His Mark

Marked

“Let’s go on the Ferris Wheel!” Anna exclaimed and her friend only shrugged. Excitedly, she grabbed Claire’s sleeve and dragged her along, weaving through the thick masses of people. It wasn’t hard considering Claire was a tiny little thing, small and petite. In fact, she was often referred to as a pixie or sometimes a fairy because of her short stature, much to her displeasure. 

Claire followed obediently, though reluctantly, knowing there was no stopping Anna. When Anna wanted something, she got it, through whatever means necessary. 

The line for the Ferris Wheel was long, extending all the way back and wrapping around the ticket booth. It was also mainly made up of couples holding hands and snuggled together Claire noticed. A hollow feeling resonated in her chest and the corner of her lips tugged downwards for a second, but no one saw. Everyone was too caught up in enjoying their own night at the carnival. Even Anna didn’t notice her unusual aloof behavior though they had been friends since third grade.

They waited in line and talked-Anna providing most of the conversation. Claire absently nodded, her eyes wandering around; she couldn’t wait for the night to be over.

Finally, they had reached the front of the line and were ushered into their seats. The ride soon started up again and they rose until they were high enough to look down on all the twinkling lights and wandering people that closely resembled small blobs. Their compartment reached the very top and proceeded to bring them down a bit before it stopped, swinging a bit thanks to Newton’s First Law of Motion, to let others on.

Claire looked down, waiting for the familiar drop in her stomach from being so high up, but there was nothing. Just a vague sense of detachment and of not belonging. A numbness overtook her emotion as a mild tingling sensation arose on her wrist. She absentmindedly rubbed it as her eyes caught onto something, a mess of dark black hair. Nothing unusual, and yet… it bothered her.

The figure turned slightly and she gasped. It can’t be. She leaned over the side of their compartment more, wanting to-needing to get a better look at the black-haired boy that so closely resembled her past. Just when she convinced herself it wasn’t him, he turned to her, and while she was high up in the air, his piercing blue eyes found hers easily. He winked at her, much like he had when they first met, and turned his back on her, disappearing into the dark woods surrounding the carnival, untouched by the tinkering lights.

“Claire?” She blinked and turned back to her friend, suddenly remembering she wasn’t alone.

“Sorry Anna. What’d you say?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. I know you don’t like talking about him, it’s just…” She gesticulated, as if her hands would help convey her thoughts, and clapped them together before splaying them out, palms facing upwards. And while the flustered motions had no meaning to others, to Claire it did.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.” She sighed lowly, her breath leaving her lips in a hushed whoosh.

The Ferris Wheel started again, jolting her out of her thoughts and down to face the boy she no longer wanted anything to do with.

“Are you sure you don’t need a ride home?” Anna held up her keys and shook them, the sound of metal against metal rang between them. It was tempting, Anna’s offer to take her home, away from the bright lights of the carnival. To take her away from the dark ominous woods where she knew he would be. She wanted so badly to accept the offer and to place as much distance between her and that demon as possible, but she knew she couldn’t even before a burning sensation in her wrist started up.

“I’m sure. I’ll see you later Anna,” Claire smiled though the sincerity was false.

“Okay then, I’ll see you later.” And just like that, she was alone. She let out a shaky sigh and rubbed at her wrist as the burning intensified. She pulled back the sleeve a little to see what was wrong, but there was nothing, save for her smooth unmarked skin.