Dark Before Dawn

by Stacy Juba

  The blood flow intensified with her inner efforts, jetting down her chin and splattering her shirt. Her injury must have sapped her energy. Dawn staggered to her feet and pressed a sleeve against her nose. She shot another order at Candace. Dawn is your friend. Serina is your enemy.

  With her second attempt, lightheadedness swirled over Dawn. Through the fog, Candace’s confused voice vibrated in her ears. "What happened? What’s going on?"

  Dawn tilted her neck forward and the dots swimming before her eyes dissolved. "You tried to murder Ken using mind control. Before that, you killed Scott and Tim. I know you don’t remember, but think about it. You were there both times. How often do people walk in front of oncoming cars and trains?"

  "I didn’t kill anyone. Stop saying that!" Candace charged at Dawn with a burst of energy, her strength propelling them forward. She pinned Dawn against the ledge.

  Cold brick scraped through Dawn’s shirt sleeves. Her head flopped back, clouds spun above her, dizzying in their whiteness. A seagull beat its wings in slow motion. Dawn’s watch tick-tocked in her ears, her thoughts a slow crawl.

  "Candace, no!" Vicky screamed from the door.

  Faintly, Dawn heard Vicky scramble over and pummel her sister on her back.

  "Stop!" Vicky yelled. "Don't do this. You don’t need to keep killing."

  Candace turned, long enough for Dawn to jolt out of her dreamy state. She chopped Candace behind the knees, sending her thudding to the floor onto her backside. Her legs wobbly, Dawn dashed from the verge and joined Vicky.

  "Please, Candace, let us help you," Vicky pleaded. "Don't you remember how we used to spend hours in the gatehouse? We got all those cryptography books out of the library and made up secret codes."

  Cupping the sides of her head to concentrate, Dawn aimed another message at Candace. Dawn and Vicky are your friends. You don’t need to hurt them.

  "That was a long time ago." Candace pushed herself upright, glaring.

  "Not that long," Vicky said. "Remember how we used to play with Diamond? We'd buy her a catnip mouse every Christmas, and she'd go crazy."

  "Diamond was your cat. She liked you better. Everyone likes you better."

  Tears shone in Vicky's eyes. "You loved that cat. You used to bring her into bed with you every night and give her those treats she liked."

  Dawn crept up behind Vicky for support, in case Candace flipped out again. One stray thought from her subconscious could set her off.

  "What does Diamond have to do with anything?" Candace demanded.

  "She's dead, because of you," Vicky said. "Just like Scott and Tim. But I believe Dawn's right. I don’t think you realize what you’ve been doing."

  "Stop it! Diamond had an accident, you idiot. They all had accidents." Candace paced before them, ashen, hands shoved deep into her jeans pockets.

  Remember your role in the deaths, Dawn sent. Serina used you. She made you murder Scott and Tim.

  Candace stared straight ahead, as if watching a movie only she could see. She grabbed her frizzy hair with both hands, swallowing over and over as if staving off nausea.

  "Serina went to school here," Dawn said. "She had some enemies and now she’s going after their kids. I’m not sure why Serina isn’t killing them herself, but she chose you to do her dirty work."

  "No, Serina’s my friend." Candace shook her head, vehement. "You’re giving me fake memories."

  "Wake up, Candace, she’s not your friend!" Vicky shouted, impatience hardening her previous gentle tones.

  Candace’s Lapis Lazuli earrings and necklace pendant glimmered in the sunlight. Dawn fixed her gaze on the sparkling blue gems. Those crystals still held Serina’s vibes. She had to get them away from Candace.

  Take off the jewelry and throw it off the roof. Now!

  Wordlessly, Candace glided to the edge of the building, unfastened the earrings and necklace, and tossed them downward. She stood there, arms entwined around herself as if she were submerged in ice water.

  "Are you okay?" Vicky laid a hesitating hand on her sister’s shoulder, but Candace flinched.

  Vicky shuffled over to Dawn and whispered, "She’s not going to freak out again, is she?"

  "I have a feeling it’s sinking in. Now that the crystals are gone, she can think more clearly." Dawn latched her attention on Candace. "It wasn’t your fault, Candace. We know that."

  "Maybe we should go to the police before Serina does anything else," Vicky said.

  Candace whirled around with a sudden flare of energy. "They’ll put me in prison. Mom and Dad will kill me."

  "Candace is right," Dawn said. "The police will never believe our story and Serina will handle the cops with no problem." She looked over to see if Candace had any input, but her friend had retreated back into herself.

  "What are we supposed to do if the police can’t help?" Vicky asked, coiling her hair around her finger.

  Dawn glanced down at her bloodied shirt. She’d barely survived the confrontation with Candace. Serina was even stronger. "I have to go after Serina myself," she muttered.

  They jumped as a moan emanated from Ken. He rolled over into a sitting position, rubbed his forehead and blinked at Dawn through unfocused eyes. "What happened?"

  "I’ll tell you later," Dawn said. "Are you okay?"

  "Yeah, but what’s going on?"

  "Later." Dawn steadied her woozy stepbrother to his feet and gestured for Vicky and Candace to follow them down the narrow staircase into the building. Ken disentangled from her protective grip.

  "I can walk myself," he declared, still looking befuddled.

  They found their way through the maze, Candace plodding tortoise-like as Vicky brought up the rear.

  "I assume no one’s sticking around to finish the school day?" Dawn stepped outside into the sunlight and held the door for the others.

  "We’ll worry about that later." Vicky lingered with Dawn as their siblings went ahead. "I’ll take Candace home. I’ll make up something for my parents."

  In a lower voice, she added, "I’ll make sure she sees a psychiatrist."

  "Do that, definitely. I think she’ll have a hard time dealing with all this." Dawn didn’t express her other concern.

  Although Candace seemed shell-shocked that she’d committed two murders, her main worry was going to prison. What if she hadn’t suffered from headaches and exhaustion, like Dawn had, because her sense of right and wrong was blurred? What if her conscience was borderline and Serina had just nudged it over the edge? Candace needed psychological help ASAP.

  On impulse, Dawn planted a thought into Candace’s head.

  Jamie and Dawn will be here for you when you’re ready. They’ll always be your friends.

  She waited for an answer, but there was nothing. Candace trudged forward as if she hadn’t heard.

  "Call me as soon as you’re home from Serina’s," Vicky said as they reached Ken’s car. "I’ll be a wreck until I hear from you."

  "Try not to worry. If I don’t come back, I need you to do something for me. I need you to go see my mother and get the phone number for my grandfather. He’s psychic, too. Tell him what’s going on and say you need help." Dawn hadn’t intended to suggest that, but it made sense. She felt better having a back-up plan.

  "Thank you, Dawn. Good luck." Vicky hugged her goodbye.

  Ken insisted he felt well enough to drive home. Dawn gave in, not the wisest decision considering he still seemed groggy, but she needed to gather her thoughts. She lapsed into silence on the ride, her head against the window.

  "I heard you guys talking," Ken said. "I don't get what happened today."

  Dawn couldn’t spare the energy to explain things. She had to focus on Serina and Serina alone. Reluctantly, she shifted into mind control mode. When we get home, give Dawn your car keys, go in the house and forget about this until further notice.

  Once he parked in the driveway, Ken mutely passed her his keychain and walked toward the front door. Dawn climbed into the driver’s side. She
only had a learner’s permit, but no way was she going to Serina’s house without wheels to make a quick exit. Dawn squeezed her eyes shut before sticking the key in the ignition.

  If I have any spirit guides with me, please guard over me today. Please don’t let me die.

  Chapter Twenty

  Serina didn't answer her door. Instinct led Dawn behind the house through overgrown grass and a layer of mud. She paused to check over her shoulder every two seconds. A strong breeze whisked the air, delivering the scent of rose perfume.

  Dawn rounded the corner and a gasp blew out of her lips.

  Serina stood on the edge of the bluff, white dress swirling around her sandals. "Hello, Dawn. I've been waiting."

  Fear paralyzed Dawn. Her feet stuck to the spongy ground and she couldn't talk. A hundred feet below, waves smashed against the rocks, blustering into white foam. She begged her mind to release her from its panicked state. She had to move. Fight.

  Serina brushed back her streams of white gold hair. "My intuition tells me that you’ve interfered with my plans."

  The ocean buzzed in Dawn's ears, drowning out Serina, making her look like a mime. Serina gave her a satisfied smile.

  Dawn opened her mouth and finally words burst out. "You didn't have as much control over Candace as you thought. You’re not invincible."

  "That’s where you’re wrong. You could have been part of something huge." Serina clucked her tongue, sounding regretful. "Once you’re out of the way, when everything settles down, I’ll get Candace and Jamie back. We’ll keep expanding, helping more girls to recover their latent psychic abilities. Ten, fifteen years from now, who knows how many psychics will be in our numbers? We’ll be a secret society, strategically spread throughout the country, working in influential jobs and getting rid of the bad guys. This was just the start. An experiment."

  Dawn’s pulse throbbed. She'd had a chance of breaking through to Candace, but Serina had killed her own parents in cold blood. She'd nurtured her hatred for decades and was now rambling like a lunatic.

  Taking a defensive stance, Dawn crossed her feet at the ankles and touched her fingertips together. Supposedly, this created a closed circuit which separated her energy field from Serina’s, but how would it protect her against a crazy woman?

  "Who are the bad guys?" Dawn asked, avoiding eye contact. "You can’t just go on your own private witch hunt."

  "Who’s going to stop me? Certainly not you. In a few minutes, you’ll be dead."

  Dawn emptied her mind of fear and the pummeling of the ocean. She could do this. She concentrated on the forcefulness of her thoughts. Turn yourself over to the police. Admit to the murders.

  Serina laughed without humor. "Surely you don't think your juvenile tricks will work on me. I taught you everything you know. But I didn't teach you everything that I know."

  "I was talented before I met you. Elaine."

  Serina's pale eyebrows drew together. "What did you call me?"

  "I know who you really are," Dawn said. "I’m curious though, Elaine, why did you kill Lindsay instead of her daughter?"

  "I was vacationing in New Hampshire last year and recognized Lindsay on the street. All the old memories resurfaced and I worked up a plan to kill her. Unfortunately, her death didn’t bring me the satisfaction I expected. I attended the funeral and saw her daughter bawling hysterically. I realized that for the other sinners, I should kill a loved one instead to draw out the pain and suffering." Serina gazed at her with burning green eyes. "Do you think Jeff will mourn you, Dawn? It will be interesting to find out."

  Dawn strained to look away, but her head wouldn't move. In her mind, she shouted at Serina to stop, to leave her alone.

  IT’S TIME TO GO FOR A SWIM, DAWN.

  She covered her ears even though the shrill voice screamed from within, each syllable exploding like gunshots. Dawn felt herself walking forward, closer to the edge of the cliff and the convulsing waves. Stop, you’ve got to stop, she told herself.

  KEEP GOING. JUST A LITTLE FURTHER.

  Dawn shut her eyes. Please, just let me go home.

  YOU DON’T HAVE A HOME. THEY DON’T LOVE YOU.

  She wanted to use her mental abilities, but couldn't. She was frozen from inside. Dawn dug deep for the strength she knew she had, the tenacity that had pulled her through her father’s death, years of living with a gift she didn’t understand and the fight with Candace on the roof. She called upon the inner voice she trusted, even though she didn’t always heed its advice.

  What should I do? she silently asked.

  Shield yourself, was the reply. Remember your reading material and you will know.

  The message rang in her head three times before fading away. It wasn't Serina’s voice, nor was it her own thoughts. This was someone familiar. Someone soothing. Dawn’s spirit guide, if Serina was right. Daddy?

  Pressing a hand to her throbbing temple, Dawn touched her Lapis Lazuli earrings and necklace. The crystals were hers now, cleansed of evil. Dawn emptied her lungs, imagined a whirling sparkling ball of white light descending into the ground at her feet, protecting her from Serina’s negative energy. Dawn envisioned a giant glass screen dropping between them. Nothing could get past that screen.

  She was ready.

  You shouldn’t have shared your secrets, Serina. You’re dealing with someone with more talent than you could ever dream of.

  Stroking her necklace, Dawn focused on its coolness against her palm. She pushed everything from her mind except an image of a remorseful Serina turning herself in to the police. She concentrated harder, pictured seventeen-year-old Elaine Corbett on the beach, wearing a salmon dress and pearls, needing the acceptance of the popular kids to quash her insecurities.

  When they had ridiculed her, she had drawn on her psychic talent, the only attribute that made her proud.

  But it failed, Elaine. You must be afraid it will fail again if you’re recruiting teenagers to do your dirty work.

  Serina's face whitened. ELAINE ISN’T HERE. STOP WITH YOUR SILLY CHATTER AND GO INTO THE OCEAN. IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO DIE.

  Her voice sounded like a distant whisper; her mental grip on Dawn vanished. You can call yourself Serina all you want, but you’re still Elaine Corbett, the girl with table legs.

  Serina let out a ragged breath.

  How do you think the real Serina would feel if she knew that you used her abilities to kill people? She’d be ashamed to have trusted you. She’d hate you using her name.

  Her face a hard mask, Serina stumbled toward Dawn. "Foolish girl. You think you can control me." But it came from her mouth, not her mind.

  You loved her. You would have renounced your gift if you could have had your aunt back, the aunt who loved you. Go to the police, Elaine.

  Serina lunged, arms extended, reaching for Dawn. Heart clobbering in her chest, Dawn jumped out of the way. Serina's sandal struck a stone and she teetered on the edge of the cliff. Her arms flailed as she fought to regain her balance. Screaming, she pitched forward, toppling to the rocks.

  Her shriek echoed long after Dawn heard the thud.

  Dawn forced herself to look down at Serina's broken body sprawled across the rocks. Waves covered her white hair, sweeping her to a watery grave.

  It was over. Dawn stared at the foamy water, tears burning her eyes. She'd never meant for it to end this way, but Serina had made her decisions. There was nothing else she could have done. Goodbye Elaine.

  A sob breaking in her throat, Dawn turned and ran, wanting nothing more than to go home.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  PSYCHIC DIDN'T PREDICT

  HER OWN TRAGIC DEATH

  By Jeff Magnuson

  Gazette Editor

  COVINGTON - A local psychic was found dead Thursday by a father and son fishing on Covington Cove. Police have identified the victim as Serina E. Corbett, 43, an area fortuneteller. Roland Moore, 63, of Covington, and his son, Christopher, 30, visiting from Florida, discovered the body around 11 a.m. while l
oading equipment into their motorboat. Roland Moore saw the body face-down, floating in the water. With his son's help, he waded in and pulled Corbett to shore.

  Officials haven't yet determined how long Corbett has been dead. Known to her customers only as Serina, Corbett had rented a cottage on 13 Iris Road since spring. She made her living by reading tarot cards and conducting "past life regressions." Police said they found packed bags in her entryway, as if she had been planning to leave town.

  Clients say her predictions were eerily on target. "She told me that she saw flames and to take precautions," said Lenora Hutchins of River Road, who had gone for a reading every month. "I tested my fire alarm, and the batteries were dead. A few weeks later, my daughter forgot to turn off her electric heater before she went to bed and it started a fire. If the alarm hadn't gone off, we wouldn't have woken up in time."

  Hutchins' neighbor, Sandra Bower, only visited Corbett once. "There was something about her that was spooky," Bower said. "She seemed to see right through you. There were all kinds of rumors about her."

  Police are still trying to track down next of kin. Authorities have no leads on whether foul play was involved in Corbett's death, the third violent death in Covington this month.

  "We're investigating," said Lt. James Gedrick. "It's a tragedy, that's all I can say. No one deserves to die like that."

  ***

  Dawn set down the newspaper on the coffee table. "It’s hard to believe she’s dead," she murmured.

  "I don’t get what she was doing here, manipulating you girls." Jeff shook his head as he handed the newspaper to Dawn’s mother. "I feel like there’s a lot more to her story than we’ll ever know."

  That was for sure. Dawn had changed mind control to "brainwashing" and hadn’t informed her family that the deaths of Scott and Tim were murders. They couldn’t possibly comprehend the truth, and even if they did grasp some of it, the idea of Dawn performing mind control would be far too disturbing for her family.

  Nor had Dawn admitted her role in Serina’s fall last week. For the hundredth time, she replayed the incident in her mind. Mentally, Dawn thanked her spirit guide for helping her to think clearly. She didn’t know who her guide was, but sometime when she felt brave, she would go into a deep meditation and ask questions.