didn't waste any time getting to Cathy's. The house was quiet, a slight snoring from her mother's room. There was a light on in Cathy's room; but by the rhythm of her breathing, I was certain she was asleep. I vaulted to her window ledge and slipped through the open window behind the drapes. I silently moved toward her until I was standing beside her bed. It was then I realized I could do more than erase her fear of me. If I could find out exactly what happened to her, I could erase that as well. I knelt down and gently took her hands; but instead of projecting, I reached inward. The terror of being attacked leapt to the forefront, but I was able to reverse the flow of images. Light suddenly filled her eyes, harsh light from several erratic flashlights. The air was filled with hysterical laughter as the tape slowly unwound. Lips pressed harshly against hers as someone forcibly kissed her—again—and again. Suddenly Cathy screamed in her sleep. I slipped behind the drapes as her mother stirred. Seconds later she was at Cathy's bedside.

  "It's alright dear, it was just a dream. I'm right here, no one is going to hurt you." Cathy's mother sat down on the edge of the bed stroking her hand. Cathy never opened her eyes. Her mother stayed until the spasms stopped. As if she bore the weight of the world, Mrs. Hall got up and trudged back to her room.

  I took a moment to gather my thoughts before approaching Cathy's bed a second time. I took her
hands and took her back to the attack, then before. It was late summer, before school was in session, she was on the bleachers drawing the silhouette of the mountains against the night sky. She looked up from her drawing as a flashlight lit the bleachers. I took over and started to project.

  "Cathy, is that you? I've been worried sick. You shouldn't be out at night by yourself."

  "Mom," Cathy groaned, "I'm just trying to finish my drawing."

  "Very well, but next time you'll tell me ahead of time."

  "Sure, I promise."

  Mrs. Hall sat down next to Cathy and peered over the edge of her sketch pad. "That's beautiful."

  "I didn't know you liked my art?"

  "Of course I do."

  I fast forwarded her memory to our encounter in the Art room.

  "Can I see your drawing?" Cathy asked.

  "It's not very good."

  "I don't know. I think it looks just like him."

  I released her and stepped back. The pained expression on Cathy's face faded with each breath, her body relaxed and she rolled over against the wall.