“It’s just me,” I say.
“I wanted to be sure,” she calls from the kitchen. “How was school?”
“It was…different.” I don’t want to bring up the Conway brothers, or how they confronted me. Like I need more problems in my life…
I snatch a roll from the tray Beth pulls out of the oven. The bread is crispy and burns the tips of my fingers. I quickly take a bite, burning the roof of my mouth. The pain is fleeting—like I imagined it or something.
Weird, I think.
“So,” Beth begins, mixing some sort of food together in a big dish, “have you made new friends yet?”
“Um, I met this guy in one of my classes. He seems pretty cool.” I take another bite of the roll; it doesn’t burn my hand or my mouth this time. Totally weird.
“Oh, yeah? What’s his name?”
“Blake.”
“I bet he’s that Thomas boy. They’re a good clan.”
“Clan? Um, whatever.” My head shakes in response to her odd choice of words. “I’m going upstairs to do homework.”
Beth waves me off.
Homework? Yeah, right. Since when do I do that? Even if I wanted to put a pencil to paper, I couldn’t. My mind is frenzied with thoughts of Benjamin and his brothers. I’ve met a few bullies in my day, but this is at the top of the list. They’re full of pure hatred for me, and I have no idea why. I’ve only been here for how long? A few days? Not long enough to irritate someone, let alone make them hate me. And what’s with their eyes burning black?
The only thing I think about is what’s going to happen to me tomorrow and the day after that. I don’t want to deal with them every day. Just my luck, though, right? I get away from trouble and trouble finds me yet again.
I wonder what Sean and Layla are doing this very second. Are they still grounded? Last time I checked, neither was allowed to pick up a phone or get online. I have no way of communicating with them.
Some time passes before Beth calls me downstairs. She says dinner’s ready. I take my sweet time. My stomach argues with me, since the only food I’ve had all day is the roll in the kitchen.
Randy’s not home from work yet. Apparently, he works the graveyard shift most nights. Something having to do with him being a manager at the bank. I thought only the dead stayed up that late. So, it’s just Beth and I.
“I heard from your mom today,” Beth says, taking a stab at her green beans.
“Really?” There’s no emotion in my voice. At least, that’s what I hope it comes off as.
“She asked about you.”
I play with my mashed potatoes and finally ask, “Did she?” My voice is foreign, even to me. Since when do I care that Mom checked on me?
“They’re worried about you, you know. You should give her a call when you get a chance, catch them up on what’s going on.”
I shrug. “Maybe later.”
Beth doesn’t say anything for the rest of the meal, which is completely awkward. Back home, dinner consisted of Mom picking up fast food on her way home from work, and eating in front of the TV. I suddenly feel sick at the thought of Charleston, and how I can’t go home anytime soon.
I push aside my plate, having lost my appetite, and quickly thank Beth for dinner, heading upstairs to my room—my only place of solace. I attempt to pull out my math book and figure out some equations, but that doesn’t work out so well. My every thought is consumed by what will happen tomorrow at school when I see Benjamin again. My insides toss and turn while I try figuring things out.
The more I think about it, the stranger my thoughts become. Why am I drawn to him? I don’t even know the guy, yet he came to my rescue.
I stand and stretch, walking to my window. I push the curtains aside. There, on the edge of the forest, are those same yellow eyes. I’m utterly absorbed by them. I wonder if my passing out episode is somehow related, but then I think how dumb that sounds.
They hold my gaze for a few seconds—vanishing as quickly as they appeared.
~*~
I attempt to talk to Benjamin the next day. Attempt is the key word. He wants nothing to do with my conversation. Completely ignores me. I wonder if he got in trouble the night before, for helping me.
When class lets out, I confront him in the hall.
“Could you at least pretend like I exist for two seconds?” I ask, trying to catch up with his brisk walk.
He stops, and I almost run into him. “I could, but I’m not going to,” he says, picking up pace again.
Breathless, I question, “You were nice to me yesterday, so what gives?”
We make it to his locker. He tosses a couple of books in the tiny cubbyhole, then pauses. “Listen, Candra, there are things you don’t understand, things you can’t possibly fathom right now. It’s obvious nothing has been explained to you, and it’s not my place to say anything.”
I almost laugh, but he’s so serious. “What are you talking about?”
“Exactly. I’ll see ya around,” he says, leaving me to collect my thoughts alone.
So I won’t look stupid, I rush to my next class. I feel the never-ending cycle of eyes bear down on me as I pass through the hallways. Never gets old.
New kid.
New meat.
Same as any other school. I hope someone else joins my ranks soon. I won’t feel isolated. I so hate being the shiny new toy all the kids want to play with.
The day passes by. All I want to do is sleep.
I’m the first one to take a seat in Geography. Blake enters the room soon after, followed by a short, dark-haired girl with freckles dusting the top of her nose and cheeks. I presume she’s Jana.
“Hi, I’m Jana.” She waves shyly, confirming my genius mind. “You must be Candra.” She and Blake take their seats in the row beside mine.
I bite my lip to keep from giggling. “I am.”
Jana’s not how I pictured her. She bounces when she walks. Too peppy, almost.
“I like your hair. Brown suits your eyes. They look almost pea green, you know,” she says. I squirm in my seat, not one for compliments.
“Um, thanks.”
“So, where are you from again?” she asks.
“Charleston.”
“That’s pretty far from here. Do you miss it?” She watches me intently.
The twinge in my stomach tells me I miss it too much. “Yeah, I do.”
“Did you parents move here too?”
Blake nudges her arm and gives her the keep-your-mouth-shut look.
“It’s okay,” I say, interrupting their evil glares at each other. “No, my parents stayed in Charleston. I live with my aunt and uncle.”
“Really? How come?” she asks.
“Jana! Stop,” Blake scorns.
“A bit of trouble, I guess. They couldn’t handle me anymore.” I stare at the cream-colored linoleum tiles—and Jana and Blake’s black backpacks resting against their desks.
“Well, I’m sure everything will work out,” Jana says, patting my arm.
I sneer and say, “Yeah, right. I already know a couple of guys who hate me.”
Jana and Blake’s faces scrunch, and they give me confused stares.
“Like who?” Blake asks.
“I-I can’t remember their names, only that they’re related to Benjamin somehow,” I stammer.
“Benjamin Conway. His brothers are Cameron and Ethan. They would hate you.” Jana practically growls the words.
My cheeks burn. “But why? I haven’t done anything to them.”
“You don’t have to,” Jana replies. “They hate you for who you are.”
“What?” I shake my head. “That’s not possible.” How is it that I just met these two, yet they seem to know about the Conways? Sure, it is likely word could’ve spread quickly about my run-in yesterday, but not that fast.
“Oh, it is. You just don’t know it yet.” She turns around and faces the front of the class.
Chapter Four
Benjamin skips school on Fri
day. I search for him everywhere but can’t find him. It’s strange sitting in class with an empty desk beside me. Subconsciously, I feel like something is missing, and I know physically it’s his presence. But there’s something else—something deep and hidden inside me that flutters each time our eyes meet. I can’t deny that.
Why should I care whether he’s in class or not? Maybe part of me misses skipping. And today, I wish I’d skipped. Each class drags by slower and slower. My mind is in a complete fog the rest of the day. Teachers drone on with worthless garble, while I practically fall asleep at my desk.
I can barely place one foot in front of the other on my way home. This isn’t like me. Even though I’m tiny, I’m pretty sure I could stand up to hurricane-force winds…or so I convince myself.
No cars are in the driveway. All I can focus on is getting to the front door—getting there and inside to my bed.
The keys jingle in my hand as I pick out the right one. I can barely hold my eyes open. Inside, I make my way to the staircase, holding on to the railing for support. My iPod is turned on low, drowning out the day. I finally make it to my bed where I collapse.
Dizziness sweeps over me the moment before I plunge into a dark abyss.
I’m running through the large, desolate lot that sits beside Randy and Beth’s house—so fast that my hair is blowing freely. The trees move like soldiers forming ranks at a battlefield; their branches linking together. They form a barrier between me and the edge of the forest.
“Who…dares…enter…our…ground?” Each word catches on the edge of a breeze, as if it takes great effort for him to speak.
“I’m Candra.”
Though no mouths move, I know they’re speaking to me. My legs tremble and I wonder how they’re able to say anything.
The trees glance at each other. Their structures crack and groan when they move even a hair of an inch. The elder tree in front sizes me up and down. Behind him, I see several pairs of the now familiar glowing yellow eyes.
“I need to get to them!” I point beyond, for I can’t see their actual bodies; the forest is too dark.
“Hmm,” one of the trees says, grumbling. He glances toward his comrades on both sides. Time seems to have slowed drastically with each move they make. “Proceeeeed.”
The eyes move behind him and disappear. I have no clue where they went, so I begin to run. My lungs breathe in the fresh, crisp air; it’s exhilarating. Trees become one big blur, and the ground sinks a little each time my feet touch down. Easily, I dodge branches that threaten to mar my face and whip through my hair.
The trees come in and out of focus quickly. Their faces express concern, as they try to tell me something.
“What?” I ask.
But I’m moving too fast to hear them. My feet won’t stop when I tell them to; it’s like they’re being controlled by some higher power.
“Go…” I catch one say as I pass. Go where? They point in the direction I came from. Back to Beth’s?
I shake my head and yell, “I can’t!”
Their faces are full of sorrow. “Go…back…” they say. Moans rise from the trees, and their hollowed voices say the same words over and over again in unison.
I become frantic. Why are they telling me to go back? No sooner does that thought cross my mind than I halt at the bank of a tiny stream, my feet not stopping on their own accord. I glance all around me. The only source of light is the silver moon above. Something moves in the shadows, something dark and oppressive. Anguish weighs my body down as it moves closer. A faint outline appears—tall and black, human almost, with gleaming eyes. It stands on the opposite side of the bank.
“Who are you?” I try to get a better look at his face, but can’t make it out, even in the moonlight.
“I am everything here,” he says. “You don’t belong. Go back, Candra.” His voice echoes; its edge causes my whole body to shudder. I’ve never heard anything like it, so ethereal and dark at the same time.
I lick my lips and squint to try and get a better view. Still no luck.
“Why should I go back?” I ask.
I hear the words drifting around me and into my ears: “There’s nothing for you here. Go back. Those close to you will pay the price. You must leave,” he says. Before I can say another word, he backs into the shadows and falls to the ground, thrashing about, glowing eyes the only indication of where he’s located. A low growl erupts from the darkness.
I whirl and run back the way I came. Back through the trees that coax me to return home.
Beth’s standing in the front yard. Her hands are cupped around her mouth, and she’s screaming something. When I approach, I know what she’s yelling.
My name.
“There you are,” she says. “We were all so worried about you.”
“We?”
She lays her hand on my low back and guides me inside the house. Randy, Jana, Blake, Mom and Dad wait in the living room.
Each time I try to explain what happened in the forest, someone speaks over me. Their words are jumbled, and I have no idea what they say. A heavy fog rolls along the floor. My vision begins to blur.
Everyone fades out of sight.
I wake in a cold sweat and in my pitch-black room.
Chapter Five
The next morning, my brain and nerves are still in a tizzy over the dream. I can’t contemplate where this vision came from, or how it seemed so realistic. I try to pass it off, telling myself it’s just a dream, but my heart tells me otherwise. I glance at the locket resting against my chest.
Even if I want to, I can’t go back to Charleston. Not yet.
Mom and Dad set a rule—I have to finish senior year in good standing. My primary focus is passing my classes and leaving this town. There’s nothing else here for me.
“I’m going to explore!” I call to Beth as I bound out the front door. I don’t wait to hear her response about being safe, and not talking to strangers. Whatever parents and guardians tell kids.
The wind whips against my cheeks. My nose burns from the cold, and the tips of my ears grow numb. I glare at the dead leaves crunching under my shoes. I hate chilly weather.
I walk until I have blisters on my feet. Central West Hartford reminds me of an old-fashioned town. Brick shops line the main street and small trees are planted sporadically down the edge of the sidewalks. Store owners decorate their window displays in time for autumn with fiery orange and red leaves, and pumpkins.
My attention is directed to a window paying homage to the new season, when I hear, “Candra! Hey!”
I look up and see Jana, who glances at her cell phone, hastily using the keypad.
“Oh, hey, Jana,” I say.
She slides the phone in her front jean pocket. “What’s up? What do you think of Hartford so far?”
“It’s, uh, different than Charleston.” I shrug and give her a half-assed smile.
“Wait until you see the leaves fully change colors. They’re beautiful here.” Her face lights up, like she’s retelling her favorite story to a child.
“That’s great,” I say with no enthusiasm.
“Are you walking around by yourself? It’s a long walk from your house.”
“Yeah. How’d you know where—”
She laughs. “Oh, don’t be silly. Everyone knows where Randy and Beth live.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Really? Huh.”
“Why don’t you come inside?” she asks. Not waiting for my response, she motions me inside a tiny boutique. I glance at the sign hanging above the door. It reads: Livia’s Corner Closet. There’s a HELP WANTED sign taped in the bottom right window.
The walls are covered with white shelves full of clothes, and circular racks fill up the rest of the area. The clothes are too trendy for my taste. I’m not a pink fru-fru kind of girl, but it definitely suits Jana’s style. As I near the counter, I smell lavender and something infused with it in the air. Vanilla, maybe?
“So, you work here?” I ask dumbly, trying t
o strike up a conversation.
“Yes, I love it! Are you thinking about getting a job? We’re hiring. It’s a great way to pass the time and get some extra money.” She purses her lips and her eyes glimmer in anticipation.
“I don’t really do jobs. Never had one.” I play with a pen on the counter, not noticing her reaction.
“You could always try,” she says.
I think of several sarcastic responses before saying, “I don’t think that’s such a good idea. I’m not really a people person, so I wouldn’t exactly help with business.”
Her shoulders drop. “You never know. Maybe you could try it for a few days. We don’t get a ton of customers as it is, but it’s better than sitting at home all the time.”
I stare at her for a minute, trying to decide my best option. I don’t want a job. I don’t want anything to do with this town. “Give me an application, and I’ll figure it out tonight.”
Her eyes grow wide and she sucks in a deep breath. “Really?” she exclaims, exhaling and clapping her hands. “Oh, I’m so excited now!” She reaches under the counter and tears off an application from the stack. She hands it to me with the cheesiest grin on her face.
I can’t help but laugh. “You’re way too excited for your own good.”
“I can’t help it. Not many people can stand my hyperness for long periods of time.” She glances down at the counter, refusing to look at me.
I don’t know what to tell her. I’m not used to someone so bubbly either. Sean and Layla were the laidback, quiet type.
“It’s not that bad. You’re just a happy person.” Who am I kidding? She’s like a kid on Christmas morning.
She quickly looks up at me; her eyes brighten, a slow grin returning to her face. “You think so? I don’t mean to scare people off. I try to be nice to everyone.”
“Not everyone deserves someone being nice to them.”
“That’s true.” She wobbles from side-to-side, like she’s antsy about something. “Do you think, maybe, you’d want to go to the movies tonight?”
Silver Moon (Silver Moon, #1) Page 3
