Hidden Close (Jr. Year)

Chapter 33

Part 33 Of The First Draft

Carlita heaved and sputtered, her black tank top glimmered with her own blood, completely drenched in it. We helped her to her feet, and Carlita managed, completely confused,

“Why....are you helping me?”

No one bothered to answer her, and Grace, who was dressed in a costume of a Greek heroine, complete with a garland and authentic breastplate, came forward, and soothed Carlita,

“It's okay. The fighting is over. You are yourself again, after all of these years....decades, even. Carlita, please, forgive us for our insensitivity

Carlita bellowed back, sobs coming forth from her once mighty countenance,

“It is I who should be apologizing to you!”

I grabbed Carlita, and led her to my dad's SUV, where she quietly sat down. Before we left the cemetery, Carlita pled with me,

“Sit down with me. You freed me, and I request you help me again. Mindi...I...I am sorry.”

I examined her, just a tad worried that Carlita may be tricking me. I gazed into her eyes, and noticed that hint of human sincerity. Perry recognized my caution, and Renee moved past both of us, plopping down next to Carlita. Carlita looked as if she had been rejected, and Perry grabbed me by my hand, and said,

“You’ll be going home with me, Mindi. I love you.”

After taking one final glance towards Carlita, we departed to Perry's car, and I sent a thought to Renee, and told her,

“Thank you.....be careful around her....I think she is harmless but Carlita is still unstable....”

We drove home in silence, and when we had made it nearly to the Eisen's residence, Perry addressed the inevitable,

“You'll be able to return home tonight. I hope that you and your family will enjoy resting in your own beds again.”

My reply to Perry was one of honesty,

“I'll miss being so close to you. I want you always hidden somewhere close to the heart in my chest....these last few weeks have been a taste of both paradise and the valley....I can only hope that I don't....tonight....”

My tears were now the ones falling, and when we pulled into their driveway, Perry embraced me and held me next to his warm chest, and admitted in a whisper that ignited my cold soul,

“I don't want you to go, either. It will seem like ages before we can get married.”

I stepped out of the car, as did he, and we joined the others inside. Carlita had been placed on the couch, and my mom, still wearing her witch costume, offered Carlita,

“Would you like a drink, my old friend?”

Carlita started to wail, and requested after she gathered her sanity once more,

“Yes...please. Juice or water....maybe both. I've lost so much blood.”

Does she not realize what has happened to her? I asked Carlita, as I maintained my poise around her, even still,

“Carlita. How are you feeling? It must be strange to be like you once were.”

Carlita’s expression told us all everything, if not too much. She asked, with exasperation in her voice,

“What do you mean?”

My mom took this one, as each of us anxiously looked on,

“You are a mortal again, Carlie. You are now human. Years of immortality and bloodletting had driven you mad. Please forgive us, my old friend. It was the only way.”

Carlie smiled, and laughed loudly. She then confided in us,

“I never wanted to be what I was. I don't remember any of it. It's as if I have been asleep for a very long time. One thing doesn't make sense, though, Serah. How are you still alive? Shouldn't you have died a long time ago?”

My mother let Carlie down easy.

“It hasn't been that long, Carlie.”

My dad handed her a tall glass of iced grape juice, and Carlie smiled, gladly accepting the drink. She sipped at it, and then she continued to gulp it down, her thirst overwhelming her. Lana, who had been nursing Brad's wounds, approached Carlie, and crossed her arms. She asked loudly, glaring at Carlie as she did,

“How do we know that she won't be a problem again?”

Grace motioned for Lana to sit down, and then explained to everyone, much to our shock,

“Carlie was a pawn in a game for a greater evil. She can help us now. Carlie should be forgiven. She was only acting upon another's will. Carlie is a victim just as the rest of us were.”

My skin began to creep, and goosebumps formed on my bare arms. I put forth the question first,

“Who? Who could be possibly powerful enough to command vampires and an army of zombies?”

My mom quickly answered my question, although she seemed unsure of even her own response,

“The real owner of The Weekend Freak. His name is Mr. Paulson, right, Carlie?”

Carlie held her hands on her head, and volunteered what she could, as Grace rushed to get her an aspirin,

“I do not know...he was the one who turned me into the monster I was, though. I hate him....he scares me....”

The truth was as equally confusing as what we formerly knew. Carlie now will be an outcast like the rest of us. My mom, as if she, too, can sense my thoughts, asked her, in a friendly and postive voice, not wishing to disturb the mentally distraught Carlie any further,

“Carlie. Why don’t you stay with us?”

Lana, who looked as if she was about to object, remained silent. I shot a thought her way,

“Don’t. She is not our enemy, but merely a hurting soul. What she was before has died. Show some compassion, sis.”

This has been one heck of a Halloween. Between you and me I'm glad it is over. I'll miss what living arrangements we’ve had with the Eisens but I need to go back home. Only there can I find my own inner peace. I'll miss Perry, true, but I need to be alone with Lana right now. She's suffering. Carlie, Brad, and her are all on edge. I'll need to talk to her about what she is feeling. She wants to blame Carlie for Brad's injured condition, but that would just be a waste of time. What is done is done. My only wish is that I can relieve Lana of her stress and utter sorrow.