Silent Bells

Awakening

       I still remember the dark night in the forest with my family: rain is falling around me as I’m held by my parents, then a light flashes and I’m blinded. When I can see again I see my parents on the ground with a look of horror on their eyes. I scream at the top of my lungs trying to wake them, my knees are covered with mud as I try to shake them as hard as my little hands can manage, tears run down my face as I cry for them, begging them to get up. As I look up I see red eyes staring back at me. 

        I wake up then, gasping for air and cold sweat and tears run down my face. I've been having this dream since I was five years old when my parents died. Since then I've been living with my grandmother in Barker New York though we moved from Salem Massachusetts about 6 years ago. My name is Audrey Bell im a junior in high school and im 17 turning 18 in two days. I live a pretty normal live even though sometimes weird things happen but doesn't weird stuff happen all the time?

         After I wash up I get ready for school. Just before I leave I look at the mirror one last time, I see how the grey and black of my clothes stand out on my thin, pale skin and how my black hair hits the small of my back, I never knew it got that long. But i notice something, my eyes they used to be a dark brown and if I didn't know better I'd swear that there turning a shade of purple well I don't have time to worry about it right now I have to go to school. When i get to school i see my best friend Callie.

    " You excited?" she asked.

     "For what?" i replied.

      "your birthday stupid your turning 18 its a big deal," she shouted.

     "Yea i am its just that I had the dream again and it messed with my mood," I told her.

     "Oh I got ya," she said as we walked to class. I've known Callie for as long as I can remember and she is the only person i know from Salem in this school. Our families work together and been long family friends since my grandmother was a little girl. My day was pretty uneventful after that. Around eight I get a text from Callie asking about my eyes I tell her that I have no idea about them. I guess there more noticable than I thought.

      A few days later on my birthday my grandmother wakes me up.

       "Happy birthday sweety,"she said as she hands me a shiny green box, I open it to see a old gold necklace inside.

        "I love it grandma thanks," i say as i give her a hug.

        " your welcome darling," she replies"it's a family heirloom past down the family since the first Bell walked on American soil hundreds of years ago." We sat for a few minutes in silence. "I hear you crying a few nights ago whats wrong?" I told her about the dream and she hugs me and told me how she messes them too.

         At school i could barely focus on my work all I could think about was the party after school. When the time finally came I see all my friends coming from school, Callie really put the word out. Callie came with her parents, which i bet she wasn't to happy about but they are very funny especially when they have a few drinks in them. We played games and listened to music and danced around. I loved the gifts everyone gave me Laura got me a gift card to hollister and Callie got me the newest flyleaf cd everyone else gave me money and clothes like this cute black beret that is starting to seem like a favorite thing to wear.At midnight when we were about to cut the cake something weird happened. All the lights in the house and on the street started to flicker out of control. Everyone was running around looking out the window and calling people to see what the hell is going on, I even heard a few choice words even though it wasn't that serious. A few a few minutes everything went back to normal, no one said a word but the air seemed to feel thick with some kind of force that I have no way to explain. People took the weird light show as a sign for them to leave.

           That night I had the weirdist dream i was happy that is wasn't the dream about my parents but it was like scenes from historical movies. From Egypt to England I can see all this people praying to there gods. But that wasn't the worst part I felt like I knew them some how. I like they were apart of me. All that morning and afternoon I couldn't stop thinking about that dream. I guess my grandmother saw something was bothering me and she asked about it and i told her about the dream, but she said nothing she just gave me a small smile and said it was just a dream, but was it really just a dream?

           Later that night my grandmother called me into the living room.

            " yea grandma?" I asked.

            "I have something to give you," she replied.

            "really what is it?"I asked, she said nothing just handed me a small dark brown book that could be older then both of us times ten.

             "Its our family history it is passed down from generation to generation when they turn 18," she said.

             "cool thanks," I said I opened the book to see that it was written in a language I that I do not know "ummm grandma how em I to read this?"

              She gave a smile and told me "It will come to you in time my dear." Not knowing what else to say i thanked her and went to my room. After a few minutes  I gave up trying to read the stupid book. I put it on my desk and sat in my bed and listened to the cd Callie gave me. Sometime after I had fallen asleep something wakes me up. As I get up half asleep I see a few pages in the book start to glow, I ran over to see what was going on. As i open it the words Start to change and I'm able to read it I'm amazed.

             I started to read it.

              Hello young one, if you are reading this then you are old enough to know your true history. The Bell family is an ancient line. I know you've seen strange things happen all around you but do not be alarmed It is part of who you are. We have abilities that others do not have. you are a witch my child. Magic runs through your veins. Do not be sad or upset you are not alone the person who gave you this book if they are family are a witch as well. Also I will be with you in spirit to guide you and teach you the ways of our family.

                                                                                                               John Bell, 1792

      Damn my grandmother has some real explaining to do!!