Bewitched

Chapter 9

I looked at her seriously, my face deadpan. I didn't believe her. "W-what?" I stammered out.

She grabbed my arm and started pulling me out the door. "There's no time to explain, Suze," she breathed out. She pulled me out the door, not letting me even tell my mom I was leaving the house.

About five minutes later, she pulled me up near this tiny house. I had never really been to this part of the village before, because I had no need to.

The next thing I saw really surprised me.

CeeCee hid us in a shrub nearby, but we could still see what was going on outside of the house. A poor woman being taken away onto a carriage with two other women bound to the inside of the carriage.

A million questions floated through my mind. Who were they? What did they do? Where were they being taken?

None of my questions were answered, however.

"Okay," I whispered quietly to CeeCee, "I have had enough."

She nodded and we quietly scampered out of there.

- § -

I rolled over in my bed. I couldn't sleep. The scene that had unfolded before me only a few hours ago was still replaying in my mind.

I still couldn't fathom what was going on. I was extremely confused as to what was happening around me. I just didn't understand how some people could be so heartless.

But I guess you should never underestimate the human race.

I sighed and got out of bed. I walked over to my window seat and sat down on it, gazing out the little window in front of me. The village was still, but there was still that lingering sense of inhumanity hanging around.

I closed my eyes for a second and tried to rid myself of all my negative thoughts; but it didn't work. I just kept thinking about it too much.

What was going to happen tomorrow when everyone found out that there were more people accused?

Chaos.

That was probably what would happen. That's what I was anticipating. The people in this village just couldn't comprehend what was happening. Even I was having a difficult time understanding what was going on, and I was very open-minded.

But, I wondered, who accused them this time? Was it Kelly and Debbie this time? Or . . .someone else?

I shook my head and tried not to think.

I find that when you try not to think, you think even more.

I sighed resignedly. I just wanted answers to questions that I couldn't have answers to; and I hated that, very much.

But . . . wait.

Jesse.

He can give me some of the answers I needed. He must have seen something.

I sat up straight and looked around my room.

Okay, what did I do last time? He said I called him . . . but I didn't say anything . . .

. . . but I thought about him. I guess if I just think his name . . . ?

Jesse.

I opened my eyes to find nothing.

Jesse.

Nothing.

Jesse!

I sighed when nothing happened again. Lately it seems that I can't do anything right.

Just when I was about to give up and attempt to go to sleep, Jesse appeared. He looked at me expectantly. "Susannah, what is wrong?"

I was so glad to see him, you have no idea. Sure, it had only been a day since I had last seen him, but it seemed like an eternity.

That's why I did what I did next. Or, that's what I kept telling myself.

I threw my arms around him and hugged him. To say he was shocked would be a major understatement. He tensed up beneath me and just awkwardly stood there.

I realized what I did and quickly removed myself from him. "Sorry," I muttered. I could feel my face heating up considerably. Luckily it was pretty dark out so that he couldn't see it.

"It's all right, Susannah," he said. He looked at me and smiled. "Now, what is it that you called me here for?"

"I . . . I don't know if you've heard or not, but . . . well, there's been another accusation, Jesse. I just - I wanted to know if you knew anything about it . . ."

He blinked. "Yes, I know about that, Susannah." He shook his head. "I don't know much about it; but I do know that it's a young woman, probably a few years older than you."

I nodded. I all ready knew that much. All the hope I had of having some of my questions answered disintegrated, leaving behind a pang of guilt. Why I felt guilty, I really do not know. It could have been a number of things: not being able to do anything about the (innocent) people being accused; the pain I have caused my mother with not being a 'normal' child; or it could have been the sudden inappropriate thoughts I was having about a certain ghost that was standing right in front of me.

"Thanks," I said. I really meant it, even if it wasn't much help to me.

He smiled. "You're welcome."

Then we fell into an awkward silence. Among the things I hate the most are awkward silences. I mean, you want to say something to break it, but either you can't think of anything to say, or what you want to say just isn't right. And then the silence keeps growing and growing until someone just has to say something, no matter what it is.

And the person who happened to break it was Jesse. "Susannah," he said. "I . . . you don't realize how sorry I am about what happened the other day . . ."

I stared at him blankly. What was he talking about? Then it hit me. He was sorry that he kissed me. Why? Was I that horrible to kiss?

"Um," I said unsurely. "It's okay, Jesse. It's - no, it's fine."

He looked at me uneasily. "You are sure?"

I nodded. "Yes. Yes, I'm sure."

He breathed a huge sigh of relief. Or, that's what I think it was.

There was this feeling inside of me, then.

Rejection.

He was sorry that he kissed me. Like it was some horrible, vile thing to do, and he just wanted to rid himself of the memory entirely.

You have no idea how bad that made me feel. I felt . . . unwanted, unloved, and disgusting. That a ghost even thought it was gross to kiss me. But . . .

Paul.

He looked like he wanted to kiss me. He seemed like he liked me, and even wanted to kiss me. And, yes, I wanted to kiss him, too. He was unbelievably handsome. He was unlike most of the other men in this village, this new place. He was real, alive. Something Jesse will never be.

And if Jesse didn't want me, then maybe Paul would.

"Susannah? Is everything okay?"

I shook my head and looked up at Jesse. Just looking into those inky black eyes made me want to burst into tears. Those were the eyes of a man that I . . . that I . . .

Oh, dear, I can't even get myself to write it, let alone say it.

Oh, hell.

I was in love with him. But — but it didn't matter anymore. He didn't return any of my feelings. None whatsoever.

"Um, yeah," I said. "Just, yeah. I just realized something, is all."

He quirked an eyebrow. "Realized what?"

"Um, that I should be going to sleep now."

He nodded. "Yes. Yes, you should. Sorry to keep you awake." And he dematerialized.

I didn't mention that I was the one that had called him.

All hope of actually falling asleep dissipated. I buried my face in my pillow and started sobbing out all my problems.

What had I ever done to deserve this?