Hidden Close (Jr. Year)

Chapter 48

Part 48 Of The First Draft

“I’d like to thank you for what you have done for me today, yet there is one thing I need to ask you.”

I smiled, and urged Mister Paulson to ask away,

“Anything, sir.”

Mister Paulson scratched his head, and asked me, as he was extremely befuddled,

“Where am I, and please, tell me why everything looks so different. Is it not the 1980s....”

Ignitro must have had a hold on Mister Paulson for a very long time. I tried to ease his confusion,

“It’s 2017, Mister Paulson. Let's just say that you haven't been yourself for awhile. You are in a nightclub that you have owned for quite some time.”

Grace motioned to me, and I knew it was time for us to go. I scribbled down my number on a piece of paper in Josie's office, who was still unconscious, and handed it to Mister Paulson, explaining,

“It may take awhile for you to get reacclimated to Knoxville. If you need any help, give me or my family a call. I understand how much you are suffering, as you are still trying to come to grips with where the last three decades have gone. I'm sorry we can't stay any longer. We have to go. We’ve got to get backstage, remember?”

Mister Paulson smiled, and Grace said to us as the remaining six of us headed to the backstage of the club, as Carlie had already made her disappearance, assisting the injured Josie,

“Don’t have too much fun, kids. Take a picture or two for me, okay?”

We waved her goodbye, and Grace quickly disappeared from the club. We entered the backstage, where the seductive singer was sitting alone. She noticed us, and bared an almost sinister grin. She commented,

“No one comes to see my boys. It is me you are after, is it not, Mindi?”

Wait. How in the world does she know my name?

“Excuse me?”

The dark-haired woman laughed, and explained to me in an almost eerie calmness,

“I’ve seen you around here. I wanted to take up some of your time and explain to you why there is so many people who look like me, and say.....a few others...”

All of us were intrigued, and Becky drew forward, her eyes locked on the mysterious siren,

“You’re talking about you, Josie, and Carlie, are you not?”

The siren laughed, and explained, in a sort of careless fashion,

“Yes, we are all witches from an old coven. Some think we are clones of one another. Serah is no different, right....Mindi?”

I sensed an inner evil coming from the singer, but at the same time I knew it was playful at best. I asked her, not caring about any other details,

“What is Josie? Is she possessed, too?”

The singer waved a finger in the air, and announced, her demand being clear,

“I’ll tell you....but there's something that I need done. My name is Clara, if you care to know. I need either the Eisen girl, or the blonde wolven girl. I want them to travel with me for a week. Then I will answer all your questions and tell you also how to free Josie. The only catch is that I will do anything to keep the girl that agrees to the proposition.....”

Lana stepped forward, and volunteered,

“I’ll go with you. Work your spell, do whatever you want with me. I won't let any of my other friends die. If you are to have me then do your worst....”

She turned around, and Lana cried out, her voice full of pain. Her regret was only too pronounced,

“I’m sorry, Brad.....”

Clara smiled, and then let out a low, hypnotic laugh.

“Now, be gone, all of you.....ha ha...”

We left, and my anger was boiling beneath my skin. When we met Carlie at the door, she begged me,

“Please save my sister. She is absolutely out of it right now. She doesn't even remember who I am......”

The pain inside my soul increased tenfold, and I cursed my luck underneath my breath all the way home. When I finally laid down for the evening, I stayed up half the night, missing Lana. She's so brave....but also stupid. It's as if she almost wants to be with Clara. That witch. She had us eating out of her palm the moment we went backstage. There was one good thing that came from it, though. Ignitro was definitely gone, and Josie no longer is under his mind control. As for Clara, I can't but think she is an evil all in a league of her own. From her lustful charms to her melodic voice, she is someone who can survive on her tempting nature alone. Her request for Lana or Renee meant only one thing. She is lonely. Lana and Renee are both above eighteen. She's looking for a girlfriend, as sad as that is. That is why Becky or me wouldn't do. What a sad individual. You’d think a woman of her talent and beauty could have anyone she wanted. Maybe her dark side scares off any potentional suitors, as it did me the moment I drew near her.

On Saturday, I explained to my mom what had happened. I asked her about Clara, seeing if she remembered her,

“Clara? I knew a Claire, but....she died...”

Is Clara a vampire, then?

“Oh no....Lana is with her. Did Claire seem like the violent type, mom?”

My mother shook her head, and told me one alarming fact,

“No...she was by far too weak to hurt anyone. She was more of a trickster than anything else....”

She may be a shapeshifter, taking the appearance of Claire. She may be after a cheap thrill and nothing more, merely attempting to fool us. I tried Lana's number, but the message said she was out of range. Where did the siren take her? I don't want her to miss Thanksgiving, and I wished that night for Lana to see through the siren's rouge. As the days passed, I eagerly awaited word from Lana or the siren, and on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, I received my wish. Lana came home, with some startling news,

“Mindi....Clara was evil. I'm done with her...but I did something bad with her. I...I don't want to live anymore....she told me if I had sex with her, she’d let me go. I cheated on Brad, and she told me that Josie was already back to her old self, all along. Mindi, I feel like such a whore!”

I held the now sobbing Lana in my arms, comforting her, telling her what needs to be said,

“Hey, babe. Don’t worry....I won’t tell anyone....”