Chapter 17
Monday, June 22nd
Adrianna
The past few days, I’m comforted by my family. I’m given peanut butter and banana sandwiches, tea with honey, blankets, I’m allowed to watch anything on TV, and Katie and Jane are always here. But I’m sick of sitting on this ugly sofa melting my brain with my pitiful thoughts of “Woe is me” and soap opera dramatics.
So I get up off the repulsive couch and walk out the door.
“I’m going to the park, Jane,” I call out to her. She has been sitting on the sofa with me all afternoon, watching a cheesy soap opera. She nods her head and keeps staring at the screen. I turn away and keep walking.
I walk past the Brooke’s house without a glance. I hold my head high and just keep on walking.
I walk past the corner house, which was for sale. Someone is finally pounding in a sign that says SOLD. I wonder who our new neighbor could be.
I get to the park, and stride past the bench where Sophie yelled at me. I walk further than I plan to, and end up in a damp, deserted alleyway.
Creepy, right? Not really. It’s actually calming. I can think clearly now. And clearly, meaning, so clearly, I go back to my core.
I breeze along memories of times when I’m accidently using my weather powers. There are plenty of them. I soon hear voices.
“Look at that! You’re daughter is back again,” my grandmother’s voice echoes in my head.
“Adrianna! It’s wonderful to see you here again,” my mother says. I sigh.
“Hello everyone. Planning to rip me apart again, Grandma? You’ll have an easy time today. I’m already half torn down,” I say, referring to Sophie.
All of a sudden, three women appear in the dank alley.
“AHHHHH!!” I shriek loudly when I see them. Very quickly I realize who they are.
Grandma laughs while Mother looks around and shushes me. The other woman stands there, grimacing.
“You can appear in real life?” I ask their ghosts. Grandma laughs again.
“What a smart daughter you have, Alina. I must say, Jennifer’s just can’t compete!” she says sarcastically. The other woman must be Jennifer. And she must be my mother’s sister, meaning Sophie’s mom. This means Grandma has just called me dumb and compared me to the almighty, wonderful, smart, amazing Sophie.
Jennifer looks apologetically at me and Mother looks concerned.
“Hun, what’s the matter? What happened for you to come here, in this ugly, abandoned street?” she asks.
“It’s called an alley, dear,” Grandma tells her. Jennifer gives her a look and elbows her side.
“Well,” I say, eyeing my dead aunt, “It’s Sophie, actually.”
“Ugh, I knew this would happen,” Jennifer says. This is the first time I’ve heard her voice. It’s quiet and lilting, unlike Sophie’s harsh, criticizing tone. “Sophie can be a bit insensitive at times,” she says to me.
“Oh, I’m so sorry my little storm cloud! What did she do to you to make you so sad?” my mother asks me.
I tell them exactly what happened. Grandmother sighs and shakes her head.
“I can’t believe you told some regular old, neighborhood boy!” I can tell she’s about to continue, but Jennifer stops her. She leans in close and whispers in her ear. Mother looks on knowingly.
“Okay, what’s going on here? You obviously know something I don’t,” I say to the three. They look up.
“You’ll find out soon enough, my breeze. But for now, work on getting to be friends with Sophie again. You’ll need her companionship coming up. And try and be nice to Jonathon too. He’ll help you as well.” Her figure flickers. Grandma and Jennifer’s do too.
“You’ll learn everything before long, Adrianna. Just stay strong and welcome everyone new to the neighborhood. Unless, they attack you, then-“ my aunt says.
“Okay, Jenny, stop! We’re going bye-bye like right now!” Grandma says, interrupting her. I just stand there, looking confused.
“Try learning to fly as soon as you can!” Alina says, as her ghostly figure dissipates into the fading sunlight.
“Call us back in an hour. We’ll be all rested up by then,” Grandma says sarcastically as her figure disappears. Jennifer is the only one left.
“You can call me Aunt Jenny,” she says softly, as her body vanishes into the evening light.
================================*****==================================
Willow
It’s nighttime, after Rose is in bed. Mom is at the counter, holding a mug of peppermint tea. I’m sitting at the window, reading a book.
“Will?” Mom calls, using the nickname I only let her use. I walk over to stand next to her.
“I’m sorry I blamed you for the power. You’re ungrounded,” she says to me. I smile sadly.
I had figured. There’s a pause as she waits for me to say something. But I’m still not speaking. At least, I’m speaking very little.
“I’ve been thinking Willow, and I’m thinking you girls need a break from Pennsylvania,” she says. I look in her eyes, expecting a vacation.
“We’re going to move to Arizona.”
I freeze.
“I don’t think I can handle everything here anymore, and besides, I quit my job,” she says. I just stand there, unable to move.
“You quit your job?” I repeat, slightly confused. She would never quit her place as a professor- she loves teaching!
Mom looks thrilled to get a response. “Yes. I feel it’s the best for you two. And besides, we need to get out of these settings soon. Someone is looking for you.” Mom looks down at me sadly. Now I’m freaked out. First she announces we’re moving to Arizona, then she quits her job, and now she says that someone out there is stalking me. Wonderful.
“It’s come too close before. That power outage, it was caused by them- the people who are looking for you. We’re packing up as many things as we can, and then we’re moving before the Fourth of July. I know some people there who can help us. Now go off to bed, Willow. We’ve a full day ahead of us,” she says. I’m so shell-shocked I don’t say another word.
======================================================================
YOU ARE READING
Stormy Skies (On Hold)
Science FictionThis story is being put on hold in order to be edited and rewritten. Feel free to read it anyway.
