Holiday

2. Illness

3am, U.S

Nelly woke for what seemed the third time that night. It was the, now morning, of the informational meeting for the trip. No matter how much she tried to deny it, she was a nervous wreak, it wasn't just the people, she felt it again.

Chills raced down her spine just thinking of it. This thing happens so creepily and so sudden she couldn't even give it a name. Her bunnies were cuddled within the bed with her, their small breaths with her own were the only sounds that night; with of course the occasional honk and yell of the city.

Her body was rested but her mind was restless. So without a second bought, Nelly silently made her way to the bathroom. It was dark but her eye could see everything, and sometimes too much. She didn't bother with the light as she began to splash water on her face, hoping to wash away the dream. After patting her face dry she looked into the mirror, she didn't expect much from this ungodly hour.

She pulled back her dyed red hair, she brushed her teeth and then stopped. Her main focus rested on her eye, it was completely different from the normal brown one. It was usually seen as gold however it seemed to be a dull yellow in her literal point of view.

She remembered the tale her grandmother told her about her eye, it made her smile just thinking about it...

11 years prior

The Native American reserve isn't a popular tourist destination. In fact when her mother asked for its location, she along with Nelly were thrown odd looks. The drive was unbearable but completely worth it. The twelve hours from their past home to a northern direction was a blur compared to the experience of learning her heritage.

On arrival, her mother stopped the car a half mile from the area and together Nelly walked with her. Hands held, she asked many questions about where they were going but majority of them concerned her grandmother. The little 7 year old girl would finally experience the presence of a grandma.

Not that her other grandma wasn't bad, it was just that she constantly nagged, never looked at Nelly and made her feel less like family and more like a waste of gravity.

The two walked through the wilting forests as the cool breeze ruffled her hair. She could still remember the whispers they held. After 40 or so minutes of walking there was a scent, not like the burning of gasoline or the rotten sewage she'd gotten used to. It was warm, it was happy and it said welcome home.

The people there looked up from their daily duties and towards Nelly and her mother. Without skipping a beat those who were outside approached to greet them. The woman and children mainly and the men were in the back fondly watching. The mothers and sisters kissed and hugged them, the pain of missing a love one healed yet again.

"And who is this young one?" A lady with a baby on her back asked. She looked to be around 28 however her appearance suggested that she had many children.

Nelly cowered behind my mother as my cheeks grew red, my mom giggled and introduced me to her tribe,"My sisters please welcome a new child. Her name is Neliel Catori Hunter and she is 8 years of age. Please give her a lovely welcome and show her the beauty of our tribe."

And that they did, Nelly recieved various gifts and hugs; she learned and played the game with the other children. She even challenged and beat one or two of the young boys there. Once she was comfortable and tribe had truely welcomed her it was time to meet her grandmother. It was almost time to leave, 10:46pm, and as the people of the tribe wrapped around the bonfire the two strongest warroirs went into a large hut and retrieved the elders.

Some were asleep and others couldn't walk but one by one the 5 elders emerged from the hut. Nelly could still remember the electric chills that shot her that day. Each elder sat between the tent and the fire that night, each one with silver hair, pircings and tattoos; this shows their title of the tribe.

There were 2 men and 3 women, all had cheerful, wise looks; however Nelly noticed their eyes were closed. She looked at Kayli, a boy one year above her, and asked about this.

He smiled and said,"They were gifted by the gods with all-seeing eyes so they don't need to open them to see. If they do evil spirits will know their location and put all of us in danger."

Nelly nodded in awe and turned her attention to the village leader. It was a tall, strong man with as much tattoos as the elders. He gave a shining smile to all of us and began to speak with s booming voice.

"Welcome all to our feast! Tonight we thank the gods for our great harvest and we thank them for the return of our sister, Honovi Hunter with her beautiful daughter Neliel Hunter. Let us rejoice in all the-"

"Wait." an elder said, halting the speech. The night as quiet, which was odd to Nelly since there should be an animal sound somewhere.

A woman, so slender with a walking stick, stood high. She had the most tattoos and piercings, plus her smile was brighter than the flames.

"Come forth my daughters let me have a better look at you." She commanded.With out a second though the mother and Nelly walked around the flame and knelled before the elder.

She laughed and said," Aren't you going to give your mother a hug?"

"Mother you hate hugs." Nelly's mom reminded her and tribe went into a laughing fit.

However all that Nelly could think is, this is my grandmother, how how old is she?

After hugging the mother, the grandma faced Nelly with a gracious smile and her fingers took her chin. She whispered,"You and I need to talk after the dinner." Just then, she slowly opened her eyes and Nelly saw the nicest shade of orange.

The dinner was a blurr, all Nelly could contentrate was on her grandmother, the way she ate, talk and laugh. she took in everything. Finally, the time had came to speak with her, one on one.

__*__

An alarm rang through the darkness meaning that it's 5 am now. Nelly looked at her surroundings and realized she had fell asleep on the counter, whilst standing of course. She rubbed her tired eyes and began to get ready, she aimed to look her best and make sure the first impression is so.

Zorro and Ichigo (the other bunny) greeted her with their hungry paws, they were unable to contain the excitement for breakfast. As Nelly filled the bowls she felt something, an emotion, no, a prediction that something is off. That something dark is near.

With caution she looked behind her, only to be met with a note on the floor and an open window. Her eyes widened and without even knowing, the wind pushed the note to her finger tips. She swallowed, myriad things raced through her mind: murder, evil spirits, that old lady next door.

With shaky hands she began to open the note, this could be a turning point in her life and she feared it so much she didn't even want to open it-.

"If I changed to we even illness becomes wellness. -Malcom X." She read aloud and the quote was followed by a phone number. That was all. "Well that made my morning."

Nelly glared at the paper and threw it in the trash, a nice cigarette was calling her name.