Semblance

Chapter 2

When the lunch bell finally rang, I began my search for Cayden and BraeLynn. I spotted them at the table that is nearest to the trashcans. The Loser Table, exclusively for the outcasts, the misfits, the freaks. Basically, just the three of us. We were okay with it though, comfortable even. BraeLynn was the loud, but sensible one. Cayden was the funny and blunt one. I was the quiet one. Cayden liked to tell people that I was the one to watch out for. You know how the saying goes, its the quiet ones that you have to watch out for. They like to call us the Freak Trio, which wasn't very clever, but it stuck. There wasn't actually anything wrong with us, but here in the small town of Weston, anything different than status quo was immediately wrong.

When I arrived at the table, both of their heads shot up. The looks on their faces closing resemembled a child's when his mother caught him stealing from a cookie jar. I gave them a weird look, and sat down across from the two.

"What's going on between you two?" I asked slowly.

"Nothing, nothing at all. W-why would you think something is going on between us?" Cayden responded. BraeLynn rolled her eyes at his antics.

"Just asking." I shrugged. There was a moment of silence except for the occasional crunch of chips or slurps of milk.

"Oh, by the way, I have been meaning to ask you; what did the new Mythology teacher want this morning?" BraeLynn asked.

I looked down at my hands, embarrassed. "He just wanted to tell me not to fall asleep in his class again.."

Cayden let out a bark of laughter. "Wow, falling asleep on the first day? Nice first impression!"

BraeLynn smirked, but became serious again. "You didn't have the dream, did you?"

I bit my bottom lip, debating on whether or not I should tell them.

"Dude, just tell us." Cayden said.

I sighed, "Well, kinda."

"What do you mean 'kinda'? Either you had the dream or you didn't." BraeLynn said impatiently.

"It was different this time. It wasn't the creepy guy that was in the previous dreams, it was a younger man; my age."

BraeLynn looked thought for a moment before asking, "Was he hot?"

I gave her an incredulous look, before giving in and nodding my head sheepishly.

Cayden, sick of our girlish inquiries, broke in quickly, "What happened then?"

"I don't remember all the details," I sighed, dissapointed in myself, "all I remember is him saying, You have to remember, Ro"

It was silent for a few moments, all of us wrapped up in our own thoughts.

Cayden was the first to speak. "Well, that's dramatic." BraeLynn and I nodded in agreement.

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  I continued to ponder the mysterious man's words for the remainder of the day. Once I left school, I found myself going in the opposite direction of my house, heading towards the woods.

When I arrived, the birds were chirping cheerfully in the trees, and the sun was shyly peaking through the branches. The breeze blew softly in the air, occasionally combing its fingers through my curls. For the first time in a while, I felt calm. For once, the weight on my shoulders didn't seem to be weighing me down as much as it normally did. I usually come out here to read or to think, but this time I had no idea what possessed me to come. I sat on a log that was near the border of the woods. I closed my eyes, enjoying the peacefulness that washed over me like water, and sat there for what felt like an eternity.

Snap. I abruptly opened my eyes. Snap. I stood up, the continous noise of sticks snapping under boots startling me. Snap. I ran towards the area where I suspected the sound was coming from. I crouched down behind a large fallen tree. I looked over it, something catching my eye. At first, I believed the noises to be a fragment of my imagination, until I saw a ripple of something in the middle of the woods. I cautiously moved forward, bending down to sit on my knees behind some uneven bushes. I squinted, struggling to get a closer look. It looked like an oval mirror, but instead of showing the reflection, it showed colors swirling around inside of it. What is it...? I asked myself. Completely hypnotized by the odd object, I almost missed a hooded figure stepping through it.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up on edge. I could several emotion coursing through my veins.

I wanted to run, I felt claustaphobic. My dream flashed before my eyes in snippets. My bare feet padding against the woods floor, my heart thumping in my ears, briars reaching for me, heavy footsteps, a hooded figure, 'There ya are, Princess', my piercing scream.

I came back to reality, my hands were shaking. I felt like a deer caught in the headlights. I couldn't even think straight. All I wanted was to be back at home. I sat there, frozen. The hooded figure was gone by now, but I still felt uneasy. I made my out of the woods, on the way I went by the log to pick up my bag, and continued on my way.

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       I felt relief rush into my stomach when I saw the familiar double doors that lead into my house. I sprinted the rest of the way, until I was safely inside. I frantically look around for my parents, they were chatting merrily on the couch in the family room. Smiling, I launched my body onto them, wrapping my arms around both of their necks. My dad jumped in surprise, and my mother let out an unexpecting squeak.

"I'm so happy to see you both!" I gushed, holding on tightly to them. They both laughed nervously.

"Well, it is about time you got here. Your mother wouldn't let me eat without you home!"

I laughed at my dad, before clarifying, "Well, I'm here now!"

"Right you are." My mother still looked confused at my sudden show of affection, but brushed it off. "Well, let me get everything set up. Go change, Ro, you have mud all over you." I nodded, then walked up the stairs to my room, happy to be home.

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I quickly changed, then picked up the discarded pieces of clothes and threw them into my hamper. I went down the stairs and into the kitchen. Rice bowls with glasses of sweet tea were in front of three of the seats.

My mother was born and raised in Oklahoma, but moved up here to go to college. She decided long ago that the southern life just didn't fit her. But some things, like the occasional 'y'all' and the meals that she made, never changed. My dad was the opposite though; he was a complete city slicker. I never really fell under either of the categories, I was just..there. The painfully ordinary Rowan.

I sat at my chair, which was seated aross from my parents. Our plates were already set, and drinks already poured. Dinner consisted of the usual laughter and talking, it felt normal. With everything happening, well, just my dreams really, made me realize how much I took my parents for granted. They have sacrificed so much for me, and I am so glad for them to be here with me. I smiled as I watched them playfully bicker back and forth.

The rest of the night was restless. I had woken up because of the usual dream of the unknown man, when I couldn't go back to sleep I tried to figure out all that I could with what little I had. What was that thing in the woods? Who is the hooded figure? Why was I running from him? Who was the very attractive stranger that knew me? I fell asleep with those many questions racing through my mind, and I was determined to answer everything...single...one.