Present the Past- Chapter Six


I've finally worked my way past my writer's block- bit by bit, which is why this chapter took so long to get out.

I'd just like to say that from here on in, the story's going to take a turn for the dark. So I modified the rating a little...

And you all already know what chapter the disclaimer is located at. :P

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"Hello?" I snapped, picking up the phone. My parents had gone out to visit Senna's "grave", so I was alone in the house, save for my bag of Doritos and a Dr. Pepper. And I really didn't like being disturbed when watching TV on a Saturday night.
"April, did David or Christopher tell you what happened yet?" Jalil questioned, ignoring the tone in which I had begun.
"No... what's going on?" I asked.
"Senna... she... I found a note from her."
"A note?"
"In my mailbox. Addressed to me."
"What'd it say?"
"She wants to meet us, April."
I almost spit out the Dr. Pepper I had just guzzled. "Are you serious?" was all I could manage to say.
"Would I lie?" countered Jalil.
"No... I didn't mean... never mind."
"It's alright. Anyway, Senna says she'll meet us by the lake tomorrow around noon."
I nodded slowly. "Got it." I hung the phone up. My gaze returned to the TV, but my mind was in limbo- thousands of questions were running through my head. Would she try to kill us? Would we go back to Everworld? What would we have to do to kill her... again?

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I bounded downstairs. My parents were sitting at the kitchen table, a tangible silence hanging in the air as if they were communicating through telepathy. Their eyes were red- they'd been crying. Again. Their breakfast- untouched.
"I'm going out," I announced. "Won't be back until later today." My dad's head moved an inch or so, which I took as a nod.
I walked into the hall and put on my shoes.
Sad, I thought, that this could be one of my last memories of them. I stood in the hall for at least a minute thinking about that, before running back into the kitchen. I flung my arms around my mom in a bear hug, and kissed her on the cheek. I then moved towards my dad, hugging him, telling them both that I loved them no matter what.
Of course, they thought I was talking about Senna's death and my unconditional love for them. I do still love them. Even though my dad had an affair. Even though both my parents seemed to care for Senna more than they did for me right now. I still loved them. I wanted them to know that in case something happened to me- something that couldn't be undone.
I forced myself to pull away from my parents, telling myself that the others needed me now. That it was time to go and look death in the face.
I somehow managed to end up on the outside of my house, walking in a trance down the street, towards the lake. I didn't even think about walking. I didn't have to. I didn't have to move my legs, to command myself to walk- I was being pulled in the right direction. Just like the morning when it all began...
Today would be the day it all received closure.

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Christopher, Jalil and David were already there. Waiting for me. I nodded in greeting as I walked towards them. Acknowledging my presence, they nodded back. We were all at the lake, waiting for Senna to come. It was silent for a while; no one had anything to say. We didn't want to talk about the fact that we were rushing headfirst into an unpredictable situation. We didn't want to talk about the fact that we might not see tomorrow, either.
"What're we doing?" I said finally. "Here we are, about to encounter Senna, and we have no clue what we're going to do."
"April, I don't-" David started.
"I've been thinking," interrupted Jalil. "Have you ever seen Senna come into contact with human blood?"
"What're you talking about man?" Christopher said. "She's slaughtered dozens of people- don't you remember?"
"But has she ever actually touched someone's blood?" Jalil pressed. We all thought about that for a moment. "You get it, right? We touch her witch-y blood, and we die. She touches our blood, and she dies," Jalil explained.
"So... we shed a little blood, make a little sacrifice, chant voodoo spell and it's over?" Christopher said, barely even trying to disguise the sarcasm in his voice.
Ignoring it, I interrupted, "Listen, it's not much, but it's something- the *only* thing- we have to go by."
"But where will the blood come from?" David asked. I knew what he was implying- no man could kill Senna.
I would have to be the one to spill blood for Senna. I would have to kill her- again.
Jalil spoke up, "Just a little scrape on April's arm is all we'd need to kill Senna. April, you'll be fine. Nothing to worry about." Jalil's words betrayed the emotions I saw spilling across his face- worry, fear, concern... I looked away.
I had a sudden urge to run over to the side of the lake and throw up. My stomach rolled slowly with the mere *thought* of my blood washing over Senna, bringing her to her death.
I was about to take a step towards the lake, when a blinding light forced me to cover my eyes. I felt as if I were on fire- the warmth of the blinding glow tickled my arms, mocking the flames I saw on the back of my eyelids. But before I could react, it was over.
I cautiously opened my eyes. Thankfully, the four of us- Christopher, David, Jalil and I- were still at the lake. But now... Senna stood in front of us, a smug grin pasted onto her face.

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Look out for chapter 7 soon. :)