Adalynn

"Adalynn, honey. It's time to wake up." Mom's voice came through muffled.

"What? Why?" I groaned, stretching. My muscles remembering the torment they endured.

"I got a call from Julie this morning."

I shot up, immediately regretting the decision as a dizzy spell washed over me. So Julie would call and inform my mother, but not her actual client. My thought process paused for a second, my Mother?

"She seemed very busy, but the call seemed very urgent. She said today you had to catch a bus for a camp that you submitted to go to. A summer camp that will connect you with others of your nature?" She looked at me puzzled. I looked back with heavy confusion, my brain all fuzzy.

"Uh, yeah." I bowed my head and ran my hand through my hair. "I only did that a couple days ago and I forgot to mention it. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, sweetie, I'm really glad to see you taking care of yourself. Go ahead and get dressed, and pack a couple bags. It's only eight-fifteen, so we have time."

She patted my thigh and retreated for the door, not before turning to face me again with a sweet smile. "No wonder you've been sleeping since yesterday."

Closing the door behind her, I flopped back on the bed in uncertainty. Was the Julie thing just a dream? What about Blue? Or was I supposed to call him Johnny now? Was Mom not my actual Mom? Was I adopted?

I stretched with a pain-filled groan and rolled off the bed to get ready for the day. Not before catching sight of my computer. I paused for a moment. Could I figure out what happened last night? I pulled a chair up to my desk, opening a browser.

Dream invasions. Best described as a dream walking. But also tethered with Astral projection. I had to have been researching trying to understand for at least an hour. I had found different things about witches, and what they could learn and teach themselves when it came down to dream walking. But it was extremely difficult unless they were quite advanced. I sat back in awe trying to comprehend everything I had just read; because it all made sense.

"Adalynn, it's just about time to go," Mom called from downstairs.

I jumped to my feet in search of my bags. One under my bed and the other in my closet, I stuffed both with as many clothes as possible. A toothbrush. A hairbrush. Shampoo, conditioner. The necessities.

"Come on sweetie, I want to make sure you get some food in your tummy!" Mom called from the kitchen.

Barrelling downstairs, pulling a shirt over my head, I fell into the kitchen and plopped down at the dining table to enjoy a small plate of eggs, bacon, and toast. The sun peeked over the bushes and onto the kitchen floor, warming up my socked feet.

"You got everything?" I nodded. "Okay, good. We should leave here soon, ten-ish minutes." I nodded again.

Keep that jar close.

A soft familiar voice echoed deep inside me.

I fingered the jar and tucked the necklace into my shirt as Mom eyed the necklace. I scarfed my food and sat back to finish my glass of orange juice.

"Let's get your bags in the car." Mom ushered out the door with keys in hand.

I ran back upstairs to grab my bags. Not before running into Blue.

"Blue!"

He held his finger to his lips. He pulled me in by my arms, a chill ran up my arms, a chill ran along my skin and up my spine, only to have a wave of comfort follow. We stood there for a minute, and a solid feeling of loss sunk into my chest.

He pulled away to kiss my forehead and gave my cheek a gentle rub, as a sympathetic look washed over his face, as he began to fade. I gave his hand a squeeze before he completely vanished. That melancholy feeling came swamping over me.

"Adalynn, sweetheart. It's time to go." Mom called up the stairs, her footsteps echoing throughout the house. Grabbing my bags, I began to leave my room, not before catching sight of the journal Julie gave to me. I grabbed the journal and made my way to Mom's Hyundai. The trunk was already open, a small draw-string backpack sat lonely in the far right corner. I threw my bags alongside the backpack and hopped in the front seat.

I must have blanked because Mom and I were now pulling into the lot where I'd load up on the bus. when it would arrive. Mom gave me a side glance as she pulled the car into park.

"You don't seem ready."

"I'm not," I said with a tremble.

"You know-"

"Mom. I need to do this. I need to figure myself out."

She gave me a soft smile before stepping out of the car. I rubbed my eyes, ran my fingers through my hair and proceeded to stretch. A moment later I watched the bus pull in, a school bus. I sighed and hopped out of the car to grab my bags, which were now placed on the concrete ground.

Mom smiled at me and pulled me into a tight hug.

"I'm going to miss you so much."

"I'll keep you updated, and I'll call you as often as possible."

Mom pulled away, tears welling in her eyes. She smiled and nodded trying to avoid talking and letting that crack in her voice come through. She held me again before I broke the silence to let her know I had to go.

Saying our last goodbyes, I made my way to the bus.

I stepped up the stairs to meet eyes with the bus driver, a tiny, tiny bus driver. She eyed me and gave me a side smirk as she looked away to hide a giggle and turned back to me.

"The middle seats are going to be your spots."

"Oh, okay."

She turned back in her seat, "and don't make eye contact."

Fear started to bury itself into my skin. I guess I'll watch my feet until I come upon an empty seat. Should I can ask someone? I looked up and I was battered with glares. Okay, that answers that.

"Hey gurrlll, sit here." A skinny, curly, red-haired boy smiled at me with a crooked smile, pimples smeared over his face. "Come on, I'll make sure you have a good ride." A gag burrowed in the back of my throat.

"Can you, like, not?" A girl sitting a few seats back on the opposite side of the bus stood up. Long blonde hair dangled down by her waist in loose waves, her light brown brows raised as she gave me a purely white smile.

"You can come to sit with me, how many bags have you got girl?" I smiled and handed her my smaller bag, and tucked the other below the seat.

"My name is Samara." She smiled again.

"Adalynn."

"Oh, it's lovely to meet you! We are going to be the best of friends!"

"That's relieving, I'll need some help through this." I gave a worried giggle and she grabbed and squeezed my arm.

"Now don't freak out the new girl, Sammy." Another girls' voice rang out as the bus's engine came to a start. Samara whipped back, smacking me with her hair.

"Don't call me that." I turned back to find a petite fawn-haired girl, with freckles over her cheeks, and a sneaky smile.

"You're welcome to have a chill ride with me too new girl, we chill with music back here instead of a gaping mouth that never stops talking."

"Uh-" I began.

"You're fucking with the wrong bitch, Elaine."

"I'm so flattered, you remembered my name." She battered her eyes.

Samaras' lips pressed together in a hard line, her eyes twinkled and a low, gutteral growl escaped her. The other girl, Elaine, stared back with just the same intensity as a corner of her mouth lifted. The air seemed to become dense, and hostility was strong.

Heavy waddling footsteps, followed by a thump thump, came barrelling down the aisle of the bus. The bus driver with a wooden, what looked to be hand-carved, cane in hand, even smaller than what I thought she were, stepped between the two although they were several feet apart, and glared at both of them. The bus suddenly seemed to become eerily quiet. They ignored her and continued their nonverbal attack on one another until the driver spoke:

"Of thy blood of fae and blood of vamp, I condemn the hatred spread among race and bind you till days end. May thy see from chamber within mind and bear till dusk." She slammed her cane into the ground three times.

Their looks of pure dare and malice turned to kindness and endearing smiles. I looked to the driver as she turned to return to her seat, I, very confused watched as she turned back to me with a smirk that Elaine had only moments ago.

"Remember no more, of the few minutes that have passed, thy memory expunge." She turned and continued walking slamming her cane into the ground another three more times.

The driver buckled in and began our route. I turned to find Samara and Elaine actively enjoying a conversation about converse and their favorite skate parks. I plopped down in the seat I shared with Samara and rubbed my temples as the pain began to sink into my brain. So much for a relaxing ride.