Shift

Chapter 5

Esper lay belly down on the small bed. Her back was sore. Her head was throbbing. She sat up and looked around. She seemed to be in a small wooden room. she sat on a bed with blue sheets. Over in the corner was a small box that quietly played music. There was a small oval shaped rug in the middle of the floor, and a window high on the wall. That was about it to the small room except a wooden door. She sat there staring at the door. What was on the other side? Who was on the other side? She had never been more confused in her life. Where was she? Was everything that happened real? Was this real? Where was jay? Her head spun with all the questions. person or dog she needed to talk to him. He had told her he knew something about her mother. Like where she came from which was some weird nation. She stood up and hobbled to the door.

She wrapped he hand around the bronze door handle. It was cool and smooth. Seemed real enuf. She turned it and the brown door creaked open leading to a little living room. She studied the aria a moment. She seemed to be in a small cottage. A older looking lady maybe in her mid 50s sat on a bright red couch, jay was next to her. They both looked over at her at the same time. "Hey sugar. Feel any better?" She had that southern bell accent. "Um..." She looked towards jay as he got up and started walking to her. "Where am I?" She must have not looked so good cause he took her arm and helped her over to the couch.

The lady smiled at her and sipped from a cup. Jay was seated on the other side of her. They both just sat there and stared at her. She felt like the lady could reading her like a book. Like she was pulling out her deepest secrets. Nobody moved they just sat there in silence. After what felt like a forever which was only a couple of accward minutes, the lady finally spoke braking the silence. "So dear, how are you feeling?"
"Um....." She answered once agin. She had no idea what to say. What did she mean feel better? Was she asking about her back or head or something completely different? The lady sat there waiting for an answer. She looked to jay. He motioned for her to respond. "It's a little sore?" she said with a quiet unsure voice. "Oh dear speak up, I can hardly hear you."
"It's sore." She said again in her regular voice.
"Good, you were really hurtin this morning."
"Morning? Would someone-"
"Thank you very much mrs. Herrin." Jay interrupted.
"Your welcome darlin. Happy to help." She took another sip of her drink.

Esper got up and started wandering around the small house. There was a kitchen with all the regular appliances. Oven, stove, microwave, toaster and some other small things that she didn't recognize. They all looked like they were from the 60s. Everything was white. And where the shiny silver metal should be was rust. The walls were dark brown wood same as the floors. Where wasn't much to the house. She kept walking and found a small bathroom and closet. And that was it. She traveled back towards the couch when she noticed an small note framed and hanging on the wall. Every thing about the home was small.

Esper drifted towards the wall where the note was hanging. Something about it was just so familiar. Esper walked up and glided her fingers along the frame. It was a shiny silver, and was cool and smooth on her on her flesh. An electrical sensation ran through her hand. Her ring seemed to vibrate and glow. She ripped her hand away from the picture frame. "Something wrong honey?" Mrs. Herrin asked turning her attention to Esper.
"No, no, nothing's wrong." She lied. There was some thing familiar, really familiar. She looked closer. The hand writing. It was her moms.

Had her mom been here? Did this lady know her? So many questions and Esper wanted answers. "Come here dear. You need some fluids." Called mrs. Herrin.
Esper didn't want to take her eyes off the note but she knew she needed to obey the lady.

She went over and took the cup mrs. Herrin had just pored. " what is it?" She lowered her nose and sniffed the drink. It was strong, really strong. "Tekbal." Jay responded.
What? Esper shot back a puzzled look. She was not gonna drink that. And he was crazy if he thought she was. She looked back down at the drink in her hand.
"English please."
"Just try it." He insisted.
Esper hesitated staring into the drink. It looked like grape juice. She liked grape juice. Maybe that's what it tasted like. Then it wouldn't be so bad. "Come on, drink it honey, it's good for ya." Mrs. Herring exclaimed.
"Um....." Esper breathed not wanting to drink it.

She closed her eyed and quickly swallowed the drink till the little cup was empty. Esper slammed the cup down on the table and pressed her eyelids together tight making a repulsed face. The liquid was thick and slithered down her throat. It was strong really strong. Esper sat back on the couch discussed at what she just put into her body. She now knew what it was too, or most of what it was. Her body tingled and she felt limp, but at the same time full and refreshed. The way the drink tasted or felt on her throat wasn't the only thing that discussed her. The fact that it's what killed her mother and the other two civilians in the crash, was what discussed her.

"Why would you give me that!" She yelled.
"It's good for you honey."
"Stop calling me that! Alcohol is not good for you!" Esper argued. This lady was crazy. This place was crazy. Everything about this was messed up.
"She can't talk to me like that! Does she know who I am?!"
Jay jumped in. "I'm so sorry mrs. Herrin. She's never been here before all this stuff is new to her."
"Well then boy, you better get her in check. She won't survive here long acting like that."
"Hello. I'm right here." She waved. "Now why did you make me drink alcohol?"
"Like I said alcohol is good for you. It helps your powers."
"Ok alcohol is- powers?"
"Yes! Jay have you told this girl anything?"
"Well, it's just, she-"
"No, I don't even wanna know." Esper interrupted. "Just, take me home." She actually didn't wanna go home. She wasn't really sure what she wanted. But she couldn't stay here. Everything she said seemed to upset this lady. She looked over at jay as he took another sip of his drink. How could he drink that stuff. It just wasn't right.

Jay caught her look and put down his cup. "Thank you kindly mrs. Herrin but, we really should get going."
"Ok kid, let the spirits lead you on the right course."
"Well now what does that mean?"
Jay clenched his jaw and balled his hand into a tight fist. What? was he going to punch her. "Boy, you have thought her nothing! " Mrs. Herrin glared at him.
He looked up. "It pretty much means good luck."
"Yes, y'all are gonna need it."
"Thank you agin mrs. Herrin." Jay said standing up. He put his hand on Espers shoulders and led her to the door before she could say anything else that would upset this lady.

Esper stopped when they reached the note on the wall. That did it say. The words didn't make sense. It was like it was written in a different language. She wanted to study it more, try and figure out what it said. But jay pulled her along to the door. Ware where they going? She hadn't thought about that. Jay didn't seem to know either. Or he did, but he didn't want her to know. He opened the door and they stepped out.

Wait, what? Esper looked around there were trees everywhere. Looked like they were in the woods. She had been here before. Many times in fact. She knew exactly where she was but, she was lost. Standing on the porch she turned around to see her own house. The house that she had just been in. But it wasn't her house. Was it? It was mrs. Herrins house. And these woods, she knew every inch, she lived there. Yet she had never been there before. Everything looked backwards. Jay could tell she was in aw and mostly confused. "I promise I'll explain everything later but, now we need to go."