by Nikki Landis
“I wanted to be alone for a little bit,” he explained, winking.
I blushed and he grinned wider. “All right.”
He started humming as we went around the corner from the house and headed down the sidewalk, toward the direction of the forest. I eyed the tall trees a bit apprehensively. I hadn’t been back since the incident with the Minotaur. I wasn’t too keen on going back there now. In fact, realizing it quickly, I was scared.
What if that thing was still in there? I trembled slightly with the memory. Kellen noticed me stiffen. When he looked at me, my eyes were wide with fear.
“Rhiannon, what is it? What’s wrong?” He demanded, sounding concerned.
“I don’t think I want to go in there,” I told him fearfully.
“Why? What’s the matter? I thought you loved the forest and nature walks.”
“I do. It’s just that…I um, something came after me the other day while I was here. It was big and scared me really bad.” Oh please don’t think I am crazy.
He looked straight into my eyes and placed his hands on my cheeks. “Are you all right? Were you hurt?” He seemed anxious.
“No, but I was pretty frightened. I’m not sure what it was,” I told him. I didn’t like lying but I didn’t want him to think that I was a lunatic either. Imagine his response. He would probably take me to the loony bin himself. No thanks.
“Rhiannon, I…” He didn’t finish.
I continued to stare into his eyes, mesmerized by his concern for me. He leaned his face just a little closer to mine. “I don’t think we’ll go in there today, ok?” His voice was very low.
“Yes, thank you. I’m scared,” I said, shaking slightly.
He dropped his hands and put his arm around my shoulder. He steered us the other direction and we walked silently back to my house. Inside, we finished our project early. He stood up to leave when Gran offered some of her goodies. He happily accepted a plate full and sat back down. I asked him if he wanted to stay for a movie and he agreed.
We watched a recently released action adventure film about a super hero. I had the lights low so we had good atmosphere. Kellen sat next to me on the couch, our arms touching the whole time. I had the same feeling as that first day we met at school, a kind of electricity that seemed to zip through the air and hover around us. I’m pretty sure he felt it too since he kept looking at me all night instead of the movie.
Later, I walked him to the door and down the steps. We both stood there a little awkwardly, not wanting to say goodbye. He had his hands deep in his front pockets again and was kicking at a rock lightly with his foot. We were both quiet for a moment before I finally told him good night.
“Bye, Kellen, thanks for working on the project with me,” I told him softly, a little nervous.
“I’m glad you agreed to be my partner. Thanks for the movie. Oh, tell your Gran thank you for me. I’m actually full.” He patted his stomach, as if in triumph.
I laughed softly. It wasn’t right someone so lean could eat so much food I thought in humor. He must have an amazing metabolism.
“I will,” I replied, “see you later.” I turned to walk back into the house when he caught my arm. I immediately looked up at him and saw his gorgeous smile. He raised his other hand to gently brush the stray hair back from my face and then let it trace my cheek and along my jaw line before he let it fall.
I was completely entranced by the tender expression on his face. It held me captive as I kept staring into his deep green eyes that shimmered like a glassy sea. It looked like he cared for me, more than a little. More than just a casual interest. The thought sent the butterflies in my stomach to fluttering, as usual, and I felt my heart beating in my chest.
“Goodnight, Rhiannon.” His voice caressed my skin. “I’ll see you soon.”
He stayed where he was for another minute and then he turned, dropping his hand, and walked toward the Hummer whistling. I stood there watching him leave with my legs wobbly as gelatin and my eyes dreamy. Gran noticed when I walked in. She smiled and I waved to her as I went silently upstairs to bed. I closed the door quietly behind me and leaned against it, nudging the pile of clothing on the floor.
I realized instantly that I was really starting to like Kellen. Falling for him, actually, hook line and sinker. I had no idea where things were going but I was enjoying the process of getting there. I only knew that my heart was becoming attached.
Kellen had me forgetting all about my worries. Lying in bed, he consumed my thoughts for a long time. He was a welcome distraction from the fear and uncertainty that consumed my mind. That was definitely a good thing considering my preoccupation lately. Thinking about that made me realize something, leading to a startling conclusion.
I suddenly remembered that novel I had been reading from school, the one about the metamorphosis and the guy turning into a giant bug. I hadn’t gotten the point of the book before. Why write such a story? Why was it required material? It had frustrated me that we had to read it for school. The story had seemed so silly and pointless to me at the time. Now, I understood. I could sympathize in a way I hadn’t been able before.
The book was about more than just an abrupt change in Gregor’s physical form. It was the metamorphosis of his mind and character. Gregor chose to retreat into himself and then was forced to stay there. He became imprisoned within his form as an insect and ultimately dies of starvation, neglect, and rejection. It was such a sad and lonely story. But it showed me something.
I realized our physical forms, whatever they may be, do not define who we are. It’s about who we are inside and the choices we make with what we are given. We all make a metamorphosis with our soul and that was what mattered. We had choices. Nothing was decided. Each day new and filled with promise.
I was strangely comforted by that knowledge. I had been freaking out about my experience with the demonic Minotaur, feeling the presence of evil and death, and finding out about my heritage. I had felt like a freak and outcast. The future had seemed uncertain and frightening. I had wondered wildly what was going to happen to me.
Now I knew with profound insight that I had been looking at it the wrong way. I had a choice. I could go down any number of paths. Nothing was set in stone. My future was an open book. I could write it any way I desired.
Changes would come and I would be changed in the process. That was the point. Life was meant to be lived. Experience shaped us, molded us into who we are meant to be. That was the truth that Gregor missed and the truth that I would embrace. This was my time, my decision, my journey to take. It was my metamorphosis.
Chapter Seven
It was back. The feeling that I was being watched. I was sitting in the living room on the couch. My chin was resting against my knees as I contemplated what I was going to do this afternoon. Another beautiful Sunday, I wanted so badly to go back to my reading spot in the forest. But I couldn’t go anywhere without it, the feeling followed me like a shadow, never leaving.
I sighed. I didn’t feel like doing anything but taking a walk. The house was so empty and boring. After spending the day with Kellen yesterday, today was very quiet and lonely. Even Gran and Gramps were out with friends for the afternoon. I was all alone.
In addition to being bored, I was tired of feeling scared about that whole demon Minotaur fiasco. Part of me was starting to believe it was a figment of my imagination. Of course, my ability to conjure that shimmering glow was real enough to remind me of the truth.
I experimented a couple of times with flying and hovering and it was fun. My balance was still a little tricky. I needed more practice but it was too dangerous to venture into the forest. Strangely enough, I seemed to be a natural at it but I always felt a little weird.
In addition to feeling weird, I had almost gotten caught. I knew the forest was dangerous so I decided to practice behind my house in the little stretch of trees that gathered there, bordering the fence line. I figured it was safe. I was zipping low through the trees and trying
to get a sense of balance.
It was exhilarating, the feeling of weightlessness in the air. I practiced hovering, trying to keep my body still. I was pretty decent at that. Then I decided to practice moving fast, as fast as I could go.
I darted through the trees, flying quick and wobbly, when I bumped into a branch and knocked myself to the ground. I landed with a thud, hard, and smacking the packed earth, slamming my left side and moaning. Great. Why was I such a klutz? Did I think having the ability to fly would make me suddenly graceful?
Determined not to give up, I stood up and flew back up quickly. I was doing a fairly good job, proud of myself, when I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Lowering myself to the ground and reigning in my ability, my feet touched just seconds before Mariah came around the corner. Her eyes widened in surprise.
“What in the world are you doing back here Rhia? I’ve been calling your name. Didn’t you hear me?”
“Oh, sorry, I was just out walking in the fresh air. I needed some peace and quiet. What’s up?” I tried to make my voice sound nonchalant but I knew she could tell I was out of breath.
Mariah looked at me skeptically. “Um ok, I just came by to see if you wanted to go to the mall. I’m totally bored and…” She trailed off looking at my side.
I followed her eyes and glanced down, seeing my dirty clothes and the long scrape on my arm. It was bleeding. Oops. “I fell over a fallen tree back there. I guess I scraped my arm without realizing it,” I tried to be convincing.
She nodded her head. “Well, I guess you don’t feel like the mall, huh?”
“Not really, but why don’t you hang out and we can watch a movie or something? You can stay for dinner if you want. Let’s order a pizza.”
“Sure, let me help you, dork. You look awful.” She laughed lightly.
We walked back to the house and I sighed to myself silently in relief. That was close. There was no way I could have explained that away to Mariah. My secret would have been out and I would have been in big trouble with Gran. Not to mention the repercussions of other people knowing things better left unsaid.
My thoughts came back to the present. I sighed softly. This was going to be a very boring day. I didn’t feel like reading. I didn’t want to go for a drive or to the mall. Even with my new car it was not tempting. I wasn’t into crowds at the moment. I really didn’t feel like anything but sunshine and fresh air. My mind wandered…
I thought about the feeling of being watched again. Something was off and I couldn’t figure it out. Although the nightmare I was having before went away after the whole incident, I started having new ones shortly thereafter. I sighed again.
These new nightmares were just pieces, sketchy parts that I had a hard time figuring out. Brief images, feelings, and uncertainty. I knew it was the forest again which is why I had been avoiding it. These dreams had several attackers at once. There was something else though, something I was missing. I had no idea what it was.
I decided enough was enough. I couldn’t live my life in the house forever, afraid of everything around me. It was no way to live and it was making me miserable. I missed the forest and my nature walks. I missed my freedom.
I needed some blue sky and open air. My mind made up, I hopped up quickly to change into hiking clothes and shoes. I would stay away from the glade just in case, hiking along a secluded path I knew of close to the forest edge. That should be pretty harmless.
Before long, I was following the path and enjoying the view around me. The sky was marvelous today, deep blue and practically cloudless. I saw two squirrels playing with each other and hopping along tree branches, making me laugh. A big raccoon strolled right passed me without a care in the world.
After a mile or so, I came upon a wild rabbit that hopped off the path in a hurry. Intrigued, I walked away from the path to see where it was going. I should have paid attention to my surroundings.
The fearful voice in my head was screaming for my attention, but I decided to ignore it. Stupidly, of course. I suddenly came through a line of trees across an open field and froze.
Right in front of me, about thirty feet away, was the ugliest thing I had ever seen, a tall nasty looking witch. The black shadow hovered, darting all around her body, until I felt the same prickle in my mind as before. The same evil. The same determination.
That precise moment was when I put two and two together. The demon invaded my mind. It searched, lurking, digging, until it found what it needed. What it wanted. A means to terrify me from my own imagination. A vision to conjure to defeat and end me, made of my own design. I shivered. It was clever.
The witch was smug and staring at me like she was expecting me. Like the whole thing was planned. And I’m sure it was. The demon finished conjuring her, the flesh made real, no longer a specter but the hideous culmination of my memory. No longer shadow but reality. It sent shivers straight down my spine. You’ve got to be kidding, I thought to myself. What are the stinking odds of that? Come on already, couldn’t I catch a break at all?
If I wasn’t staring directly at her myself I would have thought I was completely hallucinating and insane. Just like my experience with the Minotaur, a deep pervading sense of evil surrounded me, enjoying my reaction. Death. It had come for me again.
Today of all days would be the time I decide to wander in the forest alone. Great. The hag stared at me with her coal black eyes. They were completely void of anything, including emotion. They reminded me of a doll’s eye. Completely blank. Lifeless. Unseeing. Intelligence was probably lacking too, I thought derisively.
Her skin was wrinkly and actually green. She had a long nose and several large warts on her face. She was wearing a long black dress and a tall black witch’s hat. She held a very tall broom in her hand which she clutched at with her long bony fingers. She was thin, dirty, and very ugly. It was exactly what you would think a witch would look like.
I immediately thought of the old movie The Wizard of Oz. Recently, about a week ago, I had watched it late at night in my room. It was a favorite. Did the evil presence know that? Had it searched my mind for hidden snippets, bits of information to use against me?
She looked just like the wicked witch of the west. I wondered briefly if I could take her out with a bucket of water. I almost laughed. The whole thing would have been very comical except for one thing. She was real. To my surprise, I realized very quickly that she was not alone.
Evil had an agenda. Death was sharp, cunning, and sneaky. It sent my darkest fears to confront me. Brought to the forefront of my mind, they were pulled into living and breathing flesh. I felt a chill run down my spine.
Two enormous wolves were crouching behind her. They snarled, revealing their pointed, razor sharp teeth and slimy drool as it dripped from their mouths. One wolf was dark gray, the other a deep brown. Their fur was short, showing the strength of the rippling muscles and sinew underneath.
My eyes widened in response when they raised up on their hind legs, sniffing at the air. Fear. They smelled my terror and it excited them. These were no ordinary wolves. They were werewolves. In unison, they crouched down ready to spring. Barely held back they became restless. The werewolves were truly terrifying and coming for me.
The witch cackled a high pitched laugh that sent another shiver down my already frightened spine. She raised one hand and waved the werewolves forward. They narrowed their eyes, anticipating the bloodlust. My blood. She lowered her hand and the first wolf came bounding toward me.
I was completely frozen to the ground. Pinned by shock and horrific frightening reality. My eyes opened wide. I was going to die. I was certain of that. There was nothing I could do to stop it. And I couldn’t move.
I gasped in shock as I saw Kellen jump out of the trees in front of me. He slammed right into the first wolf that had lunged for me knocking it right into the trees. It slumped down on the ground and stayed, out cold. The other wolf took advantage of Kellen’s distraction and ran toward me. His arms were outstretche
d, his claws ready to shred and tear. He opened up his huge muzzle and let out an enormous, earsplitting howl. I quickly covered my ears and screamed, even more terrified if that was possible. I never heard anything so disturbing in my life.
Kellen jumped in front of me quickly to shield me with his body. He swung around an enormous sword, similar to a katana that hit the werewolf in the middle of the chest, cutting into the flesh. It left a wide gaping wound that spurted bright red blood as the animal stumbled back in shock. It yelped an agonizingly loud, screeching howl in pain and ran off. Kellen swung the sword around again in front of him and extended one arm, daring the hag to come forward.
“A Guardian,” she said in her creaky voice, finally speaking. “How nice.”
“Come witch, let’s finish this,” he challenged her. His voice was confident. No fear or uncertainty. And no surprise.
She blinked and raised her broom. Pointing it at Kellen, she said something I didn’t understand. A huge ball of fire appeared in front of us. Kellen side stepped it easily. He pulled me along with him a few feet away, still standing in front of me. She raised her broom and spoke again, chanting wildly as large balls of fire fell from the sky, down and around us.
Kellen clutched me to his chest and dove out of the way. We landed just out of reach as one singed the ground next to my head. Kellen stood quickly, pulling me with him. He roared angrily at her as he pushed me behind him again.
“Enough. You’ve had your fun demon.”
The witch hopped on her broom and flew toward us with her hand extended. Kellen took off running toward the hag with his long glittering sword in his right hand. Just as she reached him he sliced it through the air, expertly wielding it. I quickly turned my head not wanting to see. I heard the sickening scream of the hag choke off in the air. Then I heard the thud. She was dead, decapitated by the sword. I couldn’t look in that direction at all so I turned the other way.
