Shoot to Thrill

Sara showed me around the house first, like she was a realtor and I was a potential buyer. The room I liked the least (thankfully) was Matt's room, and that was great because I didn't have to stay there. It was a kind of creepy little basement room. When I first walked in, I was thinking of a circle kind of thing, like they did in the '70s. But then...I don't know, a shiver kind of ran through my back and I had to get out.

"Now, this is only a temporary settlement, but we've set up a bed for you in Wendy's room, so there won't be too much space for each of you. I hope you'll be comfortable here," Sara said in an apologetic tone. I shook my head at her.

"Don't worry about it, Sara. Thanks so much for tolerating me. I'm sure I'll love it here–" My eyes flickered over to the corner of the room, where–

Skin charred and hair singed, eyebrows that hung off the top of the eyes, which were frightening enough on their own, a blue that was too bright to be humanly possible. But if one thing was true, this figure wasn't human or possible by any standards. The face was blackened but showed hints of masculinity. The thing stood up and it–

"Juliet, are you okay?" Sara inquired, putting a hand on my arm, her face rearranged into a concerned expression. Couldn't she see him?

"Don't you see–" I waved my hand at the thing, but...it was...gone? "–that I love this room? It is great." Yes, it was a lie. No, there was no way I could have imagined that...that...deformity. It was real, it was right there, and it was something that could not have been explained by science or math or deductive reasoning. It was something else, something I didn't even know how to sort out.

"Alright. Well, I'm going to take Matt to treatment and Peter is at work. Wendy's downstairs with the kids, and feel free to make yourself at home. Are you sure you're okay?"

-Well? Aren't you going to tell her the truth?

"Yeah, I'm great. Thanks so much again, Sara. If it weren't for you, my summer would be no fun."

-Fine. Keep lying to her, keep lying to yourself, but you know you can't lie to me.

-Leave me alone. Can't you see I'm doing so much better than when you follow me everywhere? Just leave me alone for once.

-Leave you alone? You don't like to be alone, Juliet. You've never liked being alone. Besides, what if that thing shows up again? You can't be alone at a time like that.

-Go away, stop taunting me! I hate myself when you're here, I hate you more than anything I've ever experienced in my life so just leave. You're not doing anyone any good by being here so just get out.

Sara had gone. I was on my knees, my arms wrapped around myself, trying to keep the tears and the bile from rising inside me. I was alone now, with her, the one person I never wanted to be alone with, the person that took three years of therapy just to shut up. She wasn't that thing, she wasn't close to it, but she scared me a lot more than a torched body or a good scary movie.

She was me in the rawest, most terrifying way. She was tall and skinny, with cheekbones that I didn't have and red eyes that I knew weren't mine. But still, my face belonged to her, the one thing I couldn't get back however desperately I wanted it. She almost killed me when I was fourteen and since then I never wanted to be around her. She wore a tight black dress with long black elbow gloves and a big hat to shield her head from the sun. There was venom in her mouth instead of spittle, and no matter how you looked at it, she was evil.

-Look at the scum you are. Look at the filthy fat you've let yourself become.

She drank like a heavyweight and wore all the best clothes, the best accessories, and could buy anything she ever wanted. She had long, dark hair that she always left down and her large, almond-shaped scarlet eyes were always enough to make anyone uncomfortable with a good long stare. Her smirk was dangerous. She could outrun any car, truck, motorcycle, airplane. The two things she wasn't good at were eating and cooking. Because she took time and energy to stay skinny, and because she purposely burnt everything she cooked. She didn't like food or watching me eat food. She was my coach, my biggest fan when I managed to skip meals days in a row, and nagging and screaming when I disobeyed her.

-I'll nag and scream as long as I please to get you smaller.

-Just stop, okay? Is it that hard to notice that I'm happy now, without you always messing everything up?

-You don't know the meaning of happiness.

-Nor do you, so please go away.

Her tongue flicked out from between her teeth like a snake's, but she kept quiet in the shadows, at least for now.

Now that I was back to the somewhat normal world, I felt that it had gotten a lot colder in my and Wendy's room. Even though the sun was still clear outside, even though it looked warm and pleasant, I was freezing now. And it couldn't have been my imagination, either, because every breath blew out foggy clouds before my mouth. I was suddenly aware of my surroundings, the two beds placed against opposite walls, the closet door ajar and the mirror reflecting me, and behind me–

That thing again. It was walking to me. Neither of the arms were outstretched, no loud scary music played in the background. It was just walking, like an old friend from school that wanted to catch up with me when he hadn't seen me in ages. And when I turned around, it was still there. I closed my eyes. Breathing. Breathing. Air in, air out. I opened them again. The thing was gone, replaced by a boy.

The only thing identical about the black thing and the boy was the eyes, the bright, shining beautiful cerulean pools. The boy was just slightly taller than the black figure, with fair skin and a baby-face. The hair was dark brown and shaggy around the neck but the bangs just barely brushed his eyes. His lips were pressed into a thin line. He wore a starchy white collared shirt and stiff dress pants and shiny dress shoes. He was tall, about as tall as Matt, if not taller. His lips curved upward to form the ghost of a smile, if you'll forgive the pun.

"Afternoon, Miss," he whispered, then, taking my hand in his, it was soft, too soft, planted a kiss on the backside of it.

"What are you?" The words escaped. And I was worried about offending him. Let me make this clear: I was frightened that I had offended this boy who'd come into my bedroom of out nowhere. To my consolation, he chuckled, and cradled my face with his free hand.

"They call me Jonah. And you must be Juliet. 'Speak again, bright angel, for thou art as glorious to this night, as is a winged messenger of heaven, unto the white-upturned wondering eyes of mortals, that fall back to gaze on him when he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds, and sails upon the bosom of air.'" He sighed, and I actually felt the air on my cheek. "Forgive my audacity. But do take my words into consideration: you are a beautiful being, Juliet. It distresses me that I may not be your Romeo." He came closer, and kissed my forehead. And I blinked again. Jonah had vanished.

As if he'd never been there in the first place.