The Solstice Curse

4: It Begins

In the beginning of the school day I can feel everyone staring at me. I try not to make eye contact with anyone as I walk the hall.  I just look down and mind my own business when I suddenly walk into someone. "Oh I-Im sorry-" I begin to apologise as I look up. It's exactly who I've been trying to avoid for the past week. "Watch where you're going" he mumbled and averted his grey eyes away from me. I can't help but feel bad for what I did to him. "Jarred wait" I call out, hoping he won't shoot me down right away. "What do yu want." He doesn't even turn around to face me. "I...I just wanted to apologise." "Yea well you're waisting your time." Jarred begins to walk away but I want him to accept my apology. I really don't feel like having an enemy in my first year of high school. Before he can get away I catch up and walk side by side with him. "I really am sorry tho, I couldn't stop myse-" "I don't care" he interrupts. "But-" He stops walking and looks at me. "I told Blaze not to invite anyone else into our group, I said they'd just be trouble. He didn't listen and now look. My last two years of high school are going to be hell because of you. You ruined my reputation and now the only people who accepted me as friends hate me. Nothing you do, or say will make up for what you did, now leave me the hell alone." Jarred starts walking away, but this time I don't follow. I really messed up. "Rae" I turn around to see Blaze. I smile and wave, trying to hide my emotions. "You ok?" I guess it didn't work "Yea, yea I'm fine, what's up" I reply changing the subject. He's looking at me, his cobalt eyes filled with curiosity. "Well I was just thinking, maybe I can walk you home today." I beamed in excitement, forgetting the reason that I was upset in the first place "Yea sure...I usually take the bus but I guess I can walk today." "Ok" he chuckles "I'll meet you after school then."

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I'm standing alone and starting to feel a little nervous. People pass by and stare, is it because they've heard the rumour or is it because I'm standing alone. When I decide to leave I see Blaze walking out of the school and in my direction. "Finally!" I exclaim "Do you know how long I was waiting?!" He smiles but doesn't reply. He's been acting a little different lately. The day we met he was outgoing, and always seemed ecstatic. Now he's calm and hasn't been talking much. "Are ok?" I ask. He raises an eyebrow "Yea I'm fine, why?" "I don't know you just seem...different." Blaze doesn't react at first, then he smiles and brushes the idea away with his hand "I'm fine." We start walking, at first it's a little awkward, I guess he was thinking about what I said but after a few minutes Blaze becomes the same guy I met on the first day of school. We finally start to have a normal conversation and laugh at stupid jokes. As we grow nearer to my home we turn a corner, my place is just a few houses away. Suddenly I see a person in the distance who's dressed in all black. They sprint across the street to the side where my house is. "Did you see that?" I ask aloud. "See what?" Blaze questions. He didn't see it? Maybe it was a figure of my imagination. "Nothing never mind, anyway that's my house right up there. Thanks for walking with me." I smile at him and start to walk away but Blaze grabs my wrist. My heart skips a beat when I feel his touch. When I turn to look at him he begins to speak. "Rae, I..." After letting out a sigh he closes his eyes. When he opens them he releases the grip on my wrist. "What is it?" I was curious as to what he had to say. He looks at me again, I look into his eyes, searching, for anything. He takes out a pen and a small slip of paper and begins to write. "Here." He says handing me the paper. "If you need anything, just call." On the paper there are 10 digits:
985-431-9368
With "Blaze" written above it. I look back up at him smile. These small gestures make me feel warm inside, like I have a reason to keep trying. I turn around and walk home, when I get to my front door I knock three times and wait....no one answers. Maybe they didn't hear. I knock again, this time with more force...nothing happens. I go around the house and look into all the windows but the blinds are closed, that's odd. I start to get a little nervous, thinking of all the bad things that could've happened. I go to the front door and knock as loud as I can, "MOM! ARE YOU IN THERE OPEN UP." No reply. I'm starting to get worried. Remembering that my mom hid an extra key somewhere on the porch, I start looking everywhere, under rocks, the welcome mat, in the light next to the door. I finally find it placed on top of the door frame. As quickly as possible I slide the key into the door knob and turn. The door is unlocked but it won't budge. I throw myself into the door, shoulder first, it doesn't work. I do it again, but it's still stuck. On the final try the door flies open and I stumble inside. The lights are off, the windows are closed, and mom is nowhere to be seen. I swallow hard and feel that familiar wobbly feeling in my knees. "Mom" I whisper while tip toeing forward. "Mom where are you" I whisper once again. Something is not right, what is going on in here. I make my way to the kitchen and quietly grab the biggest knife I find in the utensil drawer. Suddenly the black door opens and there's a voice, I quickly crouch down, hiding behind the cupboards. "Where the f**k is that girl" one of the men say, he has a raspy voice that sends chills through my body." "You have to be patient John. The boss said to execute whoever's in the house and then wait for the girl. If you start yelling like an idiot she's gonna know we're here." The second man had a higher pitch voice, he seemed in charge. "Yea well we were able to go get a d*** cup of coffee! If it was up to me I would've tortured all of them and sent a bullet straight through the girls forehead as soon as she walked up to the door" explained the man who's name, I'm guessing is John. "Thank God it's not up to you then." The two men walk past the kitchen and in the direction of my room. My heart starts beating as I peek from behind the cupboard to check if they're gone. Immediately I ran to moms room which is in the opposite direction that the men went. When I stand up straight I cannot believe my eyes. Tears begin rolling down my cheeks as I get closer to the bed. "No" I whisper "I-it can't be". I slowly extend my hand to feel the lifeless body lying on the bed it's still warm. I cover my mouth with the hand I'm holding the knife with as I hesitantly push the body onto its back. My jaw drops and I feel pain in my heart as if I'd been stabbed. I couldn't believe who the dead person was in front of me. "Mom." I back away quickly, not wanting to accept what I'm seeing. More tears roll down my face and drip onto the floor, my breaths become quick and short. "Hey, I think I hear something" John says as they make their way to me. I hastily turn moms body back onto her stomach and get in the closet. I shut my eyes and try to calm myself so my breathing can go back to normal. "She was here, I know it." "John you're paranoid". The two men bicker until they finally decide no one was here. I open my eyes when their foot steps become silent and unsurely slide the door open just enough to see with one eye. I look at the window on the other side of the room, if I can get to it I can climb out and make a run for it. After taking a few breaths I muster up enough courage to sprint towards the window. Putting hands on either side I push up with all my strength, for some reason it won't move. They must've known I'd try to escape so they sealed it, but what now? Trying to break the window will run the risk of loud noise that'll get me caught. If they thought I'd try to open the window then breaking it has surely crossed their minds too. Someone walking outside catches my attention, is that? Blaze! What is he still doing here? If I get his attention somehow, than he can help me! "Ok if this girl doesn't get here soon I'm just gonna burn the f**kin house down" Oh no they're coming back! If I run to the closet they'll see me. My heart starts to pound in my chest as I look for a place to hide, without any more hesitation I tumble to the ground and roll under the bed. I close my eyes as their footsteps grow closer, if they find me, I'm dead.

***Note***
Ok guy so we're finally getting into the action! This is just the beginning so stay tuned. Oh and don't forget to spread the word by telling you're friends about my book! Love you guys!