The Gift[ON HOLD]

Chapter 11

There we all sat at the dinner table. Mom and dad looked so sad. Connor and Jamie sat on either side of me. Five minutes past before anyone dared to speak.

"Can you explain why you felt the way you did? Why you wanted to," mom started to choke with tears before she said, "kill yourself?"

"It would be best if I explained everything mom, truly it is my fault that any of this happened." Connor said.

"How?" mom said shocked with Connor's answer.

"When I was only one I was visited by a spirit, one who gave me a choice. I could either keep the gift of sight or give it to the next born and be their sworn protector. I had the gift to see dead people when I was born, but I chose to give it away and be a protector. Poppy has had the gift of sight since she was the next born, and I am her sworn protector. There is a war…" Connor said continuing to explain the rest of the story.

            My parents sat there stunned. I thought they had turned to stone they were so still.    

"Are you okay Connor? Do you need to see someone? What you are saying is implausible son." Dad said.

"It's true, everything he has said." Jamie spoke up.

"What has gotten into all of you kids?" Mom exclaimed.

"Jamie, show them." Connor said.

            Jamie suddenly turned into his skeleton self and mom and dad sat there with their mouths gaping. They seemed petrified. Jamie got up slowly and mom and dad reacted, moving away from him.

"I will go now…" Jamie said backing out of the kitchen.

"No! Don't go Jamie! They are just adults who don't understand anything but logic!" I said.

"Poppy!" Dad exclaimed coming out of his trance.

"What? He is still the same Jamie." I defended walking up and holding Jamie's hand so he couldn’t leave.

"Poppy, get away from him." Mom demanded.

"No. I will stand by his side." I said.

"Connor, tell her to come back over here!" Mom yelled at him.

"Mom, Jamie is harmless…or at least he wouldn’t hurt Poppy or any of us, in fact he protects Poppy just like I have." Connor explained.

"So are you my second protector?" I asked looking up at Jamie.

"I protect you because I am in love you." Jamie said holding back tears.

            I was floored. What could I say? I had just tried to kill myself just a little while ago, and now he is declaring that he is in love with me! This is too much to handle.

"I couldn't hold it in any longer. I know you must be freaking out here, but I love you. And since I love you I will leave you and your family." Jamie said letting go of my hand.

            I stood there still in shock. I couldn’t move. I just stood there watching him walk right out of my life. Mom and Dad got up and hugged me. Connor sat still in his seat.

"Poppy, Connor, you need to explain. This…none of this makes sense." Mom exclaimed.

"Mom, I was a chosen life to see dead people, I gave it to Poppy and I became her sworn protector. Jamie is one type of breed of Dead. He is a Skeleton Walker, and Landon…well Landon is a Hybrid. He is the monster Poppy saw in the attic. The two breeds fight for freedom, but only Poppy can give it to them. She is the chosen one. Only she can solve the problems of the Dead." Connor explained slowly, making sure mom and dad listened carefully.

            Mom burst into tears, and dad looked angry. They both walked up the stairs and I didn’t see them again that night. What caring parents, I just tried to kill myself and they leave once they figure out the truth. Connor came over and hugged me. I felt empty. I created such a mess…if only I could go back in time and reverse it. Make it so I never tried to commit suicide. But I couldn’t. I started to cry finally. Connor just stayed with me and tried to comfort me. I kept crying until I felt the presence of a ghost. I looked up from Connor's shoulder and found Miranda looking at me with sad eyes. I released Connor and hugged Miranda.

"Sweet child, I know this is hard. The gift always comes at some price. Your parents will be fine as soon as they realize and accept what is happening. Jamie will hopefully be back." Miranda said.

"Who are you?" Connor asked.

"I am Miranda; I am Poppy's guide through her gift. I appear when she needs me most."

"Nice to meet you."

"You too Connor, although we have met before."

"Were you the spirit who came to me?" Connor asked.

 "Yes darling, I was." Miranda said looking at Connor fondly. Connor started to tear up. I have never seen Connor cry so that freaked me out.

"It's all okay Poppy. Just don't kill yourself okay? It will all be fine. You have spirits who are looking over you. Good spirits who want to protect you when the time comes. For now, Connor here is your protector. Connor, you have to be strong. You are strong. Jamie…is being used. He doesn’t know it yet but he is. You have to warn him Connor, that is part of your job. I will give you Jamie's address and your mission is to give him the message. It might sound easy sweat pea, but it isn’t. Do not let Jamie's father see you. He is the one who is lying and using Jamie. Go to him tomorrow and warn him." Miranda demanded.

"Okay, I will." Connor said in a very soldier way.

"Now, Poppy, I want you to sleep on the couch tonight until I clean your room. I don't want you to have any bad memories there. Connor, before you go to sleep, evacuate all the pills in the house and keep a close watch on them…or hide them well." Miranda said.

            Miranda read my mind! I was thinking about sneaking some pills tonight when they were all gone…I guess I will have to live through this…this…curse! This isn’t a gift it’s a curse! It's a curse that will release others from a curse… I walked into the T.V. room and grabbed the blanket from the drawer. I pulled the soft and fuzzy blanket over me and cried myself to sleep that night.