Chapter 58

“Where have you two been?” James asks rather calmly.
“We were taken by the council,” Misty announces proudly. “Kayla kicked spiders butts.”
All eyes turn to me, feeling shy I look at the floor, their penetrating stares make me feel uncomfortable.
“One Order of Terror down, two to go!” Misty says with excitement. Good old Misty, she’d be happy and optimistic in any situation.
We still have the council to deal with,” James states.
Misty nods her head and drops dramatically onto the sofa, switching the television on in the process.
The news flashes on the screen. “Eight bodies have been found. Some have been drained of their blood. Some have had their flesh ripped from their bones.” I step closer to the television, feeling the color draining from my skin. The images of the victims sicken me.
“There have been further reports of other bodies being found across the world. Is this an act of terrorism? Right now, the authorities are unable, or unwilling, to answer that question.”
The portal separating the King of Darkness’s realm and our own is allowing the demons and dark ones to flood our world, taking innocent lives. My blood opened it. There must be away to close it. I just need to find the answers to stop this evil from destroying humanity.
“Looks like my father has been busy.” Cole’s tone is harsh, his jaw tight. He clenches his hands into fists. After recent events, I find it hard to look at Cole. I want to comfort him and tell him it’s not his fault, it’s mine. He can’t help who is father is or what his father does.
Something crashes through the window. I jump to the side as a brick with a clear plastic object taped to it lands right where I was standing.
I look down to see that it’s a disk case. Picking it up, I un-tape it from the brick, open it and find it’s a DVD. There’s a message tucked inside the case, which reads,
‘Kayla, we have your greatest fear.’ Wondering what it could mean and with much trepidation, I walk to the DVD player and push the disc into the slot and wait for it to start.
The screen comes to life, and we’re greeted by the sight of two bloodied and battered figures. They’re tied plain wooden chairs in a bare room with no other furniture. Both of them have gags around their mouths. My knees weaken when I realize who they are. A hand grips my shoulders, while the other pushes the back of my neck until my face is buried in a muscular chest, cutting off my view. The familiar smell of cinnamon and outdoors does nothing to calm the emotions clouding my soul. All I feel is anger, fear, and self-blame. Clara and David are suffering because of me.
The terrified look in their eyes haunts me. Their bloodied and bruised bodies stab at my heart.
A dark and menacing voice rises from the TV. “If you want to save them, then you must come to us.” The room fills with wicked laughter before plummeting into silence.
Pulling back, I wipe away my tears. I must be strong. I have to fight to save the ones I love. No more hiding in the shadows. It’s time to step up and be the great witch everyone says I should be.
I’ve been a fool thinking that everything was just a dream. A dream I’d wake up from and laugh at. This is no dream; this is my life. My waking nightmare.
For the rest of the night, we go over different ways to get Clara and David out safely. I listen carefully to everyone plans, but secretly, I have one of my own. While they were looking for ways to save my family, I did some research and know what I must do. The prophecy makes perfect sense to me now. I am the child of light and earth, from a Witch and an Angel. I will fight for my family and friends and stop this reign of terror.
With a plan arranged, everyone finds a spot to sleep in the living room. I lay on the sofa with my head on Chris’s chest, waiting for the sound of heavy breathing from the others. Once I am certain everyone is sleeping, I creep from the room and into the cold night air.
I walk cautiously towards the trees. They stretch for miles, hiding most of the moonlight which makes it difficult to see. I trip and fall often, scraping my hands and knees. I have never been one to be graceful.
Heavy, pounding footsteps approach. The ground vibrates, the sound echoing around me. I hide behind a large tree trunk because I can’t tell which direction they’re coming from.
Narrow streams of moonlight fill small areas of the ground as it spotlights a moving shadow. It inches closer. I have nowhere to run. If I move, I’ll give up my hiding spot, and I’m not sure I could outrun whatever is lurking in the darkness.
The shadow steps in my path. My eyes instinctively close like a child playing hide and seek. If you can’t see me, I can’t see you. Something rough and heaving prods my ribs. I open my eyes, dreading the sight I am about to see.
I breathe a massive sigh of relief. It’s Faraway. He pushes his equine head towards me in greeting. I pull myself atop the wild horse. “Faraway, I need your help. The Order of Terror has taken my foster parents, and I need to save them.”
To my surprise, I hear him in my mind. “I will take you to them, hold on tight. These woods are filled with wolves. I do not like wolves. Wolves are bad.” The shock of the horse communicating leaves me unprepared for Faraway’s sudden movement.
He springs to life, and I slide backward. I haul myself back into position with every bit of strength I have
“Silly girl. Tight, hold tight!” the horse chides. We rush forward at great speed. Once out of the daunting woods, we travel down winding dirt roads. Over an hour later we come to what looks like a small ghost town. All the buildings are boarded up. Not a streetlight is on. We walk slowly through the streets. Faraway stops outside a large, abandoned factory. “In there.”
I slide from his back. Faraway looks me in the eyes. “Good luck, miss,” he says before galloping off. I stand and watch the dust settle from Faraway’s retreat.