The Gift of Three

1: Whispers in the Wind

I had missed one day of school that whole year and during that day we had a test. I was forced out into the hall to take it. Not my idea of how I should be spending math class. Oh well I suppose.

I sat there working on my test and of course my hair kept falling in front of my face over and over again. When my hair finally agreed and called a truce to were it stays behind my ear I started to hear crying. 'Great,' I think to myself, 'another thing to not let me finish my test.' The crying was soft and almost silent, but I heard it, clear as day. Then just as quietly as it started it stopped and in its place was a muffled scream. It sounded as though the person was being hurt. When the scream stopped my curiousty won out. I peered around the corner to where I thought the sound was coming from, only to find nothing. I shook my head confused then sat back down to find a solution to an algebraic equation. The small hallway felt different, colder and more sinister. I shivered feeling the cold run down my spine and back up to rest on my neck. I tried to forget about it of course that only made things worse. As I focused on my test the feeling got stronger and colder and crueler.

I gave into its pull and remember the crying the scream and the cold. I thought I heard a laugh and with a finale shiver it dissapeared recedeing back into what I thought was shadows or maybe, no not possible. I felt the stare of someone but again no one was in the hallway just me and a number two pencil. I felt as if there was a hole opening below me and deep inside was something so powerful and cruel it could only feel hatred. I shudered. I kept thinking it was all in my head, though there was still a part of me that believed other wise. It's the same part that believes my father is still alive though again its not possible.

Once I completed my test I walked back down the small hall and opened the creaky door to room 207. I quietly walked back to my desk while my teacher was rambling on about linear and non-linear functions. At the time I wasn't paying attention, at all. Not that she noticed or anything. Finally the bell rung and I raced to my locker, then to the band room to collect my oboe, (it is an instrument) and finally out the school doors. I grabbed my bike, filled the basket with my stuff, and hopped on, beginning the 5 minute journey home.

When I finally reached home I found my brother sprawled out on the sofa asleep. My brother might be smart in most situations but when it came to 'should I stop reading and finally go to sleep?' he always continued reading which makes him extremely tired in the afternoon. During the school day I still don't get how he doesn't sleep through his classes.

"Howie!" I yell as loud as I can.

He grumbled something that sounded like, 'nop-haw.' I translated it to, 'not now.' Wow he needs to practice his communication skills. He looked up at me and smiled. 'Oh no,' I thought 'not again.' He grabbed the nearest pillow and flung it as hard as he could at my face. Luckily I'm fast and avoided the blow. Though mom's favorite vase didn't. We both knew she would be home any second with Winny so we did the logical thing, we blamed each other. Hey we are siblings, it's only natrual.

"Why'd you brake it?" he yelled gabbing his fingure in my face.

"Aren't you imature! You threw it!" I retorted back.

"You dogded it!"

"What was I supposed to do? Let it hit me in my face?"

"That's what a good sister would do!"

"Look who's talking!"

It goes on like this for what feels like ages, of course its meer seconds maybe minutes. Then we hear the key going into the lock and we freeze. Our mother steps in with Winter in tow. Howard and I look each other in the eye.

Without a second thought we yell at the same time and point at each other, "She/he did it!"

Mother sighed almost as if she expected this. She looked at where we were standing and could tell Howard threw the pillow.

"Howard clean up this mess and then take Winter out to practice soccer," she turned to me, "Lotus please stop trying to wake him up by yelling. Please just no more fightning at least for the night. Lotus please take Mell out to play."

With that she was gone. We all looked at each over and said our quiet apologies. Mother seemed stressed more than usual. While Howie went to fetch the soccer ball, Winter was getting ready to wring me.

"Winter please just lea-" I started.

"No, I won't just let it go. Lo you know mother is upset, things are getting worse at work for her. She may loose her job! I know you can get along with Howie so please. For me, okay," Winny pleaded.

I hate it when she acts like the older sister. But the truth is she's the one that always mends the bond between my brother and I. So I nod and she smiles knowing she won.

I walked over to where a large Australian sheepdog was hiding, trying to stay out of the drama.

"Hey boy!" I smiled and rubbed his head and he licked me back affectionatly.

I opened the door and he charged out trying to chase anything that moved. I laughed and followed him, no leash is ever needed with him.

We live on a large ranch of twelve achers. Its in the middle of nowhere, five minutes away from school. This place was perfect for me to think and thats excatly what I needed right now. As I followed Mell down a winding path he suddenly veers left and breaked out into a run. I chased after him and we came to a meadow that looked as if it was straight off an old black and photo. The fancy ones that seemed as if the places in them weren't real. I was stunned but not by the view. I was stunned by the figure standing in the middle of it beckoning me forward. I caustiosly moved toward the strange man. As I got closer I saw things that were desturbingly fimilar about him. The way his eyes glinted in the sunlight or the way his curly blonde hair fell around his face in a cascade of warmth.

"Howard?" I asked.

So what do you think of the cliff hanger? Re-read the pro-log and you might figure out who it is. Oh and by the way did anyone get my joke? I guess only certain people would. Please don't hurt me for the cliffhanger. I'll try to post chapter two as soon as I can. Please Vote, Comment, and Talk To Me! I like listening to you guys! And Truman you can NOT be in my story!!!! - A. J. L. W. ;)