-- Are You Scared --
I crossed the bloodied war field of the basilica. The ghosts of many scattered throughout the room, looking vicious, with us as their targets.
They weren't themselves though. They were V. She was the evil that I needed to stop. She was the brain, the boss, the bitch.
There was a buzz in the air, like static electricity. It was just waiting for its discharge, its final, grand shock.
I could feel my blood pumping coarsely through my body. I'd been fighting for a while and didn't know how much I could endure before I eventually collapsed of exhaustion.
Nonetheless, I just kept moving forward. The basilica had never felt so large before now. And all I wanted was to make it to the end.
I elbowed an oncoming ghost and watched the blood fly from his nose, before he collapsed heavily to the ground.
I could handle the big, muscle men, or trashy women, it was the little children I couldn't deal with.
I couldn't hit the ghost of an eight year old girl, wearing a pink dress with a bow in her hair, even if she came charging at me. I did my best to dodge those ones, or at least just toss them on the floor.
My fist landed on the cheek bone of a teenage girl, around my age. I had to continue to tell myself, that it was either them or me, and they were dead.
I saw, in the corner of my eye, Father Dominic and my mother trying to defend themselves by the confessionals. They were peaceful people, and sad fighters. My mother's shriek startled me and my gaze shot towards the ghost of a man who'd grabbed her.
I wanted to run and help her. I wanted to use my new powers, although I knew I couldn't. They would work, but I'd be even more tired, and I had to save my strength for V. Besides, a moment later a fist planted itself in my stomach.
I pitched forward, trying to hold down my last meal. Slowly lifting my gaze, I saw an angry looking soccer mom. I nailed her just as hard in the stomach, trying not to think of my mother, "How do you like it?" I shouted in her ear.
My fist slammed down on her back, and she collapsed to the floor.
I saw my mother had freed herself and was once again beside Father Dominic. But that wasn't the pressing matter anymore, currently, I was being surrounded by ghosts that were closing in and I wasn't sure what to do.
They moved in sync, bumping against one another. Their feet heavily stomping on the cold floor. I sucked in a deep breath of air and hoped I'd succeed.
I took a large step and a leaping jump before I slammed a foot into one of the scrawnier ghosts. He collapsed beneath my foot and I climbed over him, trying to quickly escape the grasping hands of the pack.
They were sluggish. The ghosts, I mean. Because V had to control all of them, she was slow with them. Their only weakness and our only advantage.
Other than that, they were brutal and didn't hesitate to slam something against the side of our heads.
They didn't tire, and even though we'd been at this for a good part of the hour they weren't out of breathe—they don't even have one—unlike me.
My destination was clear. I had to reach V. I had to stop her. If I ever wanted to live the rest of my life, to fix the broken, and write more than the end, I had to reach her.
She stood at the back, farthest from the door. Standing in front of all the pews, of all the ghosts.
I bitterly began running towards her. Trying not to be distracted by the fact that the sweat traveling down my brow itched, my feet were sore, and my entire body was littered in bruises, from punches I couldn't block.
A group of tough looking cookies stepped in my way. They were cookies without chips, they were cookies without sweetness, and I wasn't sure what I'd do. But, I was so close.
I didn't know if I could move around them, or even hit one of them. They were big, tall, and looking quite nimble, while I was small and unarmed.
I've always prided myself on being able to kick the crap out of anyone, but this was one of those times where I just knew I couldn't do it alone.
Could I?
I looked at one of the benches to my right, weighing out how desperate I really was. Realizing that it was imperative, I concentrated, flicked my head, and watched the bench fly towards the three.
They crumbled to the ground, with a grunt, forming a lump of ghosts. I leaped up and over them, ignoring the urge to cheer, as something came swinging, meeting my right temple.
I dropped to the ground, landing hard. I tried to blink the blurriness from my vision, but it wasn't leaving. The last I saw was Jesse trying to combat past the aggressive ghosts.
---
"Ha-ha, how cute."
I pulled my head away from Jesse's, the rain falling all over us, to see her standing there. The blonde hair lying thickly on her shoulders, untainted by the water. She was completely dry.
She put her hands together, and slowly began clapping, the sound rippled through the cloudy day in an unreal rhythm. "If this isn't adorable. Ex-ghost and 'Super Mediator' together again. Breaks my heart that I'm going to kill you both…," she said, sighing. "Hah, what am I talking about? That's going to be the best part of taking over the world."
Jesse let go of my hips and placed me on the ground. I shivered from the rain and from the hideous evil, I was glimpsing at. "You won't win, ever, you're not smart enough."
"You're so ignorant, Susannah, of course I'll win. I've already defeated your family once; I can defeat you just the same." She looked at her hand, interest missing from her features. It took everything in me to not run up to her and slap her across the face.
"Well, this is boring," she said, placing a hand on her hip. "See you tonight, Losers."
And she shimmered away.
I felt Jesse's hands on my hips. "I'm fine," I lied. I didn't need to tell him that I was scared that I would lose, that she would defeat me.
"No, your not," he said, as his hands turned me, and tightened their grip, holding me close. "You lie."
"I lie," I said, softly. "But I can't do anything else."
Jesse nodded understanding what I meant. And we turned to the mission, walking in step, we went back inside.
Paul looked between the two of us, smiling. My mother's eyes lit up cheerfully, while Father Dominic looked like he'd been expecting it.
"Don't bother asking," I sighed, smiling. "Come on, we have a battle to prepare," I said, putting on a brave face.
"The church is going to get destroyed again, isn't it Susannah," Father Dominic asked.
I chuckled, slipping back into the darkness.
---
I became alert to my surroundings.
An evil crackle cut through the loud grunts and roars of agony. I opened my eyes, staring up at the stars. She was unleashing a hell and I was quickly losing time.
I propped myself up on my two elbows, glancing at my surroundings. There were just so many ghosts scampering around, attacking the ones I loved.
I forced myself up, swallowing the fiery pain erupting in my head. Standing, I realized there was no way getting through the hordes of spirits. I was stuck.
I shut my eyes, hoping with desperation that something would magically pop into my mind. Nothing did. What did happen was a board slamming against my back, knocking me down on my knees.
Lying back on the ground, I found my route. I pulled my elbows up in front of me and dragged my body forward. Slithering along, I moved between the feet of the ghosts.
The floor's scent filled my nose with an indescribable smell. A drop of sweat trickled down my brow, but I ignored it and continue to pull myself along.
I hit the stairs at the front of the church, and knew I'd reached my destination. I scuttled to my feet, poised to fight.
"Hey you, how's about we have a talk?" I screamed up to her floating body, hovering above the rest of us with some sort of higher class.
Slowly her head rotated towards me, her eyes made of pure hatred, and I knew I wasn't dealing with the same monster I'd met in the graveyard.
She was pissed, angry with me for what I was about to do. "Be quiet," she spit at me like venom. Two ghosts came charging towards me, obviously sent by her.
I wasn't scared, although I knew I should be. It was unrealistic, like a game. All I had to do was press the A button and I'd jump, the B button to kick, and push the toggle as far down as I could and I'd duck.
I wasn't living this experience; I was watching it through a fogged window. Things a blur, even as I slammed my fist into the nose of a 200 pound beast, and kneed another in the groin. It was all so unreal.
I turned my attention back to the flaming monster on her floating cloud. I reached my hand in the air, hoping that my newly acquired powers would draw V down. My mind began to ache as I concentrated on the invisible barrier holding her up.
I heard a shriek, and peaking through an eyelid I saw that I'd brought her down to her knees, while the other ghosts collapsed around the church.
"Stop it," she muttered, angrily.
I tried to speak a no, but all that came out was a discontent grunt. Her eyes turned towards me and I finally felt the first feelings of being scared.
They were so red. Pure hatred, blazing towards me, and I began to fear that if they didn't stop boring into me, that I'd burn.
Ignite in flames, a spontaneous flare, a flicker of light until I was ablaze. A nauseous feeling rose in my stomach and I quietly, but hurriedly tried to swallow it.
It froze in my throat, a lump forming and growing larger by the second. "I'll kill you," she said, her thick syrupy voice corrupted by the evil in her eyes.
I sputtered as her hand flicked in my direction. A thick coughing erupted and I felt my air closing off. A wheezing and all too much blood to my head as if I was being choked. My hands went straight to the feeling, clawing at my neck.
I realized, abruptly, that the pain wasn't there because someone was strangling me with his or her hand, but rather a power, unleashed to destroy my being.
With a rapid flick of my hand in V's direction, I had her choking and struggling just the same as I was. Her hold on me was kept, but I watched her wrestle with herself and felt the small lump in my throat muffle.
She squeezed harder, and so did I. The tighter she went the tighter I got. We fought until both of us couldn't hold it any longer, dropped our hands and collapsed on the dusty floor gasping for the sweet taste of air.
I rolled over and jumped to my feet. "NOW!" I screamed, but much to my dismay, my voice was gone, a lumpy scratch, a muffled cough, a sighed hiccup. It was gone, and V was back on her feet.
I was out of plays, I was stuck in the unknowing, with nowhere to go. I was angry with myself for my ignorance, and I was angry with her for her violence.
I ran forward, in an attempt to kick her, but she knew it was coming. I was thrown to the ground.
The darkness was coming back quickly, enveloping me furiously. My body shut down, my eyelids closing.
Fight.
The voice slipped into my head, softly willing me, and I saw this afternoons events.
---
"Suze, how is it that you always leave your car at the beach. I mean, how many times do you have to go back and get it?" Paul said, walking beside me through the mission, on our way to the parking lot.
"I didn't mean to forget it, just such events rose and I got busy," I pushed the door open and stepped into the crisp warm light of the Saturday afternoon.
Yeah, that's right, warm light. It stopped raining about an hour or so after it started. Talk about peculiar weather.
"I thought you just said that you forgot your car?" Paul questioned.
"I did."
"Isn't that it over there?"
Sure enough, about eight spaces out; my car was parked glistening in the light. "Thanks Tom," I muttered.
"Huh? Who's Tom?" Paul asked.
"Oh, um, no one, never mind," I answered turning back around.
"So we don't have to go to the beach?" Paul asked, annoyed.
"No."
"And what were the events that arose that caused you to forget to get your car?" Paul continued.
"Jesse."
"And how did you end up in the back of the basilica when you clearly weren't there before?"
"Materialization."
"But how'd you…"
"Paul, stop asking so many questions," I said a little frustrated.
"It's your own fault. You should tell me the story from the beginning and I'd stop," Paul spoke childishly.
"Okay. You dropped me off at the beach. I saw Jesse; we had a slight argument, and something about his thoughts confused me. Then he disappeared, I stopped in the grass. This ghost, well, not ghost, but guardian angel, my guardian angel appeared. He told me I was ready for my ascension. The place was so much like Shadowland, except so opposite. Anyway, then I reappeared in the basilica. It would make sense that my car would still be at the beach, but its not. I'm assuming Tom did that. Tom's my guardian angel, if you didn't catch that," I took a huge breath, then turned and continued walking.
"Wait a minute. You got an ascension, that means you have more powers," Paul said, walking alongside my step.
"I guess so."
"Do you know what you have, or how to use them?"
"Paul, I thought you said you'd be done with the questions."
"Just answer it, Suze."
"No, but Tom said that I would know when the time was right."
"Suze. Come with me, right now," Paul said, firmly, grabbing my hand and taking the lead.
"Its not like you're giving me a choice," I shrieked, slightly.
Paul dragged me into a classroom and began pushing the desks against the wall. "Give me a hand, will you?" He asked, continuing.
"What are you doing?" I said, flicking the light switch on. The florescent lights flickered before brightening up the entire room.
"We're going to find out the extent of your powers," he answered, sliding a chair across the room with his foot.
"Why would we do that?" I asked, as I pushed a desk aside, moving onto the next one.
"Shh, Suze. Just do what I say, okay? Enough with the questions," Paul snickered.
"Fine," I muttered.
---
Fight.
The voice softly came back. Whispering to me.
Fight.
I sat upright, even though the blackness was still all I could see.
"Now," I shouted, finally finding my voice, my arm outstretched, focusing on holding her still.
---
"No Susie, you can't fight like that. No wonder the ghosts always get a few good hits in," Paul sighed frustrated.
"Don't call me Susie, Pauli." I said, breathily. "And you know I'm a good fighter," I swung a fist towards his head, and when he slid away to duck and I rammed an elbow down harshly on his shoulder.
He grunted, and dropped to his knees. "Don't actually hit me, dummy," he said, harshly.
I couldn't help but giggle as I threw him a towel to wipe his sweat, and grabbed the Styrofoam cup of water. The liquid felt amazing sliding gently down my throat.
I coughed as I pulled away; leaning on one of the desks, we'd pushed against the wall, while we fight in an empty class room.
Father Dominic came in, my mother and Jesse following behind. "There you two are. Okay, I've found the verse that describes what we have to do to beat her," said Father Dominic.
"What do we gotta do?" I asked, nonchalantly. The last time I saw V, I was terrified of what was coming, now, not so much. I knew what I had to do; it was just a matter of doing it. And if I fail, well there's always Radiantland.
"Um," sighed Father Dominic, "You have to get to her, and hold her still. If she's moving and has control of her powers, she can find and stop us. Then we recite the line that Paul found earlier and…" he trailed off, looking down at the opened book in his hand.
"And?" I queried.
"And you have to plunge something into her heart," he said, softly.
"Uh, EW. Okay, what am I stabbing her with?" I asked, shuffling to sit down on one of the desk.
"Susannah, please, do not be so blunt," he looked at me a little disgustedly. "Stake, most likely, just something that'll turn her heart black."
"Yeah, cause meat is really going to do that," I said, smirking a little.
"Susannah, not funny," Father Dominic said, crossly.
"I thought it was," I said softly.
"Your scared, aren't you honey. You always do that when you're scared," my mother piped in.
"Do what?" I asked, folding my legs into an Indian position.
"Use sarcasm, and make jokes like that. Honey, are you scared?" she asked, softly and very mother like.
"No mom, I'm not scared," I paused, "Okay, maybe just a little but come on, it's not the usual thing a teenage girl does. I'm just nervous."
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Yes, mom." I waited for a moment, silence between us all. "Okay, good. I'll say when and then it's left to you guys to chant before I jab her with a pointy stick," I said, hiding the slight worry in me.
I couldn't help but grin a little when I saw Father Dominic's grimace look.
"I don't know if I like this," Jesse said, looking between us all, "You'll have to get to her, make contact, and then holler for us. What if you get hurt, she's strong we all know she is, you're most likely going to get hurt."
"Jesse," I sighed, coming to his side, "I'll be fine. I can do this; you just need to trust me."
"But—" Jesse started.
"No Jesse, please. I know I can do this." I smiled, as he gave in, and nodded. "Okay then, let's see this stake."
---
The room became quiet as only the four of us began chanting. The words made no sense to me; I didn't bother for a translator.
"Wir verbannen thee mit der Energie von love."
I thought with all my might to hold her down and stop whatever movement she tried.
"Wir verbannen thee mit der Energie von family."
She wiggled and squirmed. I had to concentrate harder.
"Wir verbannen thee mit der Energie des strong eins."
I raised my arm to plunge the wooden stake right into her heart. Just like, I was told to do, just as it was planned.
Until, the stake fell out of my hand, and the instant choking feeling rose up my throat.
My whole body was stiff and fell limp to the ground. I tried to keeps my eyelids open but they wanted to close. A red haze enveloped my vision and I was thrown back into the darkness.
---------
Wow. Finally, I updated. Sorry for taking forever. I'm horrible. Anyway, hope you liked the update, I'm thinking I have two more chapters to go. If you had trouble understanding what was going on, I'll clarify. When it changes scenes all of a sudden, it's like a flashback to that afternoon.
P.S. the part about the tough looking cookies, I was inspired by the cookies I was eating.
Tori. xo