Author's Note: I'm back!... Finally! Live has been pretty hecktic lately, but it's all good now. I've basically forgtten how to work this website...wow... It's been a while. I would tell you what I've been up to ut I'm sure you'd much rather like to read the chapter... and my new J.J. MOMENTS!!!! :). Anywho. On the subjuect of this chapter, I've been planning it since the day after I updated last. I just now got to type it.
And before I forget. I know this is really short notice, but I am guessing that there are 4 more chapters left... AT MOST. So I know you guys probably hate me now, but it really is almost over... I'm already sad. I'm gonna try to get these next chapters put out pretty fast, so I can work on a couple other projects that i'm thinking about doing. I'm sorry to bring sad news, but maybe the J.J. moments at the end of this chap will cheer you up... I really hope that you don't hate me :D!
Dedication: So not to Cousin Liz because she likes Canada more than she likes her beautiful, loving, caring, supportive best friend-cousin!... but then again she did help me with this chapter... Nah! No dedication to you Cuzzie!
Disclaimer: Even after 3 months, I STILL don't own anything! What a shock!
Chapter 36
Chloe POV
Someone was awake.
Okay, yeah. I know what you're thinking. I'm in a room with 15 other people. Bla, bla, bla. But I could feel something… an awareness in the room. It pulled me out of my sleep, just as the sensation of being stared at would.
I opened my eyes, feeling stupid… and tired… and looked around the room. No one was awake.
J.J. was sprawled out drooling over in one corner of the room with Dana wrapped closely around his side and I thought that she's probably the only person who could sleep with him.
Over in the opposite corner Halie, Kaylee, and Tori were surrounded by all the werewolves, Charlton, and Simon. That left Derek and I laying in the middle of the room… well Derek was about three feet away from me laying on his face-- you get the point…
"Hello?" I whispered, knowing I was overreacting, but it was just so eerie. I knew I was starting to become paranoid. It seemed like when I looked directly at something, it was still, but when I'd avert my eyes to something else, it would shift and twist in my peripherals.
"Huh?" Derek jerked up, only half-awake.
He laid his unfocused eyes on me.
"Nothing," I whispered. "Go back to sleep."
He sighed, but sat up completely and rubbed his eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. It's just-" I broke off. "It's nothing."
"Did you hear something?" he asked, fully awake now. I could seriously see him listening.
"No, no, Derek. I just…" I trailed off.
"Chloe, you really need to tell me if you saw or heard anything."
If he only knew that it was the lack of seeing or hearing anything that creeped me out.
"I just have this weird feeling that someone is staring at me. Like someone is watching my every move. I'm sure it's nothing."
He considered it for a second and then shook his head.
"Okay…"
I knew then he wouldn't sleep for the rest of the night. I mean… Derek just doesn't… agree with me.
Derek scooted back and leaned against the wall. He opened his arms and motioned for me to come to him.
I crawled into his arms and buried my face into his chest. I felt his lips on the top of my head, and I was asleep in a matter of seconds.
***
I was in a forest. The air was cool and when I looked up I could see the wind stirring in the tops of the trees.
The scene changed and I was looking out the window of a car, watching trees fly by. It smelled of the pine tree air freshener that my mom loved so much. I recognized that this was her car, but before I could look over and ask my mom if I could get a toy from Wal-Mart, the same thing I asked her when I was four every time we made a trip to Wal-Mart, I was back in the forest.
That was weird…
I shook my head, clearing it.
There was something eerily familiar about this forest, even though I was sure I'd never been here before.
There was a coating of moss on one side of the tree closest to me. The ground was cool under my… bare feet. I looked down. I was wearing a plain white sundress. My feet were bare and my short blonde hair had grown out to my waist, parts of it curled. Some small part of my mind, the rational part that is, told me I was older. My mid-twenties at least.
Where am I?!
I began to panic.
But then I froze because, again, I wasn't in the forest anymore. I was outside in someone's beautiful backyard. Bright green grass surrounded my feet and I could hear the faint gurgling of a stream, not far away. I could smell barbeque being cooked on a grill out on the patio of the house.
I looked up and there was a small black headed little boy playing in a sandbox, making a sandcastle. I looked to my right and there was a beautiful two story house. One like I'd always dreamed of living in. A small girl, probably three, ran up to me and tugged on my dress. I looked down into her beautiful, bright green eyes and she smiled and giggled at me. She was perfect.
The little girl tugged on my sundress and motioned for me to chase her, so I did. I ran after her, smiling because I was having just as much fun as she was.
The little girl ran behind a tree and then poked her head out from behind it and grinned at me.
I ran to grab her because figured out the little girl was playing tag. I was about to tag her when everything turned red and I was back in the creepy forest. I'd much rather be playing tag with the little girl or building a castle with the small boy.
A red light glowed dimly somewhere way back in the forest. I stared at it for a couple seconds.
This place is really giving me the creeps. My hair is three feet long, I'm bare foot in the middle of no where, and now I'm seeing lights that can't possibly exist… Signs that I'm finally going crazy…
I blinked and the light that was way out in the forest was now ten feet away from me.
I tried to yell out in fear, but suddenly something clamped down on my chest, something invisible, and cut off any chance I had of talking. So my scream of terror came out as a whimper of fear. Two completely different things.
I cried, but no tears fell. So, I silently sobbed, which was taking a lot of my little air supply.
I'd never been so frightened in my life. Getting told I was crazy and sent to an evil group home-- piece of cake. Seeing my first ghost-- easy. Getting shot at by people you thought that you could trust-- no sweat. But this- this was frightening.
I noticed that the light wasn't really a light, it was a person--a woman--with a glowing red aura. She had short black hair and tan, almost glowing skin. That slowed my sobbing down, but it didn't stop the hysterics that I was going into.
"Calm, child." The woman whispered.
Who are you? I thought.
"I am your only hope."
My only hope of what? I asked in my head, unfazed that she could read my mind. If you've seen what I've seen, it would hardly other you.
"A future." She whispered and smiled a devilish smile.
W-what?
"Your only chance to live. Your only hope for your friends to live. Your only chance of a future that doesn't consist of dying painfully."
I had to admit. That last part sounded nice.
"So you like that idea?"
Well, yeah… Who wouldn't?
"Good, good. Because I can help you."
Sure. It's a dream. You can do anything you want.
"You think this is only a dream?!" she roared. "I'm offering to help you, and you dare to think I am only a dream."
I hesitated with my thoughts
…Well….yeah….
She flew at me but faltered at the last second, right before hitting me. She murmured some things to herself that I couldn't understand.
All I have to do is wake up and you won't be here anymore…
"Fine! If it makes you feel better, then go ahead!"
I thought about falling asleep and the next thing I knew I was awake.
Derek had nodded off, probably against his will.
I looked to my left and there stood the woman.
I flinched, surprisingly not waking up Derek.
Did I summon her?
"No, child, I am a demi-demon. A dead one. I've been here thirty years at least. I cannot leave." She said
Why?
"That's not important, but if you have to know there is a magical spell on this building."
Were you serious about helping me?
"Of course, my child. As long as I get what I want in return."
Which is…
"To be released, of course."
No! I thought.
"Why ever not?" She asked.
You're evil! I can tell!
"You've guessed right, but all I want to do is punish the Edison Group for what they've done to me."
I started to get a scratchy feeling in the back of my throat.
No. I thought, sternly. I won't.
"So you ruined your friend's lives by existing and now you are going to get them killed and tortured and you won't even raise a finger to help them?"
That's not-- she cut me off.
"I heard your little conversation with your boyfriend over there. He promised again and again that he would help you escape. He won't let you die, but did you promise the same to him? Of course not you selfish little fool!"
But--no…that's not…no!
"But yes! You don't even care about your friends. You don't care about their fate!"
The itching feeling worked its way up my throat.
"No, child you will wake them!!!"
I sneezed.
J.J. shot up over in the corner.
"Demons be gone!!!" he yelled then went limp and fell back to the floor snoring.
"Bless 'oo" Dana whispered.
Derek jerked awake and looked around.
The demon started to flicker. I felt laughter--more like hysteria--bubbling up in my throat.
"I will know when you change your mind…and you will change your mind. The offer is still open." the demon whispered before flickering one last time and disappearing.
"You okay, Chloe? You look like you just saw a ghost… Did you just see a ghost?" he asked.
If he only knew…
I nodded slowly.
A/N: Here they are!!
Setting: Yesterday. We're having a black history program in the auditorium. Gets to the tribute to Michael Jackson. Guy dresses up like M.J. and lip syncs to "The Way you make me feel". People start clapping to the beat.
Someone in the back of the room: WOOOOO!!!!!!
*Everyone turns around*
*J.J. is standing up clapping, dancing, and singing along with the dude dressed up as Michael*
People: *whispering* Lets stand up! Come on! It'll be fun! Etc.
*Everyone in the auditorium stand up, claps, sways, and sings along with J.J.*
*Teachers pull out video cameras*
*
*Curtains close then open again after everyone sits back down*
*Dude dressed up as Michael is standing there*
*Seniors jump up out of their seats*
Seniors: WHO! WHO! WHO! WHO! WHO!
(Some of the most fun the school has had all year.)
***
Setting: Walking back from program.
J.J. sees Mrs. Harris and starts blowing kisses at her.
J.J.: I love you!
Me: *sigh*
*shakes head and walks away*
***
Setting: In the gym at our homecoming pep-rally. All day the cheerleaders gave stickers out to random people and whoever has a sticker gets t throw a pie at the cheerleaders. J.J. got a sticker…
J.J.: *bouncing up and down he's so excited*
*whispers to his friend beside him*
*J.J. and his friend start holding hands, pick out their cheerleaders, and tell the coach they want to go last.*
Me: ???… Oh, god…
*Gets to J.J.'s turn*
J.J.: 1. 2. 3!
*J.J. and his friend walk up to the girls, smash the pie in their faces, and then lean in and lick some of it off the side of their faces*
Me: *face-palm*
Cheerleaders: :O! *Hits J.J. and friend and starts throwing whipped cream at them while chasing them around the gym.*
*Couple of minutes later*
*J.J. stares at whipped cream on wall*
Me: He's gonna eat it!!!
J.J.: *scrapes it off of wall, walks up to Mrs. Harris, hugs her from behind, and wipes the whipped cream on her face.*
J.J.: Gosh, I love you! *runs away*
***