Authors Note: Sorry everyone for taking so long to write more but I finally have more for you all to enjoy.
Chapter 8
Claudia woke up the next morning sad still. She got out of bed and walked down the stairs sadly and walked into the kitchen. She didn't feel like eating but she decided to anyway. She went to her fridge and pulled out two eggs. She began frying the eggs. Her father sat down at the table and waited for her to finish. She made eggs, toast and bacon for him. She placed his plate in front of him with salt and pepper. She grabbed a piece of toast to eat and left for school, she wasn't sure how she would make it through this day.
She walked slow but knew she would get there on time. She plucked a leaf off a tree over her head as she walked. She looked at the leaf, it was orange. She dropped it on the ground after deciding she didn't want it. Claudia entered the school and headed for the office. She was told by her teacher to pick up work from the year. Claudia walked into the office. She stood and waited as the secretary helped the person ahead of her. She looked out the office window beside her. She looked at the two people walking down the hall. She froze when she realized one was Lucy and the other was Vincent. She swallowed. She was talking to him about something. He didn't look too interested though. He was clearly staring off into space clearly unnoticed by Lucy. Claudia watched him. He nodded every now and then. Suddenly his eyes rolled over to the office where she was. They locked eyes. Claudia turned fast back to the secretary who was ready for her. "I'm Claudia Wolf; I was supposed to collect my work." Claudia said.
"Ah, yes. I believe this is all yours then." The secretary held up a stack of papers and books.
Claudia grabbed them and stuffed them in her backpack. She was still weak so the books were only slowing her down. She turned to leave and almost ran into Vincent. She looked at his face. His silvery braces reflected in the light. "Claudia, are you ok?" He asked her.
"Yes, I was just… Surprised to see you after all this time." She lied.
They both knew it was a lie. Vincent nodded. "Yeah, it's been a while. If you need anything, or help with math-"She cut him off.
"I'm sure I'll be fine." She looked down and scooted past him to the doors.
"Wait." He said.
She stopped and was reluctant to turn around. She turned to look at him. "Yes?" She asked looking into his emerald eyes.
"Look, me and Lucy, its-" She stopped him again.
"I really have to go, Vincent." She said continuing on fearing the tears would come early.
He didn't chase her this time, but watched her go sadly. She ran to her house but tripped several times. The last time she fell she stayed there. She was under a big apple tree. She laid there on the ground. She sobbed. It was so hard to even look at him now. She wished she could heal her legs. They hurt so badly. She began wishing so hard they would heal. Suddenly, she felt them tingle. She slowly rose up. She didn't feel the weakness in them anymore. She began to run again. She felt the power inside her stomach. She wasn't weak anymore. She was getting stronger. At least her legs were.
She ran inside her house and up to her room. She was actually happy to be away from school now. She dropped her bag onto the ground. She felt the pain in her back as fast as she put it down. It made a thump on the floor. She wanted to see if she was actually helping herself when she 'healed' her legs. She willed her back to be ok. It tingled but no longer hurt. She smiled. She was doing things now, but how? How could she heal herself? She had a memory of Rosewater Park when she had fallen in the lake. Could it have been her prayer? "Maybe." She smiled.
Claudia began doing some of her work. She decided to work on one subject at a time. She started with English. She worked on it and completed half of it all in that day. She loved to read novels in that class and she did a good job at answering all the questions. Claudia decided after many hours of completing the work she needed to make dinner. She walked down the stairs and decided to get out the spaghetti. She began mixing the sauce. She looked over at the paper lying on the counter. A young girl by the name of Jessica Rideau was reported missing. Claudia looked at the picture; the girl had dark brown hair, brown eyes and a small frame. Claudia realized this was a girl from her school. Claudia shook her head. Some people could be so sick. She continued stirring the food. She felt relaxed by making dinner. She took the time to places the noodles in the boiling water and left them to cook. Claudia heard a knock at the door. Her father answered it. "Yes, go in the kitchen." Her father said to the person.
Claudia looked puzzled but watched. Vincent proceeded into her kitchen. "Claudia, I really want to talk to you." Vincent said.
Claudia looked somewhat upset by his presence but figured it would be a good idea to listen to him. She pulled out a chair and sat down. He remained standing. "I came to ask you if you wanted to come to my house and visit me." He asked.
"Visit you?" She asked.
"Well, if you don't want to…" He said turning away.
"Why should I?" She asked.
"I really need to speak to you in private." He said looking in the living room where her father was.
She sighed. She wasn't sure if she wanted to be going anywhere with him. She walked into the other room. "Father?" She asked.
"What?" He snapped.
"Vincent wishes to help me in math today; after I prepare your dinner may I go to his house?" She asked as politely as possible.
He looked over at Vincent. "Yeah, that boy attends church and listens well. I have high respect for him." Leonard smiled with the pride she had never been shown.
Claudia marched back into the kitchen and began setting up for her father, clearly nervous to talk to Vincent. He sat there watching her. "You don't have to rush." Vincent said.
She ignored him and began putting the food on her father's plate. She placed it on the placemat where he usually sat. She cleaned up and looked at the spaghetti. She wanted some but knew Vincent was waiting. She looked at him and signaled it was time to go. She walked past her father. "Dinner is ready." She said to him.
"Why don't you grab your work?" He said so it didn't seem so suspicious.
"Yes. I'll be back." Claudia said.
Claudia walked into her room and placed her math work in her arms. She walked slowly out of her room. She was afraid of what she was going to hear. She walked out the door with him but didn't say a word.
Claudia sat down on a bench at Rosewater Park beside Vincent. This is where he wanted to tell her the whole story. "Claudia, I could tell when you saw Lucy with me, it upset you. I didn't understand until a few days ago why." Vincent said.
He knows how I feel about him? He knows I care? She wondered. "Then, why did you go out with her?" Claudia asked.
"She seemed nice to me, she was the one who asked me. She took interest in me, and I don't have that happen a lot." He said.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"She asked me the day you fell into the lake. I thought it would be ok. I didn't know you had a problem with us being together until she told me why." Vincent said.
"She told you! I knew she'd catch on!" Claudia said realizing she made her feelings somewhat obvious in class.
"Catch onto what? Claudia, she told me you hated each other since you were little." Vincent said raising an eyebrow.
Claudia blushed feeling embarrassed. "Um… Nothing." She said looking away.
"Anyhow, I've decided that since you two don't get along, I'll be with her when you aren't around so you don't have to see her. I'm not one of those people who ignores there friends for a girlfriend. Friendship is just as important." Vincent smiled.
"Yes… Friendship..." Claudia tried to choke out a humorous laugh.
"I'm glad you understand." He said smiling with his glistening braces.
"I have another question." Claudia said thinking back.
"Why did you stop visiting me after so many months?" Claudia asked.
Vincent's face fell slightly. "Claudia, you must understand, seeing you like that, it was too hard. I began to lose hope that you'd ever wake up. It scared me." He said looking down.
Claudia read other emotions on his face other than fear and friendship. She could feel something deeper but she didn't know what it was. "Well, seeing as how you have all your books, shall I help you?" He asked.
"Oh, please." She nodded.
She took out her books and they began working side by side on the bench to complete the work. Claudia was content working so hard with him. She felt like she was free. He finished up the last page with her. "Good, I think you're really catching onto this math." Vincent smiled
She smiled. "Why do you still like me, even though your girlfriend doesn't?" Claudia asked.
"Because, I've known you for a while now, and when I really like someone, I don't give up on them easily." He explained.
"Do you really like Lucy?" Claudia asked.
He looked down. "Yes." He didn't sound so sure.
"Are you sure?" She asked.
"Look, I don't think it's important to talk about this with you." He said.
She figured he was right. "I had better get back." She said.
"Yeah." Vincent walked her home.
Claudia talked with him some more. "Why do you refuse to answer my question?" She asked.
"Because." He said simply.
"You don't really like her do you?" She asked.
"Its not that I don't like her, its just that someone keeps getting in the way." He said.
"Who?" She asked.
"I'm not telling you." He smiled.
She figured it was someone from school. Claudia continued to walk to her house. "So, we're still going to get together to work on math right?" Vincent asked.
"Yes, of course." Claudia said.
"Ok, well, if you need me. My numbers in the phone book." He smiled to her.
"Ok." She smiled.
She walked in the door. She didn't see her father in the living room. She walked into the kitchen. The spaghetti was now in the fridge. She decided to pour a small bowl of it. She heated it up on the stove. She looked around some more for her father. He was in his room and the door was closed. She decided to leave him be. She took her spaghetti off the stove and began eating it. She was happy her and Vincent were at least friends. She still wanted more. Her situation was purely bitter sweet.
She finished her bowl and rinsed it off in the sink. She was about to head to her room when her father appeared behind her. "I'm going to church, you're coming too." Leonard said.
Claudia knew if she refused, she'd be beaten. She decided that since she'd never attended a night ceremony, it might be interesting. She put on her shoes and followed her father out the door.
They walked inside the church. Leonard led her further back in the church where she had never ventured before. The room was rather dark compared to what she was used to. There were followers all around talking amongst themselves. "Ah, you brought her, thank you Leonard." Dahlia smiled.
"Why did I need to be here?" Claudia asked Dahlia.
"Well, I'm aware you took interest in the clan." Dahlia smiled.
"Yes, I do." Claudia replied.
"We're allowing you to witness one of our rituals." Dahlia explained.
Claudia felt a bit of pride swell inside of her. Dahlia walked her to a seat. Claudia looked around at the members. They were all wearing hoods that covered their faces in shadows. Claudia felt a very uncomfortable feeling in her chest. She looked at the front of the church. It was as though he was on a big stage. Her father was standing there in his night robs wearing a hood as well. Claudia watched as her father silenced the talking church. "Today is the day we celebrate! For it is the day our victorious God created the land we stand on, the sky we look at, the air we breathe!" Claudia watched as the crowd cheered.
"But what has the world done to show gratitude? Nothing!" Leonard yelled as the crowd started up again.
"Today, I will offer one we have been saving for a while, to pay our God back for all the non- believers will not show her!" Claudia looked around at how captivated they all were by his words.
"Now let the ritual begin!" Leonard yelled enticing the followers to watch.
Leonard signaled two followers to bring out the sacrifice. Claudia was worried that they would bring out an animal to sacrifice, instead she froze as she saw them dragging out a woman. Claudia immediately recognized the girl. It was the missing girl, Jessica Rideau! She had tape over her mouth and wrists. Claudia watched as they placed her kneeling on the ground. They all watched excited. Claudia was scared she'd never saw a human die before. She didn't want it to happen. She wanted to jump off her seat and scream, but she couldn't even move. "And with one breath, our God came, she created the dawn and the water, and with that water, she created humans. She created blood that is pure, but soon, many became tainted. I will give this tainted blood to our God to become pure once again! I must pour all of it, my sacrifice with be for the good of our God!" Leonard yelled to the crowd.
The girl cried hard but knew she couldn't stop him. All of the cultists chanted, Claudia found it was very eerie. She watched in horror as her father picked up a knife. The girl looked at Claudia; she was the only one whose face was showing. Claudia and Jessica both exchanged looks of horror. The girl began trying to say something to Claudia but it was muffled by the tape. It sounded a lot like 'help'. Claudia looked into the girls eyes. Claudia suddenly could feel something. It was as if Claudia could feel the same emotions at the same time. Claudia began to cry silently. Claudia watched as Dahlia pulled back the girls hair so her neck was fully revealed. The tears streamed down her face. All Claudia could think about was all the people in her life; it was as though she herself was up there to be killed. Her father ran the blade once, swiftly across the girl's neck. The blood began to pour out. Claudia could feel herself being drained of life. Claudia fell on the floor. She began to twitch. She didn't know what was going on. Dahlia noticed this and went over to her. She carried Claudia as best as she could to the stage. The sacrifice has been made; my daughter was pure of heart, has taken in the soul of the girl. Now that her soul is trapped, we can give her to our God." Leonard smiled.
Claudia felt horrible now. She could feel the girl inside her. She wasn't just brought there to see the ritual, she was brought there to be apart of it. Claudia was dizzy. She was losing control of her body. Two other followers each tied a rope around both of Claudia's hands and made sure she couldn't move. She was seeing memories she never had. She saw herself blowing out candles on a cake that had the number twelve on it. She felt a woman kiss her forehead as she was tucked into a bed. Claudia wished these memories were hers. They were so happy. Claudia felt some liquid pour onto her head and then she heard strange chanting. All she knew was this girl was strangely apart of her. She wasn't sure which was real, her own thoughts or the girls. She was confused at to if her life was even real. Dahlia places a bowl under Claudia's head. Claudia felt a cut on her upper arm. She began to cry, it really hurt. Her tears landed in the bowl. Her father began talking again, she didn't know what he was saying, she was too lost in the girls memories. Suddenly Dahlia picked up her tears and poured them over Claudia's head. She could feel the girl slowly slipping out of her.
It was like a force was lifted from her body. Claudia suddenly regained her own thoughts and she was fully aware of who and where she was. She stood up and the cut on her arm was no longer visible. It was amazingly horrific. The dead girls' body was lying motionless on the ground next to her. Claudia looked at it sadly. This girl was special. She had an actual life. She was happy. She had dreams. Claudia knew all of them. Claudia wished that even if the girls' life was so short, that she could have been her. Dahlia undid her ropes and Claudia began to leave the church. She felt emptiness inside herself. She wished her mom was still alive. She would have given her a good life. Her father couldn't give her that; he loved her to be so unhappy. She hated it. She hated him for it.