Surviving the Dark

Chapter 28 - Progression

I helped Liv get the picnic blankets and the food for lunch. Today a total solar eclipse was meant to occur so we are having an event throughout the preserve. We have two large sections of the preserve that we couldn't cover with tarps set up for visitors if they wish to watch the eclipse. We got the special glasses and all for them. All they needed to do was bring their picnic lunch.

The four of us though are watching at the Grove. Majority of the area is covered in the tarps but near the waterfall we couldn't cover so that is where we are setting up our viewing area.

It's been a few years since the last total eclipse. I don't fully understand how these things work. I always put it down to the many wonders of the world, but Zae has been discussing this phenomenon in school. He says it has something to do with the alignment of the sun and moon to each other and it can only happen when the moon is full.

I can't shake this feeling that the others should go and I face the Black Eyed Soulless Shadows alone, whenever that may be. The three of them can tell it's still bothering me. Liv and Zae keep reminding me that I am not alone and that they aren't going anywhere but that doesn't stop me from worrying. For the last few hours my hand always seems to find my necklace. I am going to prove him right if I don't stop playing with it.

Jamie is giving me the cold shoulder and I don't know if it's because he thinks I keep running away or because of what Xavier said to him rang true.

I've had about enough of his silent treatment and am about to go up to him when my heart drops from the blood curdling screams in the distance.

All our heads snap up.

'No, not now!'

The screaming is turning into coughing. My head turns from side to side trying to find the direction its coming from. My heart sinks further when I realise it's coming from the only areas of the preserve we couldn't cover. The only other areas where the eclipse could be seen.

Tears well in my eyes but I blink them away and face the others.

"Th-there here."

"WHAT?! How can you tell?" Liv exclaims.

"The screams turned to coughing." Liv's eyes go wide in panic. Zae has gone pale and rooted to the spot. Turning to him and shout. "Zae, quickly go turn they sprinklers on!"

He doesn't move.

"Xavier, if you don't those people will die! GO!" He blinks, coming to his senses and takes off to the main switch for the sprinklers.

"Should we go see if everyone is okay?" Liv asks. I turn to her trembling form, my lips in a tight line.

"Yeah that's a good idea. You and Jamie can go to the Neverland area, I'll go to the Wonderland area." Strange how the only areas we couldn't cover were the children areas.

That seemed to get a reaction out of Jamie. Liv nods and starts towards Neverland to make sure everyone is okay. Instead of following his sister, Jamie walks up to me, a mixture of emotions swimming around in his green eyes.

"You're going alone?" He asks incredulously.

"We need to make sure everyone is okay. Go with Liv, if you see anything or anyone out of the ordinary, hide."

"But, I promised to keep you safe. That those things wont hurt you anymore. If you go alone, how am I to know if they will or wont harm you?" Fear is written all over his face as he comes up to me and grips my upper arms.

"You don't. But Jamie, I've dealt with these things before. You and Liv haven't. The switch for the sprinklers are on the way to Wonderland, I'll grab Zae to come with me." I explain in an even voice. I'm surprised with how calm I sound to Jamie because I feel anything but right now. "And if I see any of the Black Eyes, I'll just lay in the ground like everyone else and pretend to have passed out."

"Izzie," Jamie wraps his arms around me and sighs. "You aren't meant to be doing this alone." I wrap my arms around his waist.

"I wont be. I'll be with Zae. You need to go with Liv so she isn't alone, you need to keep her safe too Jamie."

He takes a deep breath and lets it out, pulling away slightly so he can see my face.

"Okay, but you need to promise to call me if anything goes wrong."

I advert my gaze.

"Ah, Jamie, I don't have a phone remember?"

He removes one arm and fishes his mobile from the pocket of his jeans. His other arm still around my shoulders.

"Here take mine. Call O's number once you meet up with Xav or if anything happens." I nod and take the phone, placing it in my own pocket. "I'll call you if I think something is wrong where we are."

Nodding again, I go to move away and start towards Wonderland. Jamie's arms lock me in place as he pulls me close. My face is buried in his chest, his resting on top of my head. I can feel his heart beating rapidly.

He pulls back slightly once again and places a soft kiss on my forehead. My eyes widen slightly not expecting him to do so.

With his forehead resting against mine he says. "Be safe okay?"

"Okay." I choke out.

And with that he drops his arms and leaves, following after Liv.

As I turn in the direction of Wonderland to find Zae and see if the preserves visitors are okay, I replay what just happened in my head.

'Now is not the time to be thinking about this.'

I should be thinking about what we are going to do about the Black Eyed Soulless Shadows. I can over analyse Jamie's kiss on my head later.

Shaking my head, I pick up the pace to get to Xavier faster.