Spellbound

Chapter Seven

On Sunday all I wanted to do was stay buried under the covers and disappeared , but there was a lot of homework waiting for me. With a heavy sigh, I managed to drag myself out of bed. The sheets were still a little damp from last night. It seems like it's getting worse. Just like the dream.

The voice was gone last night. But not the fear. It is forever present.

On my way to the shower, I caught a glimpse of myself in the full length mirror in the left corner.

To be honest, I looked horrible. My emerald eyes were dull and lifeless and there were dark circles under my eyes. My hair matted against my forehead and my always-shining dark hair looked a little dull. What's happening to me?

It felt like the hundredth time that thought crossed my mind.

And still there was no answer.

The shower was a blessing to my current mood. It felt like all the negativity was washing off and running down through the drain. I wished my homework would also flush down the drain, but that wasn't an option. They peeked at me accusingly when I got out of the shower.

Soon I was behind my desk, finishing off every subject one by one.

A few hours in without any distractions, I finished up my Trig. My stomach growled at me and I realized I'm so hungry. Downstairs, I vaguely heard movement in the kitchen and the TV blaring. I haven't spoken to either one of my parents after Alice claimed she 'talked' to them. I wasn't sure how to handle it, but I was hungry and I'm not starving myself again just because I wanted to avoid them. So I left my books at my desk and made a beeline for the kitchen, careful not to be heard. Unfortunately, when I entered the kitchen, my mom was making a cup of green tea.

" Ah, you live." was all she said. I grunted out a reply and made my way round to the cupboard above the microwave where the cereal was. I glanced at the clock on the left side of the room to make sure that it is, indeed still morning.

11:56 pm. I was still in luck. Mom kept herself occupied with her tea while I pulled out a bowl , dumped a heap of Rice Krispies in it and strewn sugar and milk on top. Taking huge bites, I figured I had to make sure if what Alice said was true, although I'm scared to bring up the topic in fear that it will end up in another argument.

"So, uh mom, this therapis -" before I could finish, she interrupted me. " It's okay, honey. You're dad and I just want what's best for you, but we might've taken in too far..." I don't know if I should be surprised or happy. Instead, I narrowed my eyes at her.

"You taking it too far is an understatement." I snorted. Mom just sighed.

"You're just a normal hormonal teenager. We should've just left it at that." The relief finally flooded through me.

No thinking I'm going crazy. At least for them. I'm starting to doubt my sanity. It's okay for me, but not my own parents and best friend.

I just need to figure this out on my own. I just need to.

I'm not entirely sure if it is was the waking up in sweat every night or the fact that Alice is acting weird, well, more than usual. Or that my parents are too chilled about my whereabouts. Or that I haven't seen the mysterious boy again. Maybe it was all these reasons or none of them, but the following week was a release of hell. When the final bell rang on Friday, I couldn't get away fast enough. Alice was having another tutor class and we quickly said bye to each other before I took the familiar road on Highway 93A.

Everything about the Anthabascha Falls and my not- so- secret hide-out was a place of tranquility, not to mention breathtaking. The quietness of the forest, the sound of the birds singing in the trees, the crashing of the water. It took me to a different place. Somewhere I wasn't afraid. Just calm.