SWNOVELS Chapter CHAPTER 11
I woke up and glanced at my phone to see what time it was. Nearly blinded by the bright white numbers that lit up my screen, I saw that it was only 3 o’clock in the morning. I groaned before cursing my bladder for making me have to get up at such a wicked hour. Next time I’m not going to consume so much soda before falling asleep.
I looked around hoping to see Ali’s smiling face, but she was nowhere to be seen. Bummed out by this I got up and made my way into the bathroom that sat across the hall from my bedroom. A few minutes later, well more like ten but who’s counting, I crawled back into bed. Positioning my hands so that they rest under my head, cradling it, I stared wistfully up at my white swirl painted ceiling. Granted in the dark it appears grey, but whatever.
Having just started to drift off to sleep, I am spooked by a sound coming from within my closet. ‘Odd.’ “Ali? Is that you? Are you in there?” I waited for her to respond but nothing came of it. Flipping my blanket to one side, I cause a shiver to cross over my bare chest. I heave a sigh as I find myself out of my bed once more. Tip toeing across the plush dark carpet, I quietly make my way over to the closet. Taking a deep breath, I fling the door wide turning the light on inside. I peer in and see nothing. “Ugh, I’m losing my mind.” I muttered.
Wandering back to my bed again, I go to climb in and am shoved hard from behind. I righted myself, quickly turning around to see what could have pushed me and am faced with nothing! What in the hell? Having enough of whatever was happening, I swiftly jumped into the bed, wrapping my blanket tightly around me. No, I’m not scared… well maybe just a little, but wouldn’t you be freaked out if this was happening to you?
My heart rate has started to speed up, and I begin to take deep breaths in and out to help gain control of it. I pull the blanket back from off of my head and listen to the silence for a heartbeat or two. Not moving anything more than my eyes, I glanced back and forth across my room trying to determine if the evil entity is still here. I feel like a little kid who is afraid of the dark and a chuckle escapes me. I feel ridiculous, now. With one last deep breath, I somehow manage to lull myself to back to sleep…
My feet slam against the sidewalk as I try to evade whatever monstrosity is behind me. I’m breathing hard like I’ve been running for quite a while. If I don’t stop soon, I feel like I could die. My lungs are screaming at me, and I feel like they have been frozen in ice because I’m not getting enough oxygen to them. My legs are beginning to cramp, and a pain in my side is becoming noticeable. I finally come to the conclusion that I cannot run any longer and I place my hands on my knees bending over slightly. I attempt to take large lung filled breaths of air before shifting my head to look of my shoulder in hopes of seeing what was chasing after me.
I am unable to see anything, but I can feel a malevolent presence not too far away. A sense of urgency takes hold of me. I need to get away from whatever is trying to get hold of me. Straightening up, I am just about ready to start running again when I feel something slice through the backside of my black sweat-drenched tee-shirt, cutting deep into my flesh and along the back of my left arm.
I wake up shouting out, “OW, argh!” The dream felt so real that I got out of my bed and dashed into the bathroom to see if there were any marks on my arm and back. “What the - holy hell!”
Deep slashes like claw marks from the top area of my right shoulder down across to my left lower arm. Just as in the dream! I stared in astonishment. Is something else trying to cross through the spirit realm each time Alina visits me?
“Mom, dad!” I yelled into the hallway. “Come quick. You need to see this!” I heard what sounds like people tumbling out of bed and then mom, dad, and Devon are all standing around me staring at my arm and back with worry and concern on their faces.
“What’s wrong baby?” Mom reaches out to take my arm and I pull away.
Dad questions me at the exact same moment, “What happened son? What’s going on?”
“Holy shit!” Devon exclaimed from where he stood behind me. Mom glared at him for his language but turned concerned blue eyes back to me. I turned my back to my parents’, so they could see the markings that Dev had just seen.
“Oh my, dear, what happened to you?”
“Honestly, I’m not really sure. I was having a weird dream that someone or something was chasing me, but I never actually saw anything, but something obviously invaded my dream and felt the need to attack me.”
“Since Jean is the Crone of the Coven, we should inform her what has occurred because it sounds like we need to conjure some protection spells for you Dom.” Dad, always the logical one says all this before running back to their bedroom to get his phone.
I couldn’t say what time it was at the moment but that doesn’t keep dad from hitting send on the screen to call grandma. Apparently, this is something I should be very worried about. Grandma Jean said as much when she arrived at the house twenty minutes later.
“We will need to call a circle together and begin protection spells immediately. The last thing we would want is for something to be able to follow Alina through the spirit world when we bring her back.”
*
“AAAAlliiinnnnaaaa, AAAlliinnaa,” Cal said her name trying to draw her attention to him. He had known who she was the moment she crossed over because he was the one that pulled her over and he knew she would be the one with enough power to be able to help him. Now however, he just had to figure out a way to manipulate her into helping him. “Letsssss be Frieenndddssss…”
Alina stood frozen as Cal floated around her. Chills ran up and down her body causing her to shiver as he spoke, and she shifted her body away from him every time he drew close to her. “I would rather be left alone, Cal. I’m not really in any mood to be socializing or to make friends at the moment.” she replied, and she wasn’t sure how she could tell but she knew her words seemed to anger him. As he glared at her she wanted desperately to get away from him, but she was unable to move.
“Buuuttttt, Alinnnnnnaaaa,” Cal began to whine.
“CAL!” Maggie shouted as she appeared next to Alina suddenly. “I told you to leave the girl alone! BE GONE WITH YOU!”
With a menacing screech, Cal disappeared from their sight, his echoing laughter the only evidence that he had been there harassing her, making her face twist with aggravation and disgust.
Ali felt like a weight had just been lifted off of her as Cal vanished and her body visibly relaxed. “I really don’t like that spirit!” she exclaimed in a huff. “What’s his story anyway?”
“One that can be saved for another day. Oh, I completely forgot the reason why I came to you. Grace would like to have chat with you about your spirit visits to earth.”
“Um, okay…” Alina said nervously, afraid she had done something wrong or that she was about to be reprimanded for having attempted to contact the human world.
“Don’t worry dear, I feel it is a conversation you will be happy to have had with her.” Maggie smiled encouragingly towards Alina, encouraging her to follow along.
~
As they came upon Grace in a meditative position with legs crossed, eyes closed, and hands held out, middle fingers and thumbs pressed to one another, Maggie cleared her throat to alert her of their arrival.
“Ah, sweet Alina! How are you doing my dear one?” Grace’s gaze landed upon her, with the most endearing smile. White cotton material billowed about Grace and there was no inkling of a wind to cause the material to do so causing Alina to tilt her head in curiosity. Glancing back at Maggie with a raised eyebrow, Alina realized that Maggie was adorned in the same cotton material as well.
Alina returned the smile before saying; “you wanted to chat with me?” Grace nodded at her and then she and Maggie each took one of Alina’s hands, leading her over to a bench.
“Sit, sit dear. We would like to offer you some suggestions and tips for when you go to visit your loved ones on earth.”
Alina visibly sighed in relief at these words as her mouth fell open in surprise. How do they know I’ve been visiting earth? She thought to herself. “I totally thought I was going to get yelled at for having gone to earth, I was afraid someone was going to tell me that I’m not allowed to visit them.” She smiled shyly at the old ladies.
“Oh, no honey. The only thing spirits are not allowed to do is cause harm to the living. We can visit with them as often as we want until we are called to travel to our next destined path.” Maggie chimed in.
“Awesome! I’m so happy to hear that.” Alina said as she squealed her excitement and then jumping up from the bench, she clapped her hands together in joy. Alina let her smile grow, no longer shy or nervous over the conversation. Realizing the ladies wanted to say more, she took her seat once again on the bench. Her eyes overflowed with happiness as she waited for them to continue.
Together the ladies spoke as one; “we would like to share with you a secret because if anyone is strong enough to do it, it will be you!” Alina’s eyebrows rose in intrigue. “Did you know, there is a way for one to touch the living, hold a loved one in your arms?”
“Really?” Ali squeaked. “How is that possible?” she asked as she bounced up and down in her seat. She took Grace’s hand and clasped it within hers, “please tell me, please. I want nothing more than to be able to hug Dominic again. I need to feel his strong, comforting arms around me just once more.