Revel

Chapter 1:

A ball of anxiety began to form in Ava’s gut as she looked into her full-length mirror that had a small crack at the bottom of it where her little sister had attempted to pick it up. Ava could barely recognize the girl who looked as if she was trapped inside of the glass of the mirror, a blank look on her face. Her long, dark red hair had been pinned up into an elegant bun, resting at the top of her head and a sleeveless, knee length black dress clung to her body, accentuating her shapely form. Grey pearls hung from her earlobes, matching the single string of grey pearls adorning her neck.

Over all, Ava’s outfit was complimenting, fitting her well and enhancing her beauty. She would have appreciated wearing something so beautiful if only it didn’t remind her of her current situation.

         Today, on October 3, 2012, was the memorial of Tristan Harris, quarter back of the local high school football team, son of the pastor of the small town church, and also known as Ava’s loving boyfriend who had died two years ago and a service was being held at her church to mourn his death. His death was never definite. No body was ever found and no murder was confessed. But, when he went missing, the only way that the devastated town knew how to deal was to try to believe that he was dead.

 No one ever spoke about it, but not a soul actually believed he was dead. Most blamed his disappearance on the pressures of his teenage life while others said it was just another thing that went along with every other strange thing that had been happening in the small town of Dublin, Virginia.

Ava leaned against the door of her bedroom and slid down to the floor, forgetting to care about her dress. Tristan’s brother, Seth, would be here soon to pick her up and she just needed a moment to breathe. Everything had been so hectic lately, what with Ava agreeing to plan the memorial service and recently her little sister had been having rebellious outburst for reasons her family nor their therapist could understand. Ava had barely had time to think. A certain coldness had spread through her, numbing whatever feeling might have risen with everything happening.

Now, as she sat on the smooth wooden floorboards of her bedroom, her numbness slowly started melting away and her first feeling was fear. She was afraid of so much. Her future, her sister’s well being, and her feelings about the entire thing.

But, most of all she was afraid of what the real reason was behind Tristan’s disappearance. Dublin had an uncanny ability to attract danger yet, no one in the town could seem to stay away. Most had been born and raised in Dublin just like Ava. Some called it being homesick but even the high school graduates who set out to ‘find themselves’ somehow always ‘found themselves’ right back to Dublin.

Ava heard the doorbell ring, interrupting her thoughts. Knowing Seth had a key, she ignored the need to get up and open the door for him and instead stayed right where she was. Seeing Seth for the first time since Tristan’s one-year memorial was another one of her fears. He awoke feelings and memories in her that she hadn’t had since Tristan had… died.

Upon hearing the front door rattle and then open, Ava stood from her place on the floor and slipped on her matching gray high heels.

         “Ava? Are you ready to go?” A muffled male’s voice from behind her bedroom door asked, sounding strained.

Ava closed her eyes, surprised at the tears that had gathered in her eyes at the sound of his voice. He sounded so much like Tristan.

“Yeah. I’m ready.” Suddenly, she felt like if she let another single syllable pass through her lips that she would break down. She couldn’t let that happen right now. When she got back home, she could sob and scream as loud and as much as she wanted to but for now she had to be strong.