Aftermath

by Jenna-Lynne Duncan

  I looked around the room. Everyone seemed to be dreading and worrying simultaneously. Everyone except Hayden. Of course, he would do well. He probably knew the material better than Mr. Atkins. I tried to push aside the worry that came over me from this realization.

  “Stephanie,” I heard someone whisper. I looked up to see who would be whispering to her for help. It wasn’t one of Stephanie’s usual clones. I had seen her trying to be a part of Stephanie’s circle before but something told me they weren’t the welcoming type. “Stephanie,” the girl whispered again, a little louder. Stephanie looked at Mr. Atkins who read the newspaper at his desk then back at the girl, irritated.

  “Yeah?” she hissed.

  “I forgot my pencil case. Could I borrow one?”

  Stephanie and her friends fought giggles. “Guess you won’t be getting an A this time.” Stephanie turned around in time for Mr. Atkins to look up and shush the girl. I hadn’t started my quiz yet, in shock at what I saw in front of me. How could Stephanie treat someone like that? Someone who, despite all Stephanie’s internal ugliness, wanted to be her friend?

  I dug through my bag to find a pen, then quietly stood up on the other side of my desk and leaned forward enough to drop the pen on the girl’s desk. She turned around to see who had done it; I just gave her a quick smile, sat back down and started taking the quiz. I didn’t need a thank you. It was what any normal human being would do.

  I could feel Hayden radiating beside me. Despite my best efforts to hide what I had done, nothing went unnoticed with him. I looked at the girl again. She was smiling, my pen moving wildly about as she was hard at work on her quiz. She looked so innocent. Funny how there were people as good as her in the world and those as evil as Stephanie. They almost balanced each other out. Almost how Hunters balanced the Underworld against evil. Except in this world, those like Stephanie ruled it. And those like that girl, wanted to be like her. How backwards things could be.

  Chapter Eleven

  I left Hayden in the hall to go to my next class, which was one of my classes with Luke. Luckily, I made it there before him and couldn’t care less if he showed up today or not.

  Luke sat in the desk next to me. I ignored him, pulling out my notebook and concentrating on the board ahead. I was officially mad at him. It was one thing for him to keep giving me a hard time about being with Hayden, but it ticked me off that he was with Stephanie. She was evil. Couldn’t he, who killed demons with his own hands, realize that? And now I had to run for Mardi Gras Queen because of him. Or her. I didn’t know whose fault it was but I had already gone through every possible scenario to back out of it and it wasn’t looking good.

  “Hey, Ana,” Luke called from beside me.

  I pressed my lips together.

  “The silent treatment, huh?” He was amused. “Maybe I deserve it? At least I know now you are jealous.”

  I whipped around to face him, “I am not—“

  “Could everyone pass up their assignments from yesterday, please?” Rachel started the class and Luke chuckled softly. He knew just how to push my buttons. I passed my assignment to the girl in front of me. “Today we will be reading out loud about the fur trade and then answering the questions after the chapter.” I looked away from Luke as Rachel collected the papers in the front row. “Thank you to all of you who did the research yesterday, despite lack of books. We will be working in pairs today as we only have enough books for each pair to get one, so I apologize, but, with hope, working together will make it go quickly.”

  Students started moving and turning their desks. I felt a desk bump against mine and the all-too-familiar, alluring scent assaulted my nostrils.

  “Partner?” Luke raised his eyebrows at me and I stared back at him, my blue eyes to his hazel.

  I shook my head fervently. “Oh, no. I don’t think so.”

  Luke looked a little disappointed but recovered. “Well, too bad. Looks like you’re out of luck.” The words were laced with venom.

  I looked helplessly around the room, and he was right. Once again, I was stuck being his partner. I stared him down, shooting daggers at him.

  Rachel came by and dropped a book on my desk; the sound caused me to lean back. What was going on with her? We definitely had a lot to sort out later.

  “Do you want to record or should I?” I asked, flipping the pages of the book to the correct chapter.

  He was taken aback by my tone. “Um, I can.”

  Yeah, now he tried to be nice.

  “Ok, first question: What states were most impacted by the North American fur trade, and why?”

  I flipped forward through the chapter making sure I had the correct answer before having him write it down.

  “What are you writing?” I looked on nervously as he scribbled away on our paper.

  “The answer,” he said obviously.

  I rolled my eyes at him. “Let’s just pretend you don’t know all the answers this time. I’ll tell them to you and you can just write, okay?”

  “Whatever.”

  “Okay, next question—“

  “If I do this for you, will you at least listen to me?” I hated how his eyes looked almost vulnerable because this good side of Luke was even more dangerous to my resolve.

  “What? No. You think by helping me unwillingly cheat on the assignment, I should reward you?”

  “It’s not cheating since I already know the answers.”

  “You know what I mean. We are supposed to look them up. Together.”

  His smug smile returned. “Together? I like the sound of that.”

  “Well, you'd better get used to liking the sound of it with Stephanie. Maybe you two are perfect for each other after all.” I pointed my pencil at him. “Okay now, on to question two.”

  He sighed and I was skimming a paragraph when a torn piece of paper slid in front of me.

  Why are you mad at me?

  I looked up at him and smiled. “What, are we in 2nd grade?” But I couldn’t resist replying.

  Anything I say is going to make you think I am jealous. I’m not mad at you for dating, I’m mad that it’s Stephanie. You know we don’t like each other- is that why you chose her?

  I pushed the note towards him and continued trying to read about fur trading in North America. A second later, another note blocked my view.

  If it was anyone else, I wouldn’t get a reaction out of you. Plus, why not? I don’t see anything wrong with her. She is obviously interested in me. At least someone is.

  You and I are just friends, so what you do is none of my business but please keep the trash out of the house.

  Ha ha. Ouch. Didn’t know you had it in you Ana. Me like.

  You have no idea what I am capable of. But seriously. I don’t trust her. If you insist on dating her, don’t bring her to the house. I live there too ya know.

  I heard him fight a chuckle as he scribbled something on the piece of paper.

  “Okay, that’s enough.” I crumpled up the note he handed back to me. “I’ve said what I had to say. If you want to continue a civil relationship, please respect that.”

  “Anything for you, Ana.” And I hated how serious he sounded. I really didn’t know how to act in front of Luke anymore. I cared for him, but I loved Hayden. I couldn’t keep allowing him to make me question that. Yet every time I tried to pull away, he just pulled me back in. I shouldn’t make a big deal about it. I should be able to act normally with my boyfriend’s brother.

  As the class ended and I was putting my notebook back in my bag, I noticed someone hovering beside my desk. My head shot up to find an unfamiliar face.

  “You’re Adriana, right?” A girl I didn’t know was in our class spoke.

  “Yes? I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name?” Sitting in the back, I hadn’t noticed her before but she was beginning to look familiar.

  “I’m Bailey. Do you volunteer at Habitat?”

  “Yeah. I don’t think I’ve seen you there - do you as well?”

 
; “Not really.” She smiled sheepishly. “My church group dragged us out there one time. I think it’s great that you do, though.” At first I was hesitant about why she was being so nice to me but she sounded genuine and just as wary as I was.

  “Oh, well thank you.” I slung my bag over my shoulders and stood up.

  “I should be thanking you,” she said after I thought our conversation was over.

  I looked at her quizzically, waiting for her to explain.

  “For helping me out in English. Stephanie didn’t have a pencil so…”

  Oh! It was the girl I gave the pen to in English. My mind was so busy thinking of other things that I didn’t put two-and-two together. “You don’t need to defend Stephanie. I’m sure she had plenty of pencils. She knew what she was doing.”

  Bailey nodded in realization. “I don’t know why I let her push me around. All I used to want was to be her friend but today I was so humiliated; I probably would have not even taken the test if I'd had to ask someone else for a pen.” She looked off to the side, thoughtfully. I couldn’t imagine why she divulged all this information to me. She was nice, but wasn’t she afraid I would use it against her? Did she feel like she could trust me? I started to tell her goodbye as I noticed Luke was waiting patiently at the door.

  “So, I heard you are running for Queen?” Bailey added as I made my getaway.

  “My friends kind of made me do it, but I am warming up to the idea.” I smiled as we walked together toward the door.

  She looked at Luke, and her breathing hitched in intimidation. “Well, you have my vote,” she managed to get out in one breath. Luke smiled charmingly at her and she fled.

  “What was that about?” Luke bumped my shoulders as I walked to his side.

  “Why do you care?” I reminded him.

  He tipped his head back in laughter then he bowed, holding his arm out for me to walk through the door. “My Queen…”

  Chapter Twelve

  I woke up screaming. Again.

  My worst nightmare had just happened. Literally. I had always complained that I had never known who the people were in my dreams. I guess the saying, "be careful what you wish" for is true. So many people. So many familiarities. My first instinct was to cry, but then I realized it hadn’t happened yet. I still could keep it from happening. My eyes shot open and the rest of my body followed. As I sat up, I looked around the room for something familiar. Hayden wasn’t in sight. I grabbed my phone, nearly ripping it off the charger as I started to write to him.

  Me: I hope you are just

  down stairs.

  I doubted it but sent it anyway.

  Hayden: Good morning to you, too.

  I take it you haven’t

  had your coffee yet?

  Me: Funny, but seriously.

  Where are you????

  Hayden: Iss everything ok?

  Hayden misspelled a word. I must have over done it with the three question marks.

  Me: Sorry, everything’s fine

  here. Are you on a Hunt?

  Why wouldn’t you wake me

  to say goodbye?

  I could picture him wincing as I typed the word Hunt.

  Hayden: Yes, Adriana. I’m finishing

  up now. And I did kiss you goodbye.

  A lot. I tried to wake you

  but you were out cold. Tell me what’s going

  on?

  Something dropped in my heart. I had that kind of nightmare and I couldn’t even wake up from it? That is beyond unsettling.

  Me: I had a really bad

  nightmare last night.

  Luke Hunting Mr. Christian.

  Please get home now.

  I waited a good thirty seconds before I received his reply.

  Hayden: On my way.

  As I waited for Hayden to come back, the details from my dream haunted me. I replayed it in my mind at least ten times. With all certainty, I was sure. Luke would kill Mr. Christian. It would happen only three days from now, at the masquerade ball. I could see the dress I was wearing, the music they were playing. And Luke. Killing. Doing what he does best. With his bare hands. I ran down the stairs before I knew what my feet were doing.

  “Luke, I need to talk to you.”

  He glanced over his shoulder before turning his head back to the television. “I hope you’re not going to school looking like that.”

  My lips pressed into a hard line. I was too worried to be hurt by his words.

  “Ana, I’m kidding. You know you never look less than perfect.” He sighed and went back to the TV. “You’re beautiful,” he mumbled.

  “I need to talk to you. Now.” I put my hands on my hips to feign authority. I heard the TV click off but I didn’t look away from him. He got up slowly, drawing it out just to get a rise out of me, relishing in his position that I finally wanted something from him. How dare he? I was irritated but only because I knew I wouldn’t get him to listen to me. Surely I would have some hoops to jump through. Didn’t he see that this was serious? This wasn’t just another hunt, this was someone’s life—a human's.

  Before I knew it, he was right in front of me. His head cocked to the side, he looked at me trying to gauge my emotions. I quickly changed them—anger, urgency, fear—that’s what I wanted to project. Seriousness.

  A lazy smile crept over his face. “You wanted to talk to me?”

  I regained control of my thoughts, “Yes. It’s about a dream I had. Come on, let’s talk about this in the kitchen.” I turned back when I noticed he wasn’t following me as I walked toward the kitchen. Once again, he showed me I was at his will.

  “If it’s another adventure you want, all you have to do is ask.” His lazy smile got a whole lot more sinister.

  “No, Luke. That’s not what I meant. Please, let’s talk.” Again, I turned toward the kitchen.

  “Fine,” he relinquished. He lightly caressed my arm as he spoke. “Tell me about your dream. I’m glad you came to me about it.” His look was genuine and it hurt me for what I was about to tell him next.

  I opened my mouth to speak but the front door whipped open, slamming against the wall. “Ana!” He called out and then lowered his voice as he saw me in front of him with Luke. “Is everything okay? Did you tell him?” Hayden looked worried.

  “Um, no. I…”

  “Tell me what?” Luke interrupted. He looked at Hayden and then back at me. The realization dawned on his face. “So you wanted to tell me about your dream because I had something to do with it?” He was mildly angry.

  “It’s not what you think. In my dream, you were on a hunt but who you killed was human.” I got the words out, hoping I would make sense.

  “So that’s what this is — an intervention?” Now he was more than mildly pissed. “You called Hayden here because, what? You couldn’t tell me yourself?”

  “She was worried. Who you killed wasn’t just a human; it is someone she’s close to.”

  “I was talking to her, not you Hayden.” Luke didn’t take his eyes off of me. “Answer me, Ana. You called Hayden before you even came down to talk to me about it?”

  Called, texted there’s a difference. I wondered if I should push this white lie. I sunk my teeth into my lower lip, knowing that I couldn’t. Luke was always straight forward with me. “I did.”

  Luke bowed his head.

  “Just listen to me. My dream took place at the ball at Ecole. For some reason, a Hunt leads you there. And for an even more unknown reason, you killed Mr. Christian. My boss, my dad’s friend, and my uncle for all intents and purposes.” I took a step toward him. “I don’t want a repeat of what we already went through; please just promise me you’ll stay away from the ball.”

  Luke took a step back. “I’ll do what I want, Ana.”

  I looked at Hayden, who up until then had been giving us space and allowing me to explain. “Hayden?” I pleaded for him to help. That was a mistake.

  “Hayden? What the hell can Hayden do? Have you ever thought that maybe y
ou can’t change the future? Ever thought that you’re just dreaming it before it happens? That you can’t actually do anything about it?”

  Tears started to form in my eyes, but I refused to wipe them away, refused to show him that he hurt me. The one person that had trusted me, believed in me, now doubted me.

  “You’re just saying that. You believe in me. What about the jogger? We saved him.”

  “Believed. Past tense. And what about the jogger? We didn’t actually see that he made out alive.”

  I felt the air leave my lungs. “You’re just trying to hurt me. You don’t mean it.” I had to take every ounce of dignity and strength I had left to keep myself from crying and running away. I fought hard my instinct to run, I would not do that again.

  “Oh, like what, the way you hurt me?”

  “That’s enough, Luke.” Hayden stepped between us. “Just listen…”

  “I don’t have to do anything! You are not in control of me. You can’t keep me from the ball, even though I know that’s what you’d like, Hayden. Anything to eliminate the competition, right? No. I’m going to the ball. And I’m going with the only person I want to go with: Stephanie.”

  “Luke, please listen. I’m trying to help. Not only for Mr. Christian’s sake, but for yours. I care about you. “ Luke’s lips parted and I could see him easing up. Then I spoke, “You’re my friend.”

  “I don’t want to be your damn friend!” Luke looked right at me, rage in his beautiful hazel eyes. The tension was building up and I didn’t know if I could take it anymore. Before I could decide what to do next, he turned and stomped out toward the garage. Seconds seemed to trickle by as I heard the engine roar and tires screeching away.

  I felt Hayden's warm embrace as he pulled me back against his strong chest. I melted in his arms, signaling something only he could understand.

  “It’s not true, Ana. You can change the future. You can help people.”

  “I hope so.” My exhale was laced with doubt.