Something Happened

by Brandy Isaacs

  Barely more than a fall, Rion's leap carried her the few feet that separated her from the creature and Beckett. As Rion passed through the Shadow she knew what Shep had meant. The thing was there, and not there, at the same time. It didn't have a physical body any more than a cold wind did. But, that didn't prevent it from dragging its substance across her skin like slivers of ice. Even though it didn't open any wounds, her nerves screamed in agony along with her heart.

  Worse than the physical pain, was the utter hopelessness that overcame Rion as she passed through the Shadow. Her mother's abandonment, the abuse she suffered at the hands of foster families, her mother giving her up. None of it compared to the gut wrenching despair that washed over her as her body occupied the same space as the Shadow. It was fear and loneliness. It was anger and rage. Rion knew at that moment, she could not allow Beckett to feel that pain. No one should feel that pain.

  As she passed through the creature, it released her spirit, but didn't let up its grip on her heart. She landed on Beckett's legs and the Shadow moved closer, twisting her life in its talons. She gasped for breath and turned to Shep. He was close enough to touch and Rion reached for his foot. "Promise me," she choked the words out. "When it's done, kill me." Shep's face twisted in shock and disappointment, but it cleared quickly to acceptance. He locked eyes with her and nodded. Rion could hear Kerry screaming but she ignored the woman's protests. To Kerry, she gasped. "Take care of Beckett."

  Her words were so quiet she didn't know if the creature heard them, or just knew her intentions. "Take me." The Shadow twitched, shuddered, and recoiled. The hold on Rion's heart flexed and she screamed a raspy, breathless sound. "Do it. I won't fight you," she wheezed. "I'm better than a kid."

  The Shadow shuddered again and slid closer before shimmering and reappearing further away. A roaring sound filled the tiny house. At first the sound was full of rage, then as it tapered, it became higher and almost pained. "Do it!" Rion screamed with what little strength and air she could muster. The grip on her life squeezed harder and the air pressure in the room increased until her vision went black. She couldn't see, but she could still feel and hear.

  "No!" Kerry screamed from somewhere far away.

  Shep tried to comfort her. "Stop."

  Small, childish sobs bubbled from Beckett beneath Rion. She felt her arms wrap themselves around the kid and she squeezed her tightly. "I've got you," she whispered. "It will all be OK." The pressure released with the intensity of a slammed door. Rion felt herself falling deeper and deeper into darkness. Every sound, every feeling faded until there was nothing left.

  ***

  Rion opened her eyes but had to blink them against glaring white light. At first, she was surprised to learn the legends were true. There really was a bright light after death. As she tried to come to terms with that knowledge, three round shapes blocked the light and eased the burn on her eyes.

  "She's alive!" Kerry gasped.

  "Rion?!" Shep's concern raised his voice a few octaves.

  "Rion?" Beckett asked in her small voice.

  "I'm alive?"

  "Yes!" Shep nearly sobbed. There was crying, but it came from Kerry and Beckett, who Rion could see hugging each other now.

  "What happened?"

  "I-I'm not sure."

  Rion took a few deep breaths and tried to remember what had happened. She remembered offering herself to the Shadow and cold terror spread through her. "Is it in me?!" she shrieked.

  "We don't know." Shep shook his head. "How do you feel?"

  "I don't know!" Her heart pounded in her chest. "Get it out!"

  "Calm down," Shep squeezed her shoulders. "You shouldn't move. You could be hurt."

  "Where is it?" Rion asked, sounding desperate even to her own ears.

  "It's gone," Beckett finally spoke up.

  Everyone turned to her. "Are you sure?" Shep asked her. Beckett nodded, her eyes wide. "How can you tell?'

  "I can't feel it anymore."

  Rion took a breath and gave herself a moment to take stock. She didn't feel anything other than being weak, tired, and weary. Her soul felt exhausted. But, it felt alone. "I think she's right..."

  Shep eyed her for a long moment. "OK. Beckett? What about you?" She stared at him. "How do you feel?"

  "It's gone."

  Everyone seemed to sag in relief. "We need to get out of here," Kerry spoke up.

  "You take Beckett and find help. Rion and I will have to stay here."

  Kerry looked at them reluctantly.

  "It’s fine," Rion whispered. She was on the verge of passing out but she willed herself to stay awake.

  "No," Beckett wailed as Kerry tried to get her on her feet.

  "It's OK," Rion told her. "It's OK, no one will hurt us again."

  When Kerry and Beckett were gone, Shep looked down at Rion. "Do you really think it’s gone?"

  Rion thought for a moment. "I do."

  "From Beckett too?'

  Rion opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. She couldn't say for sure what Beckett felt. But, she knew, if the thing that had Beckett was anything like the Shadow, it wouldn't let her go easily. It would have dug its claws in to the death. Either Beckett's or its own. After a while, Rion nodded, but she couldn't bring herself to say the words.

  ***

  It didn't take long for the police and fire department and ambulances to show up. Rion knew Chambers would show up soon as well. She sat in the back of an ambulance on a stretcher while the medics took her vitals. Beckett refused to go to the hospital in a separate ambulance. Instead, she had tucked herself under Rion's arm and watched the man make note of Rion's condition.

  The paramedic must have had kids of his own because he hadn't fought Beckett when she insisted on staying with Rion. He also told her all the things he was doing and kept offering to let her hold wrappers or other innocuous things. Rion squeezed the kid's shoulders and Beckett squeezed her back. She let a long sigh slip out of her. It's over. She felt the weight of the last few weeks lifting off her shoulders and heart piece by piece. "We're safe, kid. We're gonna be OK."

  Beckett turned her huge brown eyes upon Rion and smiled. "You almost died for me?"

  "Of course, Becks." Rion smiled back. "That's what real family does. Real family doesn't abandon you." As she said the words, she felt them undo some of the hurt Annie, Frank, and even Lavinia had done to her and Beckett. She was relieved to know her sister was safe, but she couldn't stop searching her sister's eyes for the darkness she had seen in them for so long. "It's me and you kid."

  "Just you and me," Beckett grinned.