The Witch Prophecy

Chapter 7

I regained consciousness slowly. As if I was under water and struggling to get to the top. I opened my eyes, but all I could see was red. I opened my mouth and immediately liquid poured into it. It tasted like rust. Blood, I realized. I was in a sea of blood. I coughed and sputtered as the warm liquid poured down my throat. I wiped my eyes with my hands, wanting to see. My vision was suddenly filled with the worried faces of my parents. My mom realized I was awake and cried, "Katie! Honey, are you okay?!" Seriously? She was asking if I was alright? I was bleeding a river. "Mom, I'm bleeding. Please, make it stop," I begged. If I didn't stop bleeding soon, I would die from blood loss. She gave me a puzzled look. "Sweetie, you hit your head. There is no blood. You aren't bleeding," She said. What?!

How could I not be bleeding? I brought my hands up to my face. They were covered in fresh blood. I groaned and rolled my head to the side. My parents kept talking, but they became a distant hum in the background. Suddenly, a loud, high-pitched, whining sound filled my hearing. At the top of the hill, I could see a man, more of a dark silhouette. It reminded me of a shadow come to life. My eyes were wide with fear as the shadow's eyes landed on me. I gulped. Suddenly, pain like you can't imagine, like a thousand knives being embedded into my body, shot through me. I screamed in agony, my torso lifting up off the ground, as if unseen hands of pain were pulling my middle up, up, up.

The shadow man appeared in front of my eyes. Only mere inches from me. I was staring at his shadow feet, tears streaming out of my eyes, my scream catching in a gurgle of fear, pain still throbbing in my body in time with my heart beat. I was no longer aware of my parents, for all I knew they could be gone. The shadow man began to kneel down, apparently wanting to come face to face with me. A scream ripped through my throat once more, before everything went black again.

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The next time my eyes opened, it was when I was half-conscious. My vision was blurry, and I could barely make out faces. I realized I was in the backseat of the truck. All the doors were open, and my parents weren't in their seats. I weakly turned my head and saw my parents arguing with Jack and Becky. My dad look like he was ready to strangle somebody. "Fine! You can see her, but please hurry. We need to get her to a hospital!" He yelled. He turned to me and picked me up, cradling me in his arms. "My baby......It's going to be okay. Mrs. Ronald just wants to see you for a moment. Then we can go to the hospital and get this all sorted out," He reassured, while stroking my hair. All I could manage was a nod. The unbearable pain was gone, but I was so weak.

He sat me down on the back of the trailer carrying our four-wheeler. I was leaning on the front of the four-wheeler, my back supported by it. My dad backed away to stand by my mom, whose face was tear-streaked. My eyes flicked to Jack and Becky, who were standing in front of me. Jack was strangely quiet, a look of deep concentration on his face as he studied me. Becky had the same look. Becky leaned over and whispered something to Jack. His eyes widened once she pulled away, but he nodded solemnly. By now my breathing was labored. It was a fight to keep my eyes open. I'm going to die, I thought. I wasn't surprised at this thought or even scared. I wanted peace. It was so hard to keep living.

Becky took a step closer to me. "Don't be afraid of what you will have, child," She said, her voice like velvet. "You will help so many. Stay strong." Her expression was now soft, as if the weight of a burden she had carried for hundreds of years had been lifted from her shoulders. Jack stepped forward so he was beside Becky. They suddenly embraced each other in a hug. "I will see you soon, Mother," Jack said softly, tears in his eyes. She smiled and kissed his forehead. I would have been surprised or fearful of everything that was happening, but my eyelids were as heavy as SUVs. "I thy witch," Said Becky. "I thy warlock," Said Jack. "Give thy powers to Katarina Wilson." They said in unison. Then they each touched my head with two fingers. I felt a surge of great power go through me. Then I watched Becky and Jack drop to the ground. I myself, faded into the darkness once again.

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My eyes opened to bright, white light. I quickly shut them again. I felt my body slowly begin to wake up. Feeling spread through my limbs. I felt a soft bed underneath me. I heard a steady beeping somewhere off to my right. I also heard a faint dripping noise above my head and to the left. I felt a light pressure on my left hand. I squinted my eyes until they adjusted to the light, then took in my surroundings. I was in a hospital room. I could tell by the white walls, the TV on mute, and the heart machine that was hooked up to me. There was a figure slumped and asleep in a chair beneath the TV across the room. I could barely make out Brooke, her dark hair covering her face. I turned my head weakly to the left and saw Brian. He was holding my hand like it was a life preserver.

He realized I was awake and sat up in his chair leaning in close to me. I blinked slowly at him. "Hey, everything's going to be okay. You're okay." He leaned over and touched my face with his index finger, then held it out for me to see. Their was wetness on it and I realized I was crying. He stroked my hair and rubbed the hand he was holding with his thumb. "Bri-an." I croaked softly. "Shhh, shhh. Don't try to speak. Everything's going to be okay." He whispered, tears in is eyes. I could only blink. I wanted desperately to touch him. To make sure he was real. I wanted to forget what I had saw Jack and Becky do. I just wanted to forget. "Bri-an," I began, he tried to stop me, but I went on anyways.

"Jack...and...Beck-y.....die-d. They....." I stopped, my eyes spilling over with tears and my throat hot. "Shhhhh, shhhh. You need to sleep. You hit your head. You need some rest and I promise I'll be here when you wake up. Then you can tell me. I'm not leaving you," He whispered, still stroking my hair. I managed to shake my head weakly. I needed to say it. I had to say it. "Bri-an," I whispered. "I'm...a...witch." Then I fell asleep.