What Doesn't Kill You

Chapter Eleven

"Come on, child, let's get you cleaned up."

She swept past me in Her flowing robes, gliding swiftly into the tree line. I followed at a quick pace, trying to keep up with the Moon.

There was no doubt in my mind that She was who She said She was. After what I'd been through the past couple of weeks this was easy to wrap my head around.

"So this is the Lunar plane?" I found myself asking as I quickened my step to keep up with the Moon.

"You're a sharp one, aren't you?" She sent a smile over Her shoulder.

"Your sass is not appreciated," I quickly slapped my hands over my mouth. Completely surprised that I would say that to the Moon Goddess.

A big belly laugh escaped Her lips and She stopped for a moment, "I'm happy that you still have your sense of humor. It's a good sign that I chose wisely."

Before I could ask a question She started walking again. We traversed through the colorful forest. The plant/animal life in the lunar plane was nothing like I had ever seen before. The trees were bright and looked like they were out of a Dr. Seuss book. While the animals were the complete opposite most of which looked like something out of a nightmare.

Breaking through the tree line we came upon a cove. The sand around the shore was pink and soft, squishing between my toes. It was the most comfortable I had been since I had arrived on the lunar plane. The water was a beautiful, shimmering blue inspiring feelings of calm in me. I felt at peace for the first time in... I don't even know how long.

"Go on, child, rinse off and there will be food waiting for you when you get out."

I looked back at the Moon and She motioned me towards the water. I looked back out at the peaceful water and started to disrobe until I was only in my underwear. I hesitantly started into the water. The water lapped a my ankles and felt so warm and smooth.  I kept walking and when the water was to my mid thigh I dived forward. The water rushing around my head felt amazing. I could feel the dirt and grime, from the last couple of weeks, rinse away.

I kicked forward and felt a current pull my body down with it. I immediately started to struggle against it and tried to make my way up to the surface. I could feel anxiety seize me as I remembered the merfolk. I tried to calm myself , knowing that freaking out would get me nowhere. I needed air. I tried again to kick up but the current was strong, pulling me not only down but also out.

Calm, child. A voice whispered in my mind, you can breathe. Just take it slow.

I listened to the Moon in my head and took a testing sniff and when the water did not make me cough I started to breathe in and out more regularly. The air and water mixture entering my body calmed my limbs and I felt my body float down to the sea floor. The sand hugged my body as I sank down slightly into the warm comfort.

I felt the sand shift and start to engulf my body. It felt nice until the sand started it's way up my neck. I struggled trying to move my body out of the trap I had somehow got myself in. The grains of sand started opening small cuts all over my body. The more I struggled, the more cuts appeared and the faster I sank.

Relax.

Seriously? Relax?!? That's all she can say! Okay... Deep Breaths Taryn...Inhale... Exhale... Inhale... I'm still sinking... Inhale...Exhale... Inhale...Exhale...Close my eyes. I don't need them cut up. Exhale... Inhale... Exhale.

"Open your eyes, Chubby Chase."

My eyes shot open. I was no longer engulfed in sand but sprawled out on a linoleum floor. Lockers spread out on either wall on the side of me and standing above me was a statuesque brunette.

"Little Orphan Rynnie. Looks like you're all alone again," Cara sneered at me.

I tried scrambling up to my feet and she leaned over and with one hand pushed me back down.

Cara cackled, "You're weak, Terry. You'll never be anything. Destined for greatness but falling short. Every. Single. Time." She kept circling me like a shark waiting to eat it's prey. "That's why he rejected you. That's why even now no one looks for you. That's why you'll never amount to anything. You. Are. Nothing." Her last word slipping between her teeth like the hiss of a snake.

I felt a pain in my heart, each insult finding it's mark, but my mind was working over time. This is what Cara always did. Play mind games with me, beat me down until I couldn't stand up. That's how I felt now like weights were tied around my wrist pulling me down into the floor. She kept berating me, attacking me, telling me how I was nothing, I'm worthless "you don't even deserve to be looked at by Jeremy. How does it feel? To know that everyone laughs at you? Chubby Chase chasing after the Alpha like a little puppy only to not get anything, nothing, not even a little scrap. Huh? How does it feel to know..." she paused and leaned down so her face was close to mine, "I had him first."

I lunged at her only to be pulled back down by the invisible weights around me. She cackled again, throwing her head back. Her grin was maniacal.

A chuckle escaped between her teeth as she continued her berating, "You're worthless. No one wants you. You've been gone for months and no one is looking for you. You've been forgotten."

"You're a liar," I was able to make out between pants as I worked hard to stand up but the weights kept pulling me down.

Another cackle escaped her lips and she leaned down so close our noses almost touched, "It's true. No one looks for you. Not even your family..."

"NO!"

"Yes,"  she hissed, "they continue on without you. Living a happy life. All of them glad that you're gone."

Her cackling started again but this time it didn't effect me. Her words no longer had a hold on me and for the first time in forever a smile graced my lips, "And now I know you're lying."

Her cackling ceased and she looked at me confused. I felt confidence swell in me like I'd never felt before especially in the presence of Cara. I stared into her eyes refusing to break eye contact and slowly stood the weights from my wrist releasing. Cara stared at me in horror as I stepped forward, "My family would never desert me."

Cara released a growl of rage and hurled herself towards me. This had happened dozens of times before and each time I had cowered but I was not the same girl I was before the lunar plane. I met her head on thrusting my hand out so the heel of it collided with her chest.

A gasp escaped her lips as she folded in. Jason had taught me how to perform a solar plexus strike before, I had just never used it. I was too afraid before, I thought I was too weak but looking at how much I'd over come. I realized something then looking down at the head of the girl that scared me the most, as she tried to catch her breath.

"You don't scare me anymore."

Her head snapped up to me.

"What did you say?" She hissed out between heavy breaths.

For a second I felt that old fear crawl up my back but then I straightened my shoulders and glared and with a strong, unwavering voice stated, "You don't scare me anymore. I am not afraid of you."

Cara let out a final screech and lunged once more. I didn't flinch as I watched her dissolve into sand. I was an immovable object as the rest of my surroundings started to disintegrate. I closed my eyes and let the sand envelop me once more.