Second Sight (Hollows Ground Book 1)

by J. A. Culican

  ***

  I blink my eyes open. Sunlight streams in from the thin blinds which cover my sole window. Lifting myself into a seated position, I stretch my arms high over my head. A real night's sleep is rare, and I enjoy it. A glance at my small alarm clock lights the fire I need to escape my bed. Ana, my landlady, will be here within the hour.

  I grab a clean set of clothes and run to the bathroom. Speeding through my lukewarm shower, I make myself presentable. It isn’t much but Ana is the only person I ever had any real contact with, even if it’s for just a few minutes a week.

  Just as I am about to pour myself a bowl of frosted oats, there’s a knock at the door. Placing the box of cereal back down on the counter, I move the few feet to the front door. Even though I know it’s Ana on the other side of the door, my heart rate spikes and I begin to sweat as I grab the knob. Exhaling, I turn the handle to find Ana, as predicted, on the other side. Her red hair is highlighted with silver strands and her blue eyes scrutinize me from head to toe.

  “Ela, grab the rest of the bags in the hall,” she demands as her greeting. She pushes by me and dumps the bags she holds on my table.

  I look into the hall. It is thankfully empty, and I step out to grab the bags. It seems Ana has much more than normal which means I’ll be busy this week. Just as I reach down to grab the first of the bags, the door next to me opens and the little boy with the moppy hair and his mom walk into the hallway, holding a small tricycle.

  My eyes meet the boy’s bright blue ones and I freeze. No. I tremble as the vision flies through my head. Tires squealing, people yelling, a little red tricycle upside down in the middle of the road. Slowly, I slide down the wall to the ground, my eyes never leaving the boy’s. I watch as in slow motion as his mom grabs his hand and quickly escapes the crazy lady down the hall. His eyes, so much like Drina’s, burn into my soul as his death plays on repeat in my head.

  “Ela, what are you doing?” Ana calls from the doorway. “What's wrong with you, girl? Get up. Get those bags.” She points to the bags still on the ground. “Kids these days,” she mutters as she disappears within the apartment.

  I look back down the once again empty hall as the vision of the little boy’s death eats away at me. Standing, I take a step in the direction they’d left in but freeze. There is no way I can leave the building, let alone chase them down to the park. Way too many people. Everywhere, people. Closing my eyes, I grab the bags and dash back into the safety of my home.

  “About time,” Ana grumbles. “Put the bags here, I haven't much time today.” She points to the table.

  My hands tremble as I put the bags down. Ana had already begun to unpack. Bag after bag of beads and gems cover at least half the table, while chains and sticks of metal take over the other half. My hand creeps to my neck where my own winged pendent remains hidden under my shirt. Closing my eyes, I remember the day my parents gave it to me, how free and loved I’d felt. Now, as images of the boy’s imminent death dance behind my eyelids, I feel trapped and alone. Just like that day so many years ago, I will have to live with the fact that such an innocent soul will die. And there is nothing I can do to stop it.

  “Ela.” Ana pulls me from my misery. “Have you heard a word I’ve said?” She shakes her head in impatience. “What’s wrong with you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Her hard eyes pierce me impatiently.

  “Sorry. I just―”

  Ana waves her hand at me. “Doesn't matter. I need this whole box filled by next week.” She points to a huge cardboard box by the door. “I was able to score a table at the county flea market,” she says as she walks back to the door, grabbing the box I’d filled for today. Ana looks back over her shoulder at me before saying, “Make sure you eat something before you get to work. You look horrible.” She shuts the door behind her as she disappears.

  My body sags into the chair with a moan. I pull my pendant from under my shirt and hold the heavy wings in my palm. I’ve seen the deaths of hundreds of people since the day I received these, but have never tried to stop them. If Drina’s death taught me anything, it’s that death is inevitable. Any attempt to save the boy would be futile, but that doesn’t make it feel any better. Until today, Drina had been the youngest, the purest.

  I have to try. I have to do something. I can’t let that innocent little boy die while I sit here in fear. I have to try. I have to do something. I repeat that mantra over and over in my head as I rock back and forth in my chair. The boy’s youthful face flashes in my mind, quickly replaced with that of Drina.

  I stop abruptly, causing my chair to tip. I grab the table to stop my fall and the beads tumble to the ground, their hollow clinking sound surrounding me. I need to find that little boy. The boy whose name I don’t even know. I have to stop this tragedy. But how? The farthest I’ve gone in years is on the sidewalk outside and only when forced by the firemen. How am I supposed to make the trek to the park? The park that was at least five miles from here.

  I sigh in exasperation and rub my face roughly with my hands. I have to at least try. Planting my feet firmly on the ground, I push myself up. My body begins to shake as realization sinks in. I’m leaving my home and venturing out into the great unknown. A world I’ve ignored for years, that scared me to my core. A world I wanted to forget. Inhaling, I grab my sweatshirt off the floor and throw it on. I walk purposefully to the door and grab the knob. Closing my eyes, I twist and exhale.

  Here goes nothing.

  A cold breeze brushes against my overheated skin as the death of the little boy continues to play on a loop in my head. Once out on the front curb, I’m lost. Now what? I need to get to the park and quickly. Problem is, I haven’t traveled further than this since I landed here so many years ago.

  The park is seared into my brain. I remember it clearly from the nights I slept there as a child before Ana found me. My first night there I found a tree that was easy to climb. I spent my childhood climbing trees with Drina and our friends. So getting myself up there and comfortable was easy. It was also the safest place for someone as young and vulnerable as I’d been. Most people walked under me without even knowing I was there. My own personal invisibility cloak. Until a vision would hit me. My screaming and yelling labeled me the crazy one, which gave everyone another reason to leave me alone. Which was for the best.

  I glance up and down the street. People are everywhere. If I’m lucky, my visions of death will be kept to a minimum. I breathe in deeply and close my eyes. I need to get moving. Opening my eyes, I head north toward the park. I watch an old city bus approach a nearby stop. The electric sign on the front reads “Asber Park.” It would be much quicker to grab the bus but being so close to people is a recipe for disaster. On the other hand, what if my own fear makes me too late?

  Sucking in a deep breath, I approach the bus just as the last passenger makes it up the steps. A sign next to the driver reads “Local $0.85.” I fish out four quarters from my pocket that I thankfully still had from when Ana paid me. Slowly, I walk up the steps, noticing all the impatient passengers waiting for me to make my way on. The coin machine clunks as I drop my coins in and dispenses my change. Grabbing the few coins, I venture onto the bus.

  Within seconds, the bus jerks to a start and I tumble backward, slamming into a young man holding onto a pole.

  “Watch it.” He bumps me off with a sneer.

  “Sorry,” I mutter, thanking the stars no vision hit me.

  I stumble forward, searching for an empty seat. Of course, the bus is jam packed. I grab a nearby pole and hold on for dear life. Only a few more minutes, I continue to repeat in my head as the bus stops and lurches to our destination.

  The rancid smell of body odor hangs in the air as the woman next to me raises her arm to hold the pole above me. A baby cries in the back as an older gentleman sitting directly in front of me stares at me. My hands white-knuckle the pole and I divert my eyes, finding instead a young couple holding hands as they sit close to each other. The girl laughs as the man pl
ays with her hair. My stomach knots with the reminder of another thing I will never get to experience.

  Vibrations from the bus cause my body to sway. If it weren't for the smell and the noise it would put me to sleep. I glance out the window just as the first sign for the park comes into view. Almost there.

  My body falls into the pole as the bus stops in front of the park. A few passengers in front of me hastily make their way off the bus. Pushing off the pole, I make for the exit. Coldness seeps through my sweatshirt as a hand on my arm startles me.

  “You want the next stop,” the older man whispers to me. “The other side of the park.” There’s an urgency in his brown eyes. Tobacco curls up my nose as he stands. He winks, a sad smile lifting the corners of his lips before he shuffles by me and off the bus.

  Startled by his words, I fall into the seat he just vacated as the bus launches onto the next stop. Grabbing fistfuls of my hair, I pull. I didn’t say anything. How did he know? Dropping my hair, I glance around the bus, but no one pays me any mind. Surely, if I’d been talking out loud they’d all still be staring or running.

  The squeal of the breaks brings my attention to the scenery out the window. Deja vu slams into me as I jump and make my way toward the exit. Almost there. I can do this. I pray I’m not too late. Just as my foot hits the sidewalk, a jolt rushes through me. Sucking in a breath, I tumble forward as the woman behind me glides past.

  My knees hit the ground and I grab my ears. Noise fills my head. Shouting. Crying. Crashing. I squeeze my eyes shut as the vision plays out in front of me. Air explodes from my lungs when the last image finally departs.

  “Sweetheart, are you okay?” Warm arms wrap around my shoulders and squeeze. “Are you okay?” the woman repeats.

  I peek up from my spot on the ground. A group of people surrounds us. Pushing away from the woman, I stand and turn to face her. Bright blue eyes look up at me. Kindness radiates from her as two tiny lines form on her forehead in worry.

  “It’s going to be alright.” She stands, also, her blonde hair blowing into her face from a sudden breeze.

  I shake my head. “No. It’ll never be okay,” I mutter as I turn and run into the park.

  Thankfully the group around us parts in my haste to escape. Even they know it isn't safe to cage the wild animal that lives within me. Hard pavement turns to soft grass the further I run. I know where I need to go and exactly how to get there. Not far. Almost there.

  A shadow passes in front of me just as the final bend appears that leads to my destination. Skidding to a halt, I look up into the face of a man easily twice my size. He stands directly in front of me, blocking my path. I move to my right to move around him and he moves with me. Feeling uneasy, I try to move to my left only to be blocked again.

  “Excuse me,” I stammer.

  “You don’t want to go over there,” he states as he put his arms out wide, effectively blocking my view.

  No. No way was this guy going to stop me. I step back and scan the area. I’m cornered. A large tree stands to my right while bushes wall the left side of the makeshift path. The only way around him is to backtrack or to go through him.

  Gathering all my strength, I drop my shoulder and run toward him. Just before I collide with his chest, he steps aside. Pummeling through the air, I stumble, but right before I tumble to the ground large hands grab my waist and plant me on my feet.

  Without letting go, he whispers in my ear, “Trust me.”

  Blood drains from my face as the sound of sirens meets my ears. It couldn't be. My body trembles as the sirens wail louder and louder the closer they come to us.

  “How?” I hiss through my sorrow.

  I need to help. I need to get to the boy. Hands squeeze me tighter as I attempt to move away.

  “It’s too late,” he reiterates.

  “How?” My voice rises. How does he know? How does he know where I'm going?

  “It’s too late,” he whispers as he pulls me back against his chest.

  Tears stream down my cheeks. Images of the boy filter through my head. His joyful smile looking up at me as he waits for the fire trucks. His inquisitive eyes and moppy hair as he jumps with glee when the trucks finally arrive. He’s so young. So innocent. And once again, I’m unable to stop it. Unable to save him. Just like Drina.

  Shudders rock my body as the vision of the boy’s death replays in my head. His little red tricycle upside down, one wheel spinning, the other missing. His mother screaming. Cursed. I was born cursed. Why? The same question I've had since my thirteenth birthday. Why me?

  Sirens blare as the man still holds me hostage. I struggle to break free but his strength rivals mine. Not that I have anywhere to go once I'm loose. I’m too late.

  “Stop. You're going to hurt yourself.” His breath tickles my ear. “Just calm down.”

  Calm down? I laugh uncontrollably, maniacally. I can only imagine what this man thinks of me. The crazy woman racing through the park, laughing at the sounds of sirens. If he only knew.

  “It’s normal.” His grip loosens. “What you’re feeling.”

  I fight to catch my breath. “Normal?” I huff out.

  “Yes. There is a slew of feelings one feels when they experience a tragedy―”

  “Tragedy? You have no idea what just happened? You have no―” I pause as I turn and face the man. “How?”

  How does he know? Up until now I was so caught up in getting to the little boy, nothing else registered. He stopped me. He knows why I was here. My eyes go wide as I step back from the man who has finally released me.

  “How?” I raise my voice as his brown eyes widen.

  “Please. You need to calm down.” He raises his hands out to his side as he looks around. Like anyone is paying us any attention. A boy just died. A boy I was here to save.

  “Calm down!” I scream.

  He grabs me and drags me to the side of the path. His hand wraps around my mouth. “You need to trust me.” I scream behind his hand. “I understand you’re hurt, but you're not safe here. We need to leave.”

  He continues to drag me behind the bushes. Of all the ways I thought I would die, this scenario had never crossed my mind. Probably since I had never planned on leaving my apartment. Ever. Little good it did me. I’m not able to save the boy and now I’m going to die. I try to fight away from him. I kick at his shins and try to bite his hand to no avail. He pushes me up against a tree hidden in the shadows, his hand still against my mouth, silencing my screams. He shoves himself closer to me and meets my eyes.

  “I'm not going to hurt you. I promise.” His eyes plead with me to believe him as his hand loosens around my mouth. “I want to help you. I can help you.” His hand falls to the tree trunk next to my head, releasing me.

  I suck in a harsh breath as I process his words. “No one can help me,” I whisper. “How did you know? How did you know why I was here?” I ask.

  He takes a step away from me. Twice he opens his mouth to speak only to close it with a sigh. His hand shoots toward me making me flinch into the rough bark of the tree.

  “My name is Luka.” He continues to hold his hand out to me. “I'm not much different than you.”

  I look at his hand and back up to his eyes, not moving. “What does that mean?” Was he cursed just like me?

  “It's not safe to talk here. I need you to trust me.”

  I shake my head. “I'm leaving.”

  I attempt to walk past him but he stops me with a hand on my arm. He looks down at me with an unfamiliar expression. His eyes look sad but his body’s stiff. We stare at each other, neither of us breaking the trance.

  “You don't understand. There are others. Others who will hurt you.” His hand releases me. “Where’s your family? I’ll take you to them. I can't believe they’d let you come out here alone.”

  “I don't have any family,” I whisper, breaking eye contact. “It’s for the best.”

  I should run. I know this. But my feet don't move.

  “Co
me with me. I need to show you something.” He reaches for my hand but I pull it away. “A safe place. A place for people like us.”

  “Us?” I look back up at him as he once again grabs for my hand.

  “Yes.” He smiles, showing off two dimples I hadn't noticed before as he squeezes my hand. “You're really alone?” He shakes his head. “So much could've happened to you. Others could have found you.” He starts to pull me back toward the path.

  “Others?” I ask as I move with him.

  “Yes. It's not safe for someone like you to be out in the open like this. Your gift is so rare,” he says as he quickens our pace through the park.

  “You mean curse,” I state as I struggle to keep pace with him.

  He stops abruptly and turns to me. “Curse? You're not cursed. Your gift is very powerful.”

  “Wait, don’t you have the same gift?” I pull my hand from his as a chill races up my back.

  He looks down at my hand that now dangles at my side. “No. You're very rare, like I said. Now come on; we really need to get a move on it.”

  “Where are you taking me?” I ask not moving.

  “A safe place. A place you need to see to believe.” He arches his eyebrows at me. “A whole world where people like us exist.”

  “A whole world?” I ask, astonished.

  “You're not alone anymore.” He turns to walk then turns back to me. “What's your name?”

  “Mirela,” I mutter. “You can call me Ela.”

  “Ela.” He holds his hand out. “What do you say? Are you ready to find out who you really are?”

  I look at his hand. A hand just waiting to take me away from all that I know. Take me to a place I'll belong. Or so he says. I think of Drina and the little boy and how I wasn't able to save them. How I ran from my family in order to save myself from a life of death. A life of seeing all I care about die. His hand is an invitation to a new family and a new life. I’d no longer be alone. Who am I kidding? My curse will never let me be anything but alone.