Magic in the Air

Chapter Thirty-Two: Join Me

My back's to the wall. The terrifying beast roars, its breath is hot and burns my flesh and boils my blood. Its large claw swings and I wake up screaming. Ryan, Sean, and Chrissy rush to my side, but I just shake my head. "Bad dream." I mutter and lay back down.
Sean and Ryan start bickering. "Can you at least not do that while we're killing an evil monster?" I snap and sit up again. They go silent and put my head down once more. I lay awake looking at the stars.
No point in trying to get back to sleep. I climb out of my sleeping bag and walk into the woods. I stay where I can still see the orange light of the fire and run my hands along the rough bark of the trees. I can hear the rush of water, but can barely see anything in the dark night.
I climb up into a large evergreen and slowly pull myself to the top. I tower over the rest of the forest and can see the campsite, glowing in the dark.
I light my own fire in my hands and I can see my breath in the cold air. From the light of the flame, I can see a small crack in the bark that's expanding. It twists and moves and grows until my name is written in the tree. The crack disappears and a new one starts to form. Turn away. I am too powerful for you. I don't want to kill my daughter but I will if I have to. It fades again and one more crack forms.
Join me.
I swing myself down the tree. No way in hell am I joining that monster. The two words are carved on every branch in the tree. Everywhere I look.
Join me.
I run back to the campsite and curl back up in my sleeping bag, breathing heavily. Smoke from the fire wisps around me and forms those dreadful two words.
Join me.
I squeeze my eyes shut and his voice fills my head.
Join me. Join me. Join me. Join me.
"No!" I yell out loud. The sound echos slightly and my friends wake up looking confused. I hug my knees to my chest and rock back and forth. "Never." I whisper to myself. "Never."
"You stay here." Chrystal's voice snaps at the boys. "And don't be assholes! Actually, Jen, Mia, make sure they aren't assholes!" Her hand grabs mine and drags me back into the dark. She sits me down with my back to a tree and she sits across from me. "What's wrong?"
"He was there. My dad. He told me to go back. He said he was too powerful for me and he would kill me if he had too." I pause. "Then he told me to join him."
There's a moment of silence that feels like years before she responds. "First, there's no way in hell we're going back after all we've done. Second, You're too good to join that soul sucking, power hungry bitch." She grins. "And we are going to kick Nolan's sorry ass from here to next Tuesday."