Gateway into my sole
After running for what seems to be days I finally reached it. The opening in the forest, the road, only a couple feet away, one foot, a couple inches. A second before I go to step a foot on the beautiful pavement is when a spine chilling noise makes me hesitate. My eyes fly open just to find out that it's my alarm clock. I roll over and slap my hand over the off button. I sit up and rub my eyes. Why did that feel so real? I go to put my hair in a pony tail to discover it drench in sweat. I rub my hand on my mattress to find it twining with my hair. I think that my hair barely works as it is, now if I don't take a shower, it will not do. I creep out of my room to find out my sister in my mother's bed curled up beside her. I stand there for a good 5 minutes. My sister perfectly fit the curve of my mother. My sister's name is Everclear, Evey for short. My father had this assumption that if we had rare name it would make us rare in life. Due to that train of thought I ended up with Elkton. Not short for anything nor could it be shorten. My sister let's out this groan. It's a nightmare, shes had them since our father died. A hit-and -run. Neither my mom or sister have been the same. I turn and head off to the shower. I have 2 hours before in need to drive myself to school. I take my time in the shower. When I get out I put clothes on and walk to my mother's room and gently shake my sister away from her nightmare. She slowly opens up her eyes and smiles.
" I thought you died" she whispered.
Tears break from my eyes.
"I'm here, and I wont leave, I'll always be here so much that you wish I was gone" I say.
"I lose you enough in my dreams I don't want to lose you in real life."
"I love you kiddo, now get up and get ready for school I have a test I need to get to school earlier than normal" I say while returning to my room.
I slowly put my makeup on, nothing really drastic. I do my whole face but not dark. I look down to my clothes to find out I put on my shirt that I wore last week and I havent washed. I dig through my drawers to find my favorite NASA shirt. I throw black pants on and some white convers.
I retrieve my backpack from the kitchen and pull out my wallet to find only two twentys. I make a mental note to stop by the bank. Once father died and my oldest brother left for college I was the main supporter. I've had my job for what seems like a life time but actually only for like 3 years. They have been real nice to me. While continuing my thought I get breakfast cooking. Eggs, bacon, and toast. Half way through cooking my mother gets up and walks to me.
"I'm so blessed to have you" she said while kissing my head
My mouth forms into something I hope looks like a smile.
I return back into my cooking. A couple minutes later I holler for Evey.
She comes in wearing my shirt.
"Excuse my missy where didyouget that familiar looking shirt." I ask
" Oh this looks great, I guess I'm gonna catch the bus today" she said in between bites and smiles.
"Ha ha were leaving in 10 minutes. Make me wait again and you will have to catch the bus"
We eat in the normal silence. When this started it was awkward but now we just fell into this routine. My mom breaks the quiet with saying that her sister is coming down.
I nearly choked on my toast.
"What? Why is she coming ?"
"don't act like shes death, she's my sister she is welcome. Do you remember the neighbor that just moved in" before I could answer she continued " well it turned out that her best friend from Hawaii is our new neighbor!" She says it with a smile
I'm shocked, my brain is dead. Last time she came she nearly killed our dog and me. She thought it would be great to hide the cookies with kitchen cleaner.
I turn to Evey and ask if shes ready to go.
"Mom when is she coming?" She responds instead.
I couldn't hear what she said but I could read her lips. Three days. I stand up and place my plate, fork and cup in the sink and make my way to the bathroom. My eyes connect to my face in the mirror. My face no longer belongs to me. I swore I would never allow my anger to flood the gates to my mother. The face I wear is no longer mine. It's foreign not wanted in this world nor the next. I mean I'm not terribly ugly, but I don't count myself as beautiful. I have hair that has it's own mind, my eyebrows are thin arched. I almost have a box face. My eyes are mud puddles, looking at my eyes it seems like they're swirling. Taking a closer look I can almost swear, I reach up to spread my eyelid when my sister comes running in.
"Gee telling me to not be late and your the one who is wasting time." She says while reaching for her toothbrush. Even though shes only in 6th grade to my sophomore shes the same height. Shes a perfect height, I'm just super short.
My thoughts keep jumping back to my eyes while brushing my teeth. Before I set off to leave the bathroom I take one last look at my gateway in my sole. Nothing new, no swirling, no movement at all. I shake off a weird feeling and grab my bag and head to the car.
My car is my dad's old car. 1974 Road Runner. To be truly accepted into our family my dad, my best friend Katy, and I named him Pluto. Due to the size of the car we thought it works. I run my hand on the hood. It misted last night. My fingers come back wet. I smile, this is the only thing I can hold onto that is real.
I jump into the driver seat and shove the key into the slot. When I turn it, it purrs to life.
"Good morning Pluto, it's pretty chilly out". I whisper to the steering wheel.
The passenger door flies open and my sister jumps in.
"Mom wants us to stop by the neighbors to see if they need a ride to school, beforeyouargue it's only one kid and I know were gonna be later than you want but mom told me" she remarks while flipping the visor down and fixes her hair. Oh lord is she prissy.
I move the car into drive and start my way to the neighbor. I feel bad to keep calling them neighbor but we don't know their name.
It takes me less than 10 minutes to drive to their house. I pull into their drive way and allow Pluto to aidle. I risk a glance to Evey, wondering if she is thinking what I'm thinking.
The last people who lived here was killed. They were the reason of my father death. They went after my dad and then people went after them. I close my eyes and allow myself to catch some breath. Warmth eloped around my hand. My eyes open to see Evey holding my hand, she smiles and nods. I know it's time.
Without thinking I get unbuckled and open the car door and march my way to the front door, put on the most realistic smile I could fake and prepare myself to knock. Before my knuckles could connect with the wood the door flies open
An older women is in front of me. It seems that she was infected with chicken pox which scared. She may fall 3 year older than my mother but is still shockingly beautiful.
"You must be our neighbor Evelyn was talking about" says the women.
I clear my throat and attempt to speak but without much success.
"Oh honey don't worry about talking, I'm Rosemary I believe your aunt is Clairty?" She asks
I finally found my words
"Yes, sorry I'm Elkton, my sister Everclear is in the car. It's a pleasure to meet you. And welcome to the community." A robot voice responds with.
"Aw how lovely, I certainly love your guys names. How rare." She turns and walks deeper into the house.
I turn at stare into the front windshield of Pluto. Evey shrugs.
I hear a faint voice calling.
I hear stomping and a halt.
"Elkton, do come in meet Jakob." Rosemary calls.
I could feel my feet pull me farther into the house and following the way which the Rosemary's voice seem to come from. I turn a left and am faced with a beautiful face.
It is not that it's beautiful because it's happy because it doesn't seem to be nor because hes handsome but due to how hes eyes glow with a mixture of curiosity, fear, and doubt.
I reach my hand out and explain who I am.
"I'm jakob with a "K" and I acknowledge that you are my driver today" says Jakob.
"Yeah, it's a truly pleasure but we must get going." I look to the ground. I have a weird feeling, and I want to be out of this hosue.
"Yes I understand, we can go if that's okay with you."
I nod and say thanks to Rosemary.
On my way out picture frames caught my eyes. There must have been over 20 people. All with the same look in their eyes. As if something terrible happened.
Jakob cleared his throat and made it obvious I no longer should be looking. I make my way to my car and looked at the passenger seat to find it empty, feeling my eyes trailing yo the back seat to find Evey.
"You can get in on the passenger side." I called out.
I slide my way in the same time jakob opens his door. He gently, and gracefully sit's down. He runs his fingers on the interior of the car and pauses. A slightly smile forms on his face. My heart starts to pound, I jam the gear shift into reverse and pull out. Knowing today was going to be long.
We made our way to Evey's school. I noticed myself glancing my eyes toward Jakob, he hasnt said a word since Evey asked him if he was nervous, she got an answer of why would I be nervous we will be gone in a month.
Evey said bye and jumped out of the car. Since she got it the car seems increasingly smaller. I know that it's supposed to feel bigger but all I smell is his smell, it's not the good smell but it's the nice smell of trees and soap.
I finally get to the school and pull into the parking lot of our school when some idiot lays on a horn, I turn to where the sound comes from to find the idiot is my best friend. Katy is jumping up and down, screaming at me. I laugh. I drive Pluto to her and she doesnt even wait till I stop she jumps on the drivers door window and screams " I got my car!!!"
"And im gonna lose my hearing girl" I say while laughing. I look over to Jakob and he shrugs. I smile, I like how he isnt scared. I open my door looks over and see that jakob is mirroring my actions.
"So who's dumb idea was to let this maniac out on the road where innocent people walk" I say between smiles.
"I mean you have been out of the road so why not have two maniac out here?" She burst out laughing.
I hug her, it's her birthday today shes finally 17 and her dad promised her a car. It's a 1945 mustang. Red rims, black body, I open the door to see a black interior.
"A little much black I think" came from jakob, I totally forgot about him.
A flash captures my gaze,Katy is looking from jakob to me. Katy smiles at me.
"This is jakob, he is my neighbor and I expectyouto be nice to him." Katy is nothing but nice to nearly everyone. There are those certain people who rubs her the wrong way.
"When am I ever not nice to a cute boy" katy says between smiles.
I turn around lock my car door, shake my head, and head my way to the front office. I hear Katy starting up a storm while we pass the fountain.
"Aw looks like Elkton finally got a guy who will actaully be okay with being seen with her in public!" Roared a high pitch body. Rebecca, of course. She thinks shes perfect. Golden brown hair which never fails her twins with her perfectly trimmed eyebrows. She always has a new outfit on, today is a short black and red plated skirt which is never long enough for our school yet she has never been coded. She has a solid red shirt with a little black rose on her left breast. Shes the closest we get to having a rich kid.
"At least I don't have to sleep with them" my mouth remarks with.
I think I could hear a pin drop.
Rebecca's mouth dropped and she raised a perfectly pedicured hand to her mouth.
"Excuse me what did you say to me" she snarled.
"Oh you know what I said, everyone knows and anyone who doesnt is either dumb or deaf.youtry to make my life a living hell but honey it ain't working. Stop trying it's no longer scary, or imitating it's just hilarious. So good morning to you, too."I singed, made eye contact and smiled with my best award winning smile.
Oh god do I have a death wish.
We got to the main office, got Jakob his schedule when Katy grabs my arm.
"Wait did you hear that? She whispers.
I stand still, think nothing, and say less. I was almost about to call her stupid when I hear it. It sounded so familiar. I couldnt place it, I looked at jakob and I could see pure fear in his eyes. He caught me looking and the fear disappeared.
"Do you hear it now?" I could almost didn't catch Katy saying it. The sound sounds closer then it was just a couple's seconds ago
I try to swallow but my throat seems to close.
"it's probably just a janitor messing with something. I mean it's a school what can happen here?" I mumble.
"Yeah totally but technically a lot of things can a happen it school. Disease, shootings, fights, and a lot of drama. And all together it makes the Bohemian School!" She shouts
"Tell me that has nothing to do with the powder puff girls?" I shake my head while walking to Jakobs first period.
"Your first period class is Global history, which means you have leg man. He served in the military, took place in Afghanistan, took three tours and came hone. Whenyousee him you will see he lost his leg, hince leg man, but he lost part of his sanity. So hes a little off but hes one of my favorite teacher. Hes real name is Steven James. So whenyoutalk to him call him Mr James and he wont hate you." When katy finished she nudged my arm. It's a thing we have done since we were little to ask secretly how we did.
I smile, I looked at jakob and hes space off looking off into the window in the door of Legman. Hes eyes have that swirling phantom thing happening.
"Did you hear that Jakob?"I whispered.
Hes eyes slowly start to clear. He shakes his head as if to clear all the demons.
"Yeah, sorrry I spaced out but I did hear it." He whispered.
I risk one last glance at him, his eyes seem to have cleared although you can faintly see swirling. He catches me staring, I turn away and walk through the rest of his classes.
When we got to his last classroom I heard that noise again. Every second the noise carried goose bumps were developing on my neck. I turned to Katy and saw her showing what I felt. She looks paralyzed. Fear was all I could see in her eyes. My eyes trail yo Jakob it was as if there was mirror reaction on him too. I close my eyes to try to understand where this noise was coming from. I slowly started to make my way to the left.
"El what are youdoing!?" It was if that voice spoke in my mind but I knew it didn't .
I just stuck up my hand. I allowed the noise to take me to it. After what seems to be forever my hands connect with something cold. I open my eyes to see I was facing the teachers lounge. I looked back at Katy and jakob. Jakob was shaking his head and Katy was just repeating the words "no''
I took a deep breath and returned my gaze back to the door. The noise is screaming at this point. My hand found the cold door handle and turned.
It creaked open, a gust of stale, cold air came rushing out. As if escaping the evil inside. There's no light, all darkness, my hand squeezes into the space and gropes the wall for a light switch. A couple second later my fingers run over them, pushes them up, and lightness was followed, but the noise stopped
I don't know what I was looking for but it wasnt this. I found out teahers lounge looking the same as every other day. I took a step into the room, there wasnt anything out of place. I let out my breath which I didn't know I was holding. I started the nervous giggling.
"Elkton are you okay?" Came a voice came outside of the door.
I reached toward the door and pulled it open to find Katy standing right there.
"I'm okay a little shaken, or creeped out but there's nothing here." I spun around to make it more dramatic.
"Let's get out of here and meet up with the others before class starts." I say.
I make my way towards jakob and nudge him.
Katy kept on asking what happened and i kept telling her what happened. We made out way to the gym to find out group in the corner we have had since the beginning of last year.
"Els here!" Shouted one of my best friend. Johnny, he used to be my boyfriend back in sixth grade. We broke up because it was effecting our friendship with others.
"Hey guys! Sorry were late we were held up, did I miss anything?" I called out.
"Well Johnny thought it would be funny dump water Amanda so shes in the bathroom with Elizabeth. So that's pretty great." Said Jessica, she turned her head and looked past me. She burst out laughing. I turn my body to see Amanda looking like a hobo. Her hair is no longer the bouncy self, and her clothes look as if they have been handed down one too many times.
Amanda slowly made her way towards Johnny until she was a foot away from him.
"You... you.. how could you?!" Screached Amanda.
"It was a joke I thought you would be okay with it I'm sorry I didn't know" responded Johnny.
Before Johnny finished his sentence Amanda face turned full strawberry. Her whole body was shaking as if there was a earthquake in her.
"Oh no." Mumbled jakob who was to my right. And again I forgot about him.
"Yeah, I think World War 3 is about to happen." I whispered. I knew I shouldn't. I'm that person who laughs at bad times. And oh man was this a bad time.
She heard me and her whole body turned still. It was like off of a movie when the person got possessed. She head turned ever so slightly so her eye could meet mine. One moment she was over there and the next time I blinked she was right in front of me.
I honestly did not know what to expect. But when her eyes start to turn into a slit I knew nothing good is going to come out of it.
Her head flew back then came right to the middle of my forehead. It blew me back off me feet. I would have swore that I was flying if it wasnt for my head screaming with pain. When my back connected with what I suspected to be the ground, I couldn't breath. It felt like someone was sitting in my chest. I could hear myself wheezing. Then that feeling. The feeling when that person gets up and the air goes rushing back into your lungs. As quickly did it come, it went. I open my eye in time to see Amanda running towards me. Her eyes just blank, like a new canvas. But there is that swirling I saw in my eyes I can see in hers. It's like when ur mom makes a batch of cookies and you see all the ingredients getting mixed in. Just keeps swirling and swirling. I could see her muscles bunching up for a jump. It finally added up what was happening. I go to move myself out of the line of fire but my arms seem to be paralyzed. My attention was brought back to Amanda just to see her mid air knowing her destination was me. She landed with the force of an elephant. Her fists connected with my face. It was as if she was beating a drum. Over and over. I reached my hands out to brush her off and I couldnt move. Then it was gone. There was no more beating, I could breathe. My eyes fly open to see jakob tackled Amanda and has her pinned to the ground.
I hear it the noise. That spine chilling shrill. It hit me, this is the noise I heard in my dream this morning. The one which felt so real and left me drenched in sweat.
I push my self off the ground and attempt to stand up but my legs wont hold me. I keep trying until I get close enough to Jakob. I bring my arm up and brush him. Before I touched him Amands starts screaming.
I couldn't understand a word she was saying. She just keeps repeating the same noises over and over
"What is she saying?!" I yelled.
"I don't know, it sounds like Latin." Jakob yelled back at me.
I have a faint recollection that I know someone who knows Latin but it's not adding up. I know it's someone who is close to me. Johnny. He took it last year. I twisted my head and scan for him and took in what a audience we have. The gym seems to be filled with most of the school. I couldn't see Johnny past all the students. Then I saw him. As if he knew I was looking I captured his attention. His body is pulled towards mine and he doesn't stop until he is in front of me.
"Do you understand this?" I pray. He doesnt answer me but he kneels beside me and closes his eyes and mouthed the words that Amanda is saying.
"She cant, she cant, we have to stop." Johnny whispers.
"She cant live, we have to stop her, the girl cant live, we have to kill." He stops, opens his eyes, looks at me. His whole face seems to be filled with sadness.
"What is she saying johnny?" I ask. He just keeps on shaking his head.
"What! What is she saying?" I scream at him.
"She says we have kill you Elkton. She just keeps repeating that" I almost didn't catch that. He said it so quiet.
"But what me? What have I done?" I questioned him.
"I don't know, but she keeps saying it."
"Whatever it means it's not good. But we have to stop her from screaming." Jakob says.
"Okay what do we have here?" Booms a voice. I turn to see our Principle Lyon. The crowd that has gathered spilt in the middle to allow principle Lyon in.
"Get off of her now!" Ordered the principal oblivious to anything that has happened.
"You don't understand madam she attacked me and she hasnt stopped coming after me" I pledged.
"That doesnt make it any better. Let go of her this instant!" Principal Lyon demanded.
A movement catches my eye. I turn to see jakob slowly releasing Amanda and standing up. Amanda sensed that she was no longer captive and charged at me. I wasnt about to let her take me down without a fight. I turned and started to sprint out the door. I could hear her tearing through the halls to catch me. I turned down another hall and went to go upstairs when my toe caught on a lip of a carpet. Once again my body goes flaring through the air and landed with the force of Thor. I landed with my arm twisted behind my body. I wrenched my body to be able to see the target that was coming towards me. She just made her way around the last curve in the hall. She stopped and started to just stare. It was as if she was in quicksand. Slowly she ascended her way towards me. Her pace brings to quicken, I know I need get away. I scramble but my arms are not staying locked, her walk has begin to be a run. I know I cant get away at this point. I turn and face my attacker. Amanda does a full lunge and goes in for the kill. I bring my arm up to shield myself and brace for impact. Just imagine a force of of a herd of elephants. Now times that by 10. That's a glimpse of that this felt like. Then there was nothing. Is this what heavan is like. I open my eyes to see that Amanda is lying beside me. Just lying there, so still. I roll over and push her. She moans, her eyelids flutter and open. The swirling that has been there slowly starts to fade.
"Did something happen?" Asks Amanda oblivious of anything that happened.
"No, nothing happened." I respond with.
At that moment I knew, this wasnt the ending.
I wake up to beeping. Just over and over. A rhythmic beeping, each a second away from each other. I open my eyes to meet the brightest white light I have ever faced with. Pain flares through my whole head, dancing to it's own music. I grasp my head praying for it to stop stomping, never have I ever felt a pain like this one. I start to count. One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi, four miss- then it stopped. I open my eyes once again. This time I am faced with not pain but confusion.
This room isn't my room. Every corner of this dorm is painted with white. Many different shades. Each representing how many years they have lived. The walls are a new crystal white, the door is a creme that makes it obvious that it has seen more in it's lifetime. One thing catches my eye. A chair. A plain four legs that touch the linoleum floor. All wood but the cushion. The cushion is the darkest, deepest shade of black that can be imagined. Out of everything it's the only item that isn't white.
My attention is snagged by a noise from my left. I clamp my eyes close and pretend to be sleeping. I hear a set of two feet walking and I faintly a womans voice. I fight off the urge of talking to the person. The door which I think is connected to my room opens quietly and meets the frame again.
"I don't feel that she should be asleep for this long, it's going to mess up something in her body" says the woman
"It would take a least a month to start to wear on her ability to move or her health."comes from the man
I can feel the tube that is connect into my arm move. I restrain the feeling of pulling my arm away from the human.
"What even happened to her? " asked the woman.
"Some freak show at her school. I mean our taxes go to these building and it's also one of the most places where things happen at." said the man.
Their footsteps were receding out of the room, when I thought they were out of the room I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding. I opened my eyes and gazed among the room and was hit with this thought, how long have I been here? What did he mean about a "freak show"? When was the last time I ate. As if on cue my stomach grumbled. Not with just the urge of eating but the need for peeing. Im scanning the room to look for a bathroom when the main door flies open and a young adult runs in.
Without saying anything she turned around and ran away. Struck with fear I was paralyzed. Do I move? Do I hide? If so where would I do so at?
The young girl comes back in, followed with two older gentlemen.
"Hello, my name is Charles Thomas and I'm the head doctor here, this is Chaney Bryant my follow up, and finally this young lady is Julia Maria."
With each name I connect my eyes on their face. Charles was hitting his lated 50s brown tainted hair with white. You could see he used to be built in his prime state but now it's just extra skin. He looks as if he could be Hispanic but his eyes seem to throw everything off a cold water blue. Sparking with each turn.
Chaney is at least 45, still in his prime eith blond hair and brown skin. Its shocking to see someone who has such blonde hair have such dark skin. I dont this this is what pegged me as the strangest. His eyes are nothing I've ever seen before. The most silver eyes it couldnt be real. Soemthing you would think are those stereotypical vampire skins. I was so caught up on his eyes that he caught on. He cleared his throat and asked what I remembered.
I go to speak and nothing comes out. Nothing but just rasping.
"Julia go get some water." Demanded Charles. Without another word she nods and retreats outs of the room. My eyes trailed back to Chaney as with my curiosity. How does one contain such fair skin with the frost biting eyes.
His eyes connect with mine and I feel a jolt of electricity run through my body. Instead of dropping the stare I take it on for I know I am kidnapped and is held for my organs. These people have not told me anything much less than I fear I deserved. I hold my stare true and set sail to unleash my inner demons at this hansom man when Julia comes back in with a simple glass of water and a plate of fries.
"I thought you might be hungry, after being out for a couple days" with that she walks up and turns a tray on top of my lap and sets the water and the food there.
I scan the room and make eye contact with each person as if I am asking for permission. Without any evidence of non approval I reach for my glass and sniff it so carefully as if they would posion me. After thorough testing I took a sip. When that cool liquid started running down my throat it told me how parched I was. That little sip turned into me chugging it and being done with it before I was even ready for water. I look up and my focus was grasped by Chaney and he just smiles. And then I know if I wanted more water I would need to actually talk. After many false starts I finally pronounce water correct.
"Before we get more water I just want to know. How much do you remember from the last week or so?" Questioned Charles.
I try to recall the last thing I remember. Everything comes up blank. I'm searching and searching for something but nothing is appearing. I close my eyes and take a deep breathe in and hold it. Count 5 seconds and let's it out. What. Do. I. Remember. My mind is those disc when its scratched and it just freezes. And I'm frozen on the fact that I do not remember anything. I open my eyes and meet the eyes of the most emptiness eyes I have seen. And shake my head.
The happiness that ran acrossed Charles face made me realized that I need to be face with the possiblity that I have gone through something that I wasnt supposed to. And now they need to get with of the eye witness