The Wilting Rose

Chapter 3- The Village

 I looked into James’s eyes and I saw that what she was saying was not a lie. “I think I need to know why I was left alone with a murderer, and why you two knew about this long before I did.” I demanded. Solie stood, but with a slight shake of the head I told her that I needed to hear this straight from the people I trusted so very much. “Well,” Connor began, but James jumped in. “Listen, it was the hardest decision we’d ever had to make.”  I could tell I was being babyish, and I knew my tone was a pout, but I couldn’t help it. “Why did you have to make that decision, then? Why not take me with you?” There were hurt, angry tears welling up in my eyes, but I wasn’t making any attempt to hide them. Let them see what they’d put me through. “Staaf” Solie whispered, and then I was asleep.

“Rosy, wake up! Wake up! What have you done to her?” I heard bickering above me, then Solie’s voice cut through the chaos. “Let her lay, she needs a couple minutes, but then she’ll be right as rain.” I lay still, wondering what just happened. Solie, I thought, just cast a spell on me. I didn't think I was going to die, but I mean, anything must be possible if I just met an elf and found out my father was a serial killer! “I’m awake.” I pitifully raised one hand, and let it drop back down. “Hello Rose.” Solie was calm like always, but her eyes were blazing. “Rosy! How are you?” Connor and James were all over me. “Thank goodness you aren't dead for real!” I smiled weakly, and turned on Solie. “Why’d you do that?!” Solie’s voice raised a notch. “Answer James. How do you feel?”

She had calmed me down. It was a calming spell, to ease me into all the new information about, well, everything! And it worked. We all felt terrible for blaming her so early on, but she could have explained before she did it at least. Although I was calm, I still had a couple questions that had yet to be answered. “Why did you leave me behind? How did you know about this before I did?” I pried. Connor began, “Remember when we were setting up the camera?” I nodded, faintly aware of James holding me. “Well, when it shut off, and you stormed off James and I went to investigate. We heard arguing. I slid under the table to fix the camera, and James came, too. Then,” Solie cut in.

“She has to see it to believe it.” I looked over at her. She looked dead serious. “She won't believe it if you tell her, that’s not enough it’s simply too far-fetched!” I held my breath, waiting to see what would happen next. “I can tap into your memory, to show her. Once all of our minds are on the same page we have to move.” I raised my weak body off the dirt of the river bed, wanting to see more magic, eager for a taste of supernatural. “Alakas” Solie mumbled.

And then I was in my kitchen. So were Solie, James, and Connor. “Cool.” I told Solie, who smiled back and mouthed, “watch” I waited, and in a couple minutes, a second pair of James and Connors crept through the door. They were wearing the cloths I had seen them in just days before. Solie looked at me and cocked her head, asking if I understood. I shook my head, and mouthed “why are there two James and Connors?” Solie told us, quietly why. “This is a memory. You can’t interact, only watch.” I nodded.

We continued to watch as James and Connor slipped under the table, and then without a word, Solie followed them under. We followed her lead. “It isn’t working!” came James frantic whisper. “Why isn’t it working?” Connor leaned over and snatched the camera, checking it for dents, and scratches. “Here’s why.” I leaned over his shoulder, and saw with horror that there were screw marks in the back. The battery had been removed. Then, just as James was about to say something, the door creaked open and loud whispers came floating in from the other room.

“Think, Scott, think!” I heard my father’s name whispered into the empty kitchen. “Think of Rosy, of James, of Julie!” What did my mother, James, and I have to do with this? “Russell,” my dad warned, “You’re pushing me too far.” Russell was Connors father, Mr. Laker. “Listen, Scott. You are not a bad person. You are loyal, and you care about your family too much to let anything, let alone yourself hurt them.” What? What did he mean, let alone yourself?