Hidden Close (Jr. Year)

Chapter 45

Part 45 Of The First Draft

This can't be happening. Our backs are against the wall, and many of our doubts remain unanswered. The woman who looked like Carlie was uncanny. Carlie nor Carlita has never mentioned a twin sister. Additionally, my mom and Carlie have studied for three days without finding one weakness to the evil spirit who calls himself Ignitro. How long he has resided in Mister Paulson's body is anyone's guess, and we, for all intents and purposes, are helpless. There is only one thing that we do have, and that is each other. We aren't going to give into Ignitro's demands, and we all have made the decision to try and defeat him or die trying.

No one wants to die, but I would rather do that than hand over Becky and Carlie. I've just grown too close to them, and, besides, I have what few people possess: a conscience. Would you hand over your friends if it meant saving your own skin? No one with a heart and soul would ever think to do such a thing. I love them just too much to casually discard them as if they were some bargaining chip.

On Wednesday night, Carlie and my mother hit paydirt,

“Will you look at this, Serah. I found an entry on Ignitro, complete with his personality breakdown and an illustration. Apparently, he doesn't like large dogs.”

My mom laughed, and joked,

“Why would Ignitro hate his own family?”

I had a stroke of genius, and asked them,

“What about werewolves? Is Ignitro scared of those as well?”

My mom thought for a moment, raising an eyebrow as she did. After debating all the facts she could, my mother asked me,

“Can you or Lana transform into one? I know about your gift, Mindi, but have you ever completely undergone the complete transformation? On top of it all, can you manually induce the change?”

I shook my head, but added something that gave us a new outlook on everything,

“No, but I believe that either Lana or Perry can change. When I first met both of them, they both demonstrated some incredible things.”

Both my mom and Carlie seemed in awe. My mom asked,

“Perry is a lycanthrope, too?”

“No, but he has some weird connection with coyotes.”

Carlie asked, perhaps puzzled by the entire situation,

“Why?”

“I don’t know. I think it is some sort of bizarre lamia shapeshifting power...wait...”

I messaged Renee right then and there,

“Can any of you change what you look like?”

Renee must have already been on her phone, as her response was almost instantaneous,

“I think so.....but why?”

“Apparently, big and bad Ignitro is scared of dogs.”

Renee cracked the same joke as we had before,

“So he is afraid of his own reflection, lol.”

“You might say that, lol. Gather up your brother and see if you can both induce the shift. It's our only chance.”

Lana wasn’t home yet. She won't be for awhile. I asked my mom,

“Is it okay if I go upstairs and wait for Lana to get home? My nerves are shot and my anxiety is even worse.”

My mom nodded, and confessed,

“That makes the two of us, Mindi. Go right on ahead.”

Of course I hadn't been completely honest with my mom. That night I had stared out the window, fighting off the urge to cut. The urge was too strong, and I pulled out my razor, carving out a big chunk of my right arm not too far from my wrist. I started to cry, and I wished that he was here with me. Perry has proven to be the only answer to my pain. I don't know why I start to feel bad and cry. Today, despite the fact that we all might die, has been the same day that I've been living through since the age of twelve. Every night I am consumed by depression and thoughts invade my mind, each of them telling me that I'd be better off dead. I've fought my bad thoughts off for years with pills and my desire to keep on living. Now, with all of our lives hanging in the balance, I am debating what it would be like to be dead. I don't think it would be great, but my fate is death if our plan falls through the cracks. Even if we defeat the evil spirit Ignitro, I will still have to fight this same battle each night as I've had to live through it for years. Gosh...can’t I grow up any faster? I just want to have him hold me each night and tell me that things are going to be okay. I'd marry Perry a million times if I could just have one night like that.

When Lana finally came home I was already half asleep. As I gazed up at her beautiful and smiling face, I managed a few simple words before I fully succumbed to rest,

“Lana....Ignitro....show him your claws....show him your teeth....”

Thursday couldn't come fast enough. All the sleeping pills I had taken last night chased away my nightmares. I was more than ready to see Perry as he picked me up at my house to drive me to school. I had requested that he meet me at my house earlier this morning. I no longer feel safe in this town, and I'm clinging to his every move and word. Trust me, I can fight off just about anyone, but what I can't trust is myself. Who ever is strong on the outside often is weak on the inside. No one can truly be a complete and dominate warrior in life. Even the strongest of heroines had someone they loved. Even in death Artemis, a mighty hunter, had loved Orion. He betrayed her but still her love did not waver. As she slew him, I'm sure she was torn and confused. All these years she has remained abstinent and loyal to him, or so the story goes. I'm glad that I don't have to walk her path, as my Perry seemingly is too tough to ever die, and by far too sweet to ever even consider betraying me.

“You look great, Mindi. Are you ready for class?”

I approached him, and had my lips taste his own hot and soft lips. After I pried myself off of him, I answered, my voice just a little flirty,

“I’m more than ready for school. The only thing I wish for is that I could see even more of you. That is, while I'm in class....and at home..ha ha.”