Change

Chapter Ten

'Well, I told you there was something wrong.'

I close the fridge with a bang.

'Nothing's wrong with me, Flame.'

'Really? You were bleeding in school. You......you think that's....normal?'

I shrug. 'Yeah.'

'Have you been watching The Walking Dead too much?'

'What does that have to do with this?'

'You know, when they get ill, they think it doesn't matter.'

'You know what? Your parents should've removed the 'F' from your name. Would've suited you well.'

And the flying shoe comes.

'Okay, OUCH.'

'NOW you will think twice before opening your big mouth', she says, smirking.

I move towards the window and lean my head on the frame.

A sigh pierces through the silence. 'You're thinking about that door, aren't you.'

I nod my head, even though I wasn't thinking about the door-opening incident. 'Yeah. It was weird.'

'What do you think opened it? Was there someone inside?'

I'm thinking about my dream. The mysterious woman. The people running away from something. Me, speaking inside my own head.

It's in your nature, Vanessa. Your power.

'I think it was Mr. Lollrum. You know, old people can sleep-walk a lot.'

It's your power, Vanessa.

That's my girl, always curious.

'Vanessa?'

Your power.

'Nessa? Uh.....you okay bud? NESSA?'

You're dreaming.

BUT I JUST BLED ON A ROCK.

My thoughts suddenly come to an end. A harsh arm roughly pushed me, and I fly back in the sofa.

'WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!?'

'WELL, YOU WEREN'T LISTENING!'

I laugh at her. 'What? Did you even freaking call me?'

She folds her arms. 'I called you for, like, six minutes.'

I eyes make their way to the ground.

You're dreaming, Vanessa.

'Uh...sorry, I......wasn't listening.'

'What were you thinking about?'

'Stuff.'

Flame gets closer and studies me closely.

'Uh...okay. I'm going to the bathroom now.'

Flame gets inside the bathroom and shuts the door.

I bring my fingers to my eyes and rub them continuously.

It's your nature, Vanessa. Your power.

You're dreaming, and yet you felt the pain...

My hands found the sofa sheets and I pull myself under them.

My eyes flutter open.

I look around, and immediately push myself up.

'Hello?'

Silence.

I impatiently swerve my body around, my head wildly spinning.

I'm here.

A blast of wind slaps my face and I squint to the see in the distance.

I'm here. Please come. Don't make me wait.

I release my fingers. I bring my hands to my hair and grab a handful.

This is a mess.

My legs feel wobbly, like they're going to collapse any moment.

I'm just planning to sit down when a soft voice startles me.

'There you are, my child.'

I spin around in surprise.

And there she is.

'I've been waiting for you.'

She smiles. 'Oh my. I knew you were curious.'

Curious?

'Uh.....curious about what, exactly?'

'What you are.'

What I am. She can't make it more confusing can she.

'Can you please elaborate? Last time I tried to get some answers, you turned your back on me.'

She raises an eyebrow. 'Oh. I.....apologize. But I had to go.'

'Where?'

'Everywhere.'

Like I said. Mrs. Confusion strikes again.

'You can't possibly go everywhere.'

She raises her fist and moves it in clock-wise motion. Mist orbits her hand while she closes her eyes and chants a spell.

Her whisper swerves around the air, her eyes slowly blinking.

When she opens her eyes, she opens her fist simultaneously and a portal tears up in front of her.

It takes me a while to take it all in. The portal is beautiful, silver sparks framing it. The portal's back is on me, but I can already see black clouds on fire, their majestic movement stunning me every second.

''Impressed, I see.' She says, smiling.

'It's.... it's beautiful.'

I come forward to join her on her side. When I do, Mrs. Mysterious widens her hands for me to take a better look.

In front of me is joy and despair.

Ice and fire.

Jewels and daggers.

Love and hate.

Peace and war.

My eyes must've extended by a 100 cm by now.

This is fantastic.

'I know.'

I speak, but never tear my gaze away. 'What.....what is that?'

'Home.'

The word itself sounds simple, but now it has such strong meaning that I immediately snap my eyes on her.

'Uh...home?'

She brings her hands down to her sides and slowly walks away.

I don't run after her.

Instead I just stand, not sure if it's really my knees that's keeping me upright.

'Yes, Vanessa. Home. That's where you came from.'

The words come out of her mouth and take my focus away.

My eyelids feel heavy and my mind is in a state of utter drowsiness.

When I nearly close my eyes, my blurry vision rests on her as she says, 'We will meet again.'

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