Shuffled: When the Cards Talk You Must Listen

Chapter 15 Goblin King (working title)

I smiled as I walked to my car, today wasn't so bad. I had just gotten paired up with an amazingly handsome boy for one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies, and I had friends. My art teacher loves my painting and wants me to paint more like it. And I didn't have too many actual run-ins with the rest of the pack. OK one close call, but Mr. Wow Silver eyes came to my rescue.

Heh "silver eye" maybe that should be his nickname. Though I have to admit that it's not exactly that original, and I'll probably never actually call him that to his face but hey what the hell. It's my nickname for him. My face heats up just thinking about looking up into his liquid silver eyes. He was going to be an amazing Jareth, and in that scene he is going to try to seduce Sara to stay with him. I'm not sure how I'm going to get through the scene let alone the rehearsals, but I'm sure I'm going to enjoy trying.

Today the sun was shining and it was warm in comparison to the last few days and I was glad. Today felt like a golden day. I just couldn't unscrew my smile, today was such a good today. I felt at peace as I climbed into my Baby. Today I didn't want to go home right away. I had a feeling this was going to be one of the last really nice days before the winter began to set in. I don't know what told me this but I just felt it in my bones that we were going to have an early and cold winter, and I needed to make the most of today while it lasted.

I didn't know where to go, but I was sure there was a park around here somewhere so I decided to just drive. After all the town was beautiful and I still hadn't gotten my exploratory drive around town. There was this weird bubbling in my heart today and I wanted to make the best of it. I was tired of this strange ominous feeling I've had ever since I stepped foot in that school. Yep today was a good day and I was going to capitalize on it.

A few hours later I found myself perched on a large rock deep in the forest, munching on a sandwich I'd grabbed from Aunt Teenie's. I figured I'd let her know I was going exploring. I may feel warm and safe today, but I would never forget what years of living in the worst places in cities in the world taught me. First and foremost, ALWAYS tell someone where you're going, even if you don't know exactly where you're going. Yes, cell phones are great to help track a person but never forget- cell phones can be stolen, broken, or hacked. Second, NEVER go exploring without food.

So here I sat, basking in the last rays of sunlight at the end of a season, and the beginning of another. My mind ceased wandering ages ago, now it's just making pictures in the clouds. It was relaxing. The back of my mind knew that I should get home. Knew I should be doing some of that World History homework, or struggling through that horrendous Algebra crap they call homework. But right now I did not care.

My senses reveled in the feeling of a warm solid rock under my back, and the warm, golden yellow sun glowing behind my closed eyes. The air smelled warm and crisp at the same time. The rapidly cooling breeze danced across my skin. It felt like little ?beings? I don't know. I think I'll call them woodland sprites for lack of a better word, dancing across my body. I listened to the leaves rustling in that same breeze. It was like I had become one with the elements. I could feel this pulse, a thumbing of energy sink deep into me.

I breathed in the life force of the forest. I breathed out the nutrients that the plants around me needed to survive. My limbs feel heavy, but in a good way, because for the first time in. Oh I don't know how long. My body finally, fully relaxed. I swear that rock was a better massage therapist than the ones that cost $1,000 an hour. I never wanted to leave. But as I listened to the birds twitter in the trees, and the small animals stock up for winter another sound broke my peace.

Instantly I recognized that grumpy growl of Conal, and the jovial hyperness of Jerry.

Moving faster than I ever thought I could I rolled off the rock, backwards and crouched down as silently as I could. My heart was pounding, and I willed it to still, and whatever "scent" I had to neutralize. I imagined smelling musty like the leaves that had fallen, like the breeze that brought the crisp of the night wind. Anything I could so as to not be discovered.

They aren't really close by, at least I don't think they are. I listened with every fiber of my being. They were talking about something, but I couldn't really make it out at first. Soon they walked closer and I began to make out their words.

"Man, what are we gonna tell Eibhlin? You know the council is waiting for a report." For once Jerry's voice wasn't full of sarcasm and jest. This time it was like I was hearing his real voice for the first time ever. Maybe the face he showed at school was just a facade. Somehow the disturbed me, scared me actually.

The crunching of the leaves continued as they drew closer, and I heard a heavy sigh.

"I don't know." Conal blew out a great puff of air. "I just don't know. Who would have guessed that it would be this hard to find and then identify her? Mom is down right frantic. You'd think she was her own daughter the way she goes on and on about how important she will be, and how special she already is. I just don't get it. I mean this is just one small girl right? One measly human."

I'm glad I already had my hand clamped tightly over my mouth because the boys had gotten much closer to the boulder and if I had gasped they surely would have heard me.

"Oh come on man, this girl can't be "Just a Measly Human" or else the whole of our world wouldn't be on this massive manhunt for her. Oh Pardon Mitzy would insist it's a 'person hunt". I could practically hear the air"" quotes.

"God that girl is something else." Conal chuckled. "How do you put up with her?"

"Hey, it's not like I have much of a choice ya know." Jerry quipped.

Every part of me wanted to dart away and hide in the forest, but I knew, I just knew that if I ran they would hear me and give chase, and they would love it.

"So, have you heard anything from your parents?"

"Naw you know them. It's all about the research. The why, the how, the who, and the where. I'm not sure when they will be home either. There is always just one more discovery that needs to be researched and understood. Blah blah blah blah." Part of me almost felt sorry for Jerry. I knew what it was like to have your parents, or in my case parent, flake out on you for some unspecified reason.

"So what's the plan then? We just keep watching? I gotta be honest, I'm getting tired of watching and waiting. At some point someone is going to realize what's happening. Some of those teachers have been extra vigilant recently." Conal growled.

"I'm telling you it's gotta be that girl! I can't believe that all this fuss is just because she is Teenie's niece. There is no other reason for it."

"Well apparently that's all we are allowed to do right now until we get some proof. Something, anything that will start to confirm what I'm almost positive of, SHE is who we are looking for and SHE will be our salvation, but only IF we can GET her."

I stumbled out from behind the boulder, as they stomped away. Somehow they had not made it all the way to my little clearing. It was as if my clearing had been excluded from their explorations. I realized that they had not actually been that close to me at all. Suddenly I felt safe. My newly found safe haven had stayed a safe haven.

I was hiding behind a boulder that they couldn't even see. I'd been hidden by a wall of greenery. I was stunned, and scared, and even more confused than ever, and I'm not sure when I'm going to be able to get any answers. I sighed as I crept back to my Baby. Now I'm glad that I hid her behind that large lilac bush. I'm sure they couldn't have spotted her. Their tracks went off in the opposite direction.

I was too preoccupied thinking about the conversation I had overheard, to wonder "HOW" I had overheard it. I really should have wondered about that. I was also too preoccupied with everything to feel the hundreds of little eyes peering out from the wood at me. Little green and gold eyes peeking out from behind the fluttering leaves and twigs scattered on the forest floor. Little green and gold eyes that looked at me like I just may be their savior. But I didn't see them. I just walked on, toward my Baby intent on nothing but home, and maybe some answers.

Aunt Tennie was going to get a lot of questions next time I saw her.