Getting out of my car, I lock the door and start walking down the hill. I turn around to see Lyra sitting in the car, fear seizes all over her body.
"Lyra, get your ass out the car!" I yell to her. I see her shaky hand open the car door and get out.
"I don't wanna." She wines.
"But you gotta." I mimic her. "The faster we do this, the quicker we can leave." She walks from around the car, her feet stomping on the ground.
"Can't we just go to the flower shop and buy the flowers?" She asks.
I roll my eyes at her. "No, we can't she will be able to tell the difference. Do you want to be the Junior that failed Environmental science because she was too scared to go into the woods?" I asked her. She thinks for a few seconds and finally gets her answers.
"Fine, let's just hurry this up. I'm not trying to get mauled by a werewolf." She grunts.
"There's no werewolf out here Ly. He was 'captured'." I start looking on the ground for the first flower on our list, Solomon Seals.
"That means absolutely nothing. He could be in a pack of wolves. A pack of wolves that are angry at humans and want to kill us." See, she does this. Thinks of dumb scenarios to freak herself out, then I'll feel bad and let her bail. Well, I'm not reaching for the bait.
"Stop being so dramatic and help me look for Solomon Seal flowers." I demand.
For our environmental class, we have to find three different flowers, which are the Solomon Seals, Bellwort's and Bishops Cap flowers. Once we found them, we have to put them in three different living environments and see if they thrive in that environment. Right now, Lyra is getting on my nerves about being afraid of wolves coming to kill us. It's broad daylight, I don't even think they are out in the morning anyways. Oh god, why am I thinking of this? I'm not scared, damn Lyra.
"Are these it." She asks plucking some flowers from the ground. I walk over to her and observe them.
"Those are it. Put them in here." I hold open a plastic bag, she puts the flowers in the bag and we continue on looking. As we keep looking, my phone buzzes erratically in my back pocket.
"Who is that?" Lyra asks walking up to me. I let out a sigh and turn my phone off.
"It's Alexander. He's been texting me like crazy." I huff as I look for the next flower on our list, Bellwort's.
"Well...aren't you going to answer him back." She looks at me with a dumbfounded look.
"No, I will not." I say bluntly.
"Don't you think your being a little bit dramatic?" I pause from looking at the flowers and face her with a lifted brow.
"No, I don't think I'm being 'dramatic.'" I say, mocking how she said the word. "He mysteriously left me for like two weeks and then broke into my house, by the way, and told me out of nowhere that he loved me, but wouldn't give me a reason why he left. I can't be with someone who's untrustworthy."
"That seems really romantic if you ask me." She speaks.
"In theory, but in reality, not so much. You can't tell someone you love them and then keep secrets, it's a little redundant." I reply back. If he loved me as much as he said he does, then why is he keeping secrets from me?
She holds my hands in hers and looks me deep in the eyes. "Quinneth look... There are some things that people keep from each other, it doesn't mean they don't love or care about them. Some things are meant to be kept a secret."
"Bu-." Lyra cuts me off.
'Didn't you tell me that he wasn't lying about being with another girl or doing something illegal." I give her a nod. "Then forgive him, let him tell you where he was on his terms. I see the way you look at him and the way he looks at you, text him back Quinn." She pats my cheek and resumes looking for the Bellwort's.
Maybe I was over reacting a little. It's just nagging at me, I can't get it out of my head. For once, Lyra is actually making some sense. I let out a sigh and pull my phone out of my back pocket and turn it on. I send Alexander a message, telling him that I want to talk, just talk. Putting it back where it was, we look for the Bellwort's.
Turning around, I find the bright yellow flower. "Found the Bellwort's." I put it in the plastic bag next to the Solomon's Seals. Walking deep into the forest, I look for the last flower on the list. Turning to the right, I hear a rusting of bushes and leaves. Then, Lyra stops and yells out a shrill of a scream.
"Ly, calm down, it's probably just a bunny or something." I reassure her.
"No Quinn, it's a blood eating werewolf coming to seek revenge." She holds onto my shoulder, gripping it firmly.
"Calm down." I pat her hand that's digging into my collar bone. Walking closer and closer to the unknown thing behind the bushes, an animal pops out. It's a wolf, particularly, the wolf that I rescued at the clinic a couple nights ago.
"KILL IT QUINN!!" She screams loudly while handing me a huge, long stick. I grab the stick from her hand and throw it on the ground.
"It's fine Ly. I know this wolf." I walk up to him, slowly, and pet him on the head.
"What are you, in the wolf clan now?" She asked jokily.
"No. When I filled in for you at the clinic this wolf was outside the door in the bushes injured. I bandaged him up and took him home with me."
"Let me get this straight." She says pacing back and forth. "You had a rabid, possibly killer wolf in your house."
"Does it look rabid or a killer to you." I move away from the wolf so she can get a good look at him.
"It wants you to think that it's calm and then it will maul your face off." She spits out.
"Who's being dramatic now?" I give her a smirk. The wolf moves away from me and begins walking deep in the woods.
"Where is he going?" I whisper to myself. I follow him deep into the woods.
"Where are you going?" Lyra asks with a shaky voice.
"I'm following the wolf; it's taking me somewhere. Just stay here." I yell to her. I speed up, trying to catch up to the wolf, god he's fast. Suddenly, he stops at a tree. He turns around and stares at me with its big green eyes.
"Uh ok... what does it mean?" He places his paw on the tree, he wants me to put my hand on it. I tilt my head to the side , confused. Staring up at the tree, I notice that it looks... Familiar. It's an oak tree, the exact same oak tree from my vision at the shop 2 days ago. This is getting really freaky. Might as well just do what it says.
Kneeling down, I place my hand gently on the tree, a vision overcomes me. My eyes move around erratically, trying to understand what I was being shown.
I see a bunch of women, screaming as a man is tying them to a wood post. Tears stream down their faces as they scream for help. There's something weird though about it. I see in the back four women who are higher up than the other girls tied to the post, the thing is, they're not crying or looking in any sort of pain. They may be more important than the the others, that's why their placed higher. The men walk to the post and set fire to it, all the women below them let out painful screams, I can smell their burning flesh in the air. One of the four women looks at me and tells me, "Danger, Danger."
As quickly as it came, the vision is over and I'm back in reality. The wolf looks to me.
"Danger. She was telling me Danger." I whisper softly to the wolf. He nods his head at me and runs off.
"WHAT DOES IT MEAN?!" I scream at him. Before I can get an answer, he's already gone. Once I realize I wasn't getting any answers, I walk back over to Lyra.
"What happened?" She asked.
"Nothing, just wanted to show me something, come on let's get back to the car." I say ushering Lyra to the car.
"Wait! Aa much as I would love to leave this god forsaken place, we haven't found the last flower." Flustered, I look around for the flower, and find it behind a tree.
"Look, got it." I throw it in the baggie and walk quickly to my car with Lyra trailing behind me.
"Are you ok?" She asked trying to figure out the expression on my face.
"Just fine. Get in the car." I say in a demanding voice.
I open the door and hop on in. Putting my hands on the steering wheel, they began to shake. Lyra looks scared.
"Ok Harlequinn, your totally not ok. Your hands are shaking like you saw a ghost. Tell me what happened back there." I sigh and turn to her in my seat.
"Remember when I told you about Sasha, the girl Myer's was with across the street, came into Ida's shop the other day?" She gives me a nod and I continue. "Well anyways, when I was handing the money to her, our hands touched. When they touched, I had this... vision of an oak tree, bloody hands and four girls in a tomb."
"Umm creepy, you're giving me Bonnie-Bennett-witch vibes." She speaks.
"I'm serious Ly, it was freaky weird. Then, the wolf led me to a tree, and guess what? The tree was an oak tree, the one that was in my vision. When I touched the oak tree, I saw a bunch of women being burned at the stake, their piercing screams surround the air. What stood out was four girls that were higher up than the others, one of the girls told me Danger." Lyra looks spooked.
"That's really vivid, and kind of scary. Start up the car I don't want to be out here anymore." I start the ignition and drive down the road.
"I mean what does the vision mean? Obviously, the visions are true, because I saw the oak tree." I turn the corner. That means the bloody hands are next, do I end up killing someone or do they kill me? It's only 10 in the morning, and so much has happened.
"It sounds like the Salem witch trial to me." Lyra says while filing her nails.
"Salem what?" I asked.
"The Salem Witch Trials." She tells me waiting for a response. I look at her confused, she lets out a deep sigh and turns to me. "You never heard of the Salem Witch Trial?" I shake my head. It sounds familiar, but I don't remember anything about it.
She goes on to explain it to me. "Back in the 1600's these women in Massachusetts were accused of witchcraft. A bunch of trials were held in town, persecuting over 200 women, but only 20 actually died. Some were burned and the others were hanged. It was actually quite interesting, but gruesome. I can't believe you don't know about this, you're the genius one." While Lyra keeps talking about how she's smarter than me, I drift into thought.
One question looming over, why me?
Pulling up to Lyra's house, I park the car.
"Alright, if you have any more visions call me, ok?" Her crystal eyes stare intently at me.
"I will, I promise." I give her a side smile.
"Fine, see you tomorrow." she grabs her stuff and walks up the pavement to her house.
The Salem Witch Trial, how did I not make the connection. The real question is, why am I getting visions about it? What does the wolf know that I don't know, he knew that If I touched the tree, I would get a vision? God this is going to have me up at night.
The Next Day...
"Hi ma'am." I say nicely to the librarian. Her red glasses hang off her nose as she looks up at me.
"Hello honey what do you need?"
"I was wondering where would books on the Salam Witch Trials be? Or just like historical fiction?" I asked curiously.
"Go up to the 2nd floor and it will be towards the back. You'll see a section called Gothic non-fiction." She points out the directions to me on the library map.
"Thank you for the help?"
"What is this for? A school project?" Her voice, sweet like honey.
"Umm. Just some curious research." I give her a side smile and head on up the stairs.
After dropping Lyra off at home yesterday, I got to thinking about wanting to do more research on the Salam Witch Trial. I immediately drove home and did some research to see which library would have the most books on the topic, and to my luck my very own St. Helena Local Library had a thick section on it. I honestly didn't want to have to drive out somewhere that was to far away, thank god this library had what I needed.
I climb the next set of curvy stairs until I reach the second floor. This is the biggest library in town, its where everyone goes to get any type of information they need.
These books may have some key information on why I'm having visions of women being burned at the stake and also the names of the four women who were tied higher than the others.
Arriving on the 2nd floor, I look up at the signs to find the section.
"Romance... fantasy... yes Gothic non-fiction." I silently say to myself. Going through my bag, I pull out a crumbled piece of paper that has the list of books I wrote down yesterday. Chocolate smudges the corner, I got super hungry while researching. I wanted to make sure I knew exactly what I was looking for before I came here.
Dragging my finger on the books, I suddenly find one. It's called "The History of Witches in Massachusetts". I take it from the shelf and tuck it under my arm. Next on the list is a book called, "The Salem Witch Women."
Below where the other book was, I find it. Once I stand up and walk to the other side of the bookshelf, I run into a wall. I don't remember there being a wall on this side of the library.
"Sorry didn't see you there let me help you." The deep unrooted voice says while picking up my books. All I can see is his bright red hair below me.
"It's ok, I'm known for being clumsy." I tell him as he hands me my books. Once I get his full profile, I realize how beautiful he was. I know he's a guy and I should be saying that he's handsome or fine, but no he's really... Beautiful and majestic looking.
He has this shiny porcelain skin, bright red hair and hazel eyes the color of chocolate I ate last night. "Umm are you ok? I don't think I hit you that hard." He waves his hand in front of my face. I jump back to reality, he might think I'm crazy now.
"I'm ok, I daze out sometimes."
"Don't we all. So, what are you a witch or something?" He asked curiously.
"Why would you ask that?" He points down to the books, forgot I had them.
"No, just doing some light research." I say shaking the books.
"Doesn't really look light." He taps on the cover. "You need help?"
Usually, I would say I don't need help and walk around aimlessly, but not today, I actually need some help. "Yeah, would you mind, I don't want to inconvenience you." I say shyly.
"It's fine, I don't mind helping out so what are you looking for?" He asked.
"I'm looking for some books on the Salem Witch Trial." He walks in front of me while looking for some books. As his eyes roam, looking, he spark up a conversation. "Do you go to school around here?"
"Yeah, Batcaver's." I respond.
"Cool school, went their two years ago." He doesn't look like a college student, even if he is in college or not.
"Do you go to college?" I asked curiously. He picks up a book and hands it to me.
"Used to. Now I'm on a gap year." He finds two more books and hand them to me. "Are these enough." His crystal eyes stare deeply at me.
I clear my throat and tear my eyes away from his and look on my list. "There's one book on the list that we haven't found."
"What's it called?" He leaned over looking at the list. His hair smells like strawberries and mango. I point to the title. "The Eyes of the Witch, that book's not here, someone checked it out last week just leave me your name and phone number and I'll let you know when it comes in." He takes a piece of paper and pen out of his back pocket and hands it to me. I don't even know this guy, why would I give him my information?
"Sorry I don't feel comfortable giving you my information. I'll just give it to the women at the front desk." He lets out a huge laugh clutching onto his stomach.
"What's so funny." I asked confused.
"I umm... I work here." He itches his head. My cheeks flush from embarrassment. "It's ok, you don't have to say anything or apologize. People say my vibe isn't fit for a library, I find it to be a compliment. Is that all you want?"
"It seems about it."
"So, you want to write your info down now." He hands me the pen and paper again. I take it and write down my information. He grabs the paper and pen back and looks at with a weird face.
"Your name is Quinneth?" He asked.
"Yes, is there something wrong?" He shakes his head frantically.
"No, just a very interesting name. Really Beautiful."
"Thank you." I give him a shy smile. I realized we've been talking for at least 10 minutes and I don't even know his name. "What's your name?"
"Arson, Abel Arson." He reaches his hand out for me to shake. Leaning my books in one arm, I take his hand in mine. Jesus his hand is very smooth, smoother than mine and I moisturize. We both head for the stairs down the main floor. After checking out my books, Abel keeps walking with me.
"Let me walk you out." Once we get there, I hear a loud sound of water. Looking out the window, I see that's it's raining cat's and dog's outside.
"Damn it, why did it have to rain today? I don't have my umbrella." I pout.
"How could you not have an umbrella? Hold on a minute." Abel leaves me in the middle of the library while he runs off somewhere. Coming back, he has a blue umbrella in hand. "Let me walk you out?"
"Ok." I would object, but that would be dumb. Also, I've got expensive books in hand. We head out the door, the hard-core rain beats down on the umbrella.
"Which car is yours?" I point to the yellow bug that's parked on the left side of the library. We quickly start to run to my car, once we get there, I try to clear my vision so I can see him.
"Thank you.... Again, for walking me to my car and for helping me out with the books." He waves me off.
"No problem. I'll call you when that book is in stock, have a good day. "I stand by my car watching him run back into the library.
Now let's go home.
Walking into the door, I dry my feet off to see Grandpa on the couch reading yet again. "Hey Grandpa, why aren't you out with Irene?" If I remember correctly, he had plans with her tonight.
"We were going to go out, but the rain is too much to be driving in so were just going to hang tomorrow." He turns the next page in his book.
"Bummer." He turns around and looks at me. His eyes move to the cradle of books in my arms.
"Why do you have all those books? You don't read." I walk over to him and sit the books down on the arm of the couch.
"Just some research I want to do in my free time. And I do read...occasionally." I whisper the last part.
"Alright honey, don't stress yourself out."
"I'll let you get back to your book. I'll make us dinner tonight." He gives me a nod and resumes reading his book again.
Grabbing the books off the arm of the couch, I lunge the books and my back pack up the stairs.
Walking in my room, I get spooked out by the wet haired man sitting in my painting chair.
In fright, my books fling from my hands onto my furry carpet letting out a loud thud.
"Quinneth, are you alright up there?" Alexander put's a finger over his lips, telling me to be quiet. I roll my eyes at him.
"I'm fine grandpa... Thought I saw a bug." I yell back at him.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, picking up my books and bag sitting it on my bed.
"Came to see you, remember you texted me?" He shows me the text message.
"Right, I forgot about that." I bite my lip in awkwardness. It was such a 'in-the-moment' text I thought he would be too angry to come around. I had been ignoring him for the last two days.
Now since he's here we actually have to talk, where to start? 113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9eN97jAnL
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzgSoT0lwF
