Halloween was always one of my favorite holidays. Just the freedom to be someone else for a night without being called a fake or phony was great. The sugar high at five in the morning was something to look forward to. The marathon of Halloween Town on TV was tradition. Coming home after a long night and snagging whatever candy was left was mandatory. Going out with my friends and getting scared shitless was priority.
But this year, Halloween was taking a turn for the weird as soon as I came down stairs.
Sitting at the kitchen table was an old woman, with long grey hair and leathery looking skin. She had sharp looking eyes and a small nose. Her lips were pursed and hands were folded on the table. In front of her was a large, leather book.
"Um, hello." I said, trying to be polite. "Would you like some water?"
"No, thank you." she said in an odd sounding accent. I blinked.
"Would you, um, like something to eat?" I asked.
"No, I am fine." she stated, looking at the book, pursing her lips even more.
"Um," I tried again. She cut me off.
"I am fine." she repeated, looking at me, then back at the book. I nodded, closing my mouth. A few awkward moments passed by.
"Who are you exactly?" I asked, finally.
"My name is Sophia. You mother and father and I are old friends." she said, tearing her eyes away from the book again. I pretended not to notice the irony.
"Erm, where exactly are my parents, if you don't mind me asking." I said, twirling my hair around my finger nervously.
"Your mother went to go get your father so we could all talk." she answered. As if on cue, my parents came bounding down the steps, a serious expression on both their faces. My mother's eyes landed on me and she smiled.
"Hi sweetie. I see you've met Sophia. Why don't you go up to your room?" she suggested. I blinked in confusion. I was about to say something until my father motioned for me to go.
"Muevete mija." he said. I sighed and trudged up to my room.
Page Break
I hadn't noticed I was asleep until I realized that I was in a garden. This garden was different; unrealistic. There were trees, and the trunks were a deep blue, while the tree tops were different hues of pink and purple and red and orange, some even as blue as the sky. There was a river, running through the center of the garden, a deep, clear shade of sapphire. Over the river, was a historic looking bridge covered in purple ivy in contrast to the blue colored bridge. Sarah rested on the bridge, hands on the the edge of the ivy covered stone.
"Hello." she said, a relaxed smile on her face.
"I'm asleep because of you." I accused. "I wasn't tired at all, but yet here I am," I sighed, looking down at my own white dress, not quite as beautiful as Sarah's, " and here you are."
She only shook her head and smiled. "I merely... assisted you to sleep." she stated, a sly grin growing on her face. I narrowed my eyes at her.
"So you did make me fall asleep!" I insisted. Sarah shook her head again, this time, pursing her lips.
"No, no, no." she said. "I was not the one who decided to lie down on her bed. I was not the one who closed her eyes. I was merely the one who brought you to the dream realm."
"The dream relm?" I repeated, in fascination. "That's where I go when I fall asleep," I guessed, unsure.
"Yes, and no." she said coming down to meet me in the grass. "The dream realm is one place, but there are many sub-realms, which is where people go when they dream. It's like a sanctuary that stays the same and changes as you grow older and you can bend it to your will." she explained.
"So, is this mine?" I asked, looking around. She smiled and chuckled.
"No, your sub realm is the rose garden from last night."
"If that's my sub-realm, then why didn't it seem familiar?" I asked, brushing my hand down the trunk of a very old looking tree.
"People seldom remember their dreams, let alone their sub-realms." she explained, picking a purple flower. "It's a place hidden deep in your subconscious that you cannot remember while you're awake."
"If this isn't my sub-relm, then where are we?" I asked, in confusion.
"I am sorry, but I cannot be the one to tell you." she said, looking forward as we walked.
"You say that all the time. What can you tell me?" I asked, exasperated.
"I can only tell you this is a place you will visit many times in your life, not only in the dream realm, but with others in your conscious life." she said, glancing at me quickly.
"There are others like you?" I asked in horror. She looked at me, eyebrows raised.
"I will pretend I did not hear that." she said, pursing her lips. "But yes, there are other earth bound spirits quite like myself, although that is not what I meant."
"What did you mean, then?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at her questioningly.
"I cannot tell you that." she said again, sighing. "I've never been to the real place, myself."
"Wait, then how are you showing me?" I asked, curious.
"I've seen this place in other... minds that are similar to yours. That is how I know you will need to visit this place."
"So, wait. You've gone in other people's heads? I thought you said only I could talk to you and see you?" I asked, confused.
"Yes, and it is true. But because no one can sense my presence, I am able to see inside their minds. After the... accident, your mind became clearer and you sensed me. That is how I was able to talk to you." she explained, smiling at me.
"Sarah... What's it like?" I asked. "Being dead?" I heard her take a deep, shuddering breath. I looked at her and she motioned toward a hammock and a cushioned reclined chair. I conquered the hammock while Sarah sat on the chair.
"It is very painful." she began. "You hear doctors say that you die peacfully and feel no pain, but that is not true. Its the most painful thing in the world. Nothing like I've ever felt before. I would not wish it on my worst enemy." she said, as her eyes glazed over in the memory.
"How... did it happen?" I asked carefully.
"I was in an accident. My husband and I, we were on our way to our children's school to see a play. I remember tires screeching and the awful smell of blood; glass everywhere and it was so wet outside. My husband lost the use of his legs and I lost my life." Her voice was low and monotonous and there were silent tears flowing down her cheeks.
"I was numb, and when I saw all the blood and glass everywhere..." She took a shuddering breath. "I closed my eyes and then, I was floating, looking at the scene that had just happened like I was someone else. The car was totalled. I saw my body and my husband.. My poor husband. It wasn't his fault. A young man ran a red light, and the breaks locked and we just.. skidded into a light. I didn't feel anything when I died. But realizing I was dead... Realizing that I'd never see my children ever again, that was the worst kind of pain I'd ever felt. That day, almost seven years ago, I became alone in the world and no one could see me. No one could hear me. Until... you."
Page Break
When I walked down stairs, it was well past midnight, but my parents and Sophia were still at the table. I hid behind the wall closest to the kitchen, sitting against it; I had a feeling this was a conversation that I wasn't supposed to hear.
"We need to tell her, very soon." said Sophia in a grave voice.
"How are we supposed to tell her?" asked my mother. "She is only fifteen and she's already had so much to deal with."
"Rosalinda, the wolves see her as a threat. She needs to be aware of her powers so she can control them." said Dad. It was quiet for an awkward minute, and I wondered who they were talking about. "We need to show them that Mirabella is not a threat."
Whoa, what? I could feel my forehead creasing in confusion.
"And how are we supposed to tell her, Alex? We can't just tell her that she was born into a family like us... Luigino doesn't even know. The gifts skipped him, thank god." cried Mom. I gasped, before clamping my hands over my mouth, wide eyed.
"Shhh!" someone hissed. It was dead quiet for a long moment. "Sorry, I thought I heard something." apologized Sophia quietly. I silently sighed in relief of not being caught.
"Rose..." Dad began. "I know we wanted our kids to be normal, but..."
"Mirabella is not normal." finished Sophia, dragging out each word in her accent that now reminded me of a Russian. "She is one of the most powerful wi-"
"Don't. Say witch." spat Mom with so much venom in her voice.
"Rose, we can't hide her from what she is." said Dad in a strong tone.
"Alejandro is right, Rosalinda." chided Sophia in a hard tone. "Mirabella's fifteenth birthday is approaching fast, and she needs to know before then before her powers hit her full force." I could picture Sophia's hawk-like eyes narrowing at my mother.
"We've kept a very important part of her life from her, and now it's time she knew, Rose. I can't keep her heritage away from her- my heritage away from her. Maybe you can keep yours away, but I can't do it anymore." said Dad in a tone that sounded final. I narrowed my eyes in anger. How could they keep something this important from me? How could they not tell me who I really was; who I was supposed to be? I thought parents were supposed to help you grow up, not lie to you and keep things from you! I felt my blood boiling at that thought.
"Alex, I grew up feeling like I was a freak. I'm not going to let our daughter grow up the same way." she said, and there was a loud bang. Did my mother really think of me that lowly? I felt my heart pounding in my chest, and my veins felt like they were going to burst. I closed my eyes and clutched my head.
I felt so angry at that moment; more angry than I'd felt in a long time. I felt hurt and betrayed and like I didn't know who I was. This conversation had thrown my mind through a whirlwind and I was so confused. I clutched my head tighter as the blood flowed through me faster and faster.
All of a sudden, I heard something that sounded like rushing water. My mother screamed, and chairs screeched across the floor.
"What the hell?" cried my mother. I peeked into the kitchen and saw water flying out of the drain in the sink. My eyes widened in shock and immediately, the water stopped, leaving the ceiling, floor, and the counter drenched.
"What the hell just happend?" demanded my father. Sophia looked in my direction and stared me straight in the eye.
"Your daughter's powers just happened." she said calmly, as if she'd known I was there the entire time. Mom and Dad's heads snapped in the direction she was looking so fast, I was afraid their necks were going to snap.
"I think," started Dad. "we're going to have to talk." My mom ran a hand over her face and looked tired suddenly.
"First, we clean up the water," suggested Sophia, looking around the dripping kitchen.
A/N: So I'm very happy with this chapter. I didn't get that many reviews on it, so I appreciate those who did comment on it. Thanks yuh guysss :) Anyways, I've been addicted to pie the last few weeks, and apple cinnimon oatmeal. It is goood. Also, the show Ghost Whisperer is very addicting and Desperate Housewives, two shows which I just started watching like, two months ago. AWESOME. I totally recomend.
Anyways, Hope you liked this chap, review please :)
Thanksss ^_^